The Dauntless Damsels

Win a Copy of the Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen!

2007-11-08T22:04:00.001-08:00

HarperCollins Publishers has two copies of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen (my review of this excellent novel is below!) to give away and you can win them here!

Here is how to win:

All you have to do is comment my post at A Lady's Diversions and answer these two questions:

1. Which is your favorite Jane Austen novel? (If you haven't read one, you can list which one you want to read or which movie is your favorite.)

2. If you could have tea with Jane Austen, what is the first & most interesting question you would ask her?

You have until midnight on Wednesday, 14 November 2007, to enter. I will randomly choose two winners and then announce the names on A Lady's Diversions on Thursday, 15 November.

Good luck!

If you have a blog and would be so gracious as to post about this contest, please feel free to use the below graphic and link it back to this post. Thank you!

To Nelson

2007-10-21T22:32:00.001-07:00

To the immortal memory of Nelson
and all those who fell with him.

This is the famous toast to Horatio, Admiral Lord Nelson.

Trafalgar Remembered

2007-10-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today, 21 October 2007, is the 202nd anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, where the British Fleet, under Admiral Lord Nelson, defeated the combined French-Spanish Fleet off Cape Trafalgar. It was a very important victory in the war against Napoleon. Admiral Nelson perished in the fight, aboard his flag ship HMS Victory.

I have a great passion for British history and British naval history, so I like to celebrate this day (It also happens to be my half-birthday, a coincidence which makes me very happy!).

England expects that every man will do his duty.
Nelson's signal to his fleet,
at Cape Trafalgar,
21 October 1805

You will find more on Trafalgar, Nelson, and the British Navy here.

May the Great God, whom I worship, grant to my Country, and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious Victory; and may no misconduct in any one tarnish it; and may humanity after Victory be the predominant feature in the British Fleet. For myself, individually, I commit my life to Him who made me, and may his blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my Country faithfully. To Him I resign myself and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Nelson's Prayer, written in his diary before the Battle of Trafalgar commenced

710-Year-Old Magna Carta Copy to Be Sold

2007-09-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

I would love to own this. Or, actually, even just see it.

Reuters: Rare Magna Carta to be sold at Sotheby's in NYC---

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A rare 710-year-old copy of the Magna Carta valued at up to $30 million is due to be sold by The Perot Foundation at Sotheby's in New York in December, the auction house said on Tuesday.

The Magna Carta established rights of the English people and curbed the power of the king. The U.S. Constitution includes ideas and phrases taken almost directly from the charter, which rebellious barons forced their oppressive King John to sign in 1215.

Sotheby's said the Magna Carta was ratified and reissued with each monarch who succeeded John. It was enacted as law in 1297 by the British parliament when it was reissued by King Edward I. The copy to be sold is from 1297.

According to the article, there are less than 20 copies of the Magna Carta and this copy is one of only 2 outside Britain.

Learn more about the Magna Carta:
British Library
National Archives
Avalon Project

The Battle of Waterloo

2007-06-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1815, Waterloo, Belgium, where the English Duke of Wellington, principally, defeated, for the last time, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Huzzah for General Wellington!

You can read all about the bloody Battle of Waterloo, including combatants, generals, British regiments present, and troop movements, here.

Today, Waterloo reenactment draws thousands.

And more:
The Allied Order of Battle
The French Order
The Casualties (British only)
Uniforms, Arms, Equipment, Training

Waterloo-The Battle
Eyewitness to History: Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo

In Pursuit of JA

2006-05-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

I just came across this very interesting article. I'm still on quite a Pride and Prejudice kick, and am re-reading the book (I just re-read it in December-January). So beautiful! It gets better every time, as does the newest version of the movie. I loved it.

DenverPost: To England, with pride: In pursuit of Jane Austen---

BAKEWELL, England -- Let me guess. If you loved the book, you probably saw the latest film version of "Pride and Prejudice." You're sorry it didn't win an Oscar, but you don't really care.

Compared to English literature's most enduring romantic novel by author Jane Austen, the Oscar ceremony was nothing more than a moment on the stage, full of sound and frenzy, signifying zip. The real testimonials were in evidence in America's movie theaters, where teary-eyed viewers spent the last half-hour blowing their noses.

Which is why, 136 years after the first Jane Austen biography appeared, devoted readers are still searching for clues to the elusive author.

The first fans visited the places where Jane had lived: Steventon, her birthplace; Bath, where the family moved when her father retired; and Southhampton after he died. Later she moved to Chawton, in Hampshire, and finally to Winchester, where she died (at age 41 of Addison's Disease).

The article goes on to discuss the different houses that doubled as book locations in the newset film. I would love to visit all these places some day, as well, of course, as the places Jane Austen lived and walked.

If you enjoyed the latest movie, you will enjoy reading the article and learning about those gorgeous houses. Happy reading!

Technorati Tags: Jane Austen, England, Pride and Prejudice, travel,

Much Ado About a Folio

2006-03-30T15:19:00.000-08:00

Oh, I wish I could buy this! Or at least see it and smell it and feel the old pages beneath my finger tips. How exquisite it must be. Such history.

Reuters: Much ado about Shakespeare's first folio sale---

LONDON (Reuters) - A complete First Folio edition of William Shakespeare's plays, in prime condition and still in its 17th century calf leather binding, is expected to fetch up to 3.5 million pounds when it goes on sale in July.

Hailed by auctioneer Sotheby's as the most important book in English literature, the First Folio is credited with saving for posterity many of the bard's plays including "Macbeth," "Twelfth Night" and "Julius Caesar" which had never before been printed.

"The First Folio preserves 18 of his plays, including some of the most major, which otherwise would have been lost for all time," English literature specialist Peter Selley said as the volume was put on show on Thursday.

"Relatively complete copies of the Folio in contemporary or near contemporary bindings very rarely come to market. There is only one copy recorded as remaining in private hands," he added.

The only copy in private hands similar to the one going for sale was bought by Paul Getty in April 2002.

Printed in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death and containing 36 plays, only about 250 copies of the First Folio survive and most of those are incomplete.

The volume up for sale on July 13 has been in the William's Library -- a key research facility for English Protestant dissent -- since about 1716, making it the longest uninterrupted ownership by a public library of any copy in the world.
[...]
The thick tome with its heavy, yellowing pages and portrait of England's leading playwright on the front is not only unique for its completeness and condition.

It contains detailed notes in the margins made, it is believed, by contemporary scholars and giving an insight into the understanding and interpretation of the wordsmith's masterworks soon after his own era.

"The profusion of markings in this volume does much to illuminate a contemporary or near-contemporary reader's taste for, and in some measure interpretation of, Shakespeare's works," said Sotheby's English manuscript expert Peter Beal.

Picture here.

(Crossposted at A Lady's Ruminations)

Technorati Tags: Shakespeare, First Folio, Sothebys

Pride & Prejudice Quizzes!

2006-03-05T22:46:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Bennet

Which of the Pride & Prejudice Sisters are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hooray! Lizzy is my favorite!

And:

Your proud and prejudiced match is Mr Fitzwilliam

Darcy! One of those dark and mysterious

hotties... mmmm...

Which 'Pride and Prejudice' guy is for you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Oh, Mr. Darcy, I love!

And:

Elizabeth Bennet.

Which Pride and Prejudice Woman Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

And:

You are most like Jane. You don't let your feelings

for a person show, are quiet, and more

reserved.

Pride and Prejudice? (girls)
brought to you by Quizilla

And:

You are Elizabeth Bennet! You are smart and funny

and you love to read. You will find the

perfect person in the end!

Which Pride and Prejudice Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

And, the best, as it concerns the newest movie version!:

Lucky you!
You are a real Mr. Darcy fan.
I agree, he was an arrogant man at first, who seem

realy intolerable and proud. But as we get to

know him, he's a handsome man of feelings!

Pride and Prejudice
brought to you by Quizilla

*faints* :)

Shakespeare's Death Mask?

2006-02-22T21:15:00.000-08:00

This could be exciting. I love Shakespeare.

"Death mask" of Shakespeare could be genuine: New Scientist---

PARIS (AFP) - A 17th-century death mask claimed to be that of William Shakespeare could be genuine, according to reported work by lab detectives.

The mask, discovered in a ragpicker's shop in 1842 and now owned by the German city of Darmstadt, has long been a subject of controversy.

It bears the high forehead and prominent nose and beard associated with the Bard and bears the inscription "+ Ao Dm 1616," apparently meaning "Died Anno Domini 1616," the year when Shakespeare passed away at the age of 52, a report in New Scientist magazine said.

But leading scholars have questioned the provenance of the mask and also said it is not a close enough match to the tiny handful of portraits that can be attributed to Shakespeare.

The pendulum may now swing back in the mask's favour, the British science weekly says.

The force behind it is University of Mainz academic Hildegard Hammerschmidt-Hummel, who is a champion of the mask.

She asked a specialist at the German Federal Bureau of Criminal Investigation to compare two portraits widely believed to be of Shakespeare with that of a bust housed in London's Garrick Club.

