Sorry if this has been asked before...

[andywild]

Hi all, I'm considering doing the VDLP in April and will be away from home for a few weeks. My question is this,

Do I give my butler and both maids the 6 weeks off or should I have them pop in occasionally to dust the chandeliers etc..

I don't really want to come back to a dusty mansion like "common" people do.

Thank you
Andy
xxx

 

[David]

It is a tricky question. Your valet will travel with you of course - someone has to do the laundry, keep you well shaven, lie in your bed for an hour before you go to bed to feed the bedbugs, and carry your rucksack .... but your butler may feel that he also deserves a break and as it is worth keeping him onside, a good butler being such a rare thing, even if they all do quietly steal from us, I would give him a holiday.
This would leave two maids and who knows what shennanigans they would encourage each other to get up to so I would just sack them - they are easily replacable after all. If you don't give them references they will still be unemployed when you return and they will be so grateful to get their jobs back - and if they start the day before you return the house will be prepared and fresh for you.

To keep the estate safe I would hire a security guard to live in, not necessary for him/her to bring their own dog as I assume that he/she will be looking after your own hounds.

There - problem solved, well, apart from the horses but I assume that they will go into livery?

 

[andywild]

I'm glad you mentioned the valet going to bed earlier to feed the bedbugs.. this is one of my top tips for a successful Camino (or JesusJolly as me and the chaps at the club like to call it). I find that dosing said valet's food with A strong pesticide works best as it then transfers straight from his blood stream. It does seem to make him slightly less talkative too which is always a bonus.. no one likes a pilgrimage with someone constantly complaining about how heavy the 42 piece Victorian tea-set is...

 

[SabsP]

Oh this thread already is priceless!!

Love it!

 

[andywild]

I notice my question has "been moved to a different forum"... Would it be asking too much just to have my own section?
Regards
Andy Wild III CBE, PhD, BBC, LSD.

 

[NorthernLight]

Surely you'll need a couple of the horses and the assistant butler to accompany you! Who else will ride ahead, secure your rooms at the inn and make them ready for you? Or set up camp for your tea?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

"Downton Abbey goes Camino

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I notice my question has "been moved to a different forum"... Would it be asking too much just to have my own section?
Regards
Andy Wild III CBE, PhD, BBC, LSD.

Don't forget the LDS and the AADD!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Oh this thread already is priceless!!

Love it!

Totally agree, Sabine! I hope this thread keeps on keepin' on!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I'm "considering" the Vdlp/Sanabres or another route in April. If I decide on the Vdlp I will watch out for the hoity toity Lord with the big red beard riding on a horse.

 

[Icacos]

I'm "considering" the Vdlp/Sanabres or another route in April. If I decide on the Vdlp I will watch out for the hoity toity Lord with the big red beard riding on a horse.

You’ll have to watch out for him, as he won’t be watching out for you.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

You’ll have to watch out for him, as he won’t be watching out for you.

So true...his nose will be too high in the air to see any lowly pilgrims.

 

[nycwalking]

"Downton Abbey goes Camino

Which butler goes with: Carson or Barrow?

 

[Turga]

Don’t worry, bring as much as you need, you are just honoring traditions. On the British Kabul expedition in 1839, one brigadier was said to have had no fewer than sixty camels to transport his personal camp equipment and the officers of one regiment had two camels assigned just to carry their supply of cigars. So why worry about a detail like a 42 piece Victorian tea-set….

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Yes, Turga, but if that particular brigadier had been going to Santiago instead, would he have qualified for a compostela? Possibly... if he passed out cigars to the pilgrim office staff and volunteers.

 

[Bradypus]

Don’t worry, bring as much as you need, you are just honoring traditions. On the British Kabul expedition in 1839, one brigadier was said to have had no fewer than sixty camels to transport his personal camp equipment and the officers of one regiment had two camels assigned just to carry their supply of cigars. So why worry about a detail like a 42 piece Victorian tea-set….

Ever read "The Ascent of Rum Doodle" ?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Help can be expensive

Our porters

• Rick of Rick and Peg
• Jan 31, 2016
• 14

The vanguard of our porters. The others carrying the furniture, refrigerators, air conditioners...

 

[Turga]

Ever read "The Ascent of Rum Doodle" ?

No, should I?
I read "The Great Game" by Peter Hopkirk.

 

[nycwalking]

Don’t worry, bring as much as you need, you are just honoring traditions. On the British Kabul expedition in 1839, one brigadier was said to have had no fewer than sixty camels to transport his personal camp equipment and the officers of one regiment had two camels assigned just to carry their supply of cigars. So why worry about a detail like a 42 piece Victorian tea-set….

I wonder if some of those below stairs employees felt this way?

 

[Bradypus]

No, should I?
I read "The Great Game" by Peter Hopkirk.

Everyone should Excellent spoof on the mountaineering stories from the first half of the 20th century. Disaster from start to finish told with British stiff upper lip

PS: a 5 part BBC radio abridged audio version is available online to give you the flavour of it . https://archive.org/details/AscentOfRumDoodle

 

[Introibo]

If you decide to get a friend to look over the house every week whilst you're away then
can I suggest getting a different friend to pop in on other days and move a few things
around? Maybe introduce some fresh flowers into the house on week three?

