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Hello, Elle,
Yes, I want to read about the goings on at Newmarket.
The book is from the time of King James 1st, up to the present day.
I was only away for twenty minutes.
I could not understand why both books had the same title!
Then I twigged I had blundered!
I think I shall get Take Six Girls, mainly to see how the other half lived, and we will never see a family like that, ever again.
There was a previous biography about the sisters, but the author was criticised for going very easy on Diana, who was still alive at the time.
Apparently, Duchess Debo's office was filled with Elvis memorabilia!
I am interested in what happened to Unity, after she shot herself.
I have never heard about that, or how long she lived.
I hope you like Chesapeake.
I did.

Hi, Rusty!
Earlier, you mentioned the Great South Run at Portsmouth.
Did you get to watch it?
Were there any big names we know taking part?
Quite often, Jo Pavey takes part in these Charity running events.
My daughter took part in a Race For Life in Regent's Park, London, and Jo and Paula Radcliffe were there running alongside her!
Their presence really made the day for all the amateurs who had come along to make money for their individual charities.
Oh, a granddaughter was visiting you today, wasn't she?
Did you give her lunch?

Hello, Elle,
No, I had the race on my television, but only in background.
Yes, I had a granddaughter here, but only for a chat.
Unity Mitford's middle name was Valkyrie.
I did not know that was a used name.
It is a goddess, apparently.

Hi, Rusty!
I am not terribly sure what a Valkyrie is?
I have a feeling that it is a handmaiden of Odin; weren't there twelve of them who chose who should die in battle and who should live?
I don't know how that worked ?
I might need to check this out on Google?
A most peculiar forename to give to a young baby.
Wasn't Unity the one who had affiliations with Hitler?

Hello, Elle,
Anne Bradford has Valkyrie as a goddess.
I am not up on Odin. What is a handmaiden?
I thought it an unusual name for a child?
Yes, Unity, I think, was involved with Hitler.
Unity is an unusual name. too?
She shot a bullet into her head when war broke out, but survived.
She eventually died at Oban.

Hi, Rusty!
I thought that a handmaiden was simply a sort of female attendant.
But ...I have looked it up in Anne B.
And now I am really confused....?
Anne says that a "Valkyrie" is Brynhild?
Now who or what is this?
(She doesn't mention "goddess" ?)
And under "handmaiden", she say a "a manicurist"...... (er, pardon?)
or "Valkyrie" or "Iras"?
Who was /is Iras?
Maybe we have different editions?
Mine is the 7th?
I shall see later if there is anything in Brewers.......
A belated dinner awaits me now .......we are behind tonight.......

Hello, Elle,
Yes, a handmaiden sounds like a waitress or similar, I think.
I have Brynhild, too, but I found Valkyrie under "Goddess".
There is Walkyrie, too. Same goddess?
I cannot find iras anywhere.
My Bradford is 8th.
Yes, best eat your dinner before it grows cold...and you have to phone your cousin!

Hi, Rusty!
Now, according to Brewers,
Valkyries are the "choosers of the slain".
There are nine, (or seven or twelve) - this is how it written there - handmaidens of Odin, who, mounted on horses , and holding drawn swords , rush into the thick of battle and selected those destined to die.
The Valkyries then conducted these heroes to Valhalla , where they waited upon them and served them with mead and ale in the skulls of the vanquished.
Brewers gives Odin as the Norse god of wisdom, poetry, war and agriculture.
As god of the dead , he presided over those slain in battle.
(which fits with having Valkyries as his handmaidens)
I cannot find "Brynhild" or "Iras"?
Thank you for the reminder to phone my cousin - I shall do that forthwith.......

Hello, Elle!
I can find no trace of Iras, unless it is plural.
Ira is a first name.
I think Brynhild or Brunhilde, is a common enough name in parts of Northern Europe.
I think I would stay well clear of Odin and the Valkyries!

Hey, Rusty!
No, Iras is a mystery.......nothing to be found on Google either.
Ah well, we have widened our knowledge enough, anyway, for one evening!
I am expecting the delivery of my replacement cooker hood tomorrow.
Hasn't it been a long time coming?
The new cooker has been installed and running for a couple of months now.
Someone is to phone me at 7am (a good job I am always up early!) to give me a four -hour time slot when it will be delivered.
That way at least we shan't be tied in all the day.
This week is going to be very busy.
I shall have to check on my calendar to be doubly sure, but I don't think that I have a spare day!