Guiding Moments
Never too old It was my very first guided tour and I was nervous. My charming group of Americans came into the Garden and paused at the top of the pavilion steps to admire the cascade in all its glory. I then gave an outline of the tour, suggesting to the 92 year old lady on the mobility scooter that she could reach the bottom of the steps by taking the ramp to one side. She looked at me sternly:“ Young man“( I was then 64)“ I drove tanks in the last war; this is nothing!” and down the steps she drove … As the scooter lurched, another lady leapt forward to steady her, tripped and fell into the arms of a man not her husband. Almost two casualties in the first five minutes. How could things get any worse?
True Love When hosting one day I got into a conversation with a couple at the base of the cascade and, without going into detail, it transpired that the husband, who looked very ill, only had a short time to live. They were enjoying every moment of their lives together and were clearly loving the garden. The suggestion of a motorised scooter was courteously declined. Walking slowly arm in arm was all they intended to do. I offered to take a
photograph of them; I need say no more.
Calendar girl I was doing a guided tour with a delightful, funny, friendly group of flower arranging ladies. Part way round I said to one lady“ I am sure I know you or we have met before”. Shyly she admitted she was Miss February of the Calendar Girls- Angela Baker. As it happens we had met before when I had been working for another charity and she and four fellow Calendar Girls had given a hilarious talk. What is even nicer is that since that day, many years ago, she has returned to Alnwick and I met her again last year.
Playing away On several occasions I have stepped in offering to take a photo of all members of a party together, which usually is very much appreciated. However, on one occasion in 2016, after a gentleman had taken a photograph of a lady, I offered to take a photo of them both as a couple only to receive a response,“ Thanks, but no thanks, we are not supposed to be here together”. Naughty, naughty!
Overheard in The Garden One American to another- " What do they do with the castle when they aren ' t filming Harry Potter?"
A different kind of cascade? I am always interested when an enthusiastic member of a tour group joins in and I learn something which will help in my future tours. Such was the case when an engineer stood on the grass with me and was most informative about water flow and pumps. His very small son was not so enthusiastic. He began to jiggle from one foot to another, tugging at his father’ s trouser leg and announcing that he wanted to go. Dad, not easily deflected from his mission to impart knowledge, brushed off his son with the phrase,” In a minute son, hang on”. The talk went on, and the child continued to dance and interrupt. Finally the Dad stopped his very interesting talk and said,“ Right son, let’ s go,“ and the reply came,“ I’ ve gone”. I am very proud of the fact that I stepped back and did not look down.
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The Alnwick Garden