Perhaps, this Goode is Better...

Results in Hottest Brit Boy competition, and a new Brit Boy to Love

And the winners are...

1.) Colin Firth!! 

(Jane Austen fans unite! I would love to say that I shall be congratulating Colin on his victory in person, but alas, no.)

2.) Jonathan Rhys Meyers 

(JRM should be been disqualified because he is, in fact, Irish, but he remained in the poll because he is: a. incredibly hot, and b. currently playing Henry the Eighth who was, in fact, English.)

3.) Jude Law 

(...Be still my heart...)

4.) Clive Owen 

(Meow!)

5.) A tie! Simon Pegg and Edward VIII tied for last place.

(Clearly, this is the category for women of character and substance!)

Note: Someone asked me why the D.E.B. had not be included as a choice in the "Hottest Brit Boy" poll. A very sweet thought, but I'm not into sharing. *Smile*

As promised, I have discovered a new Brit Boy to love: Matthew Goode. All I can say is "Goode golly," what a hottie! 

Yes, that is a beer AND a cigarette in his hand!

I just saw Matthew Goode in Brideshead Revisited. Super film, and the costumes are to die for!

It's the sort of movie that makes you think, "Why can't/don't we dress like that still?"

Speaking of Brideshead, going to the cinema last week was real experience. The D.E.B. booked tickets in advance, which in and of itself is not entirely unusual these days, on either side of the Atlantic. But wait, when we arrived at the Warwick Arts Centre, I found that this was not your typical movie-going excursion. 

First -- no popcorn.  

I was stunned, and doubted my overall ability to actually watch a film without a mountain of popcorn in front of me. This was going to be a challenge. There was Haagen Daz ice cream on offer instead, which was too weird for me to even contemplate. Thankfully, there was bar ready and waiting to serve us any drink of our choice. So, after ordering two glasses of red wine -- which we were able to take into the theatre with us -- we collected our tickets which had our assigned seats listed. Assigned seats? That we actually had to sit in? Whether we liked them or not?!  (I think freedom of choice and rebellion are quintessential American traits, it is programmed in our DNA.) At any rate it was a very good film, and one I would recommend just for the visual stimuli, if nothing else.

Thrift challenge update

So far, I have found and bought: one, Argyle print wooly hat. Purchased from the Cancer Research shop in Stratford. Things are not looking good for the "Interview Outfit Thrift Challenge"... 

However, I have been super busy and am not trying as hard as I could. Interesting find: Oxfam has gone high tech and their collection of thrift/charity/second hand items have been catalogued, and can be purchased online. Who knew? So, you can shop and help the world in one click: www.oxfam.org.uk/shop

"Thrift, Thrift" Addendum

Perhaps, it doesn't get any more "thrifty" than wearing something you already own...

While the world is watching…

I cannot find the words to express my feelings about today, about being and living abroad as the US Presidential election unfolds. I am proud to be an American. I am not always proud of some of the ways America and Americans are presented or represented in the world, but I have no shame or regret for being an American citizen. I will not say  that we are “the greatest nation in the world” – what does that mean anyway? But I will say that there is a spirit, a joie de vivre, a sturdy, yet warm resilience that is quintessentially American, and I am thankful that I have that in my bones. Whatever the outcome today, I hope that whomever wins will take a long, hard look at the very rocky terrain we have traversed in this campaign cycle, and take steps to bridge the bitter and brutal divides that have been created. I have no doubt that America will survive whatever the result, my only hope is that we can find a path to unity, to being truly United.

While my friends are waiting in will surely seem to be endless poll station lines (queues) today, I will be in Birmingham with my D.E.B. watching a special “US Election screening” of Oliver Stone’s new film “W”. (I won tickets to this premiere last week on Classic FM.) How very appropriate, the D.E.B and I thought, to be watching this film as America’s new era without George W. Bush begins.