This arrangement works best if friend number one hasn't been told about friend number 2
visiting the house

 

[Icacos]

Which butler goes with: Carson or Barrow?

I vote for Barrow. My guess is that he couldn’t care less what the rest of us do, and we would be left in peace. Carson would be horrified left, right and centre.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I wonder if some of those below stairs employees felt this way?
View attachment 65315View attachment 65315

I enjoyed watching the lives of the DA servants..they were as interesting as the hoity toity's!

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Good to see you back Andy and to see nothing has changed in your hysterical life. Thanks for the afternoon laugh !

 

[hel&scott]

Actually, there is a long tradition of people traveling with an entourage on the camino,
Prince Carlos (before he became Carlos III) traveled with a vast entourage in the 1380s to thank the saint for his release from France. And I bet other catholic nobility didn't walk with back pack. I am sure @Kathar1na will be along presently to enlighten us all.

On a more serious note, if your question is about keeping your humble pile safe while you are away then consider a house sitter. We've always had someone look after the place when away, as much as to feed the dog and cat as to deter burglars and check we havent left the gas on. It's a bit more difficult now we've moved to the country, not everyone wants to take on our surfs role of shifting stock, feeding pigs, exercising the dog, mowing 16 hectare and pruning countless trees while I am away. Oh it's a hard life being the landed gentry.

Enjoy the VDLP, it's long and hard but an absolute joy.

 

[Hurry Krishna]

Of course this question has been asked MANY times before

Hi all, I'm considering doing the VDLP in April and will be away from home for a few weeks. My question is this,

Do I give my butler and both maids the 6 weeks off or should I have them pop in occasionally to dust the chandeliers etc..

I don't really want to come back to a dusty mansion like "common" people do.

Thank you
Andy
xxx

Of course this question has been asked many times before. You really need to ask your Executive Assistant to do some research!!! BTW, I always take my butler with me, you need someone hold the door of the Albergue when you come in exhausted at the end of he day. You will need your scullery maid too - there is washing to be done every day. Other than that, perhaps a footman ...

 

[Glenshiro]

Personally, I travel light, with just a ghillie or two to assist with the luggage and to shoot peasants pheasants. I give my gentleman's gentleman the time off (without pay, of course, I'm not made of money) so that he can visit the orphanage where I found him and employed him as Boots. And do, please, remember that a gentleman never eats soup at luncheon. Toodle-pip!

 

[MikeyC]

Andy, my dear chap, you've got the wrong end of the stick. Us proper toffs send one of our minions to do this walking business and have them use one's name on that compostela thingy.
Leaves more time for a spot of shooting and fishing dontcha know.

 

[Hurry Krishna]

Andy, my dear chap, you've got the wrong end of the stick. Us proper toffs send one of our minions to do this walking business and have them use one's name on that compostela thingy.
Leaves more time for a spot of shooting and fishing dontcha know.

Of course!!! There is a long tradition of the rich paying the poor to carry their sins! Easiest way to buy a stairway to heaven

 

[Bradypus]

Of course!!! There is a long tradition of the rich paying the poor to carry their sins! Easiest way to buy a stairway to heaven

Nonsense madam! The truly rich do not have "sins" - only eccentricities....

 

[Chica36]

Hi all, I'm considering doing the VDLP in April and will be away from home for a few weeks. My question is this,

Do I give my butler and both maids the 6 weeks off or should I have them pop in occasionally to dust the chandeliers etc..

I don't really want to come back to a dusty mansion like "common" people do.

Thank you
Andy
xxx

I can always house sit (as long as your mansion is in a nice place).

 

[Chica36]

I can always house sit (as long as your mansion is in a nice place).

On second thoughts I see you live on the East coast of U.K. That’s just one notch up from Lancashire so I retract my offer!

 

[Icacos]

On second thoughts I see you live on the East coast of U.K. That’s just one notch up from Lancashire so I retract my offer!

Ouch??

 

[Bradypus]

On second thoughts I see you live on the East coast of U.K. That’s just one notch up from Lancashire so I retract my offer!

Only if you are holding your map the wrong way round.

 

[Marcus-UK]

It is a tricky question. Your valet will travel with you of course - someone has to do the laundry, keep you well shaven, lie in your bed for an hour before you go to bed to feed the bedbugs, and carry your rucksack .... but your butler may feel that he also deserves a break and as it is worth keeping him onside, a good butler being such a rare thing, even if they all do quietly steal from us, I would give him a holiday.
This would leave two maids and who knows what shennanigans they would encourage each other to get up to so I would just sack them - they are easily replacable after all. If you don't give them references they will still be unemployed when you return and they will be so grateful to get their jobs back - and if they start the day before you return the house will be prepared and fresh for you.

To keep the estate safe I would hire a security guard to live in, not necessary for him/her to bring their own dog as I assume that he/she will be looking after your own hounds.

