A SAD KNIGHT

Gracious Guests;

There is a lot of excitement going on at my current residence, Chipman Hill Suites at 71 Sydney Street. This excitement concerns many of the staff who I assist as much as I am able.

Apparently, certain staff members rotate being “on call”, which means that they take phone calls from guests who may need to have a question answered or some assistance rendered during the hours when the office is closed.

From time to time, Sir Edward and Lady Susan, the owners of Chipman Hill Suites, express their appreciation to these staff members by hosting some sort of a dinner or other function, designed to say “thank you” to the on-call staff and their “spouse or significant other” (date-of-the-week not being invited.)

Tonight, just such an occasion is happening! It is very exciting!

At 5:45PM, the on-call staff and their spouse or significant other will be turning up here at 71 Sydney Street, where The Lord and Lady will serve some “nibbles” (what are “nibbles”?) and wine, followed by a walk down the street to attend a banquet at Decimal 81, which is apparently a newish restaurant here in the town, very highly regarded,

apparently.

Everyone seems to be looking forward to this, and I understand that there was a 100% acceptance rate for the invitation, except for the last minute withdrawal, due to illness, of Sir Kevin, husband of The Lady Alice, who, co-incidentally enough, is the lady in charge of this residence.

It is very odd to me to have so many ladies in charge of so much property and so on. In my history, it has been men, almost exclusively, who are in charge of things. I do find this quite strange. Based on the comings and goings of the guests here at 71 Sydney Street, this does not appear to be an isolated state of affairs. Women seem to be in charge of huge projects nowadays. (You must remember that I was asleep in my crate for many decades!)

If it were not for Sirs Gordon, Keith and Kenneth, with rare visits here by Sir Jon, I would have no male peers at all.

Fortunately, many of the guests are male, so I do get a chance to keep up to date on current clothing fashion for men. I am really quite interested in fashion. It is always important for a Knight to be well informed in all masculine pursuits.

Although this is a very happy evening for the on call staff, it is a sad one for me. I have overheard the Lady Kim and Lady Alice talking and I understand that I am to be moved again. My talents are apparently required at 145 Germain Street, wherever that is. 

It is another Chipman Hill Suites building (they seem to have soooooooo many, but I have been very happy here at 71 Sydney and feel that I have done an excellent job guarding my guests, and I will miss my regular guests, and the stained glass windows and the woodwork and my great view of the street outside…

Goodbye to you all from 71 Sydney Street. I will write again next week from 145 Germain where I hope to be able to see outside as well. It will be a new adventure!!

Yours in Knighthood

Sir Syd

A Knight on the Wall

Gracious Readers;

In my last posting, I told you of my outing (just last week). Whilst I was out, The Lady Kim noticed that I cast a shadow upon the wall of the nearby carriage house.

She took a picture of my shadow, and you may see it here on this posting. Can you make it out? I do agree that it might take a little imagination on your part, but regardless, several of the ladies on the Chipman Hill Suites staff found it to be somewhat amusing.

I do admit that I have cast a long shadow on history, from the middle ages to the twenty first century. I can hardly imagine it.

Many of the knights who were with me at the beginning have long since passed away to the scrap heap. I presume that some have even been made into pots and pans. What a horrible thought.

For my part, I was crated for decades (possibly even a century or more) on more than one occasion, it is something like hibernation, I think……..so my armour has remained intact and I am happy to be back in the working world once again, guarding the guests and properties at Chipman Hill Suites, in appreciation of those who rescued me!

I have mentioned to you previously that I have heard whispered rumours that I may be moving soon. Since being released from my crate and woken up from decades of hibernation, I have resided at (and watched over) four other Chipman Hill Suites buildings, and I understand that there are another six or seven “to go”……..

