Délais

Tea-blender's daughter, Pamela Evans 1994 (2002)

 J'ai reçu ce livre en février et avais choisi certains passages pour accompagner d'abord le jubilé du billet précédent:

Everything was in place and ready for that long awaited event, the end of tea control.

There were many other important happenings as the new decade began : petrol rationing ended; the Festival of Britain rose lavishly on the South Bank of the Thames as a symbol of a brighter future; Princess Elizabeth was proclaimed Queen after the death of her father, King George VI; wartime identity cards were abolished.

But still tea remained on ration.

It was October 1952 before champagne corks were finally popped in the boardroom of Webb-Slater.

Mais dès les premières pages, la seule grève générale du Royaume-Uni faisait un écho lointain à celle des étudiants d'ici:

 "Are you suggesting that I should praise the buggers who are trying to bring the country to a standstill, and my business along with it? » he said, his face pink and blotchy and gleaming with perspiration.

…

« The strikers and their supporters are just a bunch of hooligans, » he stated categorically.

"It's people like me who are the backbone of this country. People who stand on their own two feet and don't expect something for nothing. »

« As I understand it, the strikers aren't asking for something for nothing. »

« This is what built the Slater Tea Company, » he continued as though she hadn't spoken, pointing to his own head. « And these. » He spread his huge knobbly hands proudly.

Et dimanche dernier, j'avais prévu, pour la fête des pères, ces passages:

« You're just a girl, » he said. « You know nothing. »

dit le père à sa fille qui travaille déjà avec lui à la manufacture de thé;

“You're the only person I can trust to look after the business after I'm gone,” he gasped.

lui souffle-t-il pourtant juste avant de mourir.