 

Thrift, Thrift, Horatio

"Thrift, thrift, Horatio, the funeral bak'd meats,
did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables." - Hamlet (I.ii. 176–181)

In this famous line from Hamlet, the Danish Prince is, of course, being fiendishly sarcastic about the haste with which his mother has married his uncle, following the death of his father. However, the frugal economy Hamlet implies seems a  suggestion most apt for today, in these financially uncertain times.

India Knight is a woman of many talents, and she has inspired me yet again. Just when I thought knew what to expect from her as a writer, she comes storming out of left field. This past weekend, as the D.E.B. and I curled up with our copy of the Sunday Times, I was stunned to see her name emblazoned across the cover of the Times’ Style magazine. India is now a Style guru with a new book coming out this Thursday, extolling the virtues of being “thrifty”- The Thrift Book: Live Well and Spend Less.

Her article–based on the book—is itself a great read. India shares openly her own financial demons, such as being hounded by bailiffs, and being flat broke even at a time when she had two books on the top bestseller lists. Knight does an excellent job of assessing our “must have” culture, and outlines some very simple ways we can “kick the habit,” do better, and be better.

I was surprised to find that without even trying, by just giving into my own current, personal circumstances, I have been (largely unknowingly) “doing my bit,” becoming a better consumer, and in India’s words, “become more green.”

For example, in the section entitled “Sensible Supermarket Shopping,” Knight suggests making the following adjustments to one’s food shopping regime:

a.) Shop locally, daily, buying only precisely what you need.

b.) Shop online from a properly compiled list.

c.) “If you find yourself naturally resistant to the idea of buying discounted food because you’re middle class, get over it.”

d.) Stop shopping at “posh” supermarkets.

Living how and where I do – more or less vehicle-less in rural Warwickshire, with the world’s tiniest refrigerator – I have very few options other than to shop locally, almost daily and online.  (see previous posts: “Patience and Fortitude” and “Is this an appliance, I see before me?”)

Thankfully, the Barford community has pulled together in true English village fashion, and re-opened its Village Shop. In just under two years, the Barford community dug deep, and raised the £300,000.00 needed to build and open the new shop. The shop is gorgeous, and cost effective. It has one paid staff member. Apart from the Manager, the rest of the staff is composed entirely of community volunteers. It seems that the frugal and communal lessons of WWII continue to inspire generations of Britons, and change the face of British communities.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Village Shop

The Vicar, blessing the Shop and all who shop within her

Barford's answer to Starbucks

The D.E.B. during the Opening Day shopping spree

While basking in the glow of my newly found sense of  “how green am I,” India Knight presented me with a fresh challenge. Clothes. Now, I have to say, I have never considered myself, nor ever really aspired to be a “full-on fashionista.” That is not to suggest that I am a slouch. I like to look good, I care about my appearance, I enjoy beautiful things, and would like to think of myself as a “woman of style.” Although I have never paid $700.00 for pair of shoes, I have been known to get more than a little crazy in Anthropologie on Fifth Avenue; I weep to think of how far away I am from J. Crew, and I have never met a cashmere sweater (jumper) that I didn’t like. In her article, and I assume in her book as well, India Knight challenges her readers to re-discover thrifts shops, eBay, and to consider making their own clothing.

I have always, always loved, loved, loved thrifts shops in England, i.e., Oxfam, and the countless Hospice and Cancer Society shops that dot every large English village, hamlet or town. To me, these shops are unique in that they are actually thrift shops, whereas “thrift” or second-hand shops in NYC are really just expensive shops in disguise – dressed down, with dim lighting, dull furnishings, and microscopic dressing rooms to fool the wannabe spend-conscious shopper. (It will come as no surprise that my favorite second-hand shop in NYC is St. Luke’s Thrift Shop. It doesn’t get any better than last season Episcoplian.)

I have decided to take India at her word, and have created a “Thrift Shop Challenge” for myself. I just found out a few hours ago that I have been invited for an interview for a short-term vacancy at The Shakespeare Institute! (No one is more surprised than me.) Of course, after receiving the news, my first thought was: What will I wear? Normally, my second thought would be: www.jcrew.com. 