I presume that I will “make the rounds” of them all, over time. I hope that the management of Chipman Hill Suites are happy with my service, and that I will NOT be returned to my crate anytime soon…

For my part, I am happiest when I have a job to do, and people and property to look after. These properties are beautiful, warm and spotlessly clean. The people who work here and the people who stay here are all so nice, and I hear great comments about my handsomeness on an almost daily basis from the guests, many of whom have their pictures taken with me. I was previously a little “camera shy”, but

now, I am well used to it, and feel that I am somewhat of a celebrity.

I am only sorry that the beautiful young girl I met when I was guarding 5 Chipman Hill did not leave her picture for me…..I miss her so…..If she and her parents return, I wonder if they will think to ask what building I am currently guarding, so that I may see her again…..

*sigh*

A fond farewell for this evening.

Yours in knighthood,

Sir Syd.   

A Knight in the Cold

Gracious Readers:

It is a beautiful day, although it is winter, and The Lady Kim and The Lady Alice carried me outside for an airing…..and took the opportunity to wipe down my armour from top to bottom. (Speaking of bottom, it was just a little embarrassing, to be standing in full view of anyone who was walking by on the street, whilst having my private areas polished by two ladies with polishing cloths, however, I do enjoy a bit of fresh air, and it feels good to be polished and ready again to greet guests with no dust or rust on my armour.

If you are familiar with my current address, at the Chipman Hill Suites building at 71 Sydney Street, you will know that there are two rooms accessed off a side staircase. These are often occupied by families travelling together, as they can be locked off to allow children to run back and forth between parents and grandparents, for instance, without being able to get out of the adult’s view in the main part of the building. These rooms are also somewhat less “dear” (‘expensive’, to you, I believe.)

I can look across the street and see St. Malachy’s high school to my left, and further to my left is the beautiful King’s Square Park with the Victorian bandstand as it’s centerpiece. The Imperial theatre is also just a stone’s throw, and I know that patrons from out of town and performers alike favour this particular location as it is truly just two minute’s walk to the Imperial Theatre.

I have very much enjoyed my outing earlier today, and hope that you will visit me soon to see how clean and shiny I am.

Yours in knighthood,

Sir Syd

A Knight by the Window

Gracious Readers;

It is early morning, fairly early in the month and early in the year, and I have ventured upstairs here at 71 Sydney Street,  the Chipman Hill Suites property I am currently guarding, to see the beautiful stained glass window, before the guests are up. I listen intently to the early morning sounds of the City, and also, for guests beginning to stir.

As soon as I hear the first of the guests arising, (there is a full house here tonight, I heard one of the housekeepers say yesterday as she departed to her home...), I must quickly return to my post by the front door. It is imperative that no one know that, in fact, I wander the halls at night to keep watch over my charges.

The stained glass window is huge. I understand that it is one of the largest stained glass windows in any home in Saint John, which, I have learned, is the oldest City in Her Majesty’s Dominion of Canada.

Stained glass windows were very popular in England, my birthplace. Of course, they were very much in evidence in even the smallest of village churches, but also, they were an item of status and showed wealth in private homes. They were much more expensive (and beautiful) than plain window glass, and the aristocrats were very conscious of having these trappings of wealth to impress their peers.

I understand that the Chipman Hill Suites building at 2 Mecklenburg has substantially larger and many more stained glass windows than this building at 71 Sydney Street. Whilst I will miss my beautiful surroundings here at 71 Sydney, I am, indeed, a curious knight and realize that my protective capabilities must be shared with all the Chipman Hill Suites buildings I have been charged with looking after.

It has not been mentioned, but I suspect a move in the month of February is being contemplated. I greet this thought with very mixed emotions. My stay here at 71 Sydney Street has been so very pleasant.

The sun is rising higher, and traffic on the street has increased. I hear stirrings from the guests, water running, and other signs that it is now time for me to return to my post at the front door, and stand, un-moving, until late this night.

Please excuse my hasty departure.

Yours in knighthood,

Sir Syd.

A Knight at the Tree

Gracious Readers;

I am amiss in not posting this before Christmas, but there seemed to be so much going on.

