| The Queen entered the sudy and kicked a piece | | | | certainly enter for this contest- in fact she |
| of Christmas wrapping away with an impatient | | | | thought they should enter at least thirty times ! |
| flick.The study was a mess- Maria had gone to | | | | She was convinced more than ever that 2007 |
| Rumania with the result that no cleaning or tidying | | | | would be the year when she would return to take |
| had been done since Christmas. The Press | | | | her throne again in triumph and that once Bolshie |
| Secretary had been in Naples and was due back | | | | Blair was well out of the way, there would be a |
| to-day. | | | | change of heart and there would be such a wave |
| She sighed, thinking back with pleasure at the | | | | of nostalgia for the Royal Family that they would |
| Christmas and New Year festivities and the | | | | be swept back to power. |
| wonderful food and wine they hadhad. They had | | | | 'We three Kings of Orient are' the Press |
| been entertained royally by the Duke and | | | | Secretary sang as he entered the study. He was |
| Duchess of Gubbio. There had been a salmon | | | | weighed down with parcels of panettone and |
| terrine, followed by boiled meats, suffed chicken | | | | other delights - chocolate delicacies of every |
| and delicious sauces. Not to mention the sweets- | | | | shape and size which would feed his habit for the |
| one was a fascinating mix of pasta and almond | | | | next two months. He was a chocoholic! |
| sauce and cooked in a pastry case. She had had | | | | "What's on the agenda?" he asked pleasantly. She |
| two helpings of that, not caring a bit about her | | | | noticed that he looked a little plumper and his face |
| thickening waistline and PC had had three helpings! | | | | had a reddish glow. Too much alcohol or was it |
| She picked up the Guardian and was pleased to | | | | the cold wind that was blowing to-day ? Hard to |
| note that there was a contest where one could | | | | say and certainly she was not going to ask him! |
| win a House of Commons bottle of champagne if | | | | 'We are going to win a bottle of champagne and |
| one guessed the actual date of Tony Blair's | | | | 2007 is the year of Our Great Return!" she |
| departure ! It said 'When will Tony go ? Get it | | | | announced triumphantly. |
| right and win a bottle of champagne'. They must | | | | |