... 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!

That? Oh...I must have spilled some of the very plain gruel I was eating last night, whilst I sat in silent contemplation, tatting and flogging myself with a birch rod. Yes, gruel, that's what it is.

I'll just nip back up to my bed chamber to change....

Gruel, is it? It looks a bit...stiff.

Has anyone fed dear Mr Rochester? I confess he did briefly slip my mind.

'Twas a very thick gruel.

I spoon fed him a bit of boiled meat, milady.

Madame Hully, have attempted to correspond with you by private post. I am all astir by recent happenings. Kindly respond when time permits. :o

Are you two sharing secret salacious gossip?

Yes, we are comparing stories about your gruel-stained chemise.

Plots escape with Miss Cheerful. Key to barn slipped through knothole.
Monastery/barn/tatting no longre holds lustre.
Determined upon life of Adventure. Most fed-up with life of dullness/tatting/embroidery while others Enjoy Life.

Jealousy befits you not, Miss Cheerful. To the monastery with you.

(We could do with getting an Adventure going; we only have three and a bit pages left in which to find new husbands.)

I fear being sent back to monastery and having to give penance night after night under the direction of the Most Reverend....

On second thought!

He looks like his collar is too tight. No wonder you fear nightly penance.
Escape now!

He looks very pious.

We must indeed seek wedded bliss, perhaps we should a ball? Or perhaps we could travel, I hear Transylvania is remarkably clement.

Mistress Hully, first we Gels were locked into tatting hell, must remain pure and unsullied, shielded from all fun debauchery.
Now you want to take us to Transylvania, home of blood-sucking monsters and devilish atrocities.

All those lies about eternal youth and virgin's blood are so ridiculous, aren't they Widow?

Well, as I have a Past, we all know my blood will do you no good.

All nonsense. Count von Fartstruppner is a dear fellow, and I won't have a word said against him.

Count von Fartstruppner

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

His night job

See how he catches that poor woman, who has stumbled over a casually discarded pointy bit of wood - what a gentleman!