The event envy- 200 years since Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was celebrated at Chatsworth house!

I'm so disgustingly jealous!
I'd have loved to go to this- it has all my very favourite things!- Pride and prejudice, dressing up (NOT like that), The national trust and dancing!

I think this is how my father envisions my sister and I will get married- See my post-before-last from home if you need that one explaining (no, we're not getting married and we probably never will..)

Pride and Prejudice is my favourite Austen book- I know it's so predictable- I most probably love it because I'd read it pre GCSE- and it's a book we didn't study (somehow that diminished my enjoyment of books.. I cannot imagine why enforced, time constrained reading and the deconstructing of books would disillusion people.. )
I also adore the BBC series made from the books- the one with the slightly wobbly set and Colin Firth (yeah, the new film is OK, but it's shorter and not as true to the book).
It reminds me of winter, and sitting in the front room with my mum drinking tea from the red teapot and watching the series back-to back taped off the TV on about 4 Video cassettes (I was heartbroken when she leant them to aunty Nu- but that did mean we bought the box-set, rather than watching them taped off the TV).
I think perhaps, I love that the film reminds me of being a kid, and I enjoyed the fancy dresses and over-the-top characters.
As an adult I suppose I enjoy her work as it is refreshing, its social,its satirical and it's actually very modern.
it has just enough romance to be bearable and enough self-made drama from ill advised actions to remind me how "human" these characters are.
Ah, enough- here's the article and the beautiful photographs from this event- If anyone sees anything like this advertised ever please tell me!

Revellers in Georgian attire celebrate 200 years since Jane Austen's novel at Chatsworth House Pride and Prejudice soiree

• Up to 100 Austen fans paid £65 for tickets to attend the dinner and dance yesterday
• Chatsworth House is believed to be the inspiration for Pemberley, Mr. Darcy's residence
• The stately home also featured in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfayden

By DENI KIRKOVA

Regency costumed guests arrived in their dozens at the carriage house for dinner during the Pride and Prejudice Ball at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire yesterday. 

Celebrating the 200 years since the publication of Jane Austen's famed novel of the same name, the Pride and Prejudice ball at the stately home, believed to be the inspiration for Pemberley, Mr Darcy's residence, staged a costume evening to remember.

With capacity for 100 or more, the vast majority of Austen fans turned out in full Georgian costume - a key point of the ball, though the fancy dress wasn't compulsory. Tickets were £65 per head.

A champagne reception in the Painted Hall was followed by a a tour of the North Wing, a grand five course dinner.

Regency costumed guests arrive for the Pride and Prejudice Ball at Chatsworth House yesterday

Afterwards guests were invited to take part in period dancing following a demonstration by professional Jane Austen Dancers.

Attendees yesterday surely enjoyed themselves more than Elizabeth Bennet, who meets Mr Darcy for the first time at a similar event and takes an early dislike to him. 

 

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Chatsworth House is believed to be the inspiration for Pemberley, the residence of the novel's romantic hero Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy as Austen is known to have visited the home in 1811 while staying at the Rutland Arms in Bakewell while penning the masterpiece.

She wrote the novel: 'The eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of the valley into which the road into some abruptness wound.

'It was a large, handsome, stone building standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned.'

A costumed couple walk hand in hand in the grounds where the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film was created

Regency costumed guests participate in the Pride and Prejudice ball enjoying a glass of champagne at the welcome reception

A regal looking woman with porcelain skin is captured in a moment of thought (l) as ladies walk peacefully together through the grounds (r)

The beauty look mas mastered to a tee, with ladies sporting choker necklaces and pretty up-dos that were popular in the Georgian era

Siting down for the grand five-course dinner, the couple gaze into each other's eyes in the impossibly romantic setting

The menu

Canapés
Smoked salmon and caviar on buckwheat blinis
Soft boiled quails eggs on toasted brioche       
Goat's cheese and pickled beetroot on sour dough toast
Free range ham hock tartlet grape chutney

