Murder at Pemberley

My love affair with Pride and Prejudice started in sixth form when our English teacher stood before us and revered the majesty of this Austen classic.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone with this deep affection. It captured my imagination when I was 17 and never left. It created a solace in my days of being single that I would some day meet a Mr. Darcy - someone who was tall, handsome, dark haired and looked down-right seductive in a pair of breeches! (Hubby meets 3 out of 4 of those characteristics; he's yet to don a pair of 17th century trousers...)

I'm always enraptured by this tale and it never ceases to amaze me how much I get caught up in the intrigue and romance, I mean, I know that they will eventually get together, but I still read/watch with a huge sense of anticipation! By far, my favorite of the adaptations (of which there are endless) is the sumptuous BBC production casting Jenifer Ehle and Colin Firth as the main characters. Admittedly, Jenifer was prettier than Austen's Elizabeth, but it's all forgiven as the actors' chemistry on screen was magical.

Besides watching, I've obviously read and re-read those practically iconic words. And, even though I longed for a follow up (there have been several written), I didn't venture to read any as I didn't think anyone would be able to meet Austen's level of insight and wit.

So it is with some trepidation that I am venturing to read P. D. James' Death Comes to Pemberley. Granted, it is not a sequel but as the title suggests, a murder-mystery, taking place six years after Elizabeth and Darcy marry. I'm a huge fan of James (she herself, is an avid Austen fan and felt compelled to pen a novel as a homage to her) and I look forward to how James' brilliant, descriptive writing, ties in with Austen's infamous characters. I'm sure (or hoping) I won't be disappointed....

A Writer in the Making?

This is the year I get serious about writing.

Whilst my dreams may take me to heady heights of being the next P.D. James or Tess Gerritson, I appreciate that to get to that level of notoriety I have to actually submit something.

For years, I've written snippets of stories or day dreamed about characters. So, late last year, when ambling around the stands at the Boston Book Festival and happened across Libboo (an online forum to which budding writers can publish their stories) I thought why not? Why not write again and this time do something about it. So wrote a couple of short stories:

http://www.libboo.com/read/play-with-fire
http://www.libboo.com/read/when-youre-happy

I don't think their too bad, but there's room for improvement. However, I haven't written and posted anything else for a while! Reason being, I was busy reading, but as 2011 drew to a close, I realized I was using that as an excuse (and according to P.D. James, its a good thing for a writer to do; keep reading to keep the creative process alive). I've jotted down a few ideas of plots and characters including particular lines that they would say. Now I just need to put them down on paper (I tend to write long hand first) and get moving.

I'm still working on what kind of  genre I'd write about; crime? suspense? children's? And, although, my two tales (above) are somewhat suspenseful I do have an idea for a children's book too...ah the possibilities are endless.

However, my true calling could be 'romance' novels. An avid reader of Mills & Boons back in the day, that could be where my talents really lie. So I'm thinking to get inspired, I'll paint an area of the living room pink, wrap a pink feather boa dramatically around my neck, paint my lips a stunning magenta and write a narrative as a homage to the queen of romance - Barbara Cartland. Ahh, yes..."..she tried not to let the sultry look in his dark, haunting eyes, steal her breath away. He leaned in closer, momentarily glancing to her slightly open, waiting lips..." 

New Year Directions

It's been another stellar year in Boston. I love living here, especially in Cambridge. It's fun being surrounded by Harvard's leagues of preppy students (normally in Starbucks!) and professors who reside in the borough. During the winter months as flakes of snow settle layer after layer, the street is practically empty with only a few souls braving the minus temperatures. As spring and summer dawn, over the hum of air conditioners, I will hear someone playing a piano in the apartment block opposite or the lady that practices her scales again and again (will she ever learn the words I wonder?)

But not only did I enjoy my immediate surroundings, Hubby and I managed to explore further field. We visited the Fort on Georges Island where the Americans battled against the Brits (Hubby is often ribbed about owing the US a lighthouse?), Spectacle Island where we enjoyed not the beautiful scenery but the little girl who was very good with a hula hoop. I sampled peanut butter taffy on a pier in Salem and munched fried dough, covered in cinnamon sugar at a huge corn maze - I'm just about forgiving them for not letting us visit the farm animals because we didn't have a child with us!