Using a computer technique employed by the police to test whether separate facial images belong to the same person, scientist Reinhardt Altmann found close matches around the eyes, nose and lips of the paintings and bust, leading him to conclude that the faces were all those of the same individual.

Hammerschmidt-Hummel's next step was to compare the bust with the Darmstadt death mask.

Engineers from imaging company Konica Minola Europe scanned the bust and death mask with lasers to build up 3D computer models.

"Superimposing the models revealed perfect matches between the forehead, eyes and nose," says New Scientist.

The difference is that the lips on the death mask are thinner than those on the bust, but Hammerschmidt-Himmel contends that this is normal, for the lips would have shrunk with the loss of blood pressure after death.

British experts are yet to be convinced, says New Scientist.

Do read the rest here.

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations)

Alas! Woe is me!

2006-01-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

*Faints* Alas, sad news (well, happy for them).

From The Independent:

It is turning into a good year for the up-and-coming star Alice Evans.

As well as having received a marriage proposal from her actor boyfriend, Ioan Gruffudd, she has landed a plum role in a new BBC series.

The impressionist Alistair McGowan is producing the series called The Gourmayo Murder Mysteries, which starts this spring.

Digital Spy: Ioan Gruffudd to wed long term lover---

Fantastic Four star Ioan Gruffudd will marry his long term lover Alice Evans this year.

The Welsh actor proposed in style this New Year's Eve with a diamond ring slipped into his girlfriend's mojito cocktail.

Evans says: "It took me an hour to say yes. We were in a bar. I'd had a few and I was on a bit of a rant about the state of the world.

"I could see Ioan going whiter and whiter. I said, 'Do you fancy another?', then looked down and was like, 'Oh my God!'

"He said, 'How could you miss it? It's about the size of an aeroplane.'"

Despite shedding a some tears, Best Wishes, Alice! Congratulations, Ioan!

D'arcy Wentworth who?

2006-01-09T15:19:00.000-08:00

This is quite interesting . . . to me, at least. Jane Austen is my absolute favorite author (and Georgette Heyer, who is mentioned, is another of my favorites). Fitzwilliam Darcy is one of the greatest characters in the history of novels. Lovely.

From the Jane Austen Centre Online Magazine: D'Arcy Wentworth: Heroic Inspiration?

Jane Austen's Aunt was once at risk of transportation to Botany Bay for shoplifting. It is piquant that Austen named two of her major male characters Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and Captain Wentworth in Persuasion, because a leading inhabitant of New South Wales in those years was D'Arcy Wentworth, disreputable but acknowledged kinsman of Lord Fitzwilliam. D'Arcy Wentworth's career smacks more of Georgette Heyer than Jane Austen, since he was a highwayman four times acquitted. Rather than push his luck further, he went, a free man, as assistant surgeon with the Second Fleet in 1790. As a young teenager Jane Austen may have read about him in the Times.

Remembered in Australian history, his origins somewhat fudged, as father of the better-known W.C. Wentworth, D'Arcy turns out to be a complex and significant character. All his life he was an outsider. Born in Ireland in 1762, he was the youngest son of a Protestant innkeeper whose family had come down in the world. D'Arcy qualified as an assistant surgeon in London, but then gravitated to vice and crime; through flash arrogance, Ritchie thinks, rather than a self-destructive urge.

Read more about D'arcy Wentworth and family here.

I saw the newest version of Pride & Prejudice during Christmas break. You can read my thoughts here.

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations)

Which Character from Pride and Prejudice Are You?

2006-01-04T20:29:00.000-08:00

Congratulations,
you're Mr. Darcy! Though you seem reserved or
aloof in public, once people see the real you,
they can't find a single bad thing to say. You
should be yourself more often! Also, like your
counterpart Elizabeth, you tend to jump to
conclusions about people, so avoid those
preconceived notions and happiness shall be
yours! Please invite me to Pemberley
sometime...

Which Character from Pride and Prejudice Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

The Chronicles of Narnia

2005-12-14T19:34:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe soon. It looks wonderful. I just finished reading the book the other evening, though my mother read them to my sister and me when we were small children.

You can find more links to information about Narnia here and here.

Send Someone a Christmas Card

2005-12-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

The British Library allows you to send e-cards featuring lots of beautiful old images from the Library's collection.

Send a Christmas card to a friend or family member here.

I sent the "Buckingham House" e-card to Lady Christine just last night.

Here is a little bit of information about Christmas cards from the British Library:

Although people had exchanged hand-written greetings for centuries, commercially printed Christmas cards seem to have originated in London in the mid 19th century.

The first Christmas card was probably designed in 1843 by London artist John Calcott Horsley. He was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, a wealthy British businessman who wanted a card to send to friends and business acquaintances. The inscription read: ‘merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you.’ This card is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

What does a Queen's servant receive for Christmas?

2005-12-14T18:53:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting article. Have you ever wondered what the Queen gives her royal servants for Christmas?

Hello Magazine: The Queen Ensures Gifts Are Exactly What Staff Want---

Most households Christmas inevitably means a race to get organised in time for the big day - unless, of course, you live in Buckingham Palace where preparations began in March. Just before Easter the Queen's staff received a letter asking what was on their wish list.

Not that the 550 members of the monarch's staff have carte blanche to go wild with fantasies of buying up Harrods. "A couple of conditions apply," reveals royal biographer, Brian Hoey.

Gifts range from £28 for the most junior employees to a maximum of £35 for longer-serving staff members. One footman, who's been there for 28 years, has been collecting a dinner service, one plate at a time, which, he reckons, will be complete by the end of the next decade.

Employees can then expect to receive their gift in an official present-giving ceremony. "Their names are called up by the Lord Chamberlain and they come forward to meet the Queen," adds writer Brian."They thank her saying it is exactly what they wanted.

The tradition is part of a festive routine that has been followed for the last 50 years. Other customs include the arrival of family members at the Sandringham estate by order of precedence, with most junior members invited to turn up first.

Presents, which tend to be modest tokens of affection, are opened at tea-time on Christmas Eve, with Prince Philip presiding. On Christmas Day the family sit down to a black-tie dinner - the ladies wear tiaras - before playing charades. And no one is allowed to go to bed until Her Majesty retires.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2005-11-23T00:53:00.000-08:00

I saw the very excellent Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire last week, at 11:59pm on 17 November.

I've written a review and posted it here.

Overall, I very much enjoyed the movie and am looking forward to seeing it again very soon. Although it was 2 1/2 hours, it wasn't nearly long enough for me. I want more!!!
If you haven't yet, and you are a fan of the books and/or movies, go see it!

Letters, Letters, Letters

2005-10-27T20:09:00.000-07:00

I found this to be a very interesting article. I love writing letters to people.

LiveScience: Einstein Managed His Inbox Just Like You---

If you're like Einstein, you respond to some emails immediately and let others wait. And, of course, some you never answer.

And every now and then, you find an old one in your inbox that you didn't even realize you had, and you reply.

A new study finds that the correspondence of Albert Einstein, as well as that of Charles Darwin, followed patterns similar to modern email communication.

Prolific writers

Einstein sent more than 14,500 letters. But he received more than 16,200, and responded to only a quarter of them. Darwin mailed more than 7,500 letters. He responded to 32 percent of the roughly 6,530 letters he received. [Chart]

Of course letter writing takes more time than email, but the mathematical relationship between quick replies and delayed responses was similar, explains João Gama Oliveira of the University of Aveiro in Portugal.

Of Einstein's responses, 53 percent were sent within 10 days. For Darwin, the figure was 63 percent. But now and then they replied months or years later. Einstein begins one reply by explaining that he's just discovered the senders letter of more than a year prior while sifting through "a mountain of correspondence."

"In both Darwin's and Einstein's correspondence and today's email we find that most responses take short time, but sometimes the responses take a very long time, Oliveira told LiveScience. "In other words, for both email and mail communication, the response times exist in a very broad range of values, and there is no typical response time for which we could say that all response times are around (and close to) that value."

Intellectual intercourse

The result suggests Darwin, who conceived the idea of natural selection in evolution, and Einstein, father of modern physics, must have prioritized their letter-writing, say Oliveira and his colleague, Albert-László Barabási of Harvard University.

"Their timely responses to most letters show that they were both aware of the importance of this intellectual intercourse," the Oliveira and Barabási write in the Oct. 27 issue of the journal Nature.

The upshot: Einstein and Darwin exhibited a "fundamental pattern of human dynamics" that plays out every morning when you check your inbox.

Harry v. Voldemort

2005-10-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

I am so very excited that the 4th Harry Potter movie is only a few weeks away!

AP: Latest 'Harry' Features Voldemort Faceoff---

LONDON - In "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the teenage wizard faces new terrors. A face-to-face encounter with his nemesis, the evil Lord Voldemort, for one. Girls, for another.

And, still fresh in the mind of 16-year-old star Daniel Radcliffe — ballroom dancing.

