... to think that because I can't see a new IPOAT thread I should start one myself?

[PrincessFiorimonde]

Especially as I want to wish CheerfulYank a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY for today. Hope you are having a lovely day.

And here is the patron saint of IPOAT playing Happy Birthday To CY!

we must be careful not to disturb any wildlife

Why! That is dear Lord Lieutenant Fitzzherbert-Basingstoke's youngest! He is bound for the cloth, yet it looks like he has chosen soldiering. Whatever can have happened?

Come gels. Let us ply our needleds before luncheon.

Mimi, I can't tell you how wayward and spirited the gels are, they need strict marshalling and plentiful engagement.

hully, you need to have a firm hand with them. No loitering, no breaking away from the group, no disappearing down little-trodden paths to inspect fauna...I find this a useful technique

I say, those Hussars approaching are a tad diddy!

Brillian idea, Mimi!

Right, link arms gels, we'll have a brisk stroll through the shrubbery before luncheon.

Barn, Shed, Shrubbery

Tatting, Denuding, Carding

Why can't I inspect fauna? Or (ogle) inspect a regiment?
Why?

You are too young and pure. In another seven years we may let you catch a brief glimpse of a daguerreotype of a moustachioed military man. May.

Withers on the vine.

Yes, Hully is your guardian angel shielding you from the harsher realties of bodice heaving, barns Maidenjuice

Withers more.
And chokes.

We must watch out for Fauns or it could end up like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/RM/DianaNymphsFaunsRubens.jpg&imgrefurl=www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/DianaNymphsFaunsPeterPaulRubens.html&usg=__qzdkjLnlis-h8O5wmbl9cEAYQbw=&h=306&w=770&sz=47&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=PI1p-KrQhsZ4YM:&tbnh=67&tbnw=169&ei=RskRTo6ENtGChQfu8tXKDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3DFauns%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D607%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=583&vpy=153&dur=5200&hovh=141&hovw=356&tx=191&ty=74&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this

I do hope they are slathered in suncream, Miss Mini

Indeed, or it could catch those tender little places.

A lovely day indeed! I have made a few poorly executed sketches of what we saw today. How pleased I was when Lord Barnes-Maydengeuse arrived to give me a little advice on my watercolour technique.

Lord Barnes-Maydengeuse

(Where is that Gibbon?)

Perhaps Mistress Gibbon would appreciate a PM calling card?

I daresay she would.

How I am missed Gibbon!

Not so quick, my pretty, have you not noticed something ODD about Lord Barnes-Maydenjuice? Hmm? Yes, look closer, my pretty one, and see exactly who is that seemingly handsome devil you were prepared to flee with!

...

Fie and damn you! I must and will have him. Dear Mr Rochester quite understands, he is sadly unmanned of late by a peculiar and untimely malaise.

What insinutaions and aspersions do you cast upon the luscious Lord?

Recognise ye not that devil of the desert? that Prince of the Pusilanimous? (sic, I know)

'Tis he! That dread and wild lover of Mme Umami! SheikD'jbouti!

I TOLD you not to borrow her widow's weeds!

Aggghhh!

Canst be? Where is Widow? She is not hereabouts, she'll know nothing!

Keep the gels at their tatting!

Remember, dear Hully, the passion the Sheik bears for the Widow? Shall he be satisfied to simply discard you upon discovering your true identity? I fear not!

Alas! Alack! Shall Mme Hully be cast aside to shrivel (much like Fids) upon the searing desert dunes?

His passion, and his wrath is mighty! Or think you, oh feeble one, to replace Umami is his affections? Shall you milkyCeltic skin entrance him? Those flashing sapphire eyes replace those burning coals of love Umami possesses?

Dare you risk it?

Oh, I fear not, I shall summon ladies, old and new (Hey Fids, enough of the self pity, Hully's about to become a Mummy, gird your loins leap on the nearest Camel/Moped/Landau/Barouche/393 Bus), to hasten to your rescue...pray god The Widow feels enough Sisterly Compassion to Forgive this Heinous Betrayal....