A Christmas missive from Her Majesty

[Craig]

On behalf of Her Majesty, the Queen-Empress, Victoria and her government, I would like to wish all Ladies and Gentlemen players of our games a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

It has been a challenging year for the many loyal companies across the globe, protecting the Empire from enemies and fiends both within and without. We shall remember each brave figure who has fallen doing their duty and raise a toast to their memory.

For those of you reading this message who would wish us harm in the year to come, enjoy these short festivities. For, come the new year, Lord Curr shall come knocking on your door to re-educate you as to the rectitude of imperial British rule.

Huzzah!

[Captain Darling]

Master Craig,
Please pass on to Her Most Imperial Majesty I shan't be attending her Christmas luncheon tomorrow due to prior engagements, some natives need their noses tweaked before lunch, then I have to attend to Lily, a buxom lass during the afternoon and finally I am required to engage with my regimental colleagues for a right knees up in the evening...I hope her Emperiousness enjoys her day though and next year I'll be available to conquer...err...explore more new lands for her...
Yours,
Captain Edward Darling MBE KBE OLD GIT

Merry Christmas All!

[Craig]

'Master'?

That is General Lord Craig Arthur Wellesey Cartmell (ret'd) to you, you young whippersnapper!

[Danger]

Please convey to her Majesty that the Memsahib and I are profoundly touched by her gracious greeting in our overseas posting, a few miles from Osborne House,and fervently wish that Her Majesty continues to enjoy good health and our felicitations for a joyous New Year.

It has come to our attention that a few underlings of the Servants of Ra have been tasked to retrieve a small object from a museum repository near St Katherine's dock.... too close to Limehouse  for comfort as far as arousing interest in the Black Dragon Tong. Two or three of Lord Curr's incorrigibles have been given the task of keeping the Tong at bay, allowing them to follow the Servants back to their local lair and report back its location.The cultists are due to carry out their mission on New Year's Eve, when people in strange garb will not seem out of place and the streets will be too crowded for others to intervene....or so they hope.....

[Craig]

Her Majesty conveys her best wishes to Lord Curr and prays for his safe return.

[Michi]

To General Lord Craig Arthur Wellesey Cartmell (ret'd) STOP
Thankfully received message from abroad STOP
Keep on defending her Majesty and the Motherland in the colonies STOP
Hopefully back soon STOP
Tally Ho STOP

(The Chiswick Chaps Cricket Club members send their seasons greetings from the new world:)

[Craig]

Lovely job Michi - where did you get the train from?

[Craig]

Captain Edward Darling MBE KBE OLD GIT

Small point of etiquette. As you are a KBE that should be Captain Sir Edward Darling old chum!