Canterbury Celebrates The Queen's Jubilee

The Heiress is enjoying all that Canterbury has on offer for the Queen's Jubilee and thoughtfully sent a few photos to her Mum left whimpering at home.  Each one taken with me in mind as she knows how much I adore quaint pedestrian walkways, bunting and beautiful window displays.

Tearooms also rate quite highly!

 Some tea to enjoy at home in a souvenir tin is also quite nice and speaking of souvenirs...

...the tea towel and tote are too pretty to use but aren't they lovely?

I can just imagine the fingerprints on this bakery window from people stopping to mull over which one is their favourite.  The massive pink fairy cake up in front is the one that catches my eye!

Oh how we wish we could have been there to enjoy it with you but thanks so much for sending a such lovely glimpses home.

Books, Buck House and Buckets

Last weekend we were in Toronto and with a quick 'see you soon!' shouted over my shoulder at my husband I made straight for the 'H' section of BMV for another L P  Hartley title.  Poor Stella Gibbons has been sandwiched between one excellent read, The Hireling, and another, The Go-Between, reported to be even better.  While My American is lovely I really can't say it has me rushing home from work to pick up where I left off or flicking on my bedside lamp in the middle of the night to sneak a few pages in.  Who knows though, the ending may just have me eating my words.

I also wanted to stop in to Nicholas Hoare after receiving an email reporting the closure of two of his shops, one in Montreal and one in Ottawa.  The rents are rising by a ridiculous amount and I heaved a sigh of relief that one of my favourite bookshops in Toronto hasn't been affected, yet.  Too many times have I enjoyed all the glory of this fine establishment and then bought the titles that caught my eye on The Book Depository to save money (mind you, their prices are creeping upwards since Amazon's buyout).  I can't continue to have my cake and eat it too so I dished out for Millions Like Us by Virginia Nicholson, a book I've been coveting for quite some time.  A few weeks ago I pulled out my copy of Sisters at Arms about nurses during several conflicts and was so upset by the treatment and rape of these brave women at the hands of the Japanese that I had to set it aside.  Usually I wouldn't shy away from tales of horror but in that book it was unrelenting, hopefully Nicholson's book will have a lighter side at least some of the time.

Oh, and I had an email yesterday from The Heiress.  She was in London with a friend and the Duchess of Cornwall rode past in a car just outside the gates of Buckingham Palace.  And not one mention of what she was wearing, nor any description of a feathered hat or shiny brooch.  I will just have to use my imagination while giving the floors the wash they need so desperately and then there is the weeds to see to.  This exercise in procrastination has come to an end.  Happy Friday!

A Husband Returns, Part I

An overnight flight and a couple of train rides delivered R to a very warm reception in Canterbury.  A sweeping tour of the campus, introductions to friends, the passing around of gifts and a short nap later it was time for The Heiress to show off the highlights of town life.  Canterbury Cathedral is the jewel in the crown and where the graduation ceremony for the university students usually takes place.  If you are familiar with the murder of Archbishop Thomas Beckett in 1170, then you will know it took place at this cathedral and if not then click here for details.

R took scads of photos of the High Street and interesting architecture but this one really struck me.  You can just imagine that at any moment a carriage will roll by or a peasant woman carrying a bundle of firewood will peddle her wares.  The contrast between the working man and the wealth of the church, the functional against the splendid, this photo is so simple but displays so much and I adore images that whip you back in time.  I was also completely enthralled with a story R was told about villagers sketching the window detail from above the front door on a letter for the post before addresses were common as a way of identifying the proper location.  Fascinating stuff!

Hopping on a bus, The Heiress gave her Dad a tour of Whitstable.  It was a cool day but they thoroughly enjoyed a bracing walk along the shore.  Huge piles of oyster shells deposited outside the nearby pub was an indication of just how popular the local catch is.  Choosing the table next to a roaring fire meant it was R's job to tend it, so every now and then he had to pitch on a log or poke at the embers while a band playing music from the 40s entertained the customers.  As he was basking in the warmth and glow he had a fright when he realized he had placed a bag containing something like twenty bars of chocolate from Thornton's under the table.  Thankfully all was well...phew!  A foreign sight was four dogs residing under the drinks table of their owners, something you would never see here but I wish we did.