Starter
Chicken ballotine, mini pigeon and leek pie, chicken consommé

Fish course
Trout fillet beurre blanc en brioche croute

Main course
Chatsworth estate lamb noisette, fried sweet breads, broad beans and peas, potato and lambs tongue tian

Dessert
Lemon and raspberry assiette (little lemon tart, honey comb, chilled lemon & raspberry soufflé, lemon and raspberry posset)

Homemade petit fours
Chocolate bonbons, orange and rose water Turkish delight, pistachio macaroons

From across a candlelit table, the couple are captured in a romantic cinch. The lady's hairstyle is notably beautifully braided

The stately homes has been the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire since 1549 and is mentioned in Pride and Prejudice as one of the stately homes that Elizabeth Bennet visits before arriving at Pemberley.

Chatsworth also featured in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie starring Kiera Knightley.

Chatsworth, one of England’s greatest country estates, provided the perfect setting to launch the Peak District estate's Georgian Summer of events (27 July - 29 August), all of which are free to visitors with a house and garden ticket, celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of Austen's novel.

An exhibition in the New Gallery looks at Chatsworth in the time of Pride and Prejudice and compares it to Pemberley, featuring a display of Georgian era items as well as those of Mr Darcy from the 2005 film.

Georgian themed events in the garden will take place every Saturday including Sing Live, where singers perform in the garden dressed in Pride and Prejudice costumes. 

Guests watch a display of regency dancing during the Pride and Prejudice Ball in the painted hall (l) and a costumed guest arrives (r)

The regency dancing provided some much-needed guidance for some guests unfamiliar with the moves of the 1800s

Like a scene from the film itself, the party have all clearly made an effort to look the part and fit in with the theme of the evening yesterday

Ladies clad in immaculately suited attire attempt to master the dance style of the Jane Austen era

An older lady drapes pearls around her exquisite hair style to match with her earrings and necklace

Crewe, Wittenham Clumps and mortality- 16/06/13

This week has been ever so slightly miserable and a bit of a whirlwind- the point of this blog is not be be miserable and melancholic- but I do feel that there is a need to explain my mid-week adventures and perhaps my slightly unusual mood.

On thursday evening I headed from my training course to my parent's house to stay with them and my nan so that we could all leave for crewe early on friday morning.

My parents house is pretty small- and with me,my nan, both my parents and my sister in it and all of us not feeling awesome tensions quickly grew so I suggested that we take a walk up wittenham clumps.

I haven't been there since I was a kid- it's beautiful- it's a nature reserve and a site of scientific interest so it's all left to grow as meadow with wild flowers- and there are woods on top of the hills and paths leading down to the river and the weir- and round to shillingford- although we didn't walk anything like that far!

My dad has 5 days left working at the powerstation- it closed 3 months ago now, and soon they will start to take down the chimneys and buildings- so I took the chance to take some photos of it- it might be the last chance I get!
it's so weird how much everything seems to change- and how quickly! perhaps thats a feeling I should get used to?

When we got home we finished off the chocolate port.

Then we moved onto the madeira. which was disgusting.

It was pretty weird being home- everyones heads were so full of other things that my parent's didn't notcice that we didn't have enough beds for everyone! I had to sleep in the dining room on the fold out sofa- which was odd.
I woke up in the night and was very confused- and then I woke up again at dawn to the sun streaming in through the conservatory and kitchen windows.

I went with ray in her car to Crewe- we met my parents and Nan at services- I think it was a much needed break as I doubt their car was as cheery as our was.

Crewe we a headache to drive round- I'm so glad I wasn't driving- ray tried to drive through a pedestrian gate into the crematorium- which would have been quite an entrance.
:S
possibly not in keeping with the theme of things.

Nottingham, Tadpoles & Jen's engagement party, during which I coated myself in chocolate

Yesterday was Jen & Paul's Engagement and house warming party.

I ended up being late as I had to post Ray's glasses back to her so that she can stop having to wear her prescription sunglasses at work.
I never really thought about how hard glasses would be to package up.

