Monday, 28 January 2013

'Prejudice and Pride' or how Jane nearly got it so wrong....

That  is me being chased by Mr Darcy - oh he is such a cad!


Mr Darcy prefers his beverages good and strong...

I like my tea a little fortnightly (two week...too weak - oh for goodness sake keep up at the back).  Seeing this cup in close up it looks as though one of the children have coloured it in!


In truth ("Sorry Jenny - just interrupting here - we did not really think that this was you and Mr Darcy you know!")  this is some china that I bought at the car boot  a couple of years ago - fine, delicato china -  deep saucers most suitable for trembling hands (though this is not a trembleuse).  Also some fine French linen curtains bought from a charity shop two years ago  - so far only used a little bit of the pelmet fabric to make a zipped bag or two...Also featuring one of my old books.  Never really discussed my old books here - I have one or two....cough, cough, cough....wretched cough..... and I have prepared a few posts on them - for now please note that this copy of 'Pride and Prejudice' (from the 1890s)  features the Arts and Crafts peacock motif that I so pompously  went on about in my 'Hearts and Crafts' post.   I shall be referring back to this book so please be prepared to answer questions at a moments notice (especially you at the back...yes YOU..) !!!!



Realise that it is not strictly of the right time period! I don't want the 'History Police' paying any visits

I think one of these went to live in America - perchance you recognise it - please let me know.


"It is a truth universally acknowledged that I have TOO MUCH STUFF!" Austen, J.  (1813) 'Pride and Prejudice', Whitehall, Egerton.   


Happy anniversary to 'Pride and Prejudice' - 200 years and light undimmed.  As Miss Austen was born here in Hampshire and lived in Chawton we shall be calling in on the museum this week.  I will wear my best mantle (as it has been chilly of late) and  bonnet with matching ribbon cockade...tra la la...

Having thought about it I might 'make' a museum of my own to cut down on petrol costs and save time!!

Got to dash - Darcy calling....

Next week: '70s Pyrex  and the role of women's liberation in the kitchen'!!!!

It is good to have variety in life don't you think?

'Don't fence me in....'

(Arthur: " Does anyone know what the blazes she is going on about....?"
Martha: " No one but herself ...it is a bit sad don't you think Arthur"
Arthur: "Yes")

Posted by at
Labels:

39 comments:

  1. Bodkin28 January 2013 at 08:18

    fantastic hx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jane and Lance Hattatt28 January 2013 at 08:19

    Hello:
    Is it really two hundred years since the birth of Miss Austen? How time does indeed fly!

    We are ashamed to say that we lived in Hampshire for a number of years, have friends still living there, and have never visited the house at Chawton. Perhaps we have been put off Hampshire museums by Gilbert White's dreary, or so we thought, museum at Selborne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:59

      Hello dears
      Just 200 years since the book - Jane is a bit older.

      Interesting thoughts about Selborne - I visited last year purely to see a little collection of books that I was interested in - I shall write about those one day I think.

      Best wishes
      jenny

      Delete
  3. MadBirdDesignsUK28 January 2013 at 08:29

    Oh love the fabric and the cup. You are so right it does look like children coloured the cup. That is because they probably did!. If you look on The Potteries Site there are first hand accounts from children as young as EIGHT who worked on the painting and other tasks in the factories. We forget that children had to work at young ages in the not too distant past. X Joan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 17:01

      Thank you for that poignant reminder Joan. My dad was hard at work aged 14 in the quarry so should remember
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  4. Shortbread and Ginger28 January 2013 at 09:29

    Love the fabric - very unusual!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 17:01

      Thank you kindly Liz - it is 'good fun' fabric
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  5. Unknown28 January 2013 at 10:22

    What do you mean 'make' a museum, you've already got one.
    Just add a little hut by the door and a sprinkle of thyme and we will be queuing!
    EE xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:58

      Ahem....all carefully curated 'stuff' mind!
      Just dashing out to get that thyme...
      Best wishes
      jenny

      Delete
  6. Ashley cramp28 January 2013 at 10:29

    Jenny,
    that fabric is to die for but only in small doses such as a bag or purse!

    Daisy j

    Ps Hurrah! we are practically neighbours....I am a Dorset Daisy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:57

      Hail Dorset Daisy!
      I agree - curtains would be a bit too much...unless a very plain room....
      Best wishes
      jenny

      Delete
  7. Jane the Booklady28 January 2013 at 10:55

    I've just read P D James 'Death at Pemberly' in honour! This post really cheered me up as I was feeling a bit 'Mondayly' and unlibereated from my kitchen. Thank you! Jane xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:57

      Thank you Jane - did you hear the PD James interview about this very thing on the radio yesterday?
      Free yourself!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  8. wendyroomcreations28 January 2013 at 13:35

