Last orders

Gstaad

The fin de saison feeling is like the end of term in boarding school. Bittersweet. At school, one was cocooned from the big, bad outside world; here in Gstaad, far from the crowds and bustle, one has time to ponder the melting snows and dream about one’s youth. Closing day at the Eagle Club was fun. At the Taki Cup presentation — the overall winner and new record holder was John Taki, in 36 minutes — I reminded the members that the Taki Cup has lasted longer than both world wars combined, which means it is a far more important historical event. Some Belgian people agreed.

Yep, cocoon is the operative word around these parts. Snow conditions, the weather, our blood pressure and other such weighty subjects are what concern us. The world is going to hell but here it is spring snow that takes precedence over world hunger or the siege of Gaza. Back in no longer merry old England things have never looked grimmer, yet a card from a loyal Speccie reader, Richard Humphrey, gives me some food for thought. In it he includes a letter dated 13 October 1940, and the address is 39 South Mossley Hill Road, Liverpool. It is addressed to ‘My dear cousin Mary’ and it includes such gems as: ‘At times we get terrible gun fire but so far we have had no damage with bombs…we have given up going to bed at night…but everybody around here is keeping very busy, knitting and going to first-aid classes. Oh, I might mention our beautiful cathedral has had one or two knocks but I am pleased to say it is not very badly damaged. Dear Mary, I don’t think I will be able to send you your usual pudding and mincemeat as we are not able to get the fruit to make a lot.’