"I really wanted to be good at it," Radcliffe said of the scene in which Harry dances at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Yule Ball.

In the end, he said at a press conference Tuesday for the film, director Mike Newell "very kindly didn't show anything below my waist. You never see my feet move."

"Dan," said Newell affectionately, "is a kind of ballroom Everyman."

Radcliffe's down-to-earth charm is key to the success of the Potter films, which have become a lucrative franchise since "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was released in 2001.

Radcliffe was 11 when he first wore Harry's trademark spectacles and lightning-shaped scar. Five years on, he's an assured and articulate actor who enthuses about his favorite bands — The Libertines, Hard-Fi and Louis XIV all get the nod — and gently coaxes his co-stars at the news conference.

Producers describe "Goblet of Fire" — released Nov. 18 — as the darkest Potter film yet. Harry must face a confrontation with Voldemort, the evil warlock who killed his parents and who returns to human form — in the shape of Ralph Fiennes — bent on destroying the young wizard.

Charting Harry's fourth year as a trainee wizard at Hogwarts, the film has plenty of magical set pieces to delight fans of J.K. Rowling's saga. There are airborne acrobatics at the Quidditch World Cup, and the Triwizard Tournament — a perilous contest that sees Harry face off against a fearsome Hungarian Horntail dragon.
---
British director Newell ("Four Weddings and Funeral," "Donnie Brasco") said he was nervous about condensing Rowling's 640-page book into his first Potter film.

"The book's as big as a house brick, and I was very unsure quite how one would attack it," said Newell, who follows American Chris Columbus and Mexican Alfonso Cuaron at the Potter helm.

One idea was to have to be split into two films. But Newell said he eventually found the key to the story — "it was a thriller."

"Voldemort and Ralph Fiennes were really in charge of events right from the very beginning, and only little by little did Harry catch up with what was happening to him, until it was too late and there he was facing the devil in a graveyard," Newell said. "As soon as I could see that, I felt that I could stay true to the book and at the same time keep the length down."

I hope he has stayed true to the book. The trailers I have seen look great!

How about a cuppa?

2005-10-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

Washington Post: Just Their Cup of Tea: British Cultivate Their Own---

TRURO, England -- Beyond the four-mile-long driveway, and the shaded path named "Lady's Walk" and the soft fields of purple rhododendron and grazing Holstein cows, Jonathan Jones walked among waist-high rows of rich green plants. With loving precision, he plucked off two perfect green leaves and a bud and held them proudly in his hand.

"English tea should be grown on English soil," he said, running his fingers over what he called a victory for horticulture and also for British culture: the first commercial crop of tea ever grown in this tea-mad nation.

Since the days of the British Empire, traders have been bringing tea home from India, China and other faraway lands where climate and labor costs allowed cultivation to thrive. The average person here still drinks at least two cups a day. But now, on a 670-year-old estate in southwest England, Jones and an aristocrat who counts Earl Grey as an ancestor are opening a new era in British tea production.

"It is rather nice to produce the very first locally grown cup of tea," said Evelyn Boscawen, a shy gardening enthusiast whose family has owned the vast Tregothnan estate for centuries. "It's fun, exciting, new."
---
While a relatively small crop of homegrown tea will hardly take over the huge market, "consumers will be intrigued," said William Gorman, executive director of the Tea Council, an independent group based in London dedicated to promoting tea. He noted that tea is serious business in Britain, where children grow up knowing the difference between a cream tea (a pot with a plate of scones, clotted cream and jam) and high tea (more of a meal).
---
But no matter what is going on elsewhere in the world, the British feel a deep cultural connection to tea. "It's a habitual comfort here," said Gorman, who calculates that Britain's 60 million people drink more tea than North America, Canada and continental Europe combined. "Drinking tea is like breathing."

Read the rest (and have a cup of tea).

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations)

Trafalgar 200

2005-10-21T20:15:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Horatio, Admiral Lord Nelson.

Over at A Lady's Ruminations, you will find posts commemorating the day and the hero.

How Dare the British Have Won?
A Question About Trafalgar Square
Nelson Remembered
Extraordinary
News of Nelson
Quote of the Day
Nelson-Fever
Better to Fight
Nelson’s Prayer
The Battle of Trafalgar

200 Years
Trafalgar 200 Schedule
An Appeal to Individual Valor
The Opposing Fleets at Noon
HMS Victory
Nelson Resources
England Expects
The Death of Nelson
After the Battle
Collingwood’s Dispatch
Nelson’s Titles
A Monument to a Hero
Nelson Remembered: 21 October 2005
A Toast to Nelson
Last Words
Quote of the Day

Extraordinary!

2005-10-19T00:09:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite historical figure is Horatio, Admiral Lord Nelson, hero of the Battle of Trafalgar, one of the greatest naval men of all time.

This coming Friday, 21 October, marks the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and of Nelson's death.

Now, England has acquired a series of letters written by an 11 year old midshipman, George James Perceval, who served aboard HMS Orion, and was present at Trafalgar.

How extraordinary!

According to the Times article:

In more than 40 letters, many written to Lord and Lady Arden, his parents in London, George painted a portrait of life aboard ship during the Trafalgar campaign, as well as the battle on October 21 and the death of Admiral Nelson.

In a letter dated October 13, he wrote to his mother: “I expect to come home to eat a Christmas Dinner with [you] if my head is not knocked of [sic] in any action.”

Nelson, he reported, had assured the fleet that “he will have a good bang at them”.

In his next letter, which is undated and whose scrawly handwriting suggests that it was written in a hurry, he gave an insight into the minds of the men who survived the battle that established British naval supremacy in Europe.

“I have as you wished been in one of the greatest actions that ever was fought,” he wrote, “ . . . but I am sorry to tell you that brave Admiral Nelson was killed by a musquet [sic] ball that went through his body.”

In another letter, he described his desire to “give [the enemy] a licking”, but there are also reminders that he was a young boy. On one page he drew a head for his mother to kiss “and think that it is my round face”.

Can you imagine being an 11 year old and witnessing one of the greatest naval battles ever . . . and living to tell about it?

Perceval not only lived, but went on to have a distinguished career in the English navy.

Perceval died in 1874 aged 79. His uncle was Spencer Perceval (1762-1812), the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated, and his father was a prominent politician with links to the Navy. George did not disappoint them. He rose to become an admiral in 1863. In 1840 he succeeded his father as 3rd Baron Arden and the following year became 6th Earl of Egmont on the death of a cousin. A selection of the letters will go on display from today in the museum’s Nelson and Napoleon exhibition, which will be free to Greenwich visitors over Trafalgar Weekend.

I do so wish I could visit the museum's display. I am so very jealous of anyone who is able to.

At least I can visit the museum's website: National Maritime Museum.

The Nelson and Napoleon Exhibit (To have just one hour to visit it!)

Trafalgar Weekend Celebrations (I wish I could be there!)

Previous Posts:
Nelson Remembered
A Question About Trafalgar Square
How Dare the British Have Won?

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations)

This is so exciting!!!

2005-10-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

IcWales: Ioan Gruffudd takes Burberry from Kate Moss---

IOAN GRUFFUDD has landed one of the most sought-after contracts in advertising.

The clean-living Welsh actor has been shooting a campaign for Burberry - just one month after the fashion house sensationally dropped Kate Moss for allegedly using illegal drugs.

It means the 32-year-old is likely to fast become one of the most familiar faces in the world, drawing on a lucrative contract which experts say could be worth millions.

Burberry, which recently revealed six-month global sales of £355m, is aiming for a change of image after the label let its stalwart supermodel Moss go after photographs of her appearing to snort cocaine at a recording studio were made public.

Advertising guru Robert Lloyd Griffiths says it's not just Gruffudd's good looks which have brought about his new five-to- seven-figure deal.

The marketing director at Leo Abse & Cohen in Cardiff said yesterday, "They would bring in someone like him for a bit of credibility and for the support from his fan base.

"If he's associated with being clean-cut, stylish, debonair, then people would make a link.

"People use a personality because they think that personality will best reflect the qualities of what's being sold and they complement the product.

"So they get someone who will be the best possible ambassador."

Burberry is also turning to the Welshman after reporting a slowdown.

This year's first-half trading report revealed a 3% rise in sales compared to a 14% surge last year.

This is thought to be due to a "soft" market in the UK, where it sells through stores such as Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, as well as at its own boutiques.

The clothing company, known for its trademark beige, black, red and white check, yesterday refused to reveal details of any upcoming campaign, but Cardiff-born Gruffudd's British agent confirmed the promotion deal.

And Gruffudd was spotted on a street in Knightsbridge this week with Mummy actress Rachel Weisz and world-famous photographer Mario Testino.

Weisz, who once shared an agent with Fantastic Four's Gruffudd in Los Angeles, was drafted in as the campaign's female face after the loss of Moss.

The 34-year-old dark-haired actress even has some modelling experience, albeit from 20 years ago.

Gruffudd is fairly new to the world of modelling and product endorsement, although he has posed for American Express promotions.

