Aunt Bessie Decides (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 4)
Page 24
fortnight
two weeks
fringe
bangs (in hair)
glove box
glove compartment
headlamps
headlights (on a car)
holiday
vacation
interval
intermission
midday
noon
mobile
cell phone
pavement
sidewalk
petrol
gasoline
plaits
braids (in hair)
pudding
dessert
tannoy
public address system
telly
television
tin
can
torch
flashlight
thick
stupid
trainers
sneakers
uni
university (informal)
Other Notes
CID is the Criminal Investigation Department of the Isle of Man Constabulary (Police Force).
The emergency number in the UK and the Isle of Man is 999, not 911 as it is in the US.
“Noble’s” is Noble’s Hospital, the main hospital on the Isle of Man. It is located in Douglas, the island’s capital city.
When talking about time, the English say, for example, “half seven” to mean “seven-thirty.”
When island residents talk about someone being from “across,” they mean that the person is from somewhere in the United Kingdom (across the water).
The TT (or Tourist Trophy) is a motorcycle road-racing event held on the island every May/June. It is held in a time trial format over approximately thirty-seven miles of closed public roads. The course takes in the mountains as well as travelling through several small towns and villages.
A “ceilidh” is a social event with folk dancing.
Tynwald Day (5th of July) is the Island’s National Day where their independence is celebrated and their parliament meets outdoors on Tynwald Hill, the approximate geographic centre of the island. All laws enacted during the previous year are read out in both English and Manx and any Island resident can present a petition to the government for consideration.
Someone who tries to “chat up” someone is flirting.
A hen night is the female equivalent of a bachelor party, where the bride-to-be and her friends go out and celebrate the upcoming nuptials, sometimes with a great deal of drinking.
Bonfire Night (5th of November) commemorates Guy Fawkes’ attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. It is usually celebrated with a bonfire and fireworks. Children sometimes make an effigy of Guy Fawkes and “beg,” saying “penny for the guy,” although this tradition is dying out.
When Bessie asks if she needs to “buy a hat,” she is asking if Hugh is planning to propose soon. British women, especially in the recent past, used to buy new hats to go with new outfits to attend weddings, and the phrase has remained in common usage, even if very few people still wear hats to weddings.
A-Levels are exams taken after the UK equivalent of an American high school and their results determine whether you are accepted into the university you are hoping to attend, or influence your job prospects.
Self-catering is staying somewhere on holiday (vacation) with at least limited kitchen facilities within your accommodation, so that you can prepare meals for yourself rather than having to eat in restaurants for every meal.
The road between Castletown and Douglas takes travellers across the “Fairy Bridge,” and everyone knows that if you don’t “wave to the little people” some misfortune will befall you.
The following quotations from Shakespeare are used in chapter two:
“To be or not to be,” is from Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Act III, Scene i.
“Oh, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” is from Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene ii.
“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” is from Macbeth, Act V, Scene i.
“To sleep, perchance to dream,” is from Hamlet, Act III, Scene i.
In chapter five:
“Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.” This comes from William Congreve’s The Mourning Bride, Act III, scene viii.
In chapter six:
“Every cloud has a silver lining,” is a paraphrase from John Milton’s Comus: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle. In part it reads:
Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?
Acknowledgements
As ever, thanks to my fabulous editor, Denise, who hardly ever complains that I make the same grammar mistakes in every single book!
Thanks to my favorite beta reader, who is also my favorite mom, Barb.
Once again, thank you to Kevin for the beautiful cover photo.
Thanks to hubby and the kids for letting me work without too many complaints and for believing in me, even when I don’t.
Adam, Penny and William (Bill) get my special thanks for letting me use their names in this story. They are nothing like the characters here, being instead incredibly talented thespians that I am privileged to know. Thanks guys, I hope you enjoy the adventures of your fictional namesakes.
And an extra special thank you to my beta reading team (in reverse alphabetical order), Ruth, Margaret, Janice, and Charlene, who do so many things to make Bessie better!
Coming April 17, 2015
Aunt Bessie Enjoys
An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery
By Diana Xarissa
Aunt Bessie enjoys planning for a pleasurable Tynwald Day celebration with her friends.
Elizabeth Cubbon is called “Aunt Bessie” by nearly everyone in the small village of Laxey that she calls home. A number of murders have thrown her normally quiet life into turmoil and at her age (just don’t ask her exactly what age that is), she feels like she’s had enough.
Aunt Bessie enjoys getting through the whole day without anyone stumbling over a dead body.
It’s her friend John Rockwell’s first Tynwald Day and Bessie is delighted when she, Doona, Hugh and Grace get to share the spectacle and festivities of the Manx National Day with him, without anything going wrong.
Aunt Bessie enjoys a quiet breakfast at home, until the police come pounding on her door.
It seems someone at Tynwald Day had murder on his or her mind after all, and suddenly Bessie finds herself caught up in the most complicated murder investigation she’s ever had the misfortune to experience. This time Rockwell is doing his best to keep her as far away from the investigation as he can and Doona seems to be trying to keep Bessie under constant surveillance. If there’s one thing Bessie definitely doesn’t enjoy, it’s someone getting away with murder.
Have you read all of the
Aunt Bessie Cozy Mysteries?
Aunt Bessie Assumes
Aunt Bessie Believes
Aunt Bessie Considers
Aunt Bessie Decides
Aunt Bessie Enjoys (Release date:
April 17, 2015)
By the same author
The Isle of Man Romance Series
Island Escape
Island Inheritance
Island Heritage (Release date:
February 10, 2015)
About the Author:
Diana Xarissa lived on the glorious Isle of Man for more than ten years before returning to the United States with her family. Now living near Buffalo, New York, she enjoys having the opportunity to write about the island that she loves so much. It truly is an amazing and magical place.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future under the pen name “Diana X. Dunn” and fantasy/adventure books for middle grade readers under the pen name “D.X. Dunn.”
She would be delighted to know what you think of her work and can be contacted through Facebook, Goodreads or on her website at www.dianaxarissa.com.