Autumn is coming.. air is damp and it was chilly-billy when SHE awoke early this morning. HER poor ole wonky knees are creaking and grumbling, best call 'Lovely Caroline' in Exeter to get name of that Homeopathic remedy she mentioned.
This mornings' Tale.. yes folks, I feel it's a TWO POST day, is tale of how two houses in same city and less than half a mile apart can be SO different because of attitude of owners.
First house is in a square not far from our home, it had been allowed to get very shabby and was in bad repair.
It was bought by EXTREMELY wealthy clients of highly talented Interior Designer, John Stefanidis, and he called HER into do the lamps and lampshades. John trusted HER with clients and previously had sent HER to work on a glorious house in Aspen for Abigail and Leslie Wexner, so he did not hestitate to send HER to meet with this client.. for whom SHE had already done a lot of work, infact, first job SHE ever did for John was for this couple.
With all structural and decorative work done, couple had moved into house but as always, there were extra things to be done, lamps changed, new lampshades ordered, huge glass diffusers to be made.
SHE arrived at house a few minutes ahead of schedule and was admitted by house keeper, who told HER that 'Madam' will be down shortly..
Twenty minutes later.. 'Madam' had not yet appeared and SHE asked very nice, smiley Housekeeper if she would be kind and see if there is a problem.. five minutes later, 'Madam' came into dining room where SHE was sitting.. with unbrushed hair, in her dressing-gown and bedroom slippers!
And said to HER.. "Now, what are YOU here for?"..
SHE is HER parents' daughter, SHE has worked since the age of sixteen in one form or other in the business of giving QUALITY SERVICE, this covers many aspects of work but.. and this is the BIG word.. YOU give a service whether YOU are Personal Banker or a Waiter waiting tables and THIS client (whose family are certainly in the service industry) should have known better to be so rude.
SHE turned instantly into HER mother and speaking in Constances' voice said "oh, I am so sorry, there seems to be some mistake, YOUR office telephoned and asked ME to come and see YOU this morning, I will come back another time when YOU are ready to see ME"..
SHE gathered HER things and said "goodbye", smiled at the housekeeper, left room and house.. SHE had to write off that large invoice as 'BAD BEBT'..
Next house is nearer to home.. on a square but TEN times bigger than previous house.. it is quarded by ex-soldiers from a Gurkha regiment. The owners of this house were very, very old clients of Betty Hanley, HER mentor. Betty had said previous day "Meet me at so-and-so's at 10.30".
One of HER brothers had been in a Gurkha Regiment so SHE telephoned him and asked "How do YOU say "good morning" in Gurkhali".
So armed with HER basket of tricks, camera, steel measure, curtain measures, sketch pad, colour samples, fabric samples, order book and pens.. off SHE walked to house and pressed bell at top of 'Tradesmen' entrance.. yes, house is that BIG.. one of biggest in London..
Door opened and out came a rather severe looking man, very smartly dressed and he barked at her "yes".. SHE replied in Gurkhali "Ramram".. forgive HER or US spelling if wrong.. this is phonetic spelling!
Dear Readers.. the result was absolutely ASTONISHING..
He bounded up stairs, opened gate, took HER basket and rushed HER down stairs saying "follow me please", SHE followed him down passage and into large office.. where sat a smiley woman listening to a torrent of Gurkhali..
This woman then said to HER "YOU are early, perhaps YOU would like to come with me and have some coffee?", she picked up HER basket, led HER out of her office and into a massive kitchen which was humming with activity and she said "We all have a mid morning 'munch' at this time, what would YOU like, I am going to have a bagel, cream cheese and salmon, would YOU like that?"..
SHE was hardly able to believe HER ears.. let alone HER eyes..
Then Tradesmen intercom bell rang and looking up at the bank of surveillance screens SHE was able to see Betty standing with another woman SHE recognised from looong ago! Off went Gurkha to let them in.. in came Betty and other woman looking MIGHTY confused.. they came to halt when they saw HER sitting on a stool at a bar.. eating!
They were offered same hospitality.. they declined food but accepted coffee and tea.. Betty at HER and raised an eyebrow.. SHE grinned at her and mouthed 'later'..