But the Titanic and 101 Dalmations star enjoyed lending his face to the new campaign. It is believed to be for a new fragrance.

His British agent Christian Hodell said yesterday, "He respected the people involved in it - Rachel Weisz, Burberry and Mario Testino who did the photo-graphs."

Ioan does appear to have all the necessary qualities.

Mr Lloyd Griffiths said, "He has done things like Hornblower, some good family entertainment, and obviously he's a hit with the ladies.

"He's clean-cut, stylish, smart and scandal free. He's A-plus grade star and international and Hollywood."

So what's a Hollywood face worth these days?

"It could be from the tens to the hundreds of thousands to the millions. It depends what he has to do."

And of course there's the non-financial gain.

"He's linking in with an iconic brand which historically has been synonymous with style, excellence and quality," said Mr Lloyd Griffiths.

"Which is probably the sort of thing he would like to be associated with himself."

And perhaps Ioan can do for Burberry what Brad Pitt has done for Tag Heuer.

The watch company was this summer voted one of the coolest brands in Britain alongside Ducati, Apple and Asahi beer.

My favorite actor!!!

The Fanlisting for England

2005-10-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of England, and have a blog or website, you might consider joining the Fanlisting for England. You can find it here.

They have all sorts of beautiful little buttoms to put on your blog/website. It was quite difficult to choose one.

You will also find a "More" page featuring a link to free e-mail accounts with "@englandrocks.zzn.com" for your address (you know, LadySiwan@englandrocks.zzn.com, if I made one), an England Pop Quiz, Songs and Sayings, and Links Around England.

I'm very excited to join!

I'll be Both!

2005-10-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

I took it twice. :)

You Are A Pirate!

What Type Of Swashbuckler Are You?
brought to you by Maddog Varuka & Dawg Brown

You Are A Highwayman!

What Type Of Swashbuckler Are You?
brought to you by Maddog Varuka & Dawg Brown

Official HP Website Updated for GOF

2005-10-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

The Official Harry Potter Movies Homepage has been updated to feature the Goblet of Fire, which comes out in the US on 18 November. You can visit it here. I am soooo very excited to see the 4th movie. It is only 40 days away, according to the countdown clock at Mugglenet.

They will be showing the movie at the IMAX, as well. Hooray!

Here is the official movie website.

Saintly Ioan!

2005-10-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

icWales: Saintly Ioan will film in Westminster Abbey---

IT SEEMS that Ioan Gruffudd has pulled off a feat which even Hollywood heavyweight Tom Hanks couldn't manage - filming at Westminster Abbey.

The Welsh actor has been cast as William Wilberforce in his new movie Amazing Grace.

And the film's executives have reportedly been granted permission to film some of the scenes in Westminster Abbey, which is one of the nation's most hallowed spots.

The news will not go down well with the people behind next year's blockbuster, The Da Vinci Code, starring Hanks, as they were barred from filming at the Abbey.

Cardiff-born Gruffudd will start rehearsing his latest role next week before filming starts at the end of the month.

Amazing Grace has been written by Steven Knight and is said to be a compelling love story.

It follows the fortunes of the idealist William Wilberforce who manoeuvres his way through Parliament in 18th century-England, endeavouring to end slavery in the empire.

Directed by Michael Apted, the film tells how he met his wife and how the animal-lover and sometime singer effected great changes in the face of major resistance.

As Wilberforce is buried at the Abbey, some of the scenes are set to be filmed there.

But bosses at the Abbey have refused to let cameras for The Da Vinci Code roll within the grounds of the cathedral, as they disagreed with aspects of the best-selling novel by Dan Brown upon which the movie is based.

In the film, Hanks plays Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon who stumbles across an enigmatic riddle when he discovers the body of the curator of the Louvre, in Paris.

He later learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion - an actual secret society - who claim to know the secrets of the Holy Grail.

But the book has been criticised by religious groups and the Vatican said that it was full of "shameful and unfounded lies".

The book's central claim is that the Holy Grail is the bloodline descended from Jesus and Mary Magdalene, who were married and had a child.

It claims the church has suppressed this "truth" and has undermined the role of women in Christianity.

The author has claimed that the art, architecture, secret rituals and societies depicted in the novel are "historical fact".

But his claims have not gone down well with religious leaders and the film crew have been forced to shoot elsewhere.

But it seems that Amazing Grace has found favour with the Abbey's leaders.

Last night a spokesman for Westminster Abbey said they had no confirmation that Amazing Grace would be filmed at the cathedral.

Amazing Grace is the latest major movie to feature 32-year-old Gruffudd.

He was last seen on the big screen in the comic strip movie Fantastic Four in which he played the leading role of Mr Fantastic.

Since moving to Los Angeles, Gruffudd's Hollywood career has gone from strength to strength - he has also appeared in King Arthur alongside Keira Knightley.

He is enjoying life in the States and does not envisage returning to Wales in the near future.

"I went out [to Los Angeles] with the ambition of making movies, and they make more movies in Los Angeles," said Gruffudd, who was made a member of the Gorsedd of Bards at the 2003 National Eisteddfod.

"I want to work there as much as possible and be able to live there. I've fallen in love with living in LA.

"But as a Welshman I always have a hiraeth for Wales and home, although it's important to broaden your horizons and get out there and see the world and experience different cultures."

You can find information about the two movies (actors, directors, etc.), here.

I am so excited for Amazing Grace. It is such a beautiful story and there is no doubt Ioan Gruffudd will do an excellent job as William Wilberforce. I wonder if he will do any singing? He has a lovely voice.

Penblwydd Hapus to the Gorgeous Mr. Gruffudd!!!

2005-10-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

Today is the 32nd birthday of my favorite actor, Ioan Gruffudd. Have a look at the birthday celebrations at Ioan Online. Ioan is Welsh and his name is pronounced "Yo-awn Griffith." You can hear him pronounce it at Ioan Online.

Ioan has starred in the marvelous Horatio Hornblower films, as Lancelot in King Arthur, as "Mr. Fantastic" in Fantastic Four, and will be seen next year in Amazing Grace as William Wilberforce, who converted to Evangelism and worked to end slavery in the British Empire.

He's an excellent actor and I highly recommend seeing his movies (and not just because I fancy him!).

Penblwydd Hapus, Ioan!
Happy Birthday, Ioan!

I wish you a wonderful day and a blessed year! God bless you!

On Your Birthday

2005-10-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations)

Calling Cards

2005-10-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have these little calling cards with my name on them (alright, they are leftovers from my high school graduation announcements---you know, those little ones with your name on them that you put into the announcement), which I love. They remind me of the calling cards Lords and Ladies would have used during the Regency.

I have been thinking about finding a little card case for them. It would be a lovely idea to put them in my purse. That way, if ever I have need of writing my address for friends, I have my little cards all ready.

I decided to do some research on the internet and came across this site, about calling cards and calling card etiquete. It's quite interesting, so I thought I would share it.

Now, I'm off to continue my search for a calling card case.

Odd Names

2005-09-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

A lovely Horatio Hornblower/Ioan Gruffudd fan at Ioan Online, named Dot, found a great little article. You can read the posts at the forums here.

Here is the great article:

Horatio Hornblower is on the list: British office compiles list of odd names---

LONDON (AP) - Horatio Hornblower is an odd name, but consider his siblings: Azubia, Constantia, Jecoliah, Jedidah, Jerusha and Erastus. Rene Jackaman, archive assistant at Cornwall County Record Office, found all those names after coming across a real-life namesake of C.S. Forester's fictional naval hero in county census records.
The Hornblower name has been on record for centuries.

Inspired by that discovery, staff and researchers at the Cornwall Record Office compiled a list of more than 1,000 unusual names found in censuses as well as in births, deaths and marriage records going back as far as the 16th century.

"My all-time favorites are Abraham Thunderwolff and Freke Dorothy Fluck Lane," she said.

Follow the link for more odd names!

No, it's not him!

2005-09-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

ABC News' Person of the Week this week is one of my favorite celebrity chefs, Jamie Oliver. More on Jamie here.

I have some of his cookbooks and love watching his tv shows. He's always fun, creative, and interesting. The first time I ever came across one of his shows, The Naked Chef, Jamie was making bread on the countertop, no bowl or anything. I love making his basic bread recipe and using it for pizza dough, breadsticks, or anything else. Yummy! You can find Jamie's bread and pizza recipe here.

And as the Jamie page says, Sorry to disappoint you--it's not the chef that's naked, it's the food!

Congratulations!

2005-09-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

My favorite Food Network "chef" Rachael Ray got married last Saturday in Italy, to her boyfriend of a few years, John Cusimano. If you are a Rachael Ray fan, you can read the little story here.

Rachael has the best shows, "30 Minute Meals," "$40 A Day," and "Tasty Travels." I use her "30 Minute Meal" Cookbooks all the time. She has the best recipes and menus and they are so easy to make. Plus, her shows are always fun.

Congratulations, Rachael and John!

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations)

Bronte Blog!