After a weekend of being shown around the village by a gaggle of young lady friends of The Heiress and playing Dorm Dad it was time to move on to London.  This is Hogarth's House into which a dash was made for postcards and a peek around at my request.  The initial attraction which brought my husband to this area was a tour of Fuller's Brewery but I've decided to spare you the pictures of conveyor belts carrying kegs, a maze of pipeline, massive vats and transport vehicles.

Winding their way through the surrounding neighbourhoods they laughed at how the unmistakable aroma of yeast filled the air as the Thames flowed nearby.  My heart skipped a beat when R pointed out this photograph taken from the sidewalk looking down a lane (This is the house I mentioned, Mary).  It was a private drive so they couldn't venture along it but what I wouldn't give to know a bit more about the history of that house and what lies around the corner.  It also beckons to that bit of 'downstairs girl' that exists inside me and makes me want to take up a feather duster or copper pot.  Moving right along...

With only four days in London every second counted.  Covering hundreds of miles of tube track and city streets whether on foot or by cab, my two kept at it until exhaustion left them barely able to flick off the lights at the end of the day.  The Heiress and R saw two plays, Hay Fever which they enjoyed and The Ladykillers which they loved.  Admiring the flash of a brightly coloured sock on many men, my man chose an array for himself much to my delight.  A London Walk of the hidden pubs of London took them through alleyways and over cobblestones into several historic establishments, one being the hundreds year-old Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.  The photo above shows the London Aquarium taken during a ride on the London Eye.  The view of the city stretching before them was absolutely stunning and R marvelled at just how many people he spied on the banks of the Thames digging for historic treasure and sea glass.  An afternoon was also spent admiring the collection at the V&A, with R prodding the holes in the wall near an entrance left by shrapnel during WWII.  During a quiet stroll through Hyde Park to get away from the hustle and noise, father and daughter wondered how anyone could sit on a beach and do nothing during a vacation when there are so many interesting things to discover in such a fascinating city.  To each his own.  But this was most definitely a trip the two of them will remember for a lifetime.

Stay tuned for Part II of 'A Husband Returns' for the aftermath of souvenir shopping for a wife left behind.

Souvenirs from Home

R and I can scarcely believe that almost five months have passed since The Heiress packed her bags and boarded a flight bound for Heathrow.  As the plane left the tarmac she said good-bye to the land of moose and the maple leaf for goodness knows how long.  Despite being a born and bred Canuck she was raised on everything from Jane Austen to Wallace and Gromit so assimilating into English culture was never going to present any major issues but still, it was a gutsy move.

The community in Canterbury has welcomed our daughter with open arms and warm hearts.  Three days after her arrival she opened her first English bank account.  The teller made her laugh when taking her details she said "You have such a lovely name, tell your Mum I said so".  An impromptu Thanksgiving dinner for 'The Canadian' less than a month after she had arrived brought tears to my eyes.  It was also the first time she tried parsnips.  When she was invited along to Bonfire Night with some of her new friends she was expecting something akin to a campfire.  "Mum!  The fire was the size of our house, you should have seen it!" she told us full of excitement the next day on Skype.  And Pimms has a new and very loyal customer in my daughter.  There are many days when she can't quite believe the number of shouts of "Hi" she gets from across the halls or grassy fields.  Not that she's the only Canadian walking around campus though.  A few weeks ago, whilst touching up her lippy in the ladies room, a voice minus the English accent was heard from behind.  Asking the young woman where she was from the reply came "Oh, just this little place in Ontario called Burlington".  The Heiress dropped her lippy into the sink and said "Me too!".  Much hugging, laughter and exchanging of email addresses took place and twenty minutes later they emerged from the ladies room.  A new friendship forged.

