It's that time of year again off to Rutshire

[Slaymill]

I want to have a bubble bath then liberally douse myself in L'Eau d'Issey. Then wander downstairs to the cottage lounge to sit in front of a fire of apple logs, wearing only a dark blue towel.

I want swishy hair and rosy cheeks from country walks with the dogs so the local village widower/reformed seducer/newbie falls madly in love with me.

I want to drink Moet from tooth mugs or ancient heirloom crockery.

I want my new love to take me to their achingly rich family who are super friendly and have houses all over the world.

I want to live in Rutshire.

AIBU?

@Girlmeetsbook

Perfect choice I love the name Perdita. I'll plump for Fenella even though she was a mare!

Who was your favourite male I had a soft spot for Luke ?

I had Tabitha on my names list for DD

It's got to be Rupert Campbell-Black. Also wasn't Lysander a bronzed blonde God type? also him. The first time I went to a smart restaurant I requested sancerre. I didn't know how to pronounce pouilly fume so didn't dare order it!!

I need to re-read them all. Discovered them as a frumpy teenager, dull town, local comp-Rutshire may as well have been on the moon. But I loved it. They were definitely slightly my first how to guide for navigating posher situations than I was used to in my late teens when I went to uni! Thanks JC.

Slaymill it’s drawing room, darling, not lounge!

My favourite Jilly books are Emily, Prudence (early romances) and the best bonkbuster is Rivals. They’re all great though (even if they all blend into one after a while).

Rupert is thoroughly obnoxious, but I’m sure he’ll expertly service your “buttercunt” for you if you’re seductive enough.

Was going to read something high brow and sensible next, now off to firk about in the book case and look for my old copy of Riders, spout random lines of poetry and endevour to sat 'frightfully' at least once a day.

Ahh, love JC! Reading a JC is like snuggling up in bed, very hygge. Although I preferred the earlier ones. Not a fan of Jump or Wicked, but love the Rutshire chronicles, and Prudence and Imogen.
Tabitha was also on my list for DD!
What did you think of Octavia?

It’s so long since I’ve read Octavia, so in my head I think I get it muddled up with Bella. Weren’t they both terribly badly behaved, but just needed the love of the right man to sort them out?

Ah, was it Octavia who had never had an orgasm?!?!

Yes! And of course just needed the right man to sort her out (in terms of behaviour and orgasms!). Gareth Llewelyn I believe in Octavia’s case. I’ve forgotten Bella; must have a good re-read of them.
I fear I received most of my sex education from JC, which probably explains a lot.

Well I was going to dig out the spare room today, and then saw this thread.

So now I'm going to beetle off and find a copy of something Jilly and skive. Thanks OP for saving me

Ah yes, Gareth Llewelyn (¿El Gato?). “He looks like a lorry driver,” I think was one of her scathing comments about him!

(It’s entirely possible I’m still getting the two books muddled up!)

I think Bella is the theatre actress who gets kidnapped? Maybe her fella (who rescues her) is El Gato.

I have no idea what I’m talking about.

Need to re-buy the books, pronto.

Jeremy Corbyn’s cat is called El Gato. Maybe he’s a Jilly fan.

SAME INITIALS. They’re in cahoots with Jesus.

claudiaschiffersuglysister maybe they're the same person. Ever seen them in a room together?

I've just reread Rivals!

Yanbu.

I want to star in the local productions of The Merry Widow and then get an audition for Nora in A Doll's House in the West End, while everyone falls in love with me... somehow I will do this while definitely being a functioning alcoholic who drinks whisky out of mugs and reads PD James all day.

My son will definitely be a beautiful, brooding, first class honours degree student at Trinity and he will write an amazing play with ease. He is also a problem drinker.

I'm packing my DD off to boarding school immediately too, so I can focus on getting people to fall in love with me and go to hunt balls.

I love it so much! They are all dreadful human beings, obviously, but in Jilly C land, it's all grand.

Unless you're Valerie Jones, who gets the shitty end of the stick, which she OBVIOUSLY deserves because she's a social climber, (which is MUCH much worse than being an adulterer or fox hunter apparently 😂).

That is a fair point. You may be right!

Nothing wrong with a bit of RCB love though Lysander is a good back up @Girlmeetsbook

I wish my lounge was a drawing room but in reality it's more of a cupboard by Jilly standards @ClaudiaSchiffersUglySister

FeckOffGraham loving the user name.

Functioning alcoholics are de rigueur in Jilly world. Luckily though it never hinders a character so the raves reviews for the A Doll's House and an easy first for you