Mama Said

Daphne: A Novel

by Justine Picardie

I never tire of reading about the lives of artists. So, even when I have not enjoyed actually reading an author’s work, I can often be convinced to have some interest in the author’s life. This fictionalized version of the life of Daphne du Maurier seemed very appealing. There were her literary friendships to learn of, gorgeous locales in Cornwall to imagine, and something sinister simmering just under the surface. The thing that detracted most for me from the book was the uninteresting, albiet now too common intertwining of a “modern day” storyline in which Du Maurier is the subject of research by an academic who coincidentally has a failing relationship just like Daphne. This trope was accomplished with success in the book Posession by AS Byatt, but here just comes off as uninspired copycating. The mental haze Daphne du Maurier operates under throughout the story is what passes for suspense in this book, but in the end it just aggravates as [SPOILER]…Nothing ever comes of it. I cannot recommend this book.

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Certified Geekdom

I got a link to this video this morning and I admit I was drawn in. It's the Bayeux Tapestry, animated.

Baby, you can drive MY car!

This pic I came across is from a promotion that's almost a year old and I don't even care. It's of one of my many Britboy crushes, Rupert Penry-Jones modeling for my lovely Aston Martin.
To quote Her Madgesty, as I am wont to do..."If I was a car, I’d be an Aston Martin." Give those guys in marketing a raise, they got me.

This is the photo I am sending with my Christmas cards this year. This is me and my lovely RPJ overlooking the Firth of Clyde, he in his lovely cashmere coat, me in my snuggy cable knit. We are so in love with the performance of our new Aston Martin!

She's A Lady

Happy Birtday Dame Judi, my valkyrie

Keep Burberry British

LADIES...believe me when I say I am TRYING very very hard to find blog ready pics of Ioan Gruffudd as the new face of Burberry. I just saw the spread in this December's InStyle, and it's phenomenal. However in doing my intrepid visual research, I discovered that our lad is embroiled in a bit of a controversy. Seems despite Burberry's profits this year, the board has decided to shut down a Welsh manufacturing plant near where Ioan grew up that has been in the company for 70 years to get the work done cheaper in China. Ioan was urged to take a stand on the issue, but demurred until now. He has finally joined Prince Charles in putting the pressure on those Burberry mucky-mucks. Well, if belatedly played. Chavs of the world breathe a sigh of relief.

Protest

First there was The Office,






then Footballers' Wive$,






then The Vicar of Dibley






and Life on Mars.



I realize that's not the order of their production, but it's how I fell in love with them. It's fair to say the only TV I watch anymore is on BBC America. So I'm more than a little steamed that ALL FOUR of these shows have been or are being remade for American TV. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "Hollywood, I challenge you...NO REMAKES EVER EVER!"

Tower Ravens Caged Over Bird Flu Threat

Article

When I went to London for the first time in 2001, we went to the Tower of London as all good tourists do, and we saw the ravens there. Don't even trip: they have a yeoman raven keeper. This job made such a huge impression on me that I recorded it in my journal.

I am assuming that it is a government job wherein you wake the ravens up, prepare them breakfast, take them on a walk, look the other way when they make doody and then cover it up with dirt, feed them lunch, feed them tea, feed them dinner, tuck them into bed and sing them to sleep.

I get the symbolism and the myth and romance of it all. That still didn't keep me from thinking it was stupid to have a human's life work devoted to being a raven keeper.

So I noted this article with interest. Especially the part where the guy says he's been planning to put Branwen, Hugine, Munin, Gwyllum, Thor and Baldrick (the ravens) indoors for a while now in anticipation of the bird flu reaching western europe. Can you just feel the excitement welling up in this guy? "Maybe, in 4 months' time, I'll have a change in my shed-jul!"

Ok, I'm being really mean.

Glorious Discovery...

I am so stoked that you can get the London Review of Books Personal Ads online. Let's just start off with the first one this week, as an example:

"Passionate unicycling ornithologist seeks company of equally inspired stilt walker for hedgerow birdnesting. "

Genius! Can you imagine if they had personals at the Beach Reporter?

"If you've got boobs and like to drink beer at Sharkeez, hit me up!"

I gotta get outta here. It's true, the time has come.

Belated birthday wishes...pimpin in pink!