They've recently bought a house and moved in together in Nottingham- and their house is AWESOME!
Jen had already told me that they had a range cooker- because she'd initially bemoaned how difficult it was to get her head round- and then after a while decided it was awesome.
She didn't tell me that the house was still so 70s it hurt- I've never seen red plastic light switches before- and the kitchen is awesome.. in a red,cream and brown kind of way. it's so 70s I think it's actually fashionable again.
What she didn't tell me was that she has the most awesome garden.
A massive pond with fish and more tadpoles than is wise- and water boatmen and pond skaters and everything!
I could spend ages just looking at the things in the pond! Paul reckons it's deep enough to swim in. I think swimming in a pond is ill advised.

They also have a lovely selection of quite mature fruit bushes and trees.
I think Jen will be making lots of jam.
Especially raspberry and gooseberry.
And rhubarb everything. (Personally, I can't stand rhubarb, but I guess it's good for bartering with.. or hitting people you don't like?)

The party was really good fun- Jen and Paul had lots of relatives and family friends there- which was really lovely- Everyone was really friendly and funny.
:)

Jen also made awesome vegetarian BBQ food- She made pepper, onion an courgette kebabs with halumi cheese (squeaky cheese) which were delicious- I put mine in bread rolls like a super grilled cheese sandwich.
This is possibly my new favourite thing ever.

We were supposed to have a chocolate fountain for pudding, but it wouldn't work!
Paul tried to get it working but in the end we melted the chocolate in the microwave.
And the dipped fruit in the bowls of melty chocolate- I want further than that and put the fruit in a bowl and spooned the chocolate over it!
I'm normally very good and well behaved- so I figure I deserved a bowl of melty chocolate, right?
:D

At this point, I managed to spill melty chocolate all down my leg, front, and all over my foot.
for later. maybe?
I was too engaged in eating chocolately goodness to notice.

I ended up leaving really late- much leter than planned- initially I'd planned to leave at 5 but ended up leaving at 9- and I was surprised not to have had any texts from the wifely one...
I located him in the pub with the lads from footy when I rang him to tell him I was driving home about 9pm.
It's a 2 hour drive to Nottingham- which is easier than the 5 hours to wales to see Jen! yay!

I got in and had a text from Traff saying he'd left the pub a bit tiddley- and about midnight there was still no sign of him so I rang him and it turned out they'd gone for burgers (vegi burgers in his case), he came home and raided the fridge anyway.
They fell asleep on my feet where I was sat on the sofa with my computer.
he was quite happy until I accidentally ripped one of his earrings out and then he decamped to bed.

Power station demolition

AT least three of Didcot A’s iconic cooling towers are expected be blasted to smithereens.

And the man who switched off the power station after nearly 43 years back in March has offered to do the honours.

Until now, station managers have not revealed how they plan to take down the six 325ft towers.

But last night they said they plan to blow up the three nearer to Didcot itself and the tall chimney first, while the towers closer to Sutton Courtenay will either be exploded or taken down gradually.

A nine-month decommissioning process for the coal-fired power station began on March 31.

Phil Noake, 60, power station manager since June last year, said: “The southern cooling towers and chimney will be demolished before the northern cooling towers, and it is likely that they (southern) will be demolished using traditional explosive methods.

“The decommissioning of the A station is progressing very well with the removal of coal, oil, chemicals and gases.

“We have successfully disconnected the station from the National Grid and are working on additional areas that need decommissioning.

“We are in detailed negotiations with a demolition company with the intention to announce the successful one during the summer.”

Dressed in the boiler suit he once wore for the former Central Energy Generating Board, pensioner Lyn Bowen, 73, pressed the button to switch off the power station for good.

Yesterday he said he would love to detonate the first tower.

“I haven’t been asked yet but I would be prepared to do it,” said the father-of-two from East Hanney near Wantage.

“I don’t think the power station should have closed – we need all the energy we can get.”

Related links

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RWE npower spokesman Kelly Brown said residents and local authorities have been consulted about the demolition process during the past six months.

The towers could be blown up by the end of 2014.

She said: “With the progressive method the towers will be taken down in stages, starting at the top.”

Town council leader Margaret Davies said: “People in Didcot will be fascinated to hear that at least three of the cooling towers are going out with a bang.

