Jane Fairfax's bonnet.
Mr Knightly's hat.
Tiny dress worn by Laura Pyper as Jane Fairfax.
Blue hat worn by Jane Fairfax.
Monday, 26 April 2010
More Emma Costumes
Michael Gambon's fabulous costume as Mr Woodhouse.
Michael Gambon's huge shoes!
Romola Garai as Emma wore this beautiful dress during the ball scene.
Mr Knightly (Jonny Lee Miller) and Emma - the designers describe his blue jacket as Atlantic blue.
Emma's pinafore like day dress.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Country Girls
How does that Eagles song go? “City girls just seem to find out early, how to open doors with just a smile…”
Having lived in Southampton for more than 20 years, I suppose that I am kind of a city girl. Or do city girls only live in London or New York?
But I still don’t see myself as a city girl, or even a city dweller. I never wear high heels and one of the high points of my week is the feeling of satisfaction I have when I've just cleaned out the hens; but then Highfield in Southampton is more leafy campus and (mostly) pleasant residential area than gritty inner city or happening place.
One of my former neighbours (a Romany who had gone into brick) once told me that I was a country girl - I know she meant it and I took it as praise indeed. When I'm at Chawton I never find myself longing for the city. Almost every house I glimpse on the way here should be mine. I really would like a donkey, or even a donkey sanctuary. Spring is busting out all over. The fields have now turned from grey to green, and where they are ploughed they are guarded by sinister, white sack-on-stick figures, that in the dusk could be either faceless ghosts or Klu Klux Klan members; but still I love it. I like being in a place where I get baa-d at when I get off the bus.
I don’t think Jane Austen wrote that much about animals. I’m sure that her attitude to them wasn’t sentimental – a perusal of Martha Lloyd’s cookbook tells us some of the many ways she enjoyed them. She knew about raising chickens and turkeys and keeping bees. The family had a flock of sheep when they were at Steventon. There were definitely dogs in her life – Cassandra and Martha Lloyd both had them – I’m not sure about Jane. Do please tell me if you know. But the creatures I keep wondering about here are cats. There must have been cats at Chawton – there is a granary and a bakehouse! I can really imagine cats reclining on the gorgeous, deep windowsills, and hiding in the hedgerows. Did Jane Austen have a cat? What was it called? Cats are standard kit for writers. Who else will sit on one’s papers, or the keyboard, or keep trying to knock the pen from one’s hand? Who else will provide distraction by cornering a frog just outside the dining room window? How could Jane have got any work done without a cat to help her?
Having lived in Southampton for more than 20 years, I suppose that I am kind of a city girl. Or do city girls only live in London or New York?
But I still don’t see myself as a city girl, or even a city dweller. I never wear high heels and one of the high points of my week is the feeling of satisfaction I have when I've just cleaned out the hens; but then Highfield in Southampton is more leafy campus and (mostly) pleasant residential area than gritty inner city or happening place.
One of my former neighbours (a Romany who had gone into brick) once told me that I was a country girl - I know she meant it and I took it as praise indeed. When I'm at Chawton I never find myself longing for the city. Almost every house I glimpse on the way here should be mine. I really would like a donkey, or even a donkey sanctuary. Spring is busting out all over. The fields have now turned from grey to green, and where they are ploughed they are guarded by sinister, white sack-on-stick figures, that in the dusk could be either faceless ghosts or Klu Klux Klan members; but still I love it. I like being in a place where I get baa-d at when I get off the bus.
I don’t think Jane Austen wrote that much about animals. I’m sure that her attitude to them wasn’t sentimental – a perusal of Martha Lloyd’s cookbook tells us some of the many ways she enjoyed them. She knew about raising chickens and turkeys and keeping bees. The family had a flock of sheep when they were at Steventon. There were definitely dogs in her life – Cassandra and Martha Lloyd both had them – I’m not sure about Jane. Do please tell me if you know. But the creatures I keep wondering about here are cats. There must have been cats at Chawton – there is a granary and a bakehouse! I can really imagine cats reclining on the gorgeous, deep windowsills, and hiding in the hedgerows. Did Jane Austen have a cat? What was it called? Cats are standard kit for writers. Who else will sit on one’s papers, or the keyboard, or keep trying to knock the pen from one’s hand? Who else will provide distraction by cornering a frog just outside the dining room window? How could Jane have got any work done without a cat to help her?