    Lovely fabric but did you really have to put such an appetising cup of tea on it. I'm gasping. In my ignorance I didn't know about Chawton. It tends to be skimmed over here in Bath, where right now I am sitting just a few doors down from the Jane Austen Museum, and if I look out of my office window I can see 13 Queen Square where Jane herself used to reside (for all of about a year or perhaps 2 I think). Its handy having a short memory though because I think actually she didn't like Bath very much and encouraged her mother to move out as soon as they could!!! Philippa xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:54

      Hello Philippa - I had forgotten about you being in Bath itself - I bet that there is a great deal of 'Jane' stuff going on at the moment!
      Keep warm
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  9. Maria28 January 2013 at 14:14

    HeHe..Great post, Jenny....LOVE the material...~And yes you do have collections worthy of a museum....Leaving you with a smile :) as always.....Love Maria x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:53

      I think that the V&A are quite interested in some of my bits Maria!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  10. ~Damita's Pretty Wrap~28 January 2013 at 15:00

    Love your china tea cups!! So pretty!! :) And lovely fabrics too! Happy Monday! xx Holly

    ReplyDelete
  11. Shirley Hatfield28 January 2013 at 15:25

    You have such a lovely sense of humor! I am reading Persuasion for the hundredth time and so I am up to my ears in Bath. I am glad Elizabeth of Creative Breathing found your blog and shared it with me. One of your American followers, Shirley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:52

      Welcome Shirley - and thank you for your comments about humour as I am never sure how it reads to those who don't know me - let alone not from these shores. Have you been to Bath? It is lovely but somewhat swamped with people - very early morning is best I think.
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
    2. Shirley Hatfield29 January 2013 at 18:08

      I spent a week there one day...lol! Yes, I have been to Bath, but it rained the whole time I was there. I hope to go there again someday.

      Delete
  12. Vintage Sheet Addict28 January 2013 at 19:16

    I've read, I've re-read, I'm tired, I'll try again tomorrow!!! :) x ( the one at the back!!!)
    Oh by the way- love the china! :) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:45

      You - yes you - must try harder.
      Awww
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  13. Nan28 January 2013 at 19:19

    At first I thought these were tea cozies but I see they are purses with zippers. What charming fabric you have and I love the table cloth. I have this book in a very special copy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:45

      That sounds most intriguing Nan - is it a signed edition!
      Keep warm
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  14. Down by the sea28 January 2013 at 19:32

    Thank you for making me smile! We went past Chawton before Christmas and I told my OH that is was somewhere I want to visit in 2013. I always in awe of all the wonderful things you find.
    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:44

      That is a kind comment Sarah - I will have to go to Chawton now!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  15. Unknown28 January 2013 at 19:32

    Hi Jenny, forgive one's ignorance but what is a cockade?Warm regards Pam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:39

      New post offered by way of response Pam
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  16. katysclutter28 January 2013 at 22:16

    I like weak tea too and that looks like a good sized cup to drink from! Can wait for the Pyrex ;0

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:39

      Thank you kindly - indeed a good sized cup (older ones can be small by modurhn standards!)
      I shall sift out the Pyrex!
      Jenny

      Delete
  17. Wendy28 January 2013 at 22:36

    I watched P&P last week for the first time - the entire series, over three nights (the one with Colin Firth and oh my life I wanted to climb into my iPad every night and rendezvous with Colin..sorry Mr Darcy)...so alrighty it's not exactly the same as reading the book (in fact I have the book but can't quite get beyond the first page)...anyway all this to say that P&P is a fine, fine tale especially when acted out by delicious peeps. And indeedy your fabric is very yummy too.

    The One Show did a little segment this evening on Chawton and one of Miss Austen's favourite meals..can't say it tickled my fancy but then again, if I lived in 18-oh-something it probably would have. Maybe. Maybe not - soup made of hardboiled egg, stock and almonds just doesn't sound right. Even if it was beloved by one of Britains most beloved authors.

    Anyway. Lovely teacup too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:38

      Hello wendz
      Like many of us in the UK I had to 'study' Jane Austen at school and just could not fathom it at the age of 16 - shamed into reading it again by my daughter who asked to read P&P at the age of 13....
      i am with you regarding Colin - Col to his friends - hails from up the road but does not visit me...
      I will have to watch The One Show on a re-run - save me visiting! Oh dear
      Take care
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  18. Unknown29 January 2013 at 01:13

    I too am most fond of weak tea, my father calls it "scared water" !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Custards29 January 2013 at 16:36

      Hello Lynne - how lovely, this made me laugh
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  19. LeeAnn at Mrs Black's 2 February 2013 at 17:14

    You always illustrate your posts so well! Love the fabric and the book looks a real find. Made me smile .... ; ~ )
    Minerva ~

    ReplyDelete
  20. beautiful square feet12 February 2013 at 21:44

    Jenny, what a brilliant, witty post! Thanks for following me! Rebecca

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)