At the end of reading this story, I think of the British dry sense of humour and the stiff upper lip.
To think, once the British Empire was extensive enough that at any time, the sun would be shining on one or another of the many British colonies. If any politicians were to be offered the honour of becoming a Governor of one of the colonies, people would not normally refuse the appointment.
However, it was one thing to be called Your Excellency, it was quite another to be living in a decaying humongous mansion and driving an old car and have a staff of two. Ted and Hazel must have been one hardy couple who could adjust to adverse conditions in their twilight years like any adventurous colonial officials. While I was reading this tale, I could just picture in my mind the funny scenes of acquiring a full complement of house hold servants, lots of crockery and putting up a charade worthy of entertaining a royal, ex-commander in chief and ex-Admiral all rolled into one.
I suppose things of this kind can only happen in Britain, being able to keep up appearances of having colonies when it no longer make any financial sense: hence there was no budget for keeping the Governor or figure head in style.
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