Whimper
I just -- almost -- finished cleaning up outside for packing, tools, garden stuff, getting rid of rubbish and tidying up the garden a bit, and suchlike. Haven't even started on packing the inside. Can't, really, until I've been back down to the new house tomorrow to measure to see what furniture I can fit, and what will go into storage. Normally, I'd start packing with books, but I don't know if I'll be able to fit in 2 or 3 of my bookshelves, so I'll have to carefully plan which of my books to store. Sigh.At least I know my horse gear goes into storage.
I think the title says it all.
But enough about me.
Persuant to some of my post the other day:
Brother rents out Di's bedroom
By Jane Kerr
April 17, 2005
PRINCESS Diana's brother is to rent her old bedroom to rich Americans for $73,000 a night.
Earl Spencer is hiring out his family ancestral home Althorp, where she is buried, for "weekend stays or longer".
He is advertising the Princess of Wales Room, where she slept with Prince Charles, as one of its main attractions.
He morbidly points out the room has a painting of a Spanish princess who "could not disguise her haunting unhappiness".
Guests will have full run of the mansion and can stroll around the lake that encircles Diana's island resting place.
Asked if overnight visitors can use the wine cellar, he gleefully insists: "It is all available." He expects groups of around 30 people, each paying $2440 a night.
The Earl stopped renting it out after her death for fear of being accused of cashing in on her memory. His new offer will cause dismay.
Last night a royal source said: "It's actually shocking.
"The Earl is very wealthy already, but apparently there's no end to his desire for commercialism. I'm sure he believes no one will find out."
He makes his tacky sales pitch in the current US issue of a magazine for owners of American Express's exclusive Centurion card, reserved for the super-wealthy.
Britney Spears and teenage actress Lindsay Lohan are said to own the cards, available only by invitation.
The Earl claims he has never recently considered hiring Althorp out except when Madonna wanted it for her wedding to Guy Ritchie in 2000.
He scrapped the plan, claiming their detailed requirements would overwhelm security arrangements.
The Earl tells the magazine: "I haven't aggressively pursued renting out Althorp."
He declined to confirm how much he was charging and said: "Everything is done on a bespoke basis, so it depends on what the guests require."
US sources confirm he expects guests to cough up around $2440 each. But they will not be allowed on to the island where Diana is buried.
The estate has an exhibition dedicated to her life and work. And the sleeping quarters include five state bedrooms, each boasting lavish oil paintings and antique furniture.
Diana's former room, originally named after Edward VII, was renamed in her honour in 2003 and opened to the public.
It also once belonged to one of Diana's ancestors, the fourth Earl Spencer, who died in it in 1857.
The magazine also tells how the Oak Bedroom is allegedly haunted by the ghost of the third Earl's favourite footman.
The current Earl promises US clients they will be lavishly fed and have access to a well-stocked bar.
He says his chef is Elizabeth Parker, who has worked for Princess Caroline of Monaco and the Duchess of York.
He adds: "Usually all guests choose to have the same things, although individual tastes can easily be catered to."
But he warns: "If you are looking for internet in every bedroom, you have come to the wrong place. This is somewhere to come when you have done everything else. You shed the modern world when you drive through the gates."
An American Express spokesman said: "I can confirm an article ran in a recent issue of US Centurion magazine.
"Earl Spencer extended an invitation to Centurion card members to rent Althorp."
Earlier this month Diana's brother revealed her exhibition lost $573,170 last year amid falling visitor numbers. Fewer than 80,000 people went to Althorp when it was open from July to September last year.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the Earl said: "Althorp has hosted corporate and private hospitality for 30 years. This is a normal way of helping with the upkeep of a historic house."
The woman's dead. Let us lie down? Ewwwwwwwww. Tacky, Earlie dahling, very tacky.
(On another note, what's with all of the colons in this report? The correct punctuation is a comma, Ms Kerr. Sheesh, and I can't get a job with these people. *rolls eyes*)
posted by Heather @ 11:37 am
3 Comments:
Maybe Ms Kerr is chinese. Colons are used to indicate the beginning of dialogue in chinese compositions.
re: books, you have had years headstart on me. ;) I recommend starting packing the ones you sure you really want. Really sure.
Also, I found using clothes as packaging a good way to cut down on space and newspaper.
That's altogether possible, Liz. Although.. Kerr is an Irish name.
And Tessa, not *that* much of a head start. :-P
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