The Heiress couldn't be more pleased with her program and professors.  She laughed last weekend when as a student mentor she opened up her dorm room to prospective students for viewing.  Looking at her shelf of books on criminology and serial killers made one young man question whether or not they should be hanging around.  I have to admit to being somewhat entertained by watching my daughter's face light up at the mention of surveillance, incarceration and terrorism.  Disney's vault full of princesses have apparently left no mark.  Some of her professors are legends in their field which both fascinates and terrify all at the same time but even the scary ones can't resist a pint and a curry after a late lecture.  Who knows where it all may lead but one thing is for sure, she is very happy and more sure of herself than ever.

R will be heading to Canterbury shortly, it's his turn to see everything I did last September when I dropped her off, and he will be bearing gifts of Canadiana in appreciation  We've never decorated in Hudson Bay point stripes and we would have laughed at the idea of a cookie tin decorated with coureur des bois.  Well, Tim Horton's coffee is the lifeblood of just about everyone here despite what  the people at Starbucks may think.  And a bottle of maple syrup will christen the pancakes R is going to make for any dorm residents who make their way to the kitchen the morning after his arrival. 

We can't thank the lovely citizens of Canterbury enough for what they have given The Heiress.  Such a bounty of warmth and fascinating cultural landscape to explore as far as her bus pass will take her has probably cost us our daughter.  She is already hoping to find a job and a flat once her program is finished.  But R and I would rather have her far away and fulfilled than close to home and wanting.  Anything but that.

I'll be keeping the home fires burning and occupying Deacon while I count the days until my beloved's return.  His suitcase won't make it far into the hallway before I'll be rooting my way through it looking for jam from The Duchy of Cornwall...and books...and newspapers...and tea...and Cath Kidston.  Unfeminine behaviour I know, but true!

London - Day Three

With nervous excitement on a grey weather day, The Heiress and I packed up heaps of belongings and made our way to the street outside the Morgan Hotel.  With the lift of a finger a cabbie stopped and piling everything in we were on our way to St Pancras station by 8:30 am.  Thankfully a couple of the attendants at the gate had us in stitches with their witty repartee and by the time the cosy train left the station any sign of butterflies had disappeared.

The gorgeous countryside whizzed by while we noted the similarities and differences in the landscape.  After an hour we pulled into the Canterbury West station and joined groups of other students struggling with their own heaps of belongings.  With apologies to yet another cab driver for piling such heft into his car, we were off at last to where The Heiress would call home for the next twelve months.  Pictured above is the view from her room of the quadrangle of dorms.

Students dressed in matching t-shirts circled around us bubbling with information about registration, banking, student cards, grocery shopping and bus passes.  And lots of smiles!  While The Heiress sorted out the details I passed some time chatting and laughing with some local transit employees in a double-decker bus (if you stand still for even a minute, I will make friends with you!)  It was brought on site as a location for students signing up for the discounted bus pass and what a deal.  Regularly priced at 240 GBP it was on offer for 150 GBP.  You needed your student card to register which would have meant more waiting for me so The Heiress said that if I had had enough she would take care of it later.  "Do it now and I'll pay, do it later and you pay" I said to her.  Guess which one she chose...

With most of the paperwork taken care of we hopped on a bus that took us to the city centre to buy some utensils and see about a bank.  Quaint shops, high street shops, streams of people shopping and bewildered students filled the streets and cobbled lane ways.  We squealed with delight at the sight of bunting draped across the road!  Determined to try a pasty, even if it wasn't an authentic one, we were thrilled to find a West Cornwall Pasty Shop to have lunch in.  They were delicious and just what these weary travellers needed.  With the details seen to The Heiress desperately wanted to explore the shops and since the train station was around the corner and the day was getting on it was time to part ways.  So unceremoniously, in front of Patisserie-Valerie and throngs of people, we hugged and attempted through tears to say a few words.  And that was it...she was gone, I didn't dare look back.  Then I came upon an Oxfam bookshop and was soon all smiles again!

Crossing a bridge on my way to the train station, dragging an empty suitcase behind me, I knew The Heiress had made the perfect choice.  To be challenged by her academic peers surrounded by such a gorgeous landscape in a country we've admired from afar for many years would be a dream come true for The Heiress.  And to top it all off she has already landed a job as a student mentor! 

