What Mrs Finnegan Wanted for Christmas and What She Got
May each journey you take be SHORTENED by laughter
May friendship keep company with you every day of the New Year
And may you have better LUCK than I did when it comes to husbands and Presents
SEA BATHING
Arguably, the best and healthiest thing you can do in Brighton.
While only the FOOLHARDY would attempt a dipping in winter, I have tried in Summer and found it akin to being soundly punched by an expert boxer while being forcibly held in iced water. I can’t do it again. There is, however, a novel way of getting around the problem which sounds just my kind of thing…
At Mahomed’s Baths on the Sea FRONT you can bathe in sea water that has been piped in and WARMED. Wait, there is more.
You can also have an Indian Medicated Vapour Bath where you sit and breath in aromatic steam to which medicinal and EXOTIC oils have been added. That’s all you have to do sit and breath, sit and breath…
I mentioned it a few times to Master Peregrine. He has a head cold at the moment which has affected his EARS (there are few people more difficult to deal with than a hard of hearing husband who does not listen) but I preserved and read to him regularly from the newspaper notices advertising Mr Mahomed as the ‘shampoo surgeon’ of the south coast.
A DRESS
As I now wear my serviceable brown wedding dress at work as housekeeper to The Regency Town House, it can no longer be classified as best. And EVERY woman needs a best dress. I left a fashion plate lying around on the breakfast table. I think that was a mistake. He looked visibly shaken, like a raspberry jelly covered in cream that’s on the POINT of curdling.
BONNETS
A new Sunday bonnet is always a welcome present and I pointed out the latest fashions to Peregrine as we watched an ambulatory army of couples take the AIR in Brunswick Square.
The result of my labours?
Master Peregrine on Christmas morning announcing that our minds were so perfectly in tune he was confident that his selection of three presents (three!) were EXACTLY what I wanted.
They were:
A plain deal chair exactly like the four we ALREADY have at the breakfast table so “I can sit down anywhere the fancy takes me”.
A framed fashion print from Paris.
New satin ribbons for my bonnet. Dust coloured.
You may be wondering what I bought him. Dear reader, I purchased a handsome stickpin to match his emerald green cravat which I remembered belatedly had been purloined by a cat to have several litters on.
Happy St Stephen’s Day
Normal ALMANAC duties will be resumed shortly in 1837.
PS What was your least favourite Christmas PRESENT of this or any year? Given or received. It would be a great comfort to find out.
Mrs Finnegan is generally acknowledged to be a wonder. Not only is she a consummate Author of Almanacs, she is also the housekeeper at The Regency Town House and a wife to Master Peregrine Hilderbrace, riding master (retired). Sign up for her ENTIRELY FREE subscription service HERE.
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10 comments on “What Mrs Finnegan Wanted for Christmas and What She Got”
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BRIDGET WHELAN writer 
“A hard of hearing husband who does not listen”? I may have been described as that on occasion!
If the hat fits….
well….) my funniest was a giant metal tin with holes that lights up and has chocolates inside
I know exactly what that is…it’s a present (definition: something no one would buy for themselves)
bingo!
The most disappointing Christmas present? When I’d just moved into my first home and was utterly skint and told everyone that if they gave me anything please make it something practical because I only had two mugs, one saucepan and three plates.
My richest aunt sent me a knitted crinoline lady toilet roll holder…
wow
Oh dear, Shan. I think you win.
A very Happy holiday to you Mrs. Finnegan and Master Perigrin.
I was truly hoping that you would recieve the Spa treatment at Mr. Mohammed’s aromatic baths. For someone who works as hard as you do, that would have been a lovely experience. Perhaps you can purchase a bath ahead of time and pretend at St. Valentine’s Day that Master P purchased it?
We are in Upper Canada now after travelling 2788 km/ 1733 miles from Regina. This will be our new residence from now on. It was quite the journey. We saw lots of beautiful vistas and encountered very interesting weather. I wouldn’t recommend such a long journey by land in December.
Perhaps I erased memories of poorly chosen gifts… One of my favourites was a porcelain robin from my Aunt and Uncle as a young child. They remembered that I liked hearing them sing in the spring time.
Wishing you all the best for the New Year! Thank you for your writings, they bring sunshine to my Tuesdays.
Kind regards, Tiffany now in Upper Canada
Mrs Finnegan was delighted to receive your message and charmed by the porcelain robin you were given as a child. It’s the sort of present she would like to have herself…The fact that you have moved 1733 miles and will still be living in the same country does somewhat boggle the mind. She asks if you are quite sure?
AS John O Groats (furthest place north in mainland Scotland) is 837 miles From Land’s End (Southern most place in Cornwall), Mrs F feels quite giddy at the thought of your travels.