It's a pity party and you are all invited

Sounds like la mere is gearing up for the holidays. here's an excerpt from her latest email.
"Weather horrible here, still snowing quite a lot. Ended up sleeping on a couple of folded quilts on the tub room floor because it was dark and quiet. Felt like Fodo [sic] and Sam on the slag heap in Mordor or those sevants that slept by the fireplace in the kitchen in the old days. How has it come to this? Still I am grateful to have a job at all. "

though nice use of the word slag....