{"product_id":"9781444735956-cocoa-at-midnight","title":"Cocoa at Midnight","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Housekeeper's Tale - the remarkable true story of life below stairs from Princess Diana's family housekeeper\u003cbr\u003eInsightful and endearing memoir of a life lived in service as a housekeeper at a stately home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe must-read memoir from Kathleen Clifford, a housekeeper who worked in the Spencer family home in the interwar years. Perfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eDownton Abbey\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUpstairs, Downstairs\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e'My favourite gossips were William and Jimmy. I only got the chance to talk to them now and then as I spent most of my time hurtling round the kitchen trying not to upset the cook who was my immediate and terrifying boss. I lost a lot of weight in my time in Spencer House because I was so determined never to get told off or get things wrong - and that meant you had to concentrate all the time.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn \u003cb\u003einspirational true story\u003c\/b\u003e loved by readers:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'This is\u003cb\u003e a wonderful, although quite sad, read\u003c\/b\u003e. But it is nice to know these ladies had a life to live and got on with it regardless. Highly recommended.' - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I've always had a fascination with 'upstairs \u0026amp; downstairs' life and this book didn't disappoint. It was really well written and I loved every person mentioned. \u003cb\u003eSuch a joy to just sit and read\u003c\/b\u003e and learn from the stories.  ' - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Having read many of the 'below stairs' type of book, this one is up there with \u003cb\u003ethe best I have read\u003c\/b\u003e.' -  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-----\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKathleen Clifford was born in 1909. Her family lived in a tiny flat near Paddington Station and her earliest memories were of the smell of horses and the shrill whistle of steam trains. For a girl from the slums there was only really one option once school was over - \u003cb\u003ea life in service\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe started work on 1925 as a lowly kitchen maid in the London home of Lady Diana Spencer's family. Here she heard tales of the Earl's propensity for setting fire to himself, as well as enjoying the servants' gossip about who was sleeping with whom. The Spencers were just the first in a line of eccentric families for whom she worked during a career that lasted more than thirty years and took her from a London palace to remote medieval estates. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut despite long hours, amorous butlers and mad employers, Kathleen always kept her sense of humour and knew how to have fun. On one occasion she was almost caught in bed with her boyfriend who had to jump out of the window and run down the drive in his underwear to escape the local bobby!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis is the story of a life below stairs - a life of a now vanished era.  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56450657157494,"sku":"9781444735956","price":10.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_39381640_de37e9a6-03cc-46d6-935a-1aec7814bacb.jpg?v=1767864563","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781444735956-cocoa-at-midnight","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}