Lost in notation blog

Day 118 – The mysterious dress donor, Part II

April 29, 2010 at 6:21 pm (bipolar, Charity, Charity shops, Donations, dresses, Fairy God Mother, Fashion, Female solidarity, Friendship, Hoisery, Market Harborough, Newspapers, photography, Style, The boy, Uncategorized) (http://www.primark.co.uk/)

I last had a letter from the mysterious dress donor last Friday.  She sent another shoe box package filled with beautiful dresses and pretty belts in all sorts of colours and styles.  After a friend suggested last weeks letter had Germanic influences I decided to investigate more thoroughly.   The boy’s mama, the polish princess has always had a good eye for charity shopping.  In the past she and I have trawled around the garden city in search of cheap treats and both get giddy when we find designer clobber in great shape and at a fraction of its original price.  As the Polish Princess is, well Polish I start to wonder whether or not it could be she who is my secret sender.  I am not sure how best to make enquires so I spend some time studying the latest letter for a hint of her land, customs or language.

Mi Deerst Elee

My dearest Ellie (Scottish?)

Unudr weeck haf parst.  I am sendeeng yoo sum moor dresess und de beltses.

Another week has past.  I am sending you some more dresses and these belts.  (Dutch perhaps?)

Howp dem ees onlite.  eye howps de oder wones were sewtibl.  Eet ees veree hardee too fynd wones een yur syzes wot ees alsow sooteebl fovr vorck boot ey vil bee triing two fynded dem fo yoo.  (What now?)

Hope these dresses are all right.  I hope also the other dresses which I sent to you last week were suitable.  It is very difficult to find ones in your size which are also suitable for work but I will endeavour to seek them out from the four corners of the earth for you.  (Somebody familiar with my size and that I have a job, interesting.)

eet masted bea veree diefkootd twoo fynd ay deefrend dress vor eetch dey – sevenn wonses eetch weec.

It must be very difficult to find a different dress for each day – seven dresses each week.  (A person obviously familiar with the basic principals of mathematics).

Goot luk toe yoo.  Howeses yew keepses.  Im ow-key.  goot jobses tem weter ees sony.

Good luck to you in your quest.  How are you keeping? I am okay and enjoying the delightful weather.  Thank goodness it is sunny.  (The Polish Princess is a sun worshipper and garden enthusiast, could this be a clue?)

ekskoos may speleeng bat mi enklish ees nod sow gut.

Excuse my spelling but my English is not so good.  (A foreigner!)

Ryt two yew soons wid unnudr parcle.

I shall write to you soon with another parcel.

I am puzzled indeed.  From the look of the letter the sender could be a member of any EU state or simply a child let loose with a marker and an antiquated spell check.  Perhaps they used a defunct quick quotes quill at the end of the line, oh if only Potter life was real. Anyway back to the mystery.  Armed with the second letter and my suspicions about the Polish Princess I approached the boy.  He denied all knowledge but as he was giggling giddily I am not sure how honest he is being with me.

I call the Polish Princess hoping for a confession.  I ask her out right but she genuinely sounds as though she has no idea what it is I’m talking of.  At first I think she is playing a part but when she says she does not know what a blog is I remember her aversion to technology and start to believe her.  When I tell her about the notes she suggests the frocks are being sent by a mad woman.  If she is lying, she is good.  Though she lets slips she has been trailing the treasure shops for clothes for herself she does not falter in her flat out denial and in the end I have to accept my press powers are no match for the Polish Princess.  I do not now know who it could be who is sending the dresses and wonder if I will have to wait till the next note to find out more.

• Today’s dress is from my donor who is not necessarily the Polish Princess.  As I can not find the person to thank, do know, whoever you might be that I am grateful for the frocks.  So many people have now donated dresses to the project or loaned ones of their own to keep me going.  As well as the mystery donors there have been parcels sent from Florida, Germany, friends, family and even a fairy (God mother).  One thing which has surprised me is how difficult it has been to gain support from actual shops.  I had rather hoped the interview might lead to a few local shops in the Harborough area getting in touch, but so far I have had no luck.
• Today’s dress is perfect for work as it is not too short or too low and actually looks like a pretty serious piece of work wear.  It is perfect for work as it has little pockets where I can stow away a pencil and paper.  I always think it is better to approach people with stationary out of sight so as not to alarm people scared of seeing their name in the paper.  I feel I rather destroy my attempt at sophisticated office chic with my choice of stack gold heels and purple tights but I’m still rather ropey from last night’s poorly and I need a little lift to get me through the day.  My brother took today’s photos which I tried to make a little different with the shades.  Also I had a headache and they helped protect my eyes from the flashing light.