2005-09-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

Today I visited Austen Blog, which I posted about here.

They had a post with a link to a great blog called Bronte Blog. It is a blog dedicated to the Bronte sisters.

I was delighted to find it, as I love their books. Indeed, my tradition (of 3 years) is to read Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte every October. The month goes perfectly well with the story. I'll be reading it very soon.

I look forward to reading more from the Bronte Blog! Have a look and read one of the novels.

Join the Horatio Hornblower Postcard Drive!

2005-09-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

If you are fan of the Horatio Hornblower film series, then now is the time to act.

A & E, which aired the films here in the US, has decided to revamp their programming and move away from Arts and focus on Entertainment, as in reality tv. This is very unfortunate, as the HH films are excellent.

You can read more about the whole thing here.

The Hornblower movies are based on the Hornblower books, written by C.S. Forester. They are set during the Napoleonic Wars, on British Navy vessels and in battles.

My favorite actor, Ioan Gruffudd, plays Horatio in the films and wants to do many more.

You can help in two ways:

First, sign this petition.

Second, join the Postcard Drive.

We are asking people to send postcards to A & E or Granada (or both) so that the postcards will arrive between 28 September and 1 October 2005.

If you ae in the US, it only costs 23 cents to send a postcard to A & E. There are samples of what to write here.

The addresses for A & E and Granada are:

A&E Television
235 East 45th Street
New York, New York 10017

and/or

ITV Duty Office
Gas Street
Birmingham
B1 2JT

If you have other questions or want more information on sending postcards out of the US or into the US from other countries, visit the Postcard Drive webpage here.

These are such great films that teach about honor, courage, and the fight for freedom. I hope we can convince the powers that be to change their minds. Thank you!

You can find out more about Ioan Gruffudd and Horatio Hornblower by visiting Ioan Online.

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations)

On TV Show Season Premieres

2005-09-22T23:38:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one who thinks the tv show season premieres have been pretty boring so far.

The ones I have see are: King of Queens, CSI: Miami, NCIS, According to Jim, E-Ring, CSI, and ER. I was expecting exciting things on CSI: Miami, CSI, and NCIS, but not really were. King of Queens was funny, but not the funniest I've seen. According to Jim was rather uninteresting considering the Dana character got married at the end of last season. It might as well have taken place before that event. ER was more drama. It might as well be General Hospital. They never show traumas anymore, just personal crises all over the place.

As for E-Ring, the only new show I have watched, I was vastly disappointed. My favorite television show is JAG, which ended after 10 seasons in May. E-Ring is no JAG. The characters don't act like military and everything is sort of soft. I expected crispness and military sharpness. Not so. Disappointing, as I generally like Jerry Bruckheimer shows. I don't know if I will watch it again.

I didn't watch Lost (though we taped it) because I was watching E-Ring. I am hoping it will prove entertaining and interesting and revitalize the new season.

On Pumpkin Lattes and Harry Potter

2005-09-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today my sister and I took our dog, Dani, to her treatment at the best vet's office. Since it would be about an hour and a half, we went to do a bit of grocery shopping. Once we finished that, we planned to have some coffee drinks and read.

Across from Fred Meyer, where we did the grocery shopping was an Albertsons. My sister said there used to be a Starbucks. It was gone, but there was a Starbucks stand thing inside the Albertsons, so we went there. As we ordered our coffee drinks, I remembered that there was a new Starbucks right down the parking lot from the vet's. Last week when we were up there it hadn't been open yet and I hadn't thought to check before we left. We got our drinks and sat down About 8 feet away at a tiny little table with two chairs.

My sister had her usual, an Extra-Caramel Caramel Frappuccino. I had a Pumpkin Spice Latte in honor of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which I am reading for the second time. I thought it was appropriate because they always drink pumpkin juice in the books. My sister is very slowly reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

We sat at the little table, pulled out our books, and began to read. This is in an Albertsons store. Not exactly quiet. Sighing, we decided to head back to the vet's and just read in the nice waiting area.

When we arrived, we were told Dani was almost done. My sister, who drinks her coffee drinks in about 6 seconds, was entirely finished with her's. I had more than half of my Pumpkin Spice latte left. The great receptionist told us that the Starbucks down the parking lot had opened Friday!

Too bad we didn't think to look before we left. We could have enjoyed our drinks and Harry Potter in the relative quiet of the Starbucks shop, rather than a grocery store. I only read about 2 pages of HP and HBP. I'm near the end, at a very, very important part and have been saving it for when we went to Starbucks. I, of course, finished my latte, but not while I was reading!

I guess I'll have to save it until next time.

London Postcards

2005-09-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

I like to send friends internet postcards. I just found a wonderful website full of beautiful London ones.

You can visit it here.

The site is called LondonTown.com. It has lots of travel information and tourist sites, restaurants, maps, entertainment. They have top 10 lists: features, tickets, hotels, and lots more. It looks like a really fun site.

I'm excited about the postcards.

Make Your Day with a Ioan Clip!

2005-09-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

Ioan Online has a link to the new 8-disc set of Horatio Hornblower dvds arriving 25 October 2005.

The gorgeous Mr. Gruffudd is featured in a greeting clip on Amazon. You can watch it here. Click on either high bandwith or low bandwith to watch the delightful little piece. Ioan Gruffudd is so charming.

I already own the first 8 dvds, but I want to buy this set just because. I don't know that there is even anything new on them, but the set is worth checking out.

"There is no land like England"

2005-09-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

Alfred, Lord Tennyson is my favorite poet and England is my favorite country (outside the United States), though I have not yet been.

So, a poem for you, from the master:

There is no land like England,
Where'er the light of day be;
There are no hearts like English hearts,
Such hearts of oak as they be;
There is no land like England,
Where'er the light of day be:
There are no men like Englishmen,
So tall and bold as they be!
And these will strike for England,
And man and maid be free
To foil and spoil the tyrant
Beneath the greenwood tree.

- Lord Alfred Tennyson, Foresters--Song

Excellent British Sites

2005-09-17T22:25:00.000-07:00

I was just doing a little searching on England and found these wonderful sites. I thought I would share them.

The first one, Visit Britain is the official travel site of the UK. You can look up places to stay, places to visit, events, transportation, and more. There are sections for different areas of the UK: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and also Guernsey and Jersey.

You can also create a travel plan on the site and use a currency converter to check prices.

It looks like a very helpful website if you are planning a trip to Britain, which I hope to do in the not-too-distant future.

The second site is even more exciting: British History. I have a degree in history and British is my favorite and specialty.

You'll fine all sorts of British history (obviously), timelines, recipes, competitions, research tools, time periods, articles, and more. You can search specific dates, parks, clothing, nautical history, military history, buildings, monuments, literature, maps, libraries, and so much more.

I know I am going to enjoy spending lots of time on this site.

HP and GOF Trailer!!!!

2005-09-17T22:11:00.000-07:00

You can see a new Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire trailer here.

HP and GoF comes out on 18 November in the U.S. It is the fourth movie in the series, based on the fourth book of what will be seven. Like the 3rd movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, HP and GOF will also be shown at the IMAX.

I saw a preview when I went to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on 15 July 2005. From the looks of it and the new trailer, it will be an excellent film.

I am SOOOO excited!

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations)

Agatha Christie's House

2005-09-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

The Times: Agatha Christie's favourite plot---

THE country house where Agatha Christie wrote some of her most popular mysteries is to be opened to the public for the first time since her death in 1976.
Greenway House, on the banks of the Dart, was acquired by the National Trust on the death of Christie’s only daughter late last year. The announcement was made to coincide with the start of the first “Christie Week” to celebrate the works of the world’s most successful modern author.

Christie sold more than two billion books, translated into 103 languages. Only the Bible and Shakespeare’s works are said to have sold more.

Many of the mysteries, such as those featuring the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, were written at Greenway, which makes a thinly disguised appearance in at least two of them: Dead Man’s Folly, written in 1956, and Five Little Pigs, written in 1943. The National Trust opened 30 acres of gardens and the boathouse of Greenway House to the public in 2002 after it was donated by Christie’s family. The trust was given the 225-year lease to the house after the deaths of Christie’s daughter, Rosalind Hicks, and her husband, Anthony, who lived there.

Before opening Greenway to the public, the trust intends to spend at least £2 million on restoring it to the glory of its heyday in the 1930s. Among Christie’s possessions still there is the desk on which she wrote many books.

Robyn Brown, the Greenway property manager, said that the trust hoped to restore the “heart and soul” of Christie’s “much loved” house. “This will help tell the fascinating story of holidays spent at Greenway by Agatha and her family. It is important that visitors understand its history and the many characters that lived in and enjoyed this magical part of the Dart Estuary.”

The restoration is expected to take three years, but before then the house will be open for special tours, details of which will be announced next year.

The trust plans to open parts of the ground floor to visitors in 2008 but the top two floors will be used as holiday and staff accommodation, and storage.

I always loved Agatha Christie mysteries. My favorite was And Then There Were None.

To find out more about Agatha Christie and her books, you can visit the official site here.

