Oh, Flux!

Apologies, first off. I may vanish at any given second and end up goodness knows where, but just in case I do, I thought it best to get that out of the way first!

And today started off just like any other. I awoke, exactly one minute before the alarm (which is one of my pet hates, I must say…) and everything seemed fine. I walked to the bathroom, took a bath, got myself ready, and went about my day as normal. Everything was normal. Right as rain, in fact.

I left the Mansion at about 6:45am, and stepped out into a smoggy, drizzly and slightly dark morning. We have a ‘pollution’ problem up here in Cheshire at the moment (according to the news people), and visibility is terrible – well, it was this morning. I scraped the Saharan sand off my windscreen, which enabled me to see slightly further forward, but that was about it. Since then, everything went swimmingly.

I got back to the Mansion at about 6:30 this evening, and noticed a couple of turrets over in the West Wing that definitely weren’t there yesterday. There was an old outhouse just inside the gates to the Grinds as I drove in earlier as well, which I’ve never noticed before either. Scott the Guardsman waved to me as usual as I passed him… and then it struck me. I’ve never seen Scott the Guardsman before. I don’t even know a Scott the Guardsman… although I most definitely knew this Scott.

I didn’t realise this until I saw the turrets, which made me think that something was going on.

The Mansion has been quite quiet of late… or so it seems. Yes, I saw that little door last week out in the Grinds, but that’s away from the Mansion. Life inside here has been simply ticking along.

That, however, has reminded me of something else. In the Reception Room is a very old Grandfather Clock. It NEVER stops. It stopped today. I put the time forward on it the other morning, as I’d forgotten it as usual. And, also as usual, I was almost blinded by the cuckoo that comes flying out on the hour as I did it. The cuckoo’s actually lost its “Cuck”, well, it must be almost two hundred years old if a day, so it now bleats “Ooooh!” as it’s unceremoniously yanked back inside its little double doors.

That, however, I didn’t find odd. It always gives me a chuckle!

I climbed the stairs up to the landing… the carpet was green instead of blue. I had to turn right to the bathroom instead of left, as where the bathroom usually is stands a large mirror. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and thought I looked rather dapper in my Victorian clothing… when I realised the reflection wasn’t of me! The shield that I have on the wall is now looking more triangular than round – yet the design on the shield is still circular avec a star and arrow in the middle.

I entered the bathroom and was immediately attacked by a tendril. The bathroom had been completely overtaken by some kind of Pieris Phillyreifolia, or Climbing Fetterbush. And before you ask – I have no idea how I know that name, and how and why a whole jungle of it would suddenly decide to sprout in my bathroom. And also why it should decide to attack me.

Anyway, that aside, I walked back out of the bathroom – and found myself in the Grinds, outside the back door.

I walked in through the back door, and found myself in the East Wing’s Loft.

I made my way back to the Reception Room, where I suddenly noticed that it was VERY warm. The door to the Vestibule was open, as was the door to the Cellar, which could have explained the heat, although it was a little too warm even for that.

I walked over the floor with the intention of closing the Vestibule door many times, but as soon as I went to reach the door handle I was back on the other side of the Reception Room.

I’ve made my way to the Computer Room, where I’ve been able to type this, although some paragraphs are appearing in French – I hope I haven’t missed any during the (what seems like constant!) translations. I can hear the Mansion moaning and groaning all around me. Doors are opening and closing… some in the traditional way, and some with a futuristic ‘swooshing’ sound. I can hear laughter coming from all around – shouting – screaming – and one of my favourite Mansion sounds the school handbell – I still have no idea where that sound comes from! Oh, and the cuckoo’s “Oooooh!” seems to have been occurring more frequently than it should as well.

Scott called me earlier to ask if everything was alright within the Mansion as he’d noticed a swirling mass of black cloud, and lightning, above one of the West Wing turrets, but the call was disconnected.

The lights are flickering, but when they go out candles appear and light as if by magic. It’s all very surreal! – even for the Mansion’s standards.

And, the computer is starting to flicker and beep. I’m grateful that I’ve managed to get this far without losing it completely.

Anyway, I shall now be off and try and see what is going on around these here parts. I found an image on line of a tendril like the one that attacked me earlier – and on the page was Pieris Phillyreifolia. You could blow me over with a feather.

But anyway, the Mansion certainly needs to tell me something – or calming – so I shall see what needs to be done.

Oh, by the way, I haven’t forgotten about yesterday’s post, but I’m a little busy right now to reveal more… I will very soon.

Au Revoir for now…