One of those totally unplanned, unexpected moments, when I found myself below stairs at a fine house, near Bath, and finding ispiration for a book in little things, as I do, in this case one of the bells to call the servants. Don’t hold your breath for a best-seller yet, I still have to write it, although it’s already plotted.
So, that set me to thinking about Downton Abbey, and then Upstairs Downstairs in the 1970s which I was too young to enjoy really. And then to consider the origin of the nursery rhymn - Goosie Goosie Gander! I remember my mother singing it to me.
Goosey Goosey Gander where shall I wander,
Upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's chamber
There I met an old man a-saying of his prayers,
I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs.
So … the Goosey Goosey Gander’s are apparently Cromwell’s soldiers who would goose step march! THe lady’s chamber was where so often a priest hole was to be found. The old man is a Catholic Priest. And the left leg refers to the ‘left-footer’ nickname!
And all the time I thought it was about Geese!