According to the site, this is Agatha Christie Week. It runs from 12 September-17 September 2005.

Fresh Banana Bread!

2005-09-13T23:54:00.000-07:00

I've just taken two lovely loaves of Banana Bread out of the oven. The picture isn't a very good one. I love making it, but I haven't done so in a few months.

They appear to have turned out well. I'll have some for breakfast, toasted with butter.

The recipe I use comes from one put together by wives of Seattle Mariners as a charity event. The recipe is from retired Mariner's player Jay Buhner.

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Rumimations)

The Pride and Prejudice Site

2005-09-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

You can visit the site for the upcoming Pride and Prejudice here.

It stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew McFayden as Mr. Darcy, as well as Rosamund Pike, Tom Hollander, and Judi Dench.

The site features quotes from the actors and actresses, photos from the movie, wallpapers, screensavers, and buddy icons, information on the characters, and a biography of the great Jane Austen.

You can also view the P & P trailer.

Pride and Prejudice will be released on 16 September 2005 in the United Kingdom, but we Americans won't be able to see it until 18 November 2005, when it is released in the US.

Dates for releases in other countries can be found here.

Ioan and Amazing Grace

2005-09-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net---

Gruffudd & Finney in Amazing Grace
Source: The Hollywood Reporter September 13, 2005

Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four) has signed on to topline Walden Media's Amazing Grace for director Michael Apted, says The Hollywood Reporter. Albert Finney (Big Fish) also has joined the cast.

Based on the life of British anti-slavery pioneer William Wilberforce (Gruffudd), the film follows his 18th century political career, which placed him at odds with some of the most powerful men of the time, including the king. Finney will play John Newton, a Wilberforce confidant.

Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things) wrote the screenplay.

Sounds excellent, so far. I hope more information is forthcoming.

Fantastic Four on DVD!!!

2005-09-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

Title: Fantastic Four
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd
Released: 13th December 2005
SRP: $27.95

Further Details
Fox Home Entertainment has today revealed the street date for Fantastic Four which stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba and Chris Evans. The film will be available to own in seperate anamorphic widescreen, and full screen releases from the 13th December this year. Each should set you back around $27.95. Both will include English Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 tracks, along with a cast commentary, three deleted scenes, an exclusive look behind the scenes with the cast, a Making of Fantastic Four featurette and a Fox Movie Channel Presents Fantastic Four "Casting Session" and "Making a Scene". Completing the package will be two music videos (Everything Burns and Come On Come In), a soundtrack spot, an inside look at X-Men 3, a theatrical trailer and the Marvel Avengers trailer.

Visit the link to see the cover.

Austen Blog

2005-08-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

I've discovered a most wonderful blog all about Jane Austen and her books, the movies made of them, and anything Austenian. It is called "Austen Blog" and you can find it here. I've also added a link on our sidebar. I look forward to reading "Austen Blog" every day!

Miss Jane Austen

Ioan's New Role!

2005-08-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited that Ioan has a new film role lined up. You can read about it here.

The film is called "The TV Set" and is an "indie satire."

Ioan will be working with David Duchovny and Sigourney Weaver.

Here is the plot as we know it so far:

The story follows the making of a television pilot, with Duchovny playing the pilot's beleaguered showrunner. Weaver -- whose father, Sylvester "Pat" Weaver, was a top executive at NBC in the 1940s and '50s -- will play the head of a network, and Gruffudd will play a BBC exec who joins the network.

"The TV Set" will begin filming 18 August 2005, which is tomorrow! I look forward to it!

I am Hermione Granger!

2005-08-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

Really, rather accurate. I've done the Meyers-Briggs test and I am always ISTJ.

Here is the key to such the results:

This type of personality test uses four indexes of personality and the combination of the four is your personality type. The firstindex relates to how you interact with other people and can be Extroverted (E),meaning you're more outgoing or Introverted (I), meaning you keep more to yourself. The second relates to how you make decisions; whether you're Intuitive(N), getting answers from within, or you rely on Sensing (S) information from your surroundings, using your five senses. The third relates to whether you're more emotional and Feeling (F) or rational and Thinking (T). The fourth relates to whether you prefer things to be organized, meaning you're Judging (J), or you prefer things to be more unbound, meaning you're Perceiving(P).

Save the Hornblower Series!

2005-08-07T00:28:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite set of films is the Horatio Hornblower Series. They are excellent movies, based on the excellent naval adventure novels of C.S. Forester, and set during the Napoleonic Wars. Horatio Hornblower is an officer in the British Navy.

These films were made by a British company and then shown here in the United States by A & E. In Britain, the films weren't much appreciated, but they have done exceedingly well here. The first set of films, four total, were shown in 1998 and were based on book 1. The second set of two came out in 2000 and were based on book 2. The third set of two were shown in 2003 and were based on book three.

(Photo from Ioan Online)

Horatio Hornblower is played by my favorite actor, a Welshman, Ioan Gruffudd (Yo-awn Griffith), who is currently starring in Fantastic Four. Ioan has called Horatio Hornblower his favorite character and has said, "I'd love to continue with that character - I think it would be interesting to play the character through every stage of his life.

"Sadly, the new powers that be at the A+e network have decided they don't want to make any more but I've always fancied doing a film version of Hornblower, so maybe that could be done."

In 2004, he said his best moment was "Being Cast as Hornblower. It was a career-changing moment."

Unfortunately, A & E has decided to join the reality programming bandwagon and is declining to join in making anymore Horatio Hornblower films.

Even if you have never seen a film and don't care in the least, would you please (I am begging) take a moment (only a moment) to sign this petition asking A & E to reconsider. I would be eternally grateful (and delighted to see more Hornblower movies!). Thank you!

(Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations)

"Fantastic Four" on DVD!!!

2005-08-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to know when "Fantastic Four" would be out on dvd. It seems we have an answer. Head over to VideoETA for the scoop.

"Fantastic Four" seems scheduled to be released for sale on 13 December. If you click on the "Remind me" box at the top right of the page and fill out the form that comes up, VideoETA will send you a reminder e-mail. I've already done so!

Movie Trailers!!!

2005-08-03T23:31:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch the trailer for the new "Pride and Prejudice," starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennett.

If you scroll down the page, you may also watch the trailer for "Fantastic Four"!!

Third Time's A Charm

2005-08-03T16:03:00.000-07:00

Alright, I've just got back from my third viewing of Fantastic Four. It was just as excellent as the other two viewings.

Since it came out 8 July, Fantastic Four has done incredibly well. According to BoxOfficeMojo, as of 2 August, F4 has made $138,065,785 domestically. Add that to $109,499,621 overseas, for a total of $247,565,406!

The question is, why have critics called it a flop? Every where one looks, the critics have given it bad reviews.

I think the obvious answer is that the critics are often wrong. They forget to factor "entertainment value" into their grades. So Fantastic Four might not be another Lord of the Rings, but how many movies are? The point is, Fantastic Four is a very funny, very entertaining summer movie. It has done super well in the United States and around the world. I don't even think it has opened in every country yet.

I think it is a great movie to see on a hot summer day (and not just because hot Ioan Gruffudd). It's fun!

The Madness of King George: Arsenic?

2005-07-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

There is a possibility that King George III, the man during whose reign Great Britain lost the Thirteen Colonies and later defeated Napoleon, was not suffering from porphyria, but, rather, was suffering from arsenic poisoning.

In 1969, researchers proposed the strange behavior of the monarch who reigned during the American Revolution resulted from a rare hereditary blood disorder called porphyria.

However, a study this week in The Lancet medical journal found high concentrations of arsenic in the king's hair and contends the severity and duration of his episodes of illness may have been caused by the toxic substance.

T hey do not seem to think he was deliberately poisoned, however,

The king's medical records revealed he had been consistently given a medicine containing antimony, a mineral often found in the ground with arsenic.

"The way antimony was extracted 200 years ago means that it was often quite contaminated with arsenic," Warren said. "The king was given large doses of antimony for his abdominal pains and that was probably the source of the arsenic."

Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations.

Fantastic!

2005-07-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

I saw "Fantastic Four" on Thursday night, at 11:59pm, with my cousin and sister. The critics had not been very kind, but I was sure I would enjoy it from what I had seen (not to mention my favorite actor starring in it).

When we arrived, the theater was already rather crowded. This showing was in Theater 1, the biggest theater. We managed to find three seats together. By the time the movie began, the theater was full.

I promise not to give anything about the plot away. I loved the movie! It was a terrific, light-hearted summer film. It was easy to follow, had lots of great lines, and lots of laughter from the whole theater.

I have seen other comic book movies and they tend to be somewhat dark and overly heavy. "Fantastic Four" was not like that. Instead, the characters had a sense of humor about their situation, while at the same time recognizing the "seriousness" of what happened to them. I thought the special affects were great---perfect for a comic book movie.

Michael Chiklis does a good job as The Thing/Ben Grimm. You felt sorry for him because he was so unhappy in his transformed state. At the same time, there was humor in his inability to do usual things, like use a fork because his fingers are so big and rocklike.

