Academy of Armitage Studies -- the Research continues

[Theresahollyinyourmind]

Welcome to our newest faculty building. Make yourselves comfortable and ignore the smell of paint. We cannot keep up with the demand for new premises.

Ah, yes, the legendary Faculty merchandise. We should be just in time for a pre-Christmas sales push.

Look on our works, ye Top Man, and despair.

We could certainly do with some income, everyone seems to be broke after all the research material we have needed

Now how about getting some of these made up, for the ultimate man makeover?

This is another of the ressources from the old premises which (I trust) has not been damaged in transit. .

Am off to bed now. Enjoy the Moment with Guy.

Thanks, Missy. And don't forget, I have another gentleman to spend time with tonight, also.

Sweet Milton dreams to you

Two men? May you be doubly, erm, blessed.

oh, this is nice. Thank you for procuring it for us, Holly. The Michaelangelo looks marvellous over the mantelpiece there

Oyster, some lovely photos on that website - and I really liked the smiley one too, Holls.

L'Occitane, Missy? Ooooh, get you :) That's posh in my books!

Holly, how was Lord Demerera?

Sorry to dash off unannounced last night - DH came back from Xmas party suddenly. I finally finished Clarissa. Missy, you asked my opinion of Lovelace. Oh gosh, it's so hard to say. I found myself swearing at him quite a lot. He seemed more despicable 'cos of all the Acting. I loved how he was all sweetness and romance when talking to Clarissa and then his voice instantly morphed into Evil Lovelace when writing to Belford. However, whilst I was swearing at him and getting very angry, I was also thudding to the max. I think it's this harbouring fantasies about bad boys thing that I mentioned in one of our older buildings. I would never want a bad boy in real life, which is why they are so damned appealing in fantasy. He was a total git though. The classic Smiling, Damned Villain.

I was just checking that my 'lovely photos' link worked and it brings it up bigger than on the website. My oh my, I think that must be one of the nicest photos of Our Boy that I've ever seen. The cuddly jumper is a nice change. Gorgeous, simply gorgeous.

Missy, how is the Offspring today?

How many premises have there been now? Funny how the number of faculty does not increase much though. Must be too esoteric an area of study. Wonder how Stripey is getting on with Strikeback? I'll be glad to have someone to dissect it with.

Oooh I love a jumper! Although we must be careful that that was not a picture of Lucas. The word 'jumper' is not a happy one for him I fear.

Phew - wondered where you had all gone!
Vintage is feeling mooky today (poorly chest) so needs a tea cup of something

this one looks lovely

at opaque's jumper joke :)

teacups, do you <a class="break-all" href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:zcctFhpe2OkjZM:www.rafanvids.info/images/video-GH-Vangelis.jpg&t=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">need a Doctor? (sorry that pic is so small but it's a lovely one)

A bit distasteful perhaps? Watched more of Spooks S7 last night. Hoping DH goes out again tonight.

Yep - definitely need a doctor. Actually no - if RA saw me looking like this today, I'd probably die! Going back to bed - will perhaps put on my new Venetia CD to help recouperation

We're all up and at it early this morning!

Opaques - you're welcome to dissect Strikeback with me, although I fear my analysis may be confined to wibble, thud, and phwoooar!

Speaking of phwoooar, that Percy Courtney is hot stuff (before he turns into a bit if a git with a large nod to Lovelace anyway).

Was not expecting bedroom antics in that last night - nearly choked on my mulled wine!

Morning all.

It worries me a bit that we haven't managed to recruit more faculty members. Perhaps our mania scholarly devotion to research is offputting to the less committed?

I do love that as soon as anyone is unwell, Twiglets wants to send the doctor round. 'Tis most thoughtful of her. Offspring is a bit better today, but I dare say she would consent to having her pulse checked, given that she is enrolled in the Academy's junior programme.

Jumper picture is definitely not Lucas.

Have to agree about Clarissa, Twigs - many thudable moments for Lovelace - the cad!

Are you trying to recruit Missy - I was once accused of that - which I vehemently denied! But it's quality not quantity isn't it? And you can get quantity (and quality) elsewhere if that is your desire - oh yes.

