Rodney Loredo - To Hell with Poverty

224 printed pages, 2015, Paperback, great tidy condition.

A modern day Downton Abbey. Over a twelve month period the author and his wife bought to an extremely proper and aristocratic household a down to earth mentality which confused and intrigued their employers. Age old ways tied this Kiwi pair in knots and caused sleepless nights but at best provided some of the funniest experiences of their lives. Their exceedingly wealthy employers couldn't boil water or sweep leaves. The Laredos could, so a punt was taken to hire them by Mr and Mrs Worlingham who required everything to be picked up and put down for them. Shoes had to be polished, clothes laid out and drinks poured. The Laredos acted as marriage counsellors, relationship consultants for their teenage daughters, truce negotiators for family feuds and issues concerning staff rivalry. Acting as go betweens and smoke screens became skills they never knew they had. Aside from life at Chantborough Court there were also local village people who curried favour with this new domestic couple from down under hoping they would open doors to the 'Big House' that most villagers only dreamt of passing through. They became the subject of gossip, personality hang-ups and intrigue - learning to be discreet was everything. Ultimately friendships were forged that have held fast, but getting established and becoming accepted was often testy, frequently funny beyond words and ultimately too good to have missed