We had a blast in Las Vegas  - Celine, slot machines, the gun range and the best waffle fries and chilli ever. Oh and I almost forgot "Britain's answer to Frank Sinatra" - Matt Goss - appearing weekends at Cleopatra's barge. The ropey cocktail waitresses and the spectacular views of the strip and the Nevada dessert from the Eiffel Tower. A few months later, we went to the nations capital and I'm amazed at how much we saw in four days. I'm still in awe at being able to stand at the feet of Abraham Lincoln's memorial, look down to see the National Monument and Capital building. Saw the Library of Congress (despite being shooed out a couple of times by security because of a private tour!), marveled at the Smithsonian Air & Space museum and stared through the railing at The White House dismayed that we had to make an application to see inside two months in advance.

I got caught up with the glitz and glamour of the Oscars, puzzled over the sports, got embroiled in new TV shows (Hart of Dixie, Falling Skies, Suits...) and desperately tried to understand the politics. Having read vol. 3, I'm about to start reading volumes 1 & 2 of William Bennett's America - The Last Best Hope, so I'm hoping I'll eventually get the difference between a democrat and a republican. I know I've left out so many memories (having my picture taken with Elvis (swoon)...OK, OK his wax model and filing taxes), but we've had another amazing year.

As the new year approaches, Hubby and I are looking forward to spending time with the great friends that we've made in the last 2 years. Hubby's wishes for the 2012 is to continue our stateside adventures as well as reach level 100 in GOW, get the Calendar Man achievement in Batman oh and for him to be a kept man. So, I'm thinking that I'll have to take serious steps to get published or open a really successful (illegal) cantina. Nevertheless, I've seen the future; Hubby donned with inch thick gold bracelets and shiny suit wowing at the Black Jack tables, me with a blue rinse, cigarette in one hand sitting at the 1c slot machine in Vegas. We'll make millions...

Whatever direction 2012 leads us in - the end of the world, visits to other states - I'm pretty sure that Hubby and I will make it a great year.

Christmas Cards Galore

I just read an article in The Times (London edition) - "All I want for Christmas is a card or two" by Carol Midgley. It detailed her "suffering from the seasonal afflication known as the 'Why have I received so few Christmas cards and does it mean everybody hates me?'" - although she doesn't send out that many herself, but that's not her point, it's still great to receive them.

And, I completely sympathize with Carol. This year, I decided to make my cards, so created a list of people to send them to. A list I make every year and to which Hubby asks - why not keep that list and save yourself some time next year? A valid point perhaps, but my list does change. After all, people leave his office or someone I sent one to this year may well annoy me and therefore find themselves removed from said list for next Christmas. Yes, I know, a little Ebenezer of me...

But lately, over the last few years, I've made the list with a slightly heavy heart. Will I get any cards this year?  The numbers have dwindled. As Carol rightly points out, people are less and less inclined to send out cards. Be they environmentalist - save a tree, don't send a card or consider it a lengthy process - buy the card, find the address, sign card, get stamp, post card...it's a lot of hard work.

I firmly believe that receiving a card at Christmas makes a person know that they are special, that you're thinking of them. That in an 'e' driven world, a tangible item such as a card means so much more. And despite knowing that I'll get a few e-cards (not everyone has my mailing address), I do so cherish the posted ones regardless of who sent them....I was both pleased and slightly horrified that I received a card from my local curry house one year..

So I sent out about 50 cards to those for whom I have an address and hung my ribbon (above picture is representative of my display) in anticipation that in a few weeks leading up to this wonderful holiday, I will be filled with cards of all shapes and sizes from family and friends wishing Hubby and I a joyous (US) Christmas. To date I only have 17 cards displayed but there's still one more week to go...maybe I should have left my forwarding address to The Sitar?..

Bah Humbug!

Forgive me my American friends and family but Thanksgiving isn't my thing. I appreciate the sentiment and I'm certainly thankful for a lot of things. But, as the cold winds set in, the days draw darker, it's Christmas that I'm looking forward to.

