A Restorative Holiday

Once when Miss Marple was poorly, her nephew arranged for a restorative holiday to the Caribbean.

She stayed in a seaside resort and while recovering, engaged in people watching – which, for a large portion of her life, led her to make many observations about human nature and even led to solving many crimes.

She enjoyed her stay, relaxing in her basket chair, admiring waves and picturesque sunsets, eating delicious food, and visiting with the other guests. No doubt she did a little knitting and birdwatching.

Although I did not visit the seaside this year, my family did rent a house on a lake with requisite tourist town. Miss Marple would perhaps have enjoyed a guided bus tour, taking a ferry, eaten delicious seafood, and purchased trip momentos for her nephew and God babies. I do not, however, envision her fishing or bouncing along on a golf cart!

Miss Marple’s Jumble Sale

In Miss Marple’s world, arranging and attending jumble sales was a regular occurrence. Donations to the cause, be it the Women’s Institute or the church’s roofing fund, were displayed and villagers would sort through the ‘jumble’ of goods, and partake of tea and baked goods like scones and rock buns.

I personally like to attend sales and look for the things that give my home its vintage cottage look. Some of the treasures I have procured include silver, vintage tablecloths, Homer Laughlin china, candlesticks, flower vases, and linen napkins.

Miss Marple Visits Somerset House

On several occasions I have heard Miss Marple exclaim “Somerset House, of course.” in a voice of sudden inspiration.

In former times, England and Wales’ records of marriages, births, and deaths were archived in an actual building – Somerset House. Copies of these records could be obtained and in this manner Jane Marple actually gathered information that led her to solve murders.

Somerset House is featured in four Miss Marple mysteries.

Body in the Library
4:50 from Paddington
They Do It with Mirrors
Greeshaw’s Folly

Somerset House is located in London, England on the river Thames. It was closed as a government office in 1970 and is now an art museum.