Can  a Knight procrastinate? Yes!!

As the days went on, I decided that I would post my Christmas musings on Epiphany (or “Little Christmas”) on January 6^th. I almost made that self-imposed deadline, but then faltered at the last minute…

As you may recall, this is the first Christmas that I have seen in many, many years. Truth be told, things around me are much the same, but different, to the last few Christmases I remember vividly, those which were celebrated in my presence during my years in the court of HRH Victoria, the (by then) widowed queen.

The Chipman Hill Suites building in which I currently reside was constructed in the 1880’s, so, although I realize that I am now living in The Year of Our Lord, 2012 (can you imagine??), my surroundings, with few exceptions, are very much as I remember from the houses of the minor Lords I have protected over the years.

I digress, though……back to my Christmas 2011 musings…….

Apparently, around 1846 - 48, Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, was the person responsible for bringing the first Christmas tree to Windsor Castle for the Royal Family. Some historians state that in actuality Queen Charlotte, Victoria's grandmother, recalled that a Christmas tree was in the Queen's lodge at Windsor on Christmas Day in 1800.  It is certain that in the Illustrated London News in 1846, an illustration of Queen Victoria, Prince, Albert and their children around a Christmas tree appeared. Unlike the previous Royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at Court immediately became fashionable - not only in Britain, but, I was told, with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society, and I presume, also Canadian Society.

After the death of dear Prince Albert, things were never the same in the Royal Court of Victoria. Christmas was sad, as Albert was gone, but in his memory, a beautiful evergreen tree continued to be brought in from the forest and decorated every year with those same ornaments that Albert had favoured when he was with us.

My memories of  Christmas after the “Victoria years” were few. I was relegated to “storage” for many decades, only seeing the light of day briefly, mostly on ceremonial occasions when I, and

some of my old chums who were also suffering the same fate, had occasion to be brought out, polished up, shown off and then put away into the dark again.

Subsequent to those, I did see Christmas again occasionally, however, not in the splendid style of Victoria or, may I say it (?) Chipman Hill Suites.

Sadly, though, I have learned that “artificial” (but very real in appearance) Christmas trees have apparently become the norm, and the tiny candles which were lit by hand each night, and replaced for the next night, have been replaced by electric lights. Even I must admit that these are highly efficient, although the ambiance is not quite the same…..

I have exhausted myself with writing so I will close for this day, faithful readers.

Good Day to you all and farewell until next Monday when I shall post again.

Yours in knighthood

Sir Syd

A Knight In Geraniums

November 23, 2011

Gracious Readers;

Once again, I have been relocated, however, not to another building, as has happened so many times in the recent past, but to another vantage point in the same building where I have resided this past merry month.

I am residing still at beautiful 71 Sydney Street, however, two of the ladies, Lady Alice and Lady Kim picked me up and moved me to a beautiful sunny room which they call “The Solarium”. This is a half-round room, with pots of geraniums in glorious flower all around the edge. As they moved me, they talked of Christmas “decorating”. I shall look forward to seeing what that entails!

From my new location, I can see out onto a street called “Princess Street”. I am wondering for which of her highness Victoria’s several daughters it has been named. Looking the other way, I can see into a beautiful parlour where the sun shines onto the polished wooden floors, where Lady Kim and Lady Alice and another fair maid whose name is not known to me were busily working all the day. The activities were not the usual ones I have observed over my past many months as a guest of Chipman Hill Suites.

Am I a guest? Perhaps I am an indentured servant? My status has never been made clear to me.

At any rate, I digress………

The ladies had a large box and from it, they removed a green item, in pieces, the likes of which I had never seen. As they worked on it, fitting multiple pieces together, it began taking the form of a green tree from the forest, similar in appearance to a fir tree, although it is neither from a forest, nor a real tree. It seems to be a replica of some kind. It has no smell of forest to be sure.

This evening, now that everyone is asleep, I will examine it in further detail and report my findings to you shortly.