Here is was what I found today (weepingly) on jcrew.com. Gorgeous... 

                              The "Kate Flannel Dress" ($198.00 USD) from J.Crew.com                           (They don't deliver internationally...sniff, sniff!)

Can I be thrifty, and find a comparably fetching interview ensemble here in England without succumbing to high street offerings at the likes of Next, Laura Ashley, Monsoon or Hobbs? We shall see. My interview is in exactly 7 days from today, so the challenge is on!

     

A farewell to Autumn, and recent developments

It snowed! Yes, snow. In October. And, yes, I did have washing out on the line as the snow began to fall. I can not believe that winter is upon us, already. Perhaps, this is just a fluke and autumn will return.

Can't believe with how cold it is now, that the D.E.B. and I were out having a lovely, sunny, autumnal trek through Elliot's Meadow just this past weekend. 

Our "walking license" had just arrived in the post (I applied for it about 6 weeks ago), and we were keen to use it! With our license, we are free to take our darling hound, Lucy, and range about the south side of the River Avon, through Elliot's Meadow, around Sherbourne, to Ogg's Farm. Of course they tell these detail in the letter that accompanies the license, but do they provide a map? Of course not. So along the way, we were sure we were in danger of trespassing, and very possibly upsetting poor Mr. Ogg ...    

Road sign in Sherbourne Village

The D.E.B. and the Princess Puppy about to cross the stream

(I had dashed across right before them, only to discover my Western Chief wellies had sprung a leak!)

Another interesting development this weekend - we attended All Saint's Church in Sherbourne, very nice indeed. Especially as services there start at a reasonable hour (11:00 am), and next Sunday they will be using the Book of Common for the Sunday service. This could be it! And as an added bonus, the All Saint's Church-warden is a lovely American woman called Gayle who has lived here over 20 years. Funny how those American connections keep happening in such wonderful ways.

 All Saint's Church (C of E), Sherbourne

The Barford Village Shop is set to open this coming Saturday!!!! The official ribbon cutting ceremony (bring your own scissors) is set for 12 noon, 1 November. 

This is the best and biggest news ever for us Barfordians. The new shop is fabulous! (Those in the know have already had a sneak peek and a preview.) They carry a wide selection of fresh veg, produce and diary, baked goods – all local. Newspapers, greeting cards, and the new post office will be there. But, with the same hours that Jane was doing when the post office was in the Memorial Hall: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-5:30 p.m. (Yes, you have to be very organized with your mailing and other post office business in these parts.) There is a loverly selection of wines and beers on offer, including my new favo(u)rites: Ubu (a local Warwickshire brew), and Timothy Taylor’s Landlord – Madge’s (Madonna’s) brew of choice.

Beer is not only a national obsession in this country, it is a national hobby and pastime. And a pastime I have come to enjoy. Immensely. There are few things finer than a yummy fish and chips dinner washed down with a pint (or two) of Ubu. Carbs, with a side of carbs. Heaven, absolute heaven. My waistline and the training ambitions for my “Women’s 5K Fun Run” in Helsinki, Finland next May have all fallen by the wayside.

Did I mention that the new village shop will also have a coffee bar with wireless internet!!! That’s even better than our super Sainsbury’s in Warwick. They have a Starbuck’s, but without wireless internet. I think that it is possibly the only Starbuck’s on the planet that doesn’t have wireless internet.

The D.E.B. and I have done our civic duty as upstanding community members and purchased a share each in the shop. In addition to being “shareholders,” many of my W.I. chums are also volunteering to help run the shop. I have been thinking about it, and perhaps I should. I will certainly support it as a customer.

Other big news in Barford includes: the U.S. Presidential election, and the whereabouts of my absentee ballot, which has yet to arrive. “Remember us when you exercise your right to vote,” someone said to me the other day. It is a privilege that I don’t take lightly.