With my own sense of accomplishment I boarded the train back to London.  And as usual, asking at least one person on the platform and one on the train about its destination to make sure that I didn't end up in Wales.  I opened my copy of Jane Austen's Persuasion and sat back to enjoy the quiet.  Once back in London I took myself on a walking tour of Bloomsbury in the mist, it suited my melancholy mood but the next day I'd be meeting Rachel, Simon and Mary and I couldn't wait!

Bound for Bloomsbury

This time tomorrow night, The Heiress and I will be winging our way to Heathrow.  She is beyond excited to immerse herself if her studies, meet some new friends and make the leap to self-sufficiency with her parents far, far away.  R has never let an opportunity pass at the dinner table to joke that as soon as The Heiress packs up we're redecorating her room, having a pool put in, buying a really fun car and who knows, perhaps even buy that ice-cream maker we've been talking about.  Her response is always the same..."Uh, hello, I'm right here!"  Joking about her not being around is how we keep things light and let her know we will be just fine when she strikes out on her own.

We've never been clingy parents.  You know, the sort who soaks a box of tissues when their child attends their first day of kindergarten or goes on a bus to overnight camp.  Even tonight, R asked me if I would be stopping in to see The Heiress after my week in London and before heading back to Canada.  A glance at my bulging itinerary said it all.  "Uh, hello, I'm right here!" shouted The Heiress before bursting out laughing.  I can't quite remember where I read about young women, some still in their late teens, joining the Red Cross to go overseas as nurses during World War II.  Now that would take some intestinal fortitude on the part of the young women and faith from their parents.  What we will go through as a family during this venture is a walk in the park by comparison.

There are bookshops to visit, shows to see, train rides to take, London Walks to go on, cakes to try and blog friends to meet.  I'm even excited about the gray skies and chance of rain on the day I'm to tour Highgate Cemetery!  How atmospheric can you get?  And Rachel emailed me with the exciting news that the second series of Downton Abbey will begin while I'm in London.  Talk about all your Christmases and birthdays coming at once.

I can't wait to indulge in a Full English breakfast every day, buy just about everything that comes in black current just because I love it, eat roast chicken and stuffing sandwiches from Marks & Spencer Food Hall and try a different flavoured yogurt every single day.  Pet dogs out for their morning walk in Russell Square and try to spot magpies hopping around in the bushes.  And there is a cafe in Bloomsbury that once served me coffee with cream so sweet I didn't have to add sugar, I wonder if it's still there?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, for chicken sandwiches and children, and the next twelve months will go by in no time.  I can hear The Heiress now..."Uh, hello, I'm right here!"

Anyone for Tea?

I am so excited to be visiting London once again!  The days are zooming by and preparations are in full swing.  Items to be packed are starting to accumulate on the bed in our spare room and The Heiress has her visa.

The Heiress will be so busy familiarizing herself with her new surrounding in Kent that she will barely notice my absence.  But I will really be missing her.  It would be more than wonderful for me if anyone would be interested in getting together for a cup of tea!

Since you all have busy lives I'm hoping you're free on September 18, which is a Sunday.  R thinks I could give Barbara Walters a run for her money as I'm always so full of questions and conversation so please don't be shy!  I promise you we will have lots of fun and the more the merrier!  Once I have an idea who is available then together we can plan somewhere central and with a daughter costing us a King's ransom, inexpensive.

Consult your calendar and please leave a comment or send me an email.  If I don't hear from you then don't be surprised to hear from me!  Hope you can make it.

Bound for Kent



The acceptance has been sent, the airline tickets have been purchased and I've booked a B&B in London for this September.  But this isn't about me, The Heiress will be studying Criminology at the University of Kent in Canterbury!

Ever since a mother/daughter trip to London when she was sixteen, The Heiress has dreamt of studying overseas.  Her love affair with England began as a toddler, cuddled up on the sofa with me watching Jane Austen films.  When she was 6 years-old I had to do her hair just the way Emma Thompson wore hers as Elinor in Sense and Sensibility.  The interest in criminology began while taking classes in deviance during her Sociology degree and the very mention of such things as terrorism or youth violence make her eyes light up.  Where The Heiress will end up is anyone's guess but the journey is sure to be an interesting and hopefully, fulfilling one. 