Chris Evans plays the Human Torch/Johnny Storm perfectly. He came across as the hotshot (no pun intended, really) of the group. Johnny is the member of the group who enjoys the transformation and the spotlight it brings to them. He savors the attention. Chris Evans delivered the funniest lines in the movie and did so very naturally.

Julian McMahon was a great Victor Von Doom/Dr. Doom. He was arrogant and slightly sinister. Victor Von Doom is used to getting his way and McMahon played him well.

Jessica Alba plays the Invisible Woman/Sue Storm. She did a pretty good job. She and Chris Evans were excellent at bickering as sister and brother.

The best for last: Ioan as Mr. Fantastic/Dr. Reed Richards. Ioan's part was much bigger than one would think from the way the entertainment world and media have been treating the cast. Reed Richards is the leader of the group, so Ioan was onscreen all the time (which I certainly did not mind). He did an excellent job. The character was more serious than Johnny Storm, but still had a few funny parts. Fabulous acting! :)

My sister and cousin both really enjoyed the movie. I plan to see it again.

Go see "Fantastic Four"!!!

Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations

On a lighter note

2005-07-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

Tonight my sister, cousin, and I are going to the 11:59pm showing of "Fantastic Four." I'm very excited to see Ioan as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic. The other cast members are Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, and Julian McMahon. I hope everyone goes to see it. Ioan deserves to be a big star, as he's an excellent actor!

Fantastic Four website here.

Here are 2 pictures of Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic:

London Attacked!

2005-07-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

This morning London was attacked by terrorists, with four separate bombs going off, 3 in subway cars and one on a bus. This is a very horrid event and I am very upset.

While I have never been to England, it holds a very, very special place in my heart. Other than the United States, England is most where I want to be. So, England being attacked by evil cowards is only second to America being attacked.

I have been blogging on this all day at A Lady's Ruminations. We will stand firm with the British. Whoever is responsible hasn't long to live.

Here it is!!!

2005-07-05T23:37:00.000-07:00

The Mr. Fantastic TV Guide Cover!!! Or should we say "Mr. Gorgeous"?!?!!!!

What Slanguage Do You Speak?

2005-07-05T23:29:00.000-07:00

Your Slanguage Profile

British Slang: 75%

Southern Slang: 50%

Victorian Slang: 50%

Aussie Slang: 25%

Canadian Slang: 25%

Prison Slang: 25%

New England Slang: 0%

What Slanguage Do You Speak?

Hooray!!! 75% British Slang!!!

World's Shortest Personality Test

2005-07-05T23:26:00.000-07:00

You are pure, moral, and adaptable.
You tend to blend into your surroundings.
Shy on the outside, you're outspoken to your friends.

You believe that you live a virtuous life...
And you tend to judge others with a harsh eye.
As a result, people tend to crave your approval.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Thank God and Walmart!

2005-06-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

After my sister got home from work today, she and I drove out to Old Navy. On our way home, I asked her to stop at Walmart so I could see if they had any Mr. Fantastic TV Guides. As I searched through TV Guides in various checkouts, I could, once again, only find the other four covers.

I was reaching the end of the row of checkouts when I thought I spotted a bit of blue on a cover behind a few others. I pulled it out and, to my great delight, found Mr. Fantastic! Then, I found another. At the next checkout I found another. In all, I found about 5-6! So that was where they were all hiding! I was quite relieved and happy to have found my Mr. Fantastic TV Guide! I had to buy 2. "I couldn't resist, mate!"

I will scan one in and post a picture very soon! Hooray!

I just want one!!!!!

2005-06-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

Alright, today the new TV Guides came out, featuring the Fantastic Four. There are five issues, each one with a single character from the film: Mr. Fantastic, The Human Torch, The Thing, The Invisible Woman, and Dr. Doom.

I went to 6, yes 6! places today to find one with Mr. Fantastic on the cover, and found not a single one. There were plenty of the Human Torch, the Thing, the Invisible Woman, and Dr. Doom. Of course, there were none of Mr. Fantastic! Three of the places still had the last issue with Nascar on the front. Luckily, the nice girl at the 7-Eleven told me they get their TV Guides on Friday. So, I shall have to go tomorrow and get one. Pray God that there is one with Mr. Fantastic on the cover! I just want one!!!

How Dare the British Have Won?

2005-06-29T23:49:00.000-07:00

On 21 October 1805, off Cape Trafalgar, Spain, Horatio, Admiral Lord Nelson, had the signal "England expects that every man will do his duty" hoisted above his ship, HMS Victory.
The Battle of Trafalgar decisively ended the effectiveness of the Napoleon's French fleet. The British had been fighting the French for 12 years, by that point, but Napoleon continued conquering Europe for the next 10 or so years.

Nelson is one of the great English heroes and deserves to be honored as such. Despite already losing an eye and an arm in the years before Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson continued to do his duty until the very end. On 21 October 1805, he was mortally wounded while commanding the British Navy against the French. His last words were, "I have done my duty. I thank God for it!"

Horatio, Admiral Lord Nelson

21 October 2005 will mark the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The British, French, and Spanish, on Tuesday, held a naval re-enactment celebration in honor of one of the most important naval battles in history.

Unfortunately, instead of the British and French fleets "fighting," the red and blue fleets fought. Apparently, no one wanted to hurt the French feelings because they were (are) the losers. Boo hoo! One would think they would be used to it by now. Is there a battle the French have won in the last century?

According to the article:

Organizers of the bicentenary celebrations were anxious to avoid accusations of triumphalism, especially at a time when Anglo-French relations are frosty as London and Paris clash over the future direction of the European Union.

Winning equals the right to be triumphant. Trafalgar was a very important battle. The British have always been proud of the victory. As for Anglo-French relations being "frosty," the English and the French have always been staunch enemies, even when they were allies. Will calling the fleets "red" and "blue" actually make them friends?

Nelson's great great great granddaughter, 75-year-old Anna Tribe, said, "I am anti-political correctness. Very much against it. It makes fools of us. I think the idea of the blue team fighting the red team is pretty stupid. I am sure the French and Spanish are adult enough to appreciate we did win that battle."

Alex Naylor, the historian who played Nelson in the mock battle, added, "If you obliterate history for the sake of political correctness, you can't learn from the past. Nelson thought politicians were cowards. I tend to agree."

I agree wholeheartedly. Rather than allow the British navy to rule the waves, as it had always done, the British have allowed political correctness to rule the day. Without the English victory at Trafalgar, we might all be speaking French today.

Heaven forfend. The British have given up doing their duty.

Cross-posted at A Lady's Ruminations.

Ioan on the Today Show!

2005-06-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

This morning, Ioan was on the Today Show (which I hate), along with his fellow Fantastic Four Castmates, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, and Chris Evans. He looked gorgeous, as usual, and used his natural Welsh accent when speaking. I do wish he could have spoken more, but the segment was not very long and there were four of them. Ioan was wearing black boots, jeans, a white shirt (I think), a black striped tie, and an unusual black jacket. Mr. Gorgeous! I do wish I could have been there!

Ioan on Late Night!!!

2005-06-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

Last night (or, rather, very early this morning) Ioan was to have been on the Late Late Show on CBS. Unfortunately, he had to cancel his appearance. Quite sad, as I was very happy to wait up and watch.

Today I have found out that he will be on the Conan O'Brien Show on NBC on 6 July. Hooray!!!

I will post more information on his appearances when I learn of them.

I couldn't resist!

2005-06-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations! You could give the Phantom a run
for his money in the obsession department! You
are over the top obsessed knowing all there is
to know!! Be proud of your obsession. After
all, obsession is just flattery to the extreme!
So show off your phantom loving status, cause
your impressive obsession makes you a true
phantom Phan!!!

How Phantom of the Opera obsessed are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

A bit of a confession and a Quiz result.

2005-06-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true I am completely obsessed with the Phantom! And Gerard Butler! So much so that yesterday I watched PotO three times! I cannot get enough! I need the soundtrack!
I haven’t even given a thought to Mark Ferguson in days.

*sigh* Well I feel better now.

Congratulations! You could give the Phantom a run
for his money in the obsession department! You
are over the top obsessed knowing all there is
to know!! Be proud of your obsession. After
all, obsession is just flattery to the extreme!
So show off your phantom loving status, cause
your impressive obsession makes you a true
phantom Phan!!!

How Phantom of the Opera obsessed are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

No words necessary!

2005-06-11T22:08:00.000-07:00

Photo from Ioan Online

The Queen's Party!

2005-06-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Queen Elizabeth II's birthday is actually 21 April, same as mine, but she is having a huge birthday celebration today.

According to the article:

In a spectacular display of precision marching and horsemanship choreographed to the music of a military band, about 1,220 soldiers in ceremonial red dress and huge black bearskin caps saluted the monarch in the ceremony near Buckingham Palace.

How I wish I could be there! Well, how I wish I could be in England! Maybe see some ruffled shirts! Right, Lady Crystin? :)

I almost missed Ioan!

