Chuckle, chuckle. The Saga of the Orange Flash! By super-sleuth Rebecca Holden!! Poor βTomβ. Not a cheap day out at all, but hopefully mainly enjoyable. Memorable for all sorts of reasons. Thanks so much for another engrossing read. ππ€π
Thanks, Beth! I had thought about including some more advanced calculations - calculating how many minutes Tom had spent travelling against how many minutes heβd spent at the castle; cost per minute of his visit if he hadnβt lost his ticket AND with the cost of its replacement factored in - but then.... well, letβs just say that numbers arenβt my forte! π€£
You might have to start calling Snaps βWatsonβ! π A delightful post that also goes to show the rest of us that a lovely story can start from anything, including a ticket lost in the grass π Also, the castle looks stunning π
Thanks, Bryn! Yes, heβs not a bad sleuthing sidekick! π€£
Actually that building isnβt actually the castle itself - itβs another building that although on the same patch of land isnβt open to the public. You can see a snap of part of the Great Tower here though - https://rebeccaholden.substack.com/p/friday-august-11
Itβs a vast site with loads to explore - itβs very popular with travellers who are about to - or have just arrived from - a cruise, given its proximity to the port of Dover.
Our Miss Marple unpacks the story from a crumpled orange-y white clue. But she fails to find the body, alas! Rebecca, another fine piece you've gotten us into.
I've had such a good laugh. Not at you, Rebecca, not at all. It was just such a fascinating tale you invented around a lost ticket, a bit of detritus in the grass.
On the other hand there is this thing that you do - sleuthing. If you aren't related to Holmes and Enola or Watson, are you by chance otherwise employed by MI 5/6? Not that you can tell us I suppose. Official secrets and all that.
But I suspect you have a whole stash of goodies from Q or Malcolm or whoever took over at Spooks Central when they both retired.
I loved the flow chart covering the multiple scenarios. I wonder if Jim will be so quick to point out these little treasures in the future, knowing that he will lose you for many hours as you conduct your forensic investigations. I really enjoyed this Rebecca.
Thanks so much, Jim - it was great fun! My waste paper basket contains half a dozen mishits of that flowchart - and all the calculations I didnβt include in the end, because I just couldnβt do the maths!!! π€£ππ
Nevertheless it was a really fun post to write, and Iβm so pleased that you enjoyed the read. π
Thanks so much, Mark! Iβm enjoying not being the only thing in this newsletter to get lost - itβs really fun to write about things that have been lost, too! ππ€£π
Lovely post! And such classic Holden. I love how your brain works, Rebecca. I even went back to read again the teabag story and the found list story - both delightful the second time through. Happy weekend to you and to all those who love you across there.
Iβm so pleased you went back to reread those other two found-item posts - thank you! It seems Iβm on a bit of a theme here! π€£
Thank you for your weekend wishes! Weβre taking it easy for a couple of days, which makes a change. Sunshine and showers, but the latter are neither heavy nor long. Iβm sitting outside with a cup of tea and enjoying fresh air and birdsong. Hugs and happy weekend to you! π
Indeed. And don't forget the shopping list, Rebecca. I think it's strange that every time I lose something you pick it up and then write about it. How do you explain that?
Iβm going to try that trick of quickly closing the bag, wallet, drawer when I canβt find something. According to your theory things may rearrange themselves (I love that so much!) to get found! Do you think this will work on computer filesπ€£
I always do that when I canβt find the thing I can SEE in my mindβs eye as being in the place that Iβm lookingβ¦ I try to catch it out, and get very cross when itβs STILL not there.
The only way I can find things Iβve lost at home is by buying a replacement. Think superglue, or that funny little replacement lightbulb for the cooker. Or cocktail sticks. When Iβve bought a new one, and go to put it away, THATβS when I find the one Iβve lost.
It never fails. But I canβt ever engineer that βoh, Iβve found it!β scenario WITHOUT having bought the replacement item! π€£
Well I guess itβs not a strategy as such - itβs more a βoh, i havenβt been able to find it, which means it doesnβt exist, so I have to buy a new oneβ! And lo: THATβS when I find it! π€£
Very detective-esque, Rebecca! I love it. And I love the takeaway- that even when things donβt go as planned, we still get to marvel in that adventure
Chuckle, chuckle. The Saga of the Orange Flash! By super-sleuth Rebecca Holden!! Poor βTomβ. Not a cheap day out at all, but hopefully mainly enjoyable. Memorable for all sorts of reasons. Thanks so much for another engrossing read. ππ€π
Thanks, Beth! I had thought about including some more advanced calculations - calculating how many minutes Tom had spent travelling against how many minutes heβd spent at the castle; cost per minute of his visit if he hadnβt lost his ticket AND with the cost of its replacement factored in - but then.... well, letβs just say that numbers arenβt my forte! π€£
You might have to start calling Snaps βWatsonβ! π A delightful post that also goes to show the rest of us that a lovely story can start from anything, including a ticket lost in the grass π Also, the castle looks stunning π
Thanks, Bryn! Yes, heβs not a bad sleuthing sidekick! π€£
Actually that building isnβt actually the castle itself - itβs another building that although on the same patch of land isnβt open to the public. You can see a snap of part of the Great Tower here though - https://rebeccaholden.substack.com/p/friday-august-11
Itβs a vast site with loads to explore - itβs very popular with travellers who are about to - or have just arrived from - a cruise, given its proximity to the port of Dover.
Our Miss Marple unpacks the story from a crumpled orange-y white clue. But she fails to find the body, alas! Rebecca, another fine piece you've gotten us into.