So in September, we will fly to London for a couple of days and then board a train for Canterbury.  Once she's settled and my bank account has been nearly wiped out at the university bookshop I'll return to London to see some sights.  A visit to Cath Kidston for a cheery new bag with a new Persephone title tucked inside should console me during the lonely flight back home.

A Play on Mother's Day

When we ordered tickets for Billy Elliot way back when it didn't even occur to us that the performance date fell on Mother's Day, R and I just wanted the weather to be nice.  So digging out the tickets and the calendar last month it just made sense that The Heiress would step into the role and take R's place as my companion for the day.

The performance was fantastic and the kids were outstanding.  Not only could they act, dance and sing but their ability to mimic a northern England working-class accent was pretty admirable.  My favourite scene was most definitely when Billy (Marcus Pei) stops by Michael's (Jack Broderick) house and catches him trying on his mother's dresses.  The two of them end up decked out in wildly patterned polyester separates while dancing and singing and it was hilarious!

Billy Elliot is playing at the Canon Theatre in Toronto.  It dates from 1920 and featured vaudeville but when large cinemas became popular it was restructured in the seventies.  I can't even imagine such a wonderful place cut up and decorated in garish colours.  Thankfully it has been restored to its former glory, and does that feeling of splendor ever get old when you walk through a doorway to see chandeliers and sweeping staircases?  I think not.

The Heiress and I had a fabulous day and even though my favourite Mother's Day celebrations included hand-made cards and construction paper flowers, this one rates as one of the best.

Holiday Arrivals and Departures

This is going to be a busy weekend.  The Heiress has finally completed her Sociology BA (Hons), with a minor in English Lit no less.  R and I are about to leave the house to make our third trip in as many weekends to pick up the last of her things in Waterloo and bring her home.  It won't be for long though as she plans on pursuing a Criminology MA in England this autumn.  We could not be more proud and will somehow come to terms with living in poverty in order to pay the international student fees!  She has had two offers and is waiting to hear back from two other universities so her school of choice has yet to be decided.  And don't be surprised if she asks for input from my wonderful blog friends across the pond in a post of her own.

Whilst The Heiress is unpacking, R will be packing for a golf trip he is taking and fingers crossed everyone keeps track of whose luggage is whose.  Arriving in Florida with a suitcase full of girl's things and a straightening iron would be a nightmare for him and fodder for a week of ribbing from his friends.

Sunday will hopefully bring a day of peace and calm around the house.  Happy Easter everyone!

Books and a Bit of Luck

Not that I'm a loser or anything like that, but I'm not usually the person at the company Christmas party taking home the raffle prizes.  Recently the planets aligned and I became stupendously lucky all of a sudden, winning a photo contest and two draws through blogging and a sweatshirt from the library.  Wouldn't you know it though, getting cocky I bought a lottery ticket and my luck ended right then and there. C'est la vie and really, would I want to run the risk that all that money could possibly affect who I am anyway?

My smile could not have been any brighter at finding a copy of, Mapp and Lucia, by E.F. Benson, courtesy of Rochester Reader, in my mailbox.  A few days later, South Riding, by Winifred Holtby arrived, ever so cheekily sweetly, accompanied by a copy of O Pioneers! by Willa Cather.  Book Snob is convinced that she can illuminate me to the joys of American literature and will not rest until I experience this book for myself.  Shy away from nothing lest you face a force to be reckoned with named, Rachel!

Dropping The Heiress off after an overnight visit this past Sunday, R and I browsed a few second-hand shops in the blustery downtown area of Kitchener.  I should know better than to wear flats without socks there, it's always so much colder!  The only thing my search was yielding was a stiff neck from tilting my head to read the spines.  Then what do I spy but R walking towards me holding a copy of, A Wreath of Roses, by Elizabeth Taylor, I think he was saying something like 'do you have this one?'  Honestly, the only thing I saw was a fabulous book surrounded by a halo of light.  Then, back he goes and quickly spots, Miss Mole, by the wonderful E.H. Young, only the very book I've most wanted to read since being completely enamoured by, William!  Spotting green spines has made these bookish outings a great source of fun for my husband as he takes great pleasure in being way more successful at it than I am.    

