Margaret Hale Academy of Tea-Pouring & Wallpaper Selection at the University of Milton Northern

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Welcome to our new common room which, as you would expect, is decorated in impeccable taste (despite the limited choice of wallpapers available in Milton Northern). Above the marble mantelpiece hangs a portrait of the Vice-Chancellor of the University. As we recline elegantly on the chaise longue, we partake of tea and ratafia biscuits and discuss the works of Plato, although in the evening the finest wines and Polish cordials may be served.

Don't worry about the space-time continuum, LadyDamerel. The Academy seems to exist outside it - if I remember correctly, at our last party there was some sort of fracas between Gizzy, Mr Thornton and Mr Porter.

And welcome, Insomnia, to this sinister cult worthy academic institution. Please stick around and post.

Oooh, Maud, how exciting

Now there's a party I would sell my soul to the devil to attend .

Well, we're only days from the next one, I believe, LadyDamerel. You just need to turn up in fancy dress and be ready to do a turn. .

Maud, you probably missed this earlier but I can guarantee a few throatily uttered 'My dear delight's from dear Jasper were you to attend like this.

I have already chosen my outfit, although Small is of it and says no, it's a modest little number.

But pray, LadyDamerel, why do you have such a tiny little head atop your girlish form? I fear the miniaturist has failed to do you justice.

Nor am I sure that I should be attempting to win compliments from your husband, reformed rake as he may be. Mr dear Mr Thornton may become terribly jealous, as he did when he mistook my Margaret's brother for a lover and, besides, we are wont to spend much of every party enjoying a quiet game of canasta together while these minxes cast themselves into the arms of Gizzy, Lucas and John Porter. I think ::racks brains:: that dear sweet John Standring showed up once, but the vixens made mincemeat of him.

Oh really. ::rolls eyes:: Couldn't you have kept that nugget of information to yourself, Massive? Tut.

I had wanted to say to LadyDamerel that, as a Victorian lady of progressive ideas (and very fond of Plato), I will be wearing modern attire to the party.

Gosh, lots to reply to! Sorry, it seems like I'm always coming in late to the conversation these days, like a couple who have an argument and then a week later one of them says "and another thing...".

Firstly, wigs - I bow to your superior knowledge there, LadyD! I thought that the lovely Earl of Rule wore them, that's what I was basing it on. Very happy to be corrected on that one! Re. that Regency event - I would've considered it if it weren't so expensive, sorry :( Does sound fun for you though, hope you get to go.

Party tonight - if everyone else is around then I'm up for it. My initial objection to tonight was that my parents will be staying but I don't think our collective hormones are going to wait much longer, are they? :)

Maud, what did you mean about the helipad? And LOL at LadyD's "where his bots touched" :o

Re. preferences - all right except I think Spiro is now a JP girl with Lucas second? Lucas is definitely my first and one true love but, as has been stated in the past, I am an Equal Opportunities Thudder and so am also capable of turning my attentions to JP and Gizzy at times. And to your own LordD when you permit him some R&R time.

Right, I think I'm caught up now. On with the day!

Can't choose between these two party dresses. One is a bugger to iron but the other is demure.

Twigs, I had exactly that thought re. Rule in the shower this morning! He did wear wigs but afaik, TCM was based in the very early 1800's whereas Venetia and Sylvester were more 1815 onwards. There's a few GH's that are based during the wig time (Powder & Patch, These Old Shades, Devil's Cub spring to mind) but I prefer are the later ones (and have to visualise Rule minus wig, he suits a la brutus much more, in my imagination!).

The Regency Day would have to be a b'day pressie for me, I think. The day plus the train fares from here = ££££ but I would love to go.....

Can't help you on the dresses

Hmm, a miniDamerel appears to have posted for me .

The last sentence wasn't finished, it was meant to say, can't help you on the dresses, they are both so beautiful.

re. Rule in the shower this morning

Mmmm, Rule in the shower... :o #finallylosttheplot

I have had a quick Google and wigs and powdered hair were popular in the Georgian period but Regency men put a stop to that, preferring natural hair. Well, the things I have learned on this thread thanks to you ladies! I had to Google la brutus - goodness me, you could go on Mastermind with your Regency knowdge, LadyD!

Ah now there's a thing - what would your Mastermind specialised subject be? Ways to Entice a Pretty Spy Man Into One's Lair", Big Swords from 1174-1389, A History Of Cravats and the 47 Ways They Can Be Untied^...?

Too many hours wasted spent reading GH, that's all!

I have just been to the coiffeur, in preparation for my friend's 40th tomorrow tonight's soiree. It's a new establishment to me, found via google when my normal madame was so inconsiderate as to be away in my hour of need. No sooner had I been shown to my chair than my eye alighted on 2 very becoming portraits on the wall. It was indeed a coiffeur establishment of impeccable taste.

The second one was an image of which I had previously not been acquainted. But, oh my. It was delectable. If I can find it I will post it for your perusal.

Here is is. The Man as himself, I believe but still very thud-worthy.

Ooh, look Double Lucas - just what we need tonight to avoid any pistols at dawn between Spiro and Twigs.

You don't need to worry about pistols Lady D. Twigs is right that if I was forced to make a choice JP would be my number one, but to be honest I'll take RA in whatever format he comes without any complaining whatsoever .

I'm also rather partial to the lovely John Standring, and fortunately appear to be in a minority of one there, so plenty to go round really !

What time are we kicking off tonight? I need to find a good excuse as Mr S has got the hump about me spending too much time on MN of an evening.

He doesn't seem to get the fact that if he spent less time watching Sky Sports, reality TV and gory crime dramas I might spend a bit more more downstairs of the sofa (perhaps I can tempt him with 39 hours-worth of Robin Hood )

LadyD, how funny about the hairdresser pics!!

The first picture is goooooooorgeous but I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree about the second, as I am allergic to that photoshoot. Shiny suit, tarty bare chest... and there is one particular photo from that shoot which is just... bizarre and frightening all at the same time. I'm in school this afternoon so can't link to it now but will do later.

And yummy, thanks for the BOGOF Lucas, replete with Blue Peter badge tattoo. I'll have the one on the left and the one on the right

John Standring is one of my favourite characters - I completely adore him. But he doesn't make me feel like Lucas or JP do. Same with Mr Thornton, really. Although that kiss at the train station is my most wibblesome of all Wibblesome Armitage Moments and I go all wonky for at least half an hour after watching that.

How amusing, LadyDamerel, that your coiffeuse should so adorn her salon, although I agree with Twigoletto that that second photo is so offensively and egregiously cheesy as to render it unthudworthy (for me, anyway).

See you at tonight's soiree, where I hope not to make a cake of myself.

Excccccuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuusssssssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Me! I think you'll find that Lucas is very much in my No1 spot equally with JP as I posted last night so you most definately won't have him to yourself TWigs

and I'm not too much of a fan of the open shirted photoshoot either, too posed and waxed for my liking.

The Spooks photo however