Food and drink finished.. time to go to work.. up in lift to first floor (remember WE are in England, second floor in America) into an enormous room, furniture covered in dust sheets, chandeliers drapped in plastic, men up ladders.. there followed lots of talk about colours, proportions, treatment of lampshades for lamps, measurements and notes were taken, SHE took lots of photos.
Then other woman said "Darling, please will YOU go out to my car and get my camera", "certainly" SHE said and as SHE went out, SHE heard Betty say "You called my assistant DARLING?".. SHE did not hear rest of conversation.
All finished, SHE went down to charming secretary to say they were leaving and secretary asked HER "which regiment? Father, brother or husband".. SHE laughed and said "Brother, 1st 2nd"..
They thanked her for the hospitality and said "goodbye".. house staff all smiled and Gurkha who had looked 'severe' carried Miss Betty's and HER baskets out to her car. They said "Goodbye" to other woman and drove to the shop..
Miss Betty smiled at HER and said "well.. WHAT a morning.. now I know why YOU took to the business like duck to water, who knew, I didn't and YOU didn't say!"
Arriving at shop.. she parked and drew HER attention to the window where there was The Royal Warrant - this signifies that the holder is a supplier to HM The Queen.
"Do YOU see that, that my dear, is only there because David Troubridge, introduced me to The Royal Household, I never knew David Troubridge was YOUR father, he was one of John Fowlers' first agents.. what a small world, is YOUR mama still as lovely?"..
Other woman was one of few survivors of team that worked with legendary Mr. Fowler (Colefax & Fowler) and known HER and HER parents since early 1960's and had told Betty that David Troubridge had not been his real name but a working name.. which explained, of course, why HER name had not rung any bells with Betty.
Tale of two houses.. SHE passes the second almost every day.. the same staff still smile and say 'Ramram".
GeeGee Parrot.
August 28th, 2012.
This mornings' Tale.. yes folks, I feel it's a TWO POST day, is tale of how two houses in same city and less than half a mile apart can be SO different because of attitude of owners.
First house is in a square not far from our home, it had been allowed to get very shabby and was in bad repair.
It was bought by EXTREMELY wealthy clients of highly talented Interior Designer, John Stefanidis, and he called HER into do the lamps and lampshades. John trusted HER with clients and previously had sent HER to work on a glorious house in Aspen for Abigail and Leslie Wexner, so he did not hestitate to send HER to meet with this client.. for whom SHE had already done a lot of work, infact, first job SHE ever did for John was for this couple.
With all structural and decorative work done, couple had moved into house but as always, there were extra things to be done, lamps changed, new lampshades ordered, huge glass diffusers to be made.
SHE arrived at house a few minutes ahead of schedule and was admitted by house keeper, who told HER that 'Madam' will be down shortly..
Twenty minutes later.. 'Madam' had not yet appeared and SHE asked very nice, smiley Housekeeper if she would be kind and see if there is a problem.. five minutes later, 'Madam' came into dining room where SHE was sitting.. with unbrushed hair, in her dressing-gown and bedroom slippers!
And said to HER.. "Now, what are YOU here for?"..
SHE is HER parents' daughter, SHE has worked since the age of sixteen in one form or other in the business of giving QUALITY SERVICE, this covers many aspects of work but.. and this is the BIG word.. YOU give a service whether YOU are Personal Banker or a Waiter waiting tables and THIS client (whose family are certainly in the service industry) should have known better to be so rude.
SHE turned instantly into HER mother and speaking in Constances' voice said "oh, I am so sorry, there seems to be some mistake, YOUR office telephoned and asked ME to come and see YOU this morning, I will come back another time when YOU are ready to see ME"..
SHE gathered HER things and said "goodbye", smiled at the housekeeper, left room and house.. SHE had to write off that large invoice as 'BAD BEBT'..
Next house is nearer to home.. on a square but TEN times bigger than previous house.. it is quarded by ex-soldiers from a Gurkha regiment. The owners of this house were very, very old clients of Betty Hanley, HER mentor. Betty had said previous day "Meet me at so-and-so's at 10.30".
One of HER brothers had been in a Gurkha Regiment so SHE telephoned him and asked "How do YOU say "good morning" in Gurkhali".
