Gaunts, Gurus and Aristos

High energy visit from Mike, who spent time at Gaunts House before your blogger teamed up with Sir Richard, a baronet, to develop a farm he owned called Honeybrook. Being an aristocrat, and loaded with farms, land, alternative ideas, long hair, strong opinions and a Buddhist in his mind, the idea of forming a limited company, with two shareholders investing 5k each, with equal rights was optimistic to say the least!

Now, this impecunious pseudo-philosopher, required a monthly income, since he planned to work full time on the great idea shared with the rich pseudo-buddhist. Neither of us had a clue about business or how money worked, but a rational business case was constructed to justify further investment, especially since the capital asset of the Farm, the buildings and the land, belonged to Sir Richard. By this time, of course, the initial 10k was spent and Richard invested more to keep me going. Clearly, the power had shifted, as if an Eton boy with money to burn could seriously consider a common Grammar School lad and ex-communist, as an equal, Buddhism notwithstanding.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring aristocrat, Lord Shaftesbury, outranked a mere baronet, Eton or not, since an Earl is a Baron, which meant Richard was inferior, of course. Some decades before, the Earl had a plan to convert the Horton Inn from a pub to a posh restaurant and hotel, which he did, having invited the yokels to confine themselves to the public bar, unless they wanted to dress properly and pay posh prices for the caviar, steak tartare and chocolate brandy mousse all served from silver platters onto posh plates by waiters ... which was the job of the Grammar School boy, whose Dad encouraged the four children to work as well as study, since he thought work was a good thing in itself! We disagreed about that, on philosophical grounds, since hard work never appealed and the aim in life was to enjoy it, not be a slave.

Now Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the double barreled Lord, had a penchant for young women and gambling, which was his downfall, since the latest and last Lady Shaftesbury in Tony's life was a Rumanian beauty, aiming to shaft him and outlast him. When his body was found in a ditch on the road overlooking Monaco, the gendarmerie asked the young Lady for her alibi, which she had prepared earlier. Her brother, however, had no alibi plus the same motive and you don't have to be Sherlock to work out the case for the prosecution. You can find the gory details by searching on a searching engine, if you are interested in premeditated crimes.

Let's just say, the moral of the story is: Try not to be too rich, or to dump your spouse for a younger model with a gangster brother. Meanwhile Sir Richard had similar issues arising from cold parenting and more money than sense. Eton Boys eh, legends in their own minds, often psychopaths, always seeking the love of a mother advised not to turn their sons into softies or poofs. These days we say gay or queer of course. And more than one or two yearned for a return to the canings and penetrations they learned at boarding school.

Back in Stanhope, a new weekend begins with a damp start for the Wolsingham Show ... rather busy for an old blogger, prepared to wait for a week, and Stanhope Show. Maybe a heatwave, or Indian Summer? It's quite possible in Weardale in September!