It is now the morrow, albeit very early. None of the guests are about, neither the Lady Kim nor Lady Alice. I take this quiet opportunity to post my blog, unobserved.

I am enjoying my stay here at 71 Sydney Street, and have been watching over the front entrance now for several weeks. My recent move has me watching over a rear (and rarely used) door, as well as the main parlour. It is interesting for me to be able to have such a fine vantage point over the street as well.

As I have learned, “cars” have replaced horse-drawn carriages, although every now and then two or three carriages indeed pass by, each loaded with riders who speak of “Cruise Ships”. I know what a ship is, but what is “cruise” and how does it relate to a ship?

Cars have a smell of their own, it reminds me of some of the areas around the factories when I was last in London as a guard of honour at the funeral of our Queen’s beloved Albert.  It seems just like yesterday.  Horses and carriages were very much in evidence there, and the smell of same when they pass by 71 Sydney Street causes me to remember………I have seen so much, and only now, with the advent of “the blog” am I able to tell you.

I look forward to giving you further tales of my past as well as an accurate reporting of my present in the very near future.

In the meanwhile, enjoy your stay here at Chipman Hill Suites, and know that I am thinking of you.

Sir Syd

A Knight on Sydney

Gracious Readers;

I must start this letter with an apology. I have been silent for far longer than I had planned, but life is going by so quickly that I am having trouble taking it all in!

As you know, since my fortunate escape from the hateful crate, I have been located in a fair number of beautiful properties, all seemingly called Chipman Hill Suites. I have been trying to work out how each of these several different homes all seem to have the same name.

In my earlier days (seemingly decades ago), when I resided in England, each house had both a street address and it’s own name………..such as Fairways, White Cottage, Sedalia, The Old Farm, The Vicarage and so on.

Here, in the new world, or at least here in Chipman Hill Suites, each building is named Chipman Hill Suites, followed by a street address.

I am, as of this morning, now guarding Chipman Hill Suites at 71 Sydney Street.

This building, I have learned, was once the home to a prominent physician and healer, a Dr. White, who was also the mayor of this City of Saint John. It is a gracious brick structure with beautiful furnishings in multiple parlours here on the main floor. I enjoy seeing the look on the guest’s faces when they open up the front door and step into the gracious foyer which I am now guarding.

Speaking of floors, it is rumoured that Dr. White went on an extended trip and in his absence, his lady wife had the roof removed and a third story added to the home! I can well imagine what a surprise, or dare I say a shock the good doctor had upon his return.

Unlike the other Chipman Hill Suites buildings where I have previously resided, the guests here seem to stay for a much shorter period of time. Often, only a night or two. I worry that I may not be able to know them as well as I knew the guests in my previous locations who generally stayed for months at a time.

I am still trying to work out exactly how all this works, but as far as I have worked out, some of the buildings tend to have long term stayers, but this one, and perhaps there are others, have mostly nightly guests, somewhat like a coaching inn from back in my earlier days.

This building also has a piano. It is not a shiny white baby grand style like my beloved young lady played so wonderfully at one of my former residences, but it is older and taller, apparently it is called an “upright” piano. Apparently the Lady Susan plays the piano, although I have never heard her play it.

During my transportation here today, I noticed that fall is in the air, although on my way out, from 9 Chipman Hill, I saw Sir Keith artistically applying a fresh coat of paint to the doors. He commented that there will only be a few more painting days before it is too cold, so he is painting as fast as he can, although perfectly.

I smelled a new smell during my transportation. It is called “New Car Smell”. Apparently, the Lady Marilyn, has a new coach. It is called a “van” and has, indeed, an engine. No horses are needed, and it goes very fast. She is very pleased with it. It seems to be called “Toyota”. I wonder what Toyota means.

As I write my blog during the night hours, inbetween patrolling the building, and dawn is breaking, I must once again bid my readers “adieu”, and return to my frozen stance.

I will write again soon, dear readers.

Sir Syd.