Thurs 14 Feb
Sweet card from the boys, with lots of lipstick kisses on the envelope. So that’s what happened to my best Chanel lipstick.
Mr M’s Valentine came in the form of an irritating note attached to the bank statement, pointing out that my gym membership is costing £80 a month, which works out at about £160 a visit. I suppose he’s right, it is a bit of a waste. Although sometimes I do pop in for a cappucino if I’m passing. Anyway, decided to take the bull by the horns and get a personal trainer instead. Daydreamed for a moment about joining the DC under-8 rugby team for a bit of coaching by lovely Mr Linley. Wonder what his first name is – must find out. Then rang Sarah to ask about her PT. She’s got two, so I asked for the number of the one who doesn’t make her work so hard her make-up runs off. He’s coming next week, so decided I’d better go for a run round the park to get in shape.
Bad mistake. I was gasping like a 200-a-day smoker by the time I got to the park gates, and horribly red in the face. Then, naturally, who should walk past, his nose in a book, but Mr Linley. He looked a bit startled, but smiled politely. Then he scuttled away muttering about being late when I asked his name. Surely I didn’t look that repulsive?
More
Gainsborough’s “Mrs Elizabeth Moody and her two sons” can be viewed until 5pm every day except Mondays at Dulwich Picture Gallery [Picture by permission of the Trustees of Dulwich Picture Gallery]
Liz Moody's Dulwich Life
About this article
About Catherine Fraher
Catherine used to work for companies like eBay, the Financial Times and FHM. Now she is bringing up her daughter, Eve, and finally getting round to all the books, films, exhibitions and travelling she never managed before. "Pleasure First!"
Loading ...
One Comment
from ‘Gallery Insider’:
His name, it’s Ozias!
In May 1816 Ozias Linley was appointed Junior Fellow and Organist at Dulwich College which required him to live at the College, to play the organ on Sundays and to teach the scholars music. He was drawn to the position by the opportunity it gave him to exercise his musical abilities, though teaching the twelve poor scholars, the only pupils at the time, cannot have been arduous. He was paid £160 per year plus an apartment, meals and wine. (No need to go to the Crown and Greyhound). Life at the College allowed him to exercise his fondness for intellectual dispute, for which he had been known since, as a young man, he had wrangled with his nephew Tom Sheridan. His ’strong language was always enforced by suitable tones and gestures. He twisted his snuff box between his fingers more rapidly in proportion to this excitement, and pulled his wig awry, till the back was foremost, and a large portion of his fine bald head became visible. He spoke so loud as to make the dining-hall resound, and struck the table so violently with his clenched fist as to put the glasses and decanters in serious jeopardy’ (Sinclair) There is no record as to the muscularity of his thighs.
Ozias died on 6 March 1831 and is buried in Christ’s Chapel (then the College chapel) He left the group of his family portraits, mainly by Gainsborough, to the College and hence they came to hang in Dulwich Picture Gallery. (See A Nest of Nightingales – DPG catalogue to the exhibition Sept-Dec 1988)