RANDOM JOTTINGS


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…and am determined to stay back for a bit now.  I am currently writing this with drawn curtains, all snug and cosy with my old dressing gown on, fluffy pink socks and cup of tea to hand and feeling so glad to be in my own little flat.  I do enjoy going away and I enjoy seeing my family and friends, but I soooooo love getting back home.

Good weekend though hard work lugging boxes and furniture around and helping set up the fair in a village hall in Leicestershire.  Not so well attended this time – having done craft fairs myself years ago I know how difficult it is to judge how it is going to go, sometimes very busy sometimes dead and most of the stall holders I spoke to said this was the case and they were used to it.

Night before I had taken part in a quiz night at a local bowls club and I, and two others, made up a team and we won!  Thrilled to bits with this and came home with a nice bottle of good wine which I am going to save for Christmas and feeling very pleased with the outcome. 

Drove home today in grey drizzle and lots of lorries chucking up spray so was glad to get off the motorway and I returned my mother to her nest and then on to mine.  I had some tea and toast and sat down to watch last Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing which I have still to rant about (don't worry, I will….) and just as the results came up – my taping stopped.  The show must have over run its schedule as I had set my timer, so thank goodness for the website and I could check the results.

Then I watched the first episode of Emma which I was eagerly awaiting and I have to say now that I simply loved it.  I thought Romola Gari would be excellent in the title role and she was, Michael Gambon would be wonderful and he was and, I fully acknowledge I have changed my mind, Jonny Lee Miller as Mr Knightly was also terrific.  Gosh all these superlatives.  I know the script is new and only parts of it are pure Jane, and it may be a trifle modern for some tastes, but I found to my surprise that I did not find it jarring and the feminist stance, subtly done, in the argument between Mr K and Emma over Harriet's refusal of Robert Martin, was spot on.  I am really looking forward to the next episode.

Thought: Much though I enjoyed the film of Pride and Prejudice, and I know it is never going to happen, but if they ever made another version, it strikes me that Romola Gari is the perfect Lizzy Bennett and, in my opinion, is a far superior actress to Keira K.

OK back tomorrow when I will endeavour to review in a proper and, hopefully, worthy manner Michael Slater's simply magnificent biography of Charles Dickens which I have just finished.  Not sure I can do it justice but am going to have a damn good try.

What larks!

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5 responses to “OK I am back again”

  1. Susan D Avatar

    Another version of P&P is “never going to happen”? Oh Elaine, I’m sure we always think that, every every time. Let’s see, KK version was 2005, so that makes it 4 years since the latest version (excluding Lost in Austen). I suspect around half-past 2013 someone will start thinking that THEY can do it better than anyone else ever has, with greater insight, and will attempt to do so.

  2. Elaine Simpson-Long Avatar

    Miriana – many thanks!!
    Ruth – you don’t have to apologise for not visiting so often. Schloss Random is an open house and people drop in and out when they want to. Glad you liked the Emma and I will be reviewing the Dickens biog later on today, I hope. the preveiw copies of the new Susan Hill were all used up so I will have to buy it but no worries, sounds right up my street
    Harriet – I am still in my dressing gown as I write this, have been since last evening actually with a quick change to my nightie in between! I regard my little flat as my haven and am thoroughly enjoying pottering about this morning and doing very little.
    I did like Keira K in Pride and Prejudice and thought she was good, but I think that Romola Gari is also excellent and wish she had a higher profile. There is something about Keir K that jars on me a little, I cannot explain it but when that happens with an actor/actress I am afraid it just gets in the way a little.
    I will be interested to hear your views on Emma – I am also a tradionalist when it comes to dramatisations, but I was charmed by this version.

  3. Harriet Avatar

    I so know what you mean — about getting home, I mean. I have been all over the place lately, look after grandchildren, visiting family and friends — all very enjoyable and I would not miss it for the world but it is always so lovely to be back where you belong and feel most comfortable.
    I haven’t seen Emma yet and am a bit worried I will not like it — I’m a diehard JA traditionalist in general and ‘a trifle modern’ strikes fear into my heart. I have to disagree about Keira though — I really liked her as Lizzy. Good thing we don’t all like the same things, isn’t it — life would be very boring.

  4. ohsovintage Avatar
    ohsovintage

    Hello Elaine. Apologies for not visiting as much as I used to! I thought the adaptation of ‘Emma’ was absolutely delightful and one of the best I have seen in a very long time. Romola was superb. I am re-reading ‘Oliver Twist’ at the mo and loving it so will be interested in reeading your views on Dickens’ biog. Have you read Susan Hill’s new book (don’t know if you have had an advance copy)? I have pre-ordered and can’t wait to receive it.
    Ruth

  5. Miriana Avatar
    Miriana

    Welcome back Elaine! Glad you had such a nice time but it’s good for us readers of your blog to have you back and enjoy your posts again!

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