The Past Tense Of Youth: The charade

On May 31, 2014February 9, 2015 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Changing the world, Now and then, Romantic interludes

I remained on watch for the next hour whilst pretending to be very involved in a game of charades with the others in the main hall. There were now many of us as more carriages had arrived with the sultan’s wives. It seemed as if all of Topkapi was moving to Yildiz palace that night. The guards had returned almost two hours later and were dismayed to find Rana amongst us. She explained in her sultry voice which seemed to drive them mad with desire that she had, in fact, been feeling out of sorts and had merely retired to her chamber for a rest. The guards had been constrained because the private chambers of the sultan’s consorts were off limits to any man other than the sultan. Gurel, who was now once again one of them ,had joined the halbadiers (military guards ) in their quarters directly opposite the harem pavillion. Yildiz Palace was high up on a hill and surrounded by very high walls which may have been the reason for Hamid’s preference for it as a place to entertain guests away from the prying eyes of his servants and it would limit the possibilities of a seaside attack. We did not yet know that there were plans to make this palace our new home.

The palace overlooked two other palaces down the hill and close to the waters edge. ‘Dolmobache and Ciragen palaces were much grander but maybe not as safe as Yildiz and though the walls seemed to reach way up to the clouds there were gaps in the stone work from which we could glimpse the sea. There was also a bridge which connected the palace with Ciragen but this was off limits to us. Inside the walls there were manicured gardens weaved around pavillions. There were courtyards with pools,greenhouses and aviaries with rare birds such as the hoopoe, the blue parrott and the Hunkari, a frill pidgeon trained for racing. These caged birds symbolised believers eager to be liberated from their mortal coils. Setting these birds free would earn them points in heaven. Strange that these believers could not see the parallels between captured birds and captured women.

The servants quarters were separated by gates and passageways leading to other parts of the palace and maybe even down the hillside and through the valleys surrounding as this would be a the best way for the sultan to commute and remain unseen. The Sultan resided in the Sale kiosk which consisted of two floors and a basement.In the centre of this was the Sedefi salon covered in mother of pearl inlay. It’s ceiling adorned with painted landscapes and it’s reception chamber ,which we had visited prior to the opera company , guilded in gold with a coffered ceiling and large mirrors on the panelled walls. Other kiosks included the Cadir Kiosk where prisoners were held,including princes of the realm, and the grand ceremonial hall where Hamid conducted his official business with the palace beaurocracy. There was even a kiosk for the making of porcelain which resembled a Medievil castle. The Muayede Pavillion to the left was for guest accommodation and also housed the entrance to the harem. Adjoined to this was the lovely Yildiz theatre where we had just performed for the royal guests and where at least one captured bird had managed, for a short time, to shake her mortal coils and soar way into the heavens in a secret lovers tryst.

© Renee Dallow ( Hybiscus Bloom ) 31/5/2014

The Past Tense Of Youth: In Defiance

On May 21, 2014October 9, 2014 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Changing the world, Romantic interludes, stories of mystery and romance

Sultan Hamid’s opera Theatre in Yildiz Palace was a sight to behold. We were lead to the theatre through an underground passage from the seraglio and were given a small tour before the arrival of the opera company. The theatre was small and compact but beautifully designed with stars painted on the domed ceiling . The balcony boxes were fitted in red velvet as were the seats below. We were given permission to be seated in the upper balconies way at the back where we would not be easily seen unless,of course, someone knew of our presense and strained to catch a glimpse during performace. We were taken back stage and shown where we were to make our entrance after the company had made their exit. This would be my only chance to get a message to Gurel as I would be the first on stage.

I would drop my handkerchief just as Gurel exited the stage with the rest of the cast. This would not be noticed as I had another enclosed within the palm of my hand. Gurel would read the message written on the handkerchief and wait for Rana behind the poplar tree to the right of the main door to the Harem chambers. When the dance had finished Rana would be first off stage leaving the rest of us to cover for her disappearance momentarily. When the Sultan had realised that she was missing I would say that she had made her escape through the garden. While all were out in search of the escaped gypsy Harem girl she and her beloved would be united. The opera ‘ The Barber of Seville’ was scurrulous and just as I had remembered it on the London stage.

The faces of the other girls lit up as Rossini’s opera permeated the tiny theatre. They had never seen or heard anything like it in their lives and probably never would again. Our view was not the best as we were so high up and it took some time to recognise Gurel as there were so many on stage and it was quite dark. During an argument between the count disguised as a drunken soldier and the heroin Rosina’s guardian ‘Bartolo’, a crowd gathered and there was one young man protesting louder than all the others. He was also dancing and looking up at the balconies as he did so.