“It will be a great spectacle and I’m sure thousands will turn out to see it, even if they have to watch from quite a distance.”

It is expected that part of the site will be used for employment rather than housing, while gas-fired Didcot B power station, which employs about 80 people, will remain on site.

About 210 staff worked at Didcot A. Seventy were kept on for decommissioning, 40 given other roles, and 100 made redundant.

Dame Cleo Laine's 1940's Garden party.

Today Ray, Michelle and I went to Dame Cleo Laine's garden party which was run by Hednas.
:D

We packed a picnic in Rays fancy barbie pink picnic basket & our very best plastic backed picnic blanket as after all of yesterdays rain we knew the ground would be really soggy.

We packed dairylea dunkers as a main followed by scones and jam and clotted cream- and pretend wine, of course.

We got to the Stables early to have our hair done by Sarah- as you can see we all looked fantastic:



After getting our hair done we were at the venue early we decided to pick a good spot by the croquet square and the vintage cars to have our picnic- by the time we'd got set up, poured the pretend wine and dished out the dishes other people had started to arrive- some dressed up-some not- and people seemed to think we were a part of the day- We were almost endlessly photographed!
It'm sure we looked ace but it was a bit weird.
We were really not very good at making scones with jam and cream - all of us ended up covered in jam. super sticky.
but rather delicious.

Post lunch we went and watches some of the acts on the stage and mooched round through the stalls and chatted to Kat and Sarah from rose tinted vintage and to some of the other stallholders- they were all so lovely and helpful.
We managed to restrain ourselves from buying anything.
it was tricky.

We finished the day off by watching more brilliant acts on the main stage and then we were picked up by le wife.
:D
Nothing like having a personal chauffeur!

Records, Peterborough, Snettisham, Heacham, horses and doughnuts

On Sunday we took the Records to peterborough to sell them- Andy had arranged for us to sell them to one of his work colleagues so we picked him up on the way.

Once the records were all gone we headed out to the beach.
When we planned this- weeks ago- the weather was actually pretty good but sunday here was cold, grey and windy.
Perfect. :S

We went to Snettisham first and had chippys by the Caravan park... they boys followed their chips with ice cream but I was already wearing 4 layers of clothing (the outer most of those being my coat) and gloves and a scarf.
Not dressed for ice cream.
Snettisham beach was disappointing- for a start it seems to be made out of gravel. which is very uncomfortable to walk on.
We mooched about for a bit but it was just so windy we gave up and headed back to the car to warm up.

We decided to try a bit further up the coast- and headed to Heacham- the beach still was gravelly but it had a promenade and a funfair and all the things seafronts usually have- And we had fresh doughnuts on the Quayside.
I'd forgotten how delicious they are- I think I only ever eat properly fresh doughnuts at Truck festival- and the last time I went to that was years ago!

I also got a pony ride! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
and no, I did not elbow all the small children out of the way, I queued up nicely.

I tried to persuade everyone that they wanted to go to the sealife centre but I was overruled and had my arse kicked at crazy golf instead.
Which is really not the same thing at all.

We headed back to peterborough about 5, and went to see Traffs uncle and aunt. they gave us tea. :)

We left Peterborough about 7 and got into town about 8- we couldn't be arsed to cook so we went for dinner at frankie and bennys.
Traff's choice.
Although somehow I paid.

Then home for more tea and an episode of house.

Mudhoney & the Meat puppets, Kentish town, speakeasys and camden market food.

I would like to start this blog entry by telling you YOU MISSED OUT!
This was ranked amongst the very best gigs I have ever been to- It venue was the forum, in Kentish town, and it's a beautiful, intimate, tiered venue- So not only was the gig AWESOME I could see the band too!
Bonus.

Lets start back at the start.
We got into london about 5- got on the tube up to camden.

On saturday morning I had bust into the bathroom whilst Traff was in the bath and refused to leave until he agreed that we could have camden market food for dinner.
He was as good as his word.
It's been a quite a while since I've been to camdone- probably January with Tony and Marissa- so I was hopeful there would be something I could eat.
I am delighted to report that there is a delicious moroccan food stand now!
You should try the chickpeas.