Oh yes, the snow in the air, the smell of cinnamon, hands cupped around a hot cup of peppermint cocoa, sparkly red and green garlands hanging in shop windows, Christmas trees twinkling in living rooms. Such a magical time. And of course, the myriad of productions of A Christmas Carol. Over the years I've seen practically all of these versions of this classic tale which is no doubt one of the most interpreted of Dickens' stories. My all time favorite version is with Patrick Stewart - a sumptuous production so brilliantly told. There have been a few that I'm not adverse to such as the musical portrayals (with Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge) and even the animated versions are not too bad; although I was dubious about Jim Carrey playing an English octogenarian, but he did a good job.

Despite seeing so many versions, I'm ashamed to admit, that I've never actually read the story. So this is the year that I sit down with a cup of cocoa and read A Christmas Carol. I'm sure that I will conjure up images of all the films I've seen, and I hope that the films have stayed true to the words. I find that books never translate to the screen very well. So, I popped along to the bookstore and purchased a copy at the bargain price of $10. And now that I have it, I'm sure it will become a tradition to read it in the days leading up to Christmas Day.

"I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their house pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it."

Charles Dickens, December 1843

Fashion Faux Pas?

I taped the season finale of Project Runway (S9), finally got around to watching it and I am so disappointed with the judges final decision. Did Anya really deserve to win?

The young Trinidadian has a great sense of style; her choice and use of patterned material is exceptional almost effortless but unlike the other contestants, she lacked excellent sewing skills. And for that she shouldn't have won. I've read comments that Project Runway is about design and business capabilities not just sewing. Well, in that case I'm the next Stella McCartney or L'wren Scott because I've designed a ton of dresses but wouldn't necessarily be able to sew a garment properly!

Anya believes she captured the Caribbean style of women - really? I don't remember seeing tall, skinny women swanning around in flowing silk kaftan type dresses whilst in Guyana or Barbados. Oh hang on, I do remember my mom wearing them....but that was about 20 odd years ago! The judges decision process included comments like "you can see her bags, jewellery line.." Er, what about her clothes? That's why she entered the competition - to showcase her clothes!

Heidi Klum said that she fought for Anya (said on the Piers Morgan Tonight program) because she (Anya) showed that you didn't need to go to school to win a competition like PR and with enough hard work and determination you can make it. Hats off to Anya for getting so far, but during the entire show, she didn't show one piece of structured tailoring - a jacket, a straight-leg trouser...as a designer, shouldn't you be able to make these items? I have the utmost respect for the judges, but I think they should see the 'behind the scenes' videos - I reckon it would make them re-think the final outcome.

In my mind, a designer is not just about styling or business know-how, you need to understand the fabric, the cut and flow of it - the right side of the material (in one episode, Anya cut the fabric on the wrong side). Well done to Anya for learning to sew in four months, but other contestants were consistently better than her, had far superior sewing skills and in my mind far more drive and ambition and were more deserving of the final prize.

I'm looking forward to seeing 'Anya' designs but I have a feeling I won't be buying anything from her collection any time soon!

Cor Blimey, I'm speakin' American

Well, it had to happen! In order for me to be understood, I have to forgo the Queens' English and speak "American".

Perhaps I shouldn't, but I find myself giving into it. As I've mentioned previously, my very English accent is still a problem. So, I find myself dropping letters, over emphasizing others and basically, trying not to sound...well, English!

When ordering a sandwich (I won't mention the cheese debacle again); I'll say "too-nah" instead of "choo-nah" for tuna (who's to say which is correct?) and with the song cropping up in my mind, I have to say "toe-may-toe" and not "toe-mah-toe" to avoid said product being in my sandwich (sub, grinder...) and to just stop the withering look of "what the heck you sayin' lady?"

And whilst I haven't quite resorted to ending the admiration of a new born baby, or seeing a really nice pair of shoes with "awesome", I do find it occasionally popping up in my vocabulary.

Essentially, one must adopt these ways to avoid sounding so English, but find I myself thinking of Professor Higgins' contempt of the incorrect pronunciation of words but take heart that a part of me will always remain Eliza Dolittle, regardless of how I have to say things...bloomin' lover-ly.