Somewhere between here and Paperback Reader's house there is a copy of, The Winds of Heaven, by Monica Dickens.  Lady Luck struck again during Persephone Reading Weekend leaving me almost embarrassed to claim another prize, almost.  I think that saying the Brits have of 'all your Christmases and birthdays coming at once' applies here because if you are a book lover it is the best gift there is and that is exactly how I am feeling at the moment.

Virago Reading Week

E.M. Delafield created a turning point in my life...literally. 

The classics built a strong foundation for my love of English literature and the silky swish of a long dress.  There were brief forays into the world of crime novels and chick-lit but if I read one more book about a blonde twenty-something in a publishing office I was going to scream!  I was searching for something but I didn't know what.

Three years ago, The Heiress was about to move into a townhouse near her university.  Five young men had vacated and five young ladies were taking residence...I was armed with a bucket, rubber gloves and lots of cleaning supplies, LOTS. 

Once we were in Waterloo, our first stop was a plaza so The Heiress could hand out some resumes.  One of the businesses was a Chapters and well, you might as well have a look around once you're there, right?  Sitting on a display was an adorable book covered in pink roses.  Who was this Cath Kidston woman who designed the print?  Flipping to the first page, hilarious writing about the planting of bulbs and a Lady B coming to visit had me digging for my wallet.

Back in the car I began to flip through the pages and laughing out loud.  'Listen to this!' I said a few times.  The Heiress and R begged me to stop.  So my book was tucked back into its bag but I had a big smile on my face and was ready to tackle the scariest kitchen and bathroom disasters you've ever seen.

Back at home and relaxing with The Diary of a Provincial Lady, I knew that this was the type of story that I had been searching for through the years.  Witty, intelligent with an atmosphere rich in period detail and sensibilities I had found my reading nirvana.  But where would I find more like it?

Through my research I discovered the enriching world of book blogs.  StuckInABook, dovegreyreader and Random Jottings were my first introduction and favourites.  A short note to Simon was sent and he replied telling me about a wonderful bookshop by the name of Persephone.  I had never ordered a book on-line before *snort* so the search began in second-hand bookshops.  My first trip out resulted in my copy of The Way Things Are and due to loads of catching up in this blissful era of authors, it has been languishing on my shelves ever since.  When Virago Reading Week was announced I knew exactly which book would be my choice.

Thanks Carolyn and Rachel for the creation of a brilliant reading week!  Click on the links should you be interested in joining in.

Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor

It's official.  Elizabeth Taylor is one of my favourite authors.  Blaming is my third venture and while I am tempted to say it is my favourite it could possibly be that I have settled into her writing style.

The story begins with Amy and Nick on holiday in Istanbul.  They are middle-aged and middle-class.  Their vacation spot enthralls Nick much more than his wife which leads to bickering.  Add to that an American tourist named Martha, who has attached herself to the couple and you have a storm brewing.

Despite being written in the mid-seventies, there is an earlier feel to the story such as when Nick initiates an early night by saying 'Your bed, I think,' he said.  'I always think that's more polite.'

It's no secret that Nick dies while on holiday.  The ever-present Martha imposes her assistance.  Visits to the family home and a string of correspondence creates a bond which provides each woman with someone to talk to during difficult times.  But Martha is brash, unkempt and more bohemian than Amy is comfortable with and eventually she wishes the contact would cease.

There are two granddaughters by Amy's son, James and his wife, Maggie.  Dora and Isobel irritated me in the beginning with their insolent behaviour and manipulative ways.  But in that subtle way of Taylor's, she had me absolutely charmed and laughing at their antics by the end of the book.  I was thrilled to read in the afterword by Taylor's daughter, Joanna, that some of their lines were taken from things she had said as a child to her mother.