Traff had Tofu in blackbean sauce- he'd never had Tofu before but seems to be a convert- although half way through he made me taste it "to check it isn't meat". It was deffo Tofu.
Who could mistake that weirdly too springy texture and bizzare sensation of eating something which has no taste.
I'm all for Tofu. Just, not in my dinner.

After food we decided to walk to Kentish town- I thought I know where we were going and I was right! but managed to take us to kentish town east station- not the main one so we spent 20 minutes walking around looking confused.
By the time we found the forum all the pubs were jam packed- we'd got to the point where buying some cans from the off-licence and going to sit in the chruch graveyard looked good when I spotted a cool bar.

As you come out of kentish town station, turn right, walk past the pub but before the canteen restaurant there is a flight of stairs which go down.
That is the speakeasy cocktail bar.

I had a singapore gin sling. Traff had a bottled beer and ketp telling me the bar was "ridicules"
I quite liked it.

And on to the gig..

I was really good in Camden and I didn't buy anything except dinner- we got to the gig and Traff really wanted a meat puppets t-shirt so we queued up- then he realised he could buy a signed mudhoney poster for our literal "hall of fame" and he didn't have enough money for both- So I bought him a T-shirt and So I'd spent all my money- then I had to go get out more cash so we could have beer-and-gins.
So much for restraint!
It was a cool t-shirt though.

The meat puppets were my favourite- even though they have a new album out they still played loads of older stuff so we were able to sing along- including many of the songs nirvana covered for their unplugged in new york.
happy happy.

Traff thought Mud honey were better but I don't rate them so much!

The "world food Isle",Poptarts, records, Camden Town.. And how many of those have you eaten? *frown*

I'd like to start this post by explaining that Traff and I have recently reverted back to Vegetarianism.
This seems to be going pretty well- and actually I'm feeling better for it so that is a bonus.
:)
Traff is happy has he as discovered "vegetarian sausage rolls" from the freezer section in Tesco- Today he has eaten 6 large size sausage rolls- on top of his normal meals. And it's only lunchtime.
I think it's unfair that he somehow retains his toned physique without exercise and with all this pastry!
Does anyone want to trade me for a boyfriend with a worse metabolism?
It'd make me feel better...

Now, this shift in Diet means we can no longer shop in Aldis- they only sell Quorn mince. and it's quite difficult to plan a weeks worth of appealing meals just using quorn mince.
yeah, theres spagbol and enchiladas and chilli... but eventually that gets a bit boring...

So, to tesco, to take advantage of their excellent frozen vegi food section.

This has also led us to discover the "world food isle" (where the gravy granules are- weirdly enough).

They sell loads of irish foods and Indian and Japanese and African and Pakistani food products- And a growing polish food section- which I have yet to expolore
Traff wanted to buy Lucky charms, but they're £5 per box.

They sell the american flavours of pop tart.


I have been systematically trying them- Last week I had the fudge sundae ones- and they're pretty amazing but super sickly.. too sickly for a breakfast food.

So this week I am trialling Oreo cookies and creme and chocolate chip. So far I favour cholcolate chip- which if I'm honest was the underdog flavour.

In the interest of fairness, I ad pop tarts for breakfast and lunch today to be able to compare them more effctively.. or thats what I'm telling myself anyway.

I wish we had more pop tart flavours in the UK- Although I am equally grateful that we do not as I'd be the size of a house.
Buuuttttt I REALLY want to try these ones...


I mean, look- 6 vitamins and minerals- that is practically a health food...

As those of you who know me will already know- I'm on a pretty restricted diet (hence the switch to vegetarian foods- it's a long story) as I've been poorly- So no cupcakes under normal circumstances, or spicy food, or cheese, or pasta, or Ice cream etc.. or anything interesting at all really- Pop tarts are pretty much my only vice! even the Gin is reserved for very special occasions.
My discovery that I can eat pop tarts will most probably spiral out of control pretty quickly.