2005-06-09T23:36:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the MTV Movie Awards. Now, I don't usually watch MTV, but tonight was an exception. Ioan was going to be presenting an award along with his Fantastic 4 cast-mates. At the beginning of the show, they did the usual "scheduled to appear" thing. They said, "Ee-on Gruffudd." EE-ON??? That's Yo-awn! Pretty easy, if you practice!!

So, I waited to see darling Ioan, and even Alice, his girlfriend. No luck! Then, before a commercial break, the announcer said, "Next up, blah, blah, blah, and the cast of the Fantastic 4, blah, blah." I was very excited! It was coming!

Now, the whole time I was watching all of this, I was making scones. I was quite afraid I would be busy doing something and miss it! Didn't happen!

By that time, I was finished. I sat down at the table to watch. Someone was presenting some stupid award, so I flipped to my favorite station, Fox News for a minute. Howard Dean, the DNC Chairman, was saying something stupid, so I had to listen.

I flipped back, and they were on!!!! Of course! I am busy and they aren't on! I am just relaxing and stupidly flip to a different channel, and they are on! Ioan was, of course, gorgeous! He spoke briefly; much too briefly in my estimation! I wanted everyone else off stage!

That was all I saw of Ioan, unfortunately. Luckily, I believe they will re-run the show. I'll have to see the whole Ioan part this time!

Lesson to be learned: When you are waiting for something, be patient and keep your eyes open!!!

Now, for some pictures of the man I like to call Mr. Gorgeous (a play on his part in Fantastic 4, Mr. Fantastic---he's that too!) from the show. One question: Where are his gorgeous curls!?!?!?!?

My Trip to the Used Bookstore!

2005-06-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the used bookstore to exchange a bunch of paperbacks my grandparents gave us. I found sooooo many wonderful books to get! Too many, of course! I just cannot resist books, especially books by my favorite authors. Luckily, I now have a wonderful stack for summer reading at the lake.

My greatest find was a paperback copy of one of my favorite novels, These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer. I got this copy. Click here for a wonderful exerpt from this wonderful novel!

Perfect!

2005-06-06T23:35:00.000-07:00

Scarry how accurate these things can be!

Dearie me, you are a Hoyden! You may have
brothers, but it is most likely you are the
indulged only daughter of an affectionate
father and a mother who died when you were an
infant. You have been known to wear breeches,
refuse to ride sidesaddle and know how to use a
pistol or a rapier. There is a distinct
possibility that you will become embroiled with
smugglers. You are definitely cheeky and
fearless. Your hero will at first mistake you
for a boy, but his inexplicable attraction to
you will lead him to deduce that you are in
fact female. He will be torn between his
respect for your daring and skill at manly
pursuits, and his irrational yet intense fear
for your safety, which will manifest itself in
him becoming very angry with you. You will, of
course, not recognise the fear beneath his
anger, and will shout right back at him - there
is a good possibility things will turn steamy
at this point. The situation will resolve
itself either in you taming your wild ways
because you can't bear to cause him concern, or
in you rescuing him, leading to a compromise in
which he recognises and respects your
abilities, and you take fewer risks. Let us
hope it is the latter.

The Regency Romance Quiz: What kind of Romance Heroine are you?
brought to you by

The Regency Romance Quiz: What Kind of Romance Heroine Are You?

2005-06-06T23:18:00.000-07:00

My dear girl, you are clearly On the Shelf. You
are unmarried and in your mid-twenties. You
are intelligent and sensible, but quiet, and
consider yourself plain. You have had several
Seasons, but never received an offer, or
perhaps you refused the offers you received.
The reason for this is that you have always
loved the man you danced with shortly after you
came out at 18. He, of course, never returned
your affections, or even knew about them, and
is probably courting your sister.
Nevertheless, he always seems to like you, and
treats you much as he treats his sisters. Your
love for him is immediately evident to everyone
else, especially his sister, aunt or mother,
who think you are the best possible wife for
him. This attitude may prove either helpful or
difficult, depending on how much the author
likes you. When an accident befalls, your calm
practicality and ability to stitch up wounds
impresses him, and all of a sudden he finds
himself noticing the way your smile transforms
your face, lighting your eyes and making you
quietly beautiful. His interest and
appreciation will quickly turn to love, but he
will have to spend the rest of the novel trying
to convince you that his affection is genuine
and not a result of pity.

The Regency Romance Quiz: What kind of Romance Heroine are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

And what classic novel does Lady Crystin belong in?

2005-06-06T23:12:00.000-07:00

You guessed it!

I believe you belong in Pride and Prejudice; a
world of satire and true love. A world where
everything is crystal clear to the reader, and
yet where new things seem to be happening all
the time. You belong in a world where your
free-thought puts you above the silly masses,
and where bright eyes and intelligence are
enough to attract the arrogant
millionaire/prejudiced young woman of your
choice.

Which Classic Novel do You Belong In?
brought to you by Quizilla

As you will discover, great minds really do think a like! *grins*
Bring on Mr. Darcy, indeed!

Which Classic Novel Do You Belong In?

2005-06-06T22:33:00.000-07:00

I believe you belong in Pride and Prejudice; a
world of satire and true love. A world where
everything is crystal clear to the reader, and
yet where new things seem to be happening all
the time. You belong in a world where your
free-thought puts you above the silly masses,
and where bright eyes and intelligence are
enough to attract the arrogant
millionaire/prejudiced young woman of your
choice.

Which Classic Novel do You Belong In?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hooray!!!!! One of my favorite books by my favorite author! Bring on the arrogant millionaires! Bring on the Mr. Darcys!!!

It has arrived!!!!

2005-06-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

My "When Love Speaks" CD arrived today! I'm off to listen to dearest Ioan recite Sonnet 14 over and over and over. *sigh*

A New Commercial!

2005-06-06T00:06:00.000-07:00

I just saw a commercial for the Fantastic Four movie, starring Ioan Gruffudd, on the television!!! Very exciting! He wasn't in it as much as I would have liked, of course. I cannot wait to see another one! The movie comes out on 8 July!

Say Adieu, Napoleon!

2005-06-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

It has long been believed that Napoleon Bonaparte, the nasty little Frenchman, died of stomach cancer. A few years ago a study found high levels of arsenic in portions of his hair. A new study shows that the arsenic wasn't from anything innocuous, but had to have been deliberate. Someone deliberately poisoned him! The article is here. Is it wrong to say "Thank God!"?

And now what I'm sure everyone was waiting for...

2005-06-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

Lady Crystin's results from the "Which Indy boy are you?" quiz. So without further ado, drum roll please...

You're" Major Edrington!

The person who made this quiz certainly knew what they were about! Yes indeed, I am Major "you may call me Lord" Edrington. Hmm...and I must say I have never had problems looking at pictures of Samuel West (sorry Mark, I'm fickle) *sigh*

A Horatio Hornblower Quiz

2005-06-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

Which Indy Boy Are You?

You're Horatio Hornblower!

When Love Speaks

2005-06-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

And I begin my posting with a wonderful cd I have just found, entitled When Love Speaks. It features, of course, Ioan Gruffudd reciting William Shakespeare's Sonnet 14.

Sonnet 14
Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck;

And yet methinks I have astronomy,

But not to tell of good or evil luck,

Of plagues, of dearths, or seasons' quality;

Nor can I fortune to brief minutes tell,

Pointing to each his thunder, rain and wind,

Or say with princes if it shall go well,

By oft predict that I in heaven find:

But from thine eyes my knowledge I derive,

And, constant stars, in them I read such art

As truth and beauty shall together thrive,

If from thyself to store thou wouldst convert;

Or else of thee this I prognosticate:

Thy end is truth's and beauty's doom and date.

William Shakespeare

Of course, listening to Ioan recite the sonnet, trilling his r's, is completely enchanting. So enchanting that if I listen to it a few more times, I might swoon!

The cd can be found here. For Horatio Hornblower and Ioan Gruffudd fans, Robert Lindsay and Ioan's friend Matthew Rhys also recite sonnets. Others include Ralph Fiennes, Joseph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Kenneth Branagh, and many more. One can hear a good portion of each poem at the site.

Enchanting!!!

Stand and deliver! The Dauntless Damsels are riding again.

2005-06-01T00:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome! You have stumbled upon the lair of those two intrepid, but always lady-like, marauders, Lady Siwan and Lady Crystin. Together these two dauntless damsels raid their library's shelves in search of their favorite plunder, a good book! The history of England is their Grand Passion and they revel in the two periods known as the Georgian and Regency eras. Both enjoy historical novels set during these times, especially the work of Georgette Heyer and Patricia Veryan. Their other great preoccupation is their favorite actors, Ioan Gruffudd and Mark Ferguson *sigh*. I am reasonably confident that you shall be hearing much about the virtues of these two gentlemen in days to come (from Siwan about Ioan and from Crystin about Mark), among many other interesting (and sometimes insane) things. Welcome to our adventures!