Sunday, May 23, 2010

Sounds of Spring





We are having some wonderful weather.This is a small stream in Bryn Coch, near Neath where we were staying
I took this small video on my camera especially for you. Enjoy the sounds of the birds.





And here are some shetland ponies we saw on our walk. More historical stuff to come later. These are just for fun. (We have now moved on Dorset)


Until next time, Happy Rambles

Monday, May 17, 2010

Travel to Britain

by Michele Ann Young
Oh dear! Trapped. We arrived in London yesterday, and now Heathrow is closed. I may have to stay here forever. Lucky me. lol.
Pictures for you tomorrow. It was raining but today in Wales it is gorgeous.
Michele

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Interview with a Lady of the Road

by Ann Lethbridge

Madly getting ready for our trip to England, which means getting the next book in by Friday. So I apologise for my lack of chatter. I will try to put one up later in the week. Of course there will be lots of pictures when I get back, to make up for this hiatus. I will be gone for three weeks, but hope to visit here with some impressions as I travel around England.

Naturally, all of this depends on being able to fly on Saturday. That is in the lap of the gods and a volcano whose name will not pass my lips. Because I can't say it. lol.

Here is an Interview on another sitewhich you might not have already seen.


Ann Lethbridge is interviewing Lady Eleanor Hadley, who has taken up a rather unusual occupation for a noblewoman in 1811.

AL: Ann looks around: this is a rather lonely stretch of road in the English countryside. Fortunately there is a moon. Ah there is our interviewee, standing in the shadows of a large oak tree beside the lane. Ann strides closer. Lady Hadley is that you?

EH: Hush, you fool, do you want everyone to hear you?

AL: Lowers voice. Sorry. Lady Hadley, welcome to the RomCon blog. It is kind of you to take time from your busy schedule to join us.

EH: Thank you for inviting me. It is wonderful to have an opportunity to set some of the record straight.

AL: Tell our readers why you decided to become a Lady Highwayman?

EH: Big sigh . During my military brother’s absence, an investment I made on his behalf failed. wince ~ I forged his name on a document because it seemed like such a good opportunity. I still hold out hope the ship will make it to port even if it is months late. Unfortunately the bailiff has taken over our house because of the Marquess of Beauworth’s unreasonable demands we pay off the mortgage. I believe he is behind the investments failure and I need money to support me and my sister while I tried to find out what is
going on.

AL: While it isn’t unheard of for a woman to take to the High Toby as we Regency buffs call the activities of highwaymen, you are trying a somewhat different approach to the trade. Can you tell us about it?

EH: I suppose it is a little different. Country people can be superstitious as you know. There is an old legend in Sussex, about Lady Moonlight, a women who took to the road during the English Civil War to feed her family. I play the part of her ghost. People tend to be afraid of ghosts. It makes them more cooperative. Less likely to fight back, especially when they see Martin, my accomplice, with his pistols.


AL: You held up the Marquess of Beauworth very soon after you started.

EH: It was only our second hold up. We had agreed to only stop carriages of the very rich, and his was an obvious target with its flashy horses and fancy equipage. But things might have turned out better if I had know exactly who was in the carriage.

AL: Can you tell us what happened?

EH: Well... I really don’t want to spoil the story. Looks a bit red-faced. Let us say things became unexpectedly heated. Well, I had never seen such a handsome man. And he wasn’t the slightest bit afraid of my pistols. Reckless, in fact. You would think he didn’t care about life and limb.

AL: He surprised you, didn’t he?

EH: She nods. He dredged up some old legend of his own. He said Lady Moonlight always kisses her male victims, if they are young and handsome.

AL: Oh my word. And did you?

EH: She ties on her mask and pops on her tricorn hat with an enigmatic smile. The most handsome man in the world with the most charming French accent was at my mercy at pistol point offering a kiss....... What would you do?

AL: Don’t keep us in suspense.

EH: I suppose you will have to read my story to find out.

AL: I thought you were a respectable noblewoman, not a tease. EH: I used to be respectable. Not any more. Not after meeting Garrick. But if you don’t mind, I really have to get back to my night job. There is a small matter of needing to put food on the table. She whirls around in a flutter of long black cloak and disappears into the night.

AL: There you have it folks. More questions than answers.




Wicked Rake, Defiant Mistress
by Ann Lethbridge, a Harlequin Historical is in stores May 1 2010.


And you can find her newest Undone short story e-book, The Laird and the Wanton Widow on line at e-harlequin Check out Harlequin eBooks! Save 10% off ePrices!
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Her next book, Captured for the Captain’s Pleasure is due out in June in the UK and in the Fall in North America.

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Monday, May 3, 2010

Regency Fashion ~ May

by Michele Ann Young
Fashion, my favorite time of the month!


As you can see, this is called a half full dress. It is from the 1813 La Belle Assemblee
 

 The description is interesting. See how the gown is also called a "frock".

Frock of plain jacconet muslin, with a demi train; body of amber and white shot sarsnet, made in the same manner as last month, except that the waist is a little shorter; the sleeve, which is of a jacconet muslin, is very full, and is looped up with a floss silk ornament in the shape of a heart ...
 

I actually thought the headdress interesting. So many roses. Also while not mentions, the back of the bodice has a stand up collar.


 
I thought you might be interested in the following quote from the same issue.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON FASHION AND DRESS.
  The death of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Brunswick, has for the last few weeks obliged our fair fashionables to conform to the Court mourning, which for the first month admitted scarcely of any variety.



An offering from the Ladies Magazine this time for 1810.

The full dress is described as  White sarcenet; purple velvet robe, trimmed with swans-down; lemon-colored kid gloves and shoes.

The walking dress, on the seated lady:. White muslin, bonnet and scarf of shot silk, to correspond.

Clearly the bonnet and scarf are not white, so one assumes they correspond with each other rather than the gown. The lacing up the front of the gown is rather military, I think.

That is all we have time for.



Until next time, Happy Rambles.