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Exciting Things At The Museum
People write some lovely things in the visitors’ book, but here is a rather special entry:
“3 / 4 / 10 - Amazing and my boyfriend has just asked me to marry him!”
Raise your glasses for the happy couple from Chichester!
It has been all excitement at the Museum. On Monday there was a large party of French students, nothing unusual here, but hot on their heels were all the Mayors of Hampshire on a civic day out hosted by the Mayor of Basingstoke (very friendly and thinking of writing a book about his year in office). I do apologize if that is not how he should be described - His Worship The Mayor of Basingstoke? I await correction. They were all wearing their chains of office. I learned that Portsmouth has a Lord Mayor, whereas Southampton, for some reason, has only a Mayor. Perhaps it is to do with football leagues. They were clearly having a grand day out and left us all wondering what the collective noun for mayors is. A company? A worship? A regalia? I’ve yet to find a definitive answer.
We've put up a picture of one of the costume's - Emma's yellow dress. I felt rather annoyed that there were some of Jane Fairfax's thing's in Jane's bedroom - I've always rather hated Jane Fairfax - but I've been told that Jane Fairfax may have been a self-portrait. Isabel has kindly offered to take some more photos (she is much, much better at this than me) so more will follow.
Wednesday 21st April at 4.45pm is our next writing group meeting. We are currently putting together a collection of new writing inspired by the house. If you have visited the Museum in the last six months and have written something inspired by it - poetry or prose - do get in touch. We shall probably make one beautiful book to keep in the Reading Room and publish the contributions online.
I’m very aware that my time as Writer in Residence is drawing to a close and I feel as though I haven’t done nearly enough writing. I am very good at being distracted and chatting to people instead of working, and I find the day to day goings on here so absorbing. I’m meant to finish my so-called novel by August so I’d better get a move on.
“3 / 4 / 10 - Amazing and my boyfriend has just asked me to marry him!”
Raise your glasses for the happy couple from Chichester!
It has been all excitement at the Museum. On Monday there was a large party of French students, nothing unusual here, but hot on their heels were all the Mayors of Hampshire on a civic day out hosted by the Mayor of Basingstoke (very friendly and thinking of writing a book about his year in office). I do apologize if that is not how he should be described - His Worship The Mayor of Basingstoke? I await correction. They were all wearing their chains of office. I learned that Portsmouth has a Lord Mayor, whereas Southampton, for some reason, has only a Mayor. Perhaps it is to do with football leagues. They were clearly having a grand day out and left us all wondering what the collective noun for mayors is. A company? A worship? A regalia? I’ve yet to find a definitive answer.
We've put up a picture of one of the costume's - Emma's yellow dress. I felt rather annoyed that there were some of Jane Fairfax's thing's in Jane's bedroom - I've always rather hated Jane Fairfax - but I've been told that Jane Fairfax may have been a self-portrait. Isabel has kindly offered to take some more photos (she is much, much better at this than me) so more will follow.
Wednesday 21st April at 4.45pm is our next writing group meeting. We are currently putting together a collection of new writing inspired by the house. If you have visited the Museum in the last six months and have written something inspired by it - poetry or prose - do get in touch. We shall probably make one beautiful book to keep in the Reading Room and publish the contributions online.
I’m very aware that my time as Writer in Residence is drawing to a close and I feel as though I haven’t done nearly enough writing. I am very good at being distracted and chatting to people instead of working, and I find the day to day goings on here so absorbing. I’m meant to finish my so-called novel by August so I’d better get a move on.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Two Swallows and Michael Gambon’s Boots
Good news – Mrs Swallow has arrived safely! They have been seen together around the nest and despite the cold weather, Ann noticed a cloud of midges in the courtyard, so they should be finding something to eat.
The costumes are going up around the Museum and we will put some photos of them up here, but do try to come and see them and come to the talk on May 7th. They came with a special courier, but you might prefer to imagine them arriving by carriage or dancing along the Hampshire lanes, trying to avoid the puddles and not get mud on their petticoats. When I left Chawton yesterday, Louise, Catherine and Isabel were busy with mannequins and pins.
The costumes are going up around the Museum and we will put some photos of them up here, but do try to come and see them and come to the talk on May 7th. They came with a special courier, but you might prefer to imagine them arriving by carriage or dancing along the Hampshire lanes, trying to avoid the puddles and not get mud on their petticoats. When I left Chawton yesterday, Louise, Catherine and Isabel were busy with mannequins and pins.
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