Late as usual! Good morning ladies.
And what a welcome with that fantastic photo,
Twiggy. My connection is slightly pants today so it downloaded s-l-o-w-l-y, from the top down. How very thud-worthy to see the raven hair, and then the eyes and then all the gorgeous rest, by slow degrees. Especially as I was having The Voice piped directly into my brain at the time.Yum, yum and thrice yum.

I have now switched the sound effects off or I shan't be able to concentrate.

I can give you only initial impressions of Venetia and the new Bad Lord, as, and I blush with hot shame and guilt as I write this, I fell asleep halfway through the first CD.

BTW, Missy, Heyer baddies are always Reformed by the Love of a Good Woman, so you have no need to be nervous here.

But my thoughts so far: he sounds so much younger than Guy and Lucas, a well-spoken young man with a beautifully modulated voice, as he narrates. None of the gloom and doom we know and love, but such a refreshing change.

The character voices are fun too. He manages to find a good tone for his heroine: so many male readers make them sound camp or just plain stupid. And a distinct range of others to add colour to the reading.

So all progresses in a decorous, light-hearted Regency spirit, even when the wicked rake comes onto the scene, as he speaks in a very slightly drawling and bored tone of voice. Until, every now and then, he lights up the warp engines, and Pow! Gotcha!
Hyperthud!

Well that's as well as I can describe it, from the brink of sleep. Maybe I'll change my mind after a more careful examination.

Teacups, I am sorry you are feeling poorly. And what pretty china! I had been trying to find some I liked. I thought the ones they used in N&S lacked elegance. Though of course they were lent infinite style by the hands that held them.

Morning, Holly.

I have always veered away from Georgette Heyer, fearing a surfeit of bonnets, but your critique is most persuasive (although I do find that redeemed by the lurve of a good woman trope a bit tiresome, too). A pity about dozing off, but that just leaves more pleasure for another day, non? And speaking, as we were, of the conjunction of elegant hands and teacups, thud to the power of phwooar.

Oyster - No I am not trying to recruit but cannot think of a more suitable word. I just wonder whether people who might be interested in dropping into the Academy peep in, see how rabid devoted we are, and run away with their hands over their eyes and ears! I am aware of the other establishments of which you speak but remain sure that they are not the right place for me and I am not the right denizen for them.

Oh, Twiggy, had meant to say that I didn't think L'Occitane was posh - more a case of too clueless to know which designer fragrances are hot and which are not!

Georgette Heyer --it was quite nostalgic for me, revisting her universe. I haven't read any of her books for years and I read them when I was young, so the bonnets and other frothiness were okay by me at that stage in my life.

She does do a good spirited and unusual heroine, though, so unlike the wet lettuce leaves of Cartland et al, who also do faux Regency. Ugh!

So we do get a goodly amount of witty banter between her and the hero. Which adds a touch of astringency to the Love of a Good Woman thing. Now of course, I like my heroes badder for longer...

One rather swoon-worthy thing I just remembered. Do you recall that 17th century verse by Anon , ''My love in her attire does show her wit''? The Bad Lord quotes a line from there. ''But beauty's self she is,,'' The coincidence caused me to wibble no end, even on the edge of sleep. Silly me.

Designer fragrances are ten a penny nowadays, I believe they're mostly chemicals anyway. Unlike the really great ones of yesteryear. Did I read that it's their biggest cash cow, as the ingredients cost pennies, so they are always bringing new ones out to bolster sales figures?

I suspect the jumper pic is quite old - there's a touch of the John Standring about it, or possibly Lee from Cold Feet, so 2002/3ish would be my guess.

What do you mean, Armitage geek, MrsLNP? More like a meticulous and dedicated researcher.

You're quite right, Holly, about designer fragrances being close kin to air freshener. But nevertheless there are some which are considered desirable, I believe. Years ago, I went on a tour of a perfumier in Grasse, where they still mashed up flowers to make the oils.

I am now depressed. We have a night off and were planning to go to the thee-ay-ter. By the time you have eliminated the films-turned-into-plays and hoary old stuff that's been on for decades, there's a choice of about two. Ho hum.