Rana was shaking with the anticipation. There was no doubt it was he and as his eyes came to rest on her Rana removed her veil for a brief moment and lifted her chin in defiance of protocol. He smiled and whirled off stage behind the character of Figaro as the crowd dispersed and the next aria began. At the end of the performance as the company exited the stageLead by the sultan and his entourage and we moved on behind them I made eye contact with Gurel and dropped the handkerchief. As he picked it up he gazed into my eyes for and I thought I thought for an instant that somehow he had recognised me but he turned away and hurried in the direction of the seraglio where he knew Rana would be waiting. There was a brief interval in which the opera company enjoyed tea and cakes with the sultan in the sale pavillion. During this time we positioned ourselves on the stage and the musicians tuned their instruments.

All went according to plan and our skirts made almost entirely of handkerchiefs were a source of fascination with our audience. They were intrigued with our way of life and with the fact that we all belonged to one man. With our handkerchiefs we remained joined in a circle ducking and weaving our way through the music until Hamid clapped his hands to end the performance whereupon we formed one line and came to the front of the stage. Rana was way at the end of the line off stage behind the curtain and ,with the eunuch distracted by the musicians , managed to make her way back to the Harem undetected. As no-one was allowed to have their backs to the sultan we had to step off the stage still in a line and file through the crowd. We were then to walk around to the back of the pavillion where we would enter the passageway leading back to the harem The sultan would be entertaining the cast with a lavish feast afterward were it not for our little ruse.

As expected he was counting each of us as we moved past him and before long noticed that his favourite was not among us. I was summoned and told him that she had broken away despite my plea that she not take the risk. Guards were sent off in a search party while eunuchs were deployed in the opposite direction. We were escorted back and the guard doubled outside our doors. They did not know that in the room adjoining mine two lovers were preparing for the day when they would no longer need to hide their love and could rejoice in the freedom that would come with the overthrow of an empire. Nor could the guards know that they were in the presence of an interloper from another time who had been forewarned of the upheavals to come.

© Renee Dallow ( Hybiscus Bloom ) 21/5/2014

To Snare A Millionaire

On April 15, 2014April 15, 2014 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In comfort zones, Movie Magic

1: Make sure your face is flawless and use only the best moisturisers so that you appear young and innocent. This is extremely important because a potential millionaire snare doesn’t really like a girl who can put two and two together.

2: Constantly toss your long golden locks when looking from side to side whilst appearing to be interested in what your potential millionaire snare is saying and at the same time checking out what else is on the menu.

3: Wear tailored clothes in the daylight hours and soft evening gowns in pastel tones at night. You want to compliment your millionaire snare without drawing attention away from him just in case you ruin a deal which may snare your millionaire even more lovely millions.

4: Know your designer labels and where to find the best couture but never haggle the price. Always leave this up to your millionaire snare as you need to make him feel that he’s the one getting a good deal.

5: Spare no expense in making his home a castle in which you can live forever. Slowly but surely you must redecorate your millionaire snare’s lair with designer touches that will be the envy of all the wives of his business associates. Always best to get the wives on side.

6: Whiten your teeth or even get porcelain veneers as your smile must be ready to wear at all times. Do your chewing exercises morning and night or before important events so that when you smile you appear relaxed and authentic. You will have to keep it up for long periods of time.

7: Don’t talk too much. No – one really wants to hear what you have to say. The outfit you’ve chosen and the way you gaze up or down at your millionaire snare, depending on his size , when surrounded by his peers says it all.

8: Learn how to walk in stilettos no matter what the occasion. A great tip is to cut a little off the heal of one shoe so that you’ll have a permanent sway when you walk. This will ensure you millionaire snare will love you even back to front . This trick was invented by Marilyn Monroe who knew all about millionaires.

9: Attend botox parties preferably in luxury hotels where you can do meditation and take long spa baths whilst recuperating. Don’t tell your millionaire snare, however, just let him think that you are taking a little break from you hectic society schedule. Treat him mean ( sometimes ) and keep him keen.

10: Plan the wedding before he’s even popped the question so that all he has to do is attend,say his vows and pay the bill. This will be a huge relief to him because he’s going to spend all his spare time in the future keeping you in the manner to which you’ve become accustomed.