So armed with HER basket of tricks, camera, steel measure, curtain measures, sketch pad, colour samples, fabric samples, order book and pens.. off SHE walked to house and pressed bell at top of 'Tradesmen' entrance.. yes, house is that BIG.. one of biggest in London..
Door opened and out came a rather severe looking man, very smartly dressed and he barked at her "yes".. SHE replied in Gurkhali "Ramram".. forgive HER or US spelling if wrong.. this is phonetic spelling!
Dear Readers.. the result was absolutely ASTONISHING..
He bounded up stairs, opened gate, took HER basket and rushed HER down stairs saying "follow me please", SHE followed him down passage and into large office.. where sat a smiley woman listening to a torrent of Gurkhali..
This woman then said to HER "YOU are early, perhaps YOU would like to come with me and have some coffee?", she picked up HER basket, led HER out of her office and into a massive kitchen which was humming with activity and she said "We all have a mid morning 'munch' at this time, what would YOU like, I am going to have a bagel, cream cheese and salmon, would YOU like that?"..
SHE was hardly able to believe HER ears.. let alone HER eyes..
Then Tradesmen intercom bell rang and looking up at the bank of surveillance screens SHE was able to see Betty standing with another woman SHE recognised from looong ago! Off went Gurkha to let them in.. in came Betty and other woman looking MIGHTY confused.. they came to halt when they saw HER sitting on a stool at a bar.. eating!
They were offered same hospitality.. they declined food but accepted coffee and tea.. Betty at HER and raised an eyebrow.. SHE grinned at her and mouthed 'later'..
Food and drink finished.. time to go to work.. up in lift to first floor (remember WE are in England, second floor in America) into an enormous room, furniture covered in dust sheets, chandeliers drapped in plastic, men up ladders.. there followed lots of talk about colours, proportions, treatment of lampshades for lamps, measurements and notes were taken, SHE took lots of photos.
Then other woman said "Darling, please will YOU go out to my car and get my camera", "certainly" SHE said and as SHE went out, SHE heard Betty say "You called my assistant DARLING?".. SHE did not hear rest of conversation.
All finished, SHE went down to charming secretary to say they were leaving and secretary asked HER "which regiment? Father, brother or husband".. SHE laughed and said "Brother, 1st 2nd"..
They thanked her for the hospitality and said "goodbye".. house staff all smiled and Gurkha who had looked 'severe' carried Miss Betty's and HER baskets out to her car. They said "Goodbye" to other woman and drove to the shop..
Miss Betty smiled at HER and said "well.. WHAT a morning.. now I know why YOU took to the business like duck to water, who knew, I didn't and YOU didn't say!"
Arriving at shop.. she parked and drew HER attention to the window where there was The Royal Warrant - this signifies that the holder is a supplier to HM The Queen.
"Do YOU see that, that my dear, is only there because David Troubridge, introduced me to The Royal Household, I never knew David Troubridge was YOUR father, he was one of John Fowlers' first agents.. what a small world, is YOUR mama still as lovely?"..
Other woman was one of few survivors of team that worked with legendary Mr. Fowler (Colefax & Fowler) and known HER and HER parents since early 1960's and had told Betty that David Troubridge had not been his real name but a working name.. which explained, of course, why HER name had not rung any bells with Betty.
Tale of two houses.. SHE passes the second almost every day.. the same staff still smile and say 'Ramram".
GeeGee Parrot.
August 28th, 2012.
This just goes to show that one shouldn't always blame oneself when things go negative, as in the case of the first house. SHE was the one who acted like a clod, not you as a requested service person. Oh well...we all know what goes around etc., etc., ect.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Ramram. The cucumber house was a lot cooler than the first house. Gurken means cucumber in German. It's tragic to witness how excessively affluent people forget the value of work: blood sweat and tears. The Gurkah people may have appeared a little ferocious to HER at first but revealed their true colours in the making, whereas the first house was still asleep., The adventure described would fit well in the tales of the Arabian Nights. All that glitters is not gold. What did that wonderful parrot GeeGee have to say about this all?. Avian wisdom is quite pristine.
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