One of my old students and I have developed a novel way of apologising for not contacting each other as regularly as we ought, by saying that we have been in Russia taking part in events there during the reign of N & A (Yes, I know, completely silly, but fun!). The only rule is that the accounts have to be accurate apart from one deliberate error, which the other person has to spot. This has been going on for three years now, but here is an extract from the last message I received :
'As usual, I have to apologise to you, esteemed tutor, for failing to write for such a long time, but you see I was invited to Livadia for two weeks leading up to the ball to celebrate the sixteenth birthday of Olga Nicolaievna, and of course I had to go. It is wonderful there and everything was so perfect ~ the climate was just right and the new palace has to be seen to be believed. Olga herself met me when I arrived. I hadn't seen her since we met on the Isle of Wight when the Imperial Family came to see their English relations. We had plenty to talk about, and I was thrilled to see her sisters and brother again too. We spent most of the days outside, playing tennis, reading, just relaxing, and we even went shopping in Yalta several times with only one lady-in-waiting. The Ball itself was a splendid occasion. Everyone had presents for Olga. Her necklace (a gift from her parents) was made of 32 jewels, one for each of her name days and birthdays since she had been born. Her hair was up for the first time. Her dress was long and flowing, in the most delicate shade of blue imaginable. She danced nearly every dance with a different young officer, and as the night progressed, everyone agreed she was the perfect Grand Duchess. I shall never forget that night.....'
And the deliberate mistake is.............