A relationship with the family doctor and close friend, Gareth Lloyd, blossoms and a tragic twist towards the end of the book made me gasp.  Many of the characters experience blame due to a variety of reasons making the title a perfect one.  I did not want this story to end and it was poignant to read that Taylor wrote with determination to finish before dying of cancer.  As I wrote earlier, she died before this book was published and selfishly, I am quite ticked when talented authors are taken too soon.

There really was nothing else for it, despite a personal challenge to read from my shelves I promptly ordered two more books by this truly sublime author.

Festive This-n-That

For those of you interested in our musical Christmas crackers, here they are.  Along with the obligatory paper hat, joke and prize there is a horn with a number on its base.  Two pages of song sheets with a sequence of numbers will allow you and eleven of your friends to form your own musical group.  Or perhaps decrypt Enigma code.  Since six of the crackers are still intact we either have to pop the rest or wait until next year.  The Heiress has her eye on the heart-shaped pocket mirror as yet undiscovered so something tells me that tonight there will be some tooting going on...so to speak.

R was quite excited to find a copy of Blitz Spirit compiled by Jacqueline Mitchell for me.  Love the cover art but am wondering about Winston's 'whiskers'.  The Heiress gave me a copy of Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor which I am in the process of devouring.  A gift to myself, The Queen's Doll's House by Lucinda Lambton arrived in our mailbox today, I can't wait to sit down with a cup of tea and pour over every little thing...literally!  The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph were also courtesy of R, although he wrote on the gift tag that they were from Norris from The Kabin on Coronation Street.  It's a funny game we like to play at Christmas, tying in our gifts to characters from just about everything.  Too bad I couldn't jet over to England to collect my free Waitrose luxury biscuits though!

And this massive bowl of trifle is what R and I got up to this afternoon.  Making it, not eating it!  Quite ridiculous for the three of us, we may have to recruit friends to share it with.  We laughed after realizing that R had been feeding some of the leftover cake to Deacon that had been drizzled with sherry.  Not to worry, no harm done.  And really, a sleepy Border Collie wouldn't be all bad.

R and I have also had the pleasure of taking in two movies over the past few days.  The King's Speech was absolutely charming, the ultimate cosy film.  Colin Firth, Helena Bonham-Carter and Geoffrey Rush were a delightful acting trinity.  The Black Swan was both unsettling and outstanding.  You either sink back in fear or edge forward with anticipation during this one.  An Oscar nod will undoubtedly go to Portman, she was stunning.

In the last few hours of 2010, have a wonderful time celebrating in your favourite way.  We're going to indulge in a few thousand more calories before coming to our senses tomorrow.  Aren't the holidays fun!

Required Reading

For those of you who may be interested, I'm including the required reading for The Heiress' fourth year English class, Narratives of an Empire in first term.  There were a couple which I had never heard of but they all sound intriguing.

Oroonoko - Aphra Behn
She:  A History of Adventure - Henry Rider Haggard
Kim - Rudyard Kipling
Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe
Translation of the Letters of a Hindoo Rajah - Elizabeth Hamilton

Back to School

The Heiress is pretty much packed up and ready to head back to university.  I can tell she's pretty excited about it because she did her own laundry a couple of days ago.  You know, like when you're going on a trip and you're so anxious to do just about anything that will make it feel as though you'll be on your way a bit sooner.  A suitcase, a granny cart, two bags of foodstuff and a box of bath and body supplies are waiting to be hauled downstairs for the trip out.  Handing over my bank card and the keys to the van so she could go shopping for a few bits and bobs were one of my last maternal duties of the summer.  I guess I'm feeling a bit sad that she's leaving because the amount I told her she could spend went up a few times before she raced out to pick up her friend.

This is the fourth year of her Hons. BA in Sociology with a minor in English Lit., then she hopes to pursue a MA in Criminology.  I'll wait with anticipation for the anecdotes of how 'time outs' on the bottom stair and other disciplines could easily have turned her into a serial killer.

I plan on using the tactic I've used for the past three years to avoid any tears or upset when we drop her off at school.  I casually mention that now her father and I can go back to playing Batman and Catwoman with the house to ourselves.  Works like a charm every time.  Yeah, I'm prepared to hear how that scarred her for life as well.