Mark, youβre right - no BODY!!! #epicfail
Iβm happy to confirm though that I found no evidence that Ticketless Tom had come to any harm, so we can assume that heβs alive and well. π
Poor Tom... I have visions of his kids trying to smuggle him through the barriers and onto the train home without anyone noticing π
Ooooh Denise - yes, perhaps THATβS how he got home! Good thinking! Youβve earned your place on the detective squad! π
Why thank you! You want a mystery solved, ask a mystery writer π€£
π€£
I've had such a good laugh. Not at you, Rebecca, not at all. It was just such a fascinating tale you invented around a lost ticket, a bit of detritus in the grass.
On the other hand there is this thing that you do - sleuthing. If you aren't related to Holmes and Enola or Watson, are you by chance otherwise employed by MI 5/6? Not that you can tell us I suppose. Official secrets and all that.
But I suspect you have a whole stash of goodies from Q or Malcolm or whoever took over at Spooks Central when they both retired.
Wonderful tale - thank you!
LOL - shhhh Prue, donβt tell everybody! π€«π΅οΈββοΈπ€£
Iβm so glad you enjoyed this post - I had such fun writing it. Iβm already on the lookout for the next bit of paper to write about...!
Malcolm was my favorite character in Spooks - he always a sweetheart. And so wonderfully earnest!
I loved the flow chart covering the multiple scenarios. I wonder if Jim will be so quick to point out these little treasures in the future, knowing that he will lose you for many hours as you conduct your forensic investigations. I really enjoyed this Rebecca.
Thanks so much, Jim - it was great fun! My waste paper basket contains half a dozen mishits of that flowchart - and all the calculations I didnβt include in the end, because I just couldnβt do the maths!!! π€£ππ
Nevertheless it was a really fun post to write, and Iβm so pleased that you enjoyed the read. π
I liked the flowchart too!
Thanks, Terry! π
Clever technique, great story!
Thanks so much, Mark! Iβm enjoying not being the only thing in this newsletter to get lost - itβs really fun to write about things that have been lost, too! ππ€£π
Very entertaining
Kerry, thatβs so kind - Iβm glad you enjoyed it! π
Lovely post! And such classic Holden. I love how your brain works, Rebecca. I even went back to read again the teabag story and the found list story - both delightful the second time through. Happy weekend to you and to all those who love you across there.
Awwww Sharron - βclassic Holdenβ! How lovely!
Iβm so pleased you went back to reread those other two found-item posts - thank you! It seems Iβm on a bit of a theme here! π€£
Thank you for your weekend wishes! Weβre taking it easy for a couple of days, which makes a change. Sunshine and showers, but the latter are neither heavy nor long. Iβm sitting outside with a cup of tea and enjoying fresh air and birdsong. Hugs and happy weekend to you! π
Tom showed up at my door last night. Said some bird was snooping on his life, and wanted to escape to America. I sympathized.
π€£π€£π€£ Peter, youβve cracked me up with this comment!!! π€£π€£π€£
π
Not Ticketless Tom, but Ticketless Tel. I wondered where that ticket had disappeared to.
I seem to remember your ownership claim to the tea bag too, Terry! π€£
Indeed. And don't forget the shopping list, Rebecca. I think it's strange that every time I lose something you pick it up and then write about it. How do you explain that?
Terry, I canβt explain it, other than by this emoji: π€―
ππ
Iβm going to try that trick of quickly closing the bag, wallet, drawer when I canβt find something. According to your theory things may rearrange themselves (I love that so much!) to get found! Do you think this will work on computer filesπ€£
Brilliant, as always!
Thanks, Donna! π
I always do that when I canβt find the thing I can SEE in my mindβs eye as being in the place that Iβm lookingβ¦ I try to catch it out, and get very cross when itβs STILL not there.
The only way I can find things Iβve lost at home is by buying a replacement. Think superglue, or that funny little replacement lightbulb for the cooker. Or cocktail sticks. When Iβve bought a new one, and go to put it away, THATβS when I find the one Iβve lost.
It never fails. But I canβt ever engineer that βoh, Iβve found it!β scenario WITHOUT having bought the replacement item! π€£
I am literally laughing out loud that your find-it strategy is to go buy a new one! Thatβs the best.
π€£π€£π€£
Well I guess itβs not a strategy as such - itβs more a βoh, i havenβt been able to find it, which means it doesnβt exist, so I have to buy a new oneβ! And lo: THATβS when I find it! π€£
Iβm hopeless, honestly!!!!
But what if it wasn't Tom who lost the ticket?
What if instead it was another family member?
If so, then where is tom?
Gosh, Olga, now that opens up a whole new set of questions! Itβs not Tomβs ticket thatβs lost, but Tom himselfβ¦!
The answer to the mystery clearly lies deeper down this cliff top rabbit hole!
This is what comes from reading too many NANCY DREW books as a child. *BG*
Your Nancy-Drew-resulting suspicious nature does you resounding credit in this ticket mystery! π
That flow chart!!β€οΈ
Thanks, Jillian! It was such fun, honestly!!! π€£
Very detective-esque, Rebecca! I love it. And I love the takeaway- that even when things donβt go as planned, we still get to marvel in that adventure
Thanks so much, Camille! I like to think that Tom had a great day in spite of his ticketless status! π
The flowchart is just the perfect addition here! I enjoyed thinking about all of the various permeations, I wonder where Ticketless Tom ended up π€
Thanks for a lovely read as always!
Thanks, Lyndsay - it was really fun to do! π