There - problem solved, well, apart from the horses but I assume that they will go into livery?

I noticed you did not fall into the social faux pas of suggesting the Butler be employed to do the valet's job. After all Jeeves was always described as a personal man servant or valet and never incorrectly a "Butler". The Butler is responsible for the household and staff.

 

[Icacos]

I noticed you did not fall into the social faux pas of suggesting the Butler be employed to do the valet's job. After all Jeeves was always described as a personal man servant or valet and never incorrectly a "Butler". The Butler is responsible for the household and staff.

Oh, well then, Barrow definitely gets the job.

 

[Davey Boyd]

Hi all, I'm considering doing the VDLP in April and will be away from home for a few weeks. My question is this,

Do I give my butler and both maids the 6 weeks off or should I have them pop in occasionally to dust the chandeliers etc..

I don't really want to come back to a dusty mansion like "common" people do.

Thank you
Andy
xxx

Sack them all and buy new ones when you return. What is your address and what dates are you going? Cos then your pad will be empty and I can pop round to nick your paintings. After we have free-partied the place that is.

Ta, Davey

 

[Bradypus]

What is your address and what dates are you going?

SW1A 1AA
21st April

 

[Davey Boyd]

SW1A 1AA
21st April

Buck house, nice!
Thank you.
Fancy a party?

Davey

 

[Bradypus]

Buck house, nice!
Thank you.
Fancy a party?

Davey

Bring a cake. With lots of candles.

 

[nycwalking]

Nonsense madam! The truly rich do not have "sins" - only eccentricities....

Amen!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Bring a cake. With lots of candles.

Is this the "Not a serious thread"? ...maybe should be!

 

[Davey Boyd]

Bring a cake. With lots of candles.

Ok, I am a bit lost on the date bit......

BUT does this mean Andy is a secret Royal? Could be! He (or she) is wearing a mask in his pic. Is it Andrew? Could even be Lizzy off on a jolly.... You never know.....

 

[Davey Boyd]

Is this the "Not a serious thread"? ...maybe should be!

This is terribly serious!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Ok, I am a bit lost on the date bit......

BUT does this mean Andy is a secret Royal? Could be! He (or she) is wearing a mask in his pic. Is it Andrew? Could even be Lizzy off on a jolly.... You never know.....

I can verify that Andy is a wild man. I recall his original avatar photo...he definately had a long red beard. If he was a lady I think he would be in the circus, not walking Caminos!

 

[Davey Boyd]

I can verify that Andy is a wild man. I recall his original avatar photo...he definately had a long red beard. If he was a lady I think he would be in the circus, not walking Caminos!

Could be the queen with a sticky-on beard.
If you was the queen, you would need a disguise to walk the camino.
Has he ever mentioned Corgis by any chance?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Could be the queen with a sticky-on beard.
If you was the queen, you would need a disguise to walk the camino.
Has he ever mentioned Corgis by any chance?

Ruff, ruff!

 

[andywild]

On second thoughts I see you live on the East coast of U.K. That’s just one notch up from Lancashire so I retract my offer!

I'll have you know the east coast of UK isn't a notch above anything!! It's often said that if God were to give the UK an enema this is where he'd stick it !

 

[andywild]

Sack them all and buy new ones when you return. What is your address and what dates are you going? Cos then your pad will be empty and I can pop round to nick your paintings. After we have free-partied the place that is.

Ta, Davey

I've decided to send them for retraining, two of them wouldn't know an ivory shoe-horn if you hit them with one (which I often do). And I've decided that it's best all round if the one that's developed a limp is put out of his misery. You're more than welcome to attempt to pilfer the objets d'art but you'll have to get past the corgis...ehemm, I mean attack dogs first..

 

[Mar Oregon]

I've decided to send them for retraining, two of them wouldn't know an ivory shoe-horn if you hit them with one (which I often do). And I've decided that it's best all round if the one that's developed a limp is put out of his misery. You're more than welcome to attempt to pilfer the objets d'art but you'll have to get past the corgis...ehemm, I mean attack dogs first..

Kind Ladies and gentlemen,
I have just finished reading the entirety of this thread and no where could I find mention of the obvious need to bring one’s own personal botafumeira, solid silver of course. Perhaps you are unaware that the original one in the cathedral in Santiago is only set in motion on certain days of the month, unless you and several onlookers want to cough up a wad of cash to entice the church leaders to light it up when you arrive. I believe if you bring your own with you, your chances of seeing the thurible swing are greatly improved, especially if you also bring along 6-8 sturdy monks (or nuns) who can both attach it and then coordinate the necessary rope pulling. Of course you could press into service the various butlers, maids, cooks and footmen you already have with you, but certainly the one you have been using as bedbug bait will be half dead by then and of very little use. I suppose you could try harnessing the corgis but likely they will be more interested in herding other pilgrims, not to mention dog tired. So there you have. The problem outlined and it’s solution contained here in one paragraph. I only hope you read this far into the thread before the expedition begins. It would be a shame if you had to wait till Sunday to see the spectacle like the common riffraff must do.