Jilly Coopr character Lockdown competition thread

[BalloonSlayer]

The most successful thread I ever started was about wanting to be a Jilly Cooper character.

Since lockdown, this has started to feel more achievable. See my scores below:

• Cut my own fringe: 3 points (scissors hadn't just been used to cut bacon first, deduct one point)

• car is Absolutely Filthy: 3 points (not a golf, mini or Porsche so as no other cars exist in Jillyworld, deduct one point.)

• "old trousers and a shrunk t shirt made her bum and boobs look huge," yeah whole three points for this one

• anthropomorphising my pets like crazy. No he wasn't showing how much he loves you, he wanted his dinner! 3 points.

• Smell of wild garlic making me miss going out to restaurants : 3 points. (Not sure if that is wild garlic or something else actually, deduct one point.)

So that's 12/15 for me. How is everyone else doing?

Beautifulmaudohara - there's a Bodkin House about half an hour away from Bisley, which is a hotel. It would be on her route if she was going to Badminton Horse Trials. Could just be a coincidence though!

I've lost all my Jilly points since moving back to the weird and wonderful world that is suburbia. Haven't even trimmed my fringe dive lockdown.

I have a copy of Mount festering on my bedside table. I started it on a flight to Florence three years ago (nearly had to pay excess baggage on it!) and haven't picked it up since.

Rivals is my probably my favourite. Have read it loads. Likewise Riders. Less enthralled by anything since.

My best friend who was called Imogen bought me a copy of Imogen way back in the 70s and I was hooked ever since. Jilly Cooper has got me through some very dark times in my life God love her.

Thecazalets I was pulled up short by the fact that gorgeous Nicky has a moustache. Ah, the seventies.

There was a comment about ‘chinamen being impossible to tell apart’ as well, perhaps in Emily?

And the wallopings!

Yes, of their time.

I recently re-read Bella and the hero Lazlo makes no bones about slapping women and in fact does slap her. Hard. But of course she deserved it 🙄

... makes no bones about having no problem slapping women that is.

Going back a bit, the dog book was 'Intelligent and Loyal'.

I recently re-read Bella and the hero Lazlo makes no bones about slapping women and in fact does slap her.

I read Bella several times and it was on about the fifth go that I realised his name was Lazlo and not Lalzo as I first saw it

Fanthorpe - yes, the moustache horrified me too! Only noticed for the first time yesterday and I blotted it out to avoid diminishing my enjoyment!

Ah, yes, Bodkin House is a hotel, I’ve driven past it before.

Jilly is of her time but I love love love her all the same!

Ah, yes, its at Petty France

bodkin-house-hotel.co.uk/

I second a pp that ‘ The Common Years’ is a great read, although I get cross at her not neutering her dogs and them having to be PTS because of their behaviour.

This thread has caused me to to right back to the beginning and start from Riders again. I read a lot of Jilly in my teens and early twenties but never read Rivals or Polo for some reason?!

Really been enjoying pottering about listening to the audiobook of Riders today, brings back lots of memories. Thanks OP for the thread

Have a few days off work so going to dig out my ‘Jillys ‘ and relax with a glass/s of wine and let my imagination run wild - RCB yes please

Here's a question... Who would be the best at reading an audio book of riders?!

The seductive choice would be Nigella or Idria Elba for me...

For comedy value... David Attenborough

@Thecazelets
@Fanthorpe

Yes very much of their time. My adult DD bought me all the 'name' books for my birthday at my request.

The casual radian, sexism , ageism etc. The girls are all about 19 when they are worrying about being left on the shelf.
And I think it's in Bella that they talk about losing virginities at about 13/14.

And the beatings...In Imogen she gets given a good going over for not giving up her virginity due to feeling very ill!

I raised an eyebrow listening to the first part of Riders today describing the bored fathers at the horse show eyeing up "the inevitable hordes of nubile 14 year old girls with long wavy hair and very tight breeches"

I forgot how bad it was for stuff like that!

@Moonflower12

Yes - I think Imogen's about 18 and the happy ending is her marrying an absentee gambler nearly twice her age.

I think there's a scene in Bella where her new husband tears her hat off her head and throws it into the road, snarling something about never wearing a hat again. He also lies his way into the first class sleeper to Scotland (his voice taking on 'that bitchy upper class ring') causing some plebian ticket-buying types to be thrown out of their beds in their pyjamas. What a catch!

I still loved them though...

That was Rory ripping Emily’s hat off outside Chelsea registry office! God he was an arsehole. And she gets back with him at the end!

Still a great book though.

Ah - it was Emily not Bella! Funny how some of the scenes are still so vivid, even when I can't place the book accurately.

Gives me a great excuse to continue the great re-read!

@Drogonssmile

I know - and I don't think people batted an eyelid when it came out!

I've read Riders and Rivals now, and am halfway through Polo. First impressions of who should play Taggie - I think Keira Knightley with dark hair has the look I imagine but not the acting ability. For RCB, he is written wrong. He should have black hair not fair, because I can't think of anyone who would play him. Helen I imagine as Jessica Chastain.

Liv Tyler could be a good Taggie.

I always thought Rupert Penry-Jones would make quite a good RCB. His name makes him an even better fit!

Maud is Helena Bonham-Carter.

Nah, Maud is Frances Fisher. Declan is Gabriel Byrne.