Traff used to refer to my diet as the "couscous and paracetamol diet" I think that will soon be "pop tart and paracetamol".

Today I attempted to be productive- Last weekend we cleared my parents loft for them to get ready for their house move.
They gave us their 3 packing crates of records and we're taking them to sell to one of Traff's old work colleagues in Peterborough On sunday- hopefully we'll also see Andy and get to go to the beach...

I had a look through them today to decide which ones I wanted to keep- As Helen gave us the record deck which fits with Traff's big sony stereo system- so once we have either:
a) more space - I.e buy a house
b) reorganise the front room
We will be able to play our growing record collection.

I also saved madness and pink floyd records for Jess- Now I just have to remember to take them to Sarah's Wedding...
:S
I see nothing that could possibly go wrong here..

Anyways, we're off to london now to see mudhoney and the meat puppets- and for a mooch about in Camden.
It has to be a mooch as we're both skintos from buying so many imported poptarts (and a new car). Please someone teach me to demonstrate self restraint!

GIANT LETTERS!

Today I got a letter at work from Pakistan- As part of my penpal project- it was a bigger than A4 envelope and almost the whole front of the envelope was covered in stamps!

It was very cool looking!

I'll post a picture next week- I meant to take one on my phone but I completely forgot in my rush to come home and go food shopping.

Nanna's Visit to Bedford, Waddesdon mannor, & Priory Marina

This weekend has been gloriously sunny- we've been so lucky with the weather- very un british!

My Nanna came to stay with us on Saturday afternoon- we went into town and tea tea and fruit toast and a good old chinwag in Debenhams cafe- and later in the evening we went out for some drinks to the park pub.

On Sunday we went to Waddesdon Mannor and we met my Parents and my sister there- It's a really beautiful house and grounds- I don't think I've ever been there before.
I do realise that recently I've visited a great many National trust or English heritage houses- I should perhaps invest in some membership of at least one of them!...
We walked around the grounds, and then went to have a picnic- You've heard enough about my ham sandwiches- and we brought cupcakes and pink n white wafers- My mum had made sausage rolls and my sister had truly raided Millets farm shop- more sausage rolls- PYO strawberries and the most delicious (If tooth breakingly solid- they're deffo a dunking biscuit) Fruit Shrewsbury's.
All washed down with national trust tea.

Mum managed to get My sister, Nanna and I tickets to go round the inside of the mannor house- it's breathtakingly impressive!
I have even found the perfect interior decoration for our bedroom when we buy a house.. watch this space..
Loads of amazing chandlers - and silver- and plates, and a button collection to rival than of Miss Jennifer heaps!

There was also an exhibition on linen folding- which I had a go at at the end of the tour of the house and I made a paper folding shoe!
OK, I didn't mean to- There was a video tutorial so I just followed it- at the end we realised there was a selection of things we could have made- including fish and frogs.
:(
And the shoe was blooming tricky too!

I have also entered the National Trust prize door for £1 for a £10,000 prize- I'll let you know if we win!

After all our walking about we were rewarded with ice-creams! huzzah! too much sitting about outside means I now have a sunburned face.

We spent the evening watching TV and mooching about- there was an amazing program on about the suffragettes!

On Monday we went for lunch and a walk around priory marina to make the most of the last of the good weather.
We walked the whole way round the lake once, and the whole way round the lake including the finger lakes too- then into town and up through town via a care for some much needed tea and cake!

We started walking at 10:30 and got home at 4:15.
That is an impressive walk!

On Tuesday we will most probably go for lunch in town, and perhaps visit some of the shops and mooch- the weather is forecast to be very poor.
So it's just as well we've made the most of it!

On a side note- it's been a rather busy kind of a weekend- Sophie's brother- Ben got married to Gerry, Michelle got to drive her new car as a wedding car and my parents are waiting to hear if their house offer has been accepted- and my mum has been accepted to have her hip replaced- we don't know how long she'll have to wait yet, but that has to be good news!

Oh, and no-one is to get any funny ideas as Traff has added my mum on facebook as his "mother in law". We didn't elope- he just thought it'd wind her up!