Extreme Lengths, Bata Shoe Museum Part II

There were many gorgeous examples of silk stockings such as these silk stockings hand-knit in the 17th century on what must have been incredibly thin needles.  Red dye was the most expensive to produce, coupled with the gold thread embroidery these would have been for a child from an extremely wealthy family.

Althea Crome is a most talented knitter, she designed and knit miniatures for the movie, Coraline.  The Bata Shoe Museum has a pair of these socks on display but they were too tiny to photograph well so these images are courtesy of Google.  If you like to be amazed then watch this film clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT5MFdAB7fI&feature=player_embedded

Impossibly tiny Chinese slippers.  Three inches was the 'ideal' length and doesn't bear thinking about.

Now these are more like it!  The exaggerated toe was a popular style during the 17th century but also notice the slap-sole, combining the style of a high heel and a mule.  This pair were the property of descendants of Frances Walsingham, whose secret marriage to Robert Devereux (a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I) contributed to his downfall.

Apologies for the photography.  The lighting is quite low in the museum so as not to damage the fabrics.

Chopines

For Mother's Day, yesterday for those of us in North America, The Heiress and I ventured to Toronto to visit The Bata Shoe Museum.  It's a smallish museum consisting of four floors of a variety of historical footwear and celebrity memorabilia.  The fourth floor housed the most fascinating collection of chopines (pronouced sha-peen), popular during the 15th and 16th century.

Worn by women to protect their delicate shoes from mud and puddles, they became a symbol of wealth.  They elevated women not only from the filth on the road but physically, as to appear 'above' their peers or those of lower status.  They also allowed a woman to show off her wealth by requiring more luxurious fabric to lengthen her gowns accordingly.  This pair is one of the more extreme examples and would require servants to hold up the lady wearing them whilst walking about.

This x-ray gives you an idea of what the construction is like.

 I knew that footwear existed to protect fancy shoes but in all my reading and museum visits this was the first time I've seen such a thing.  They immediately made the footwear seen on the runway or worn by Victoria Beckham seem a tad less bold!  There were some other interesting displays which I'll post about in a couple of days. 

The Heiress is back and other things

This morning I had the luxury of finishing The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford while reclining in bed with a pot of tea on a tray.  The photo featured to the left fits my image of Linda's room in Paris, rotary phone and all, but more about that another day.

The Heiress came home from school Thursday night, dropped off her bags and sat for a bit to chat.  I noticed that her shoes stayed on.  After the appropriate amount of time had passed she asked if she could borrow the van.  There are three groups of friends to see when The Heiress is home: camp friends, childhood friends and a certain group of young men that love nothing more than to plot mischievous things to do.  One evening, they took a bucket of golf balls to the top of a very steep road and dumped them just to see what would happen.  Another time there was a bowling ball dropped from the roof of a two storey building...just to see what would happen (it broke).  Needless to say,  I worry when she steps out with these young men. 

Last night after dinner, The Heiress went out for tea with a camp friend and came back at 10 pm.  She came in to the family room and said 'Hello', she still had her shoes on.  She left the room for a minute and I said to R 'I bet she asks for the car keys'.  The Heiress came back into the room and asked for the car keys.  My most fervent hope is that she was out with school friends and not conducting any more experiments in physics.  Perhaps I'll go the 'ignorance is bliss' route.

And to the lovely Miss M, who still had an exam to write when The Heiress left for home, I hope things went well!  Recently, The Heiress presented me with a Keep Calm and Carry On mug not knowing that I already had one.  Miss M admonished her saying 'Well, if you read your mother's blog then you would have known that.'  Bless.

More Meret

The Heiress has a lovely friend and flatmate, they met on moving in day at the university residence and have been like sisters ever since. The lovely Miss S had planned a visit over the holidays so there was only one thing to do, get out the needles and knit her a Meret of her own. I managed to finish it last night before heading out to an open house with friends, leaving the damp project to block over a dinner plate. Once I got back from walking Deacon this morning, the girls were awake and being ever so accommodating, Miss S modelled her new chapeau. It suits her red-tinted hair perfectly and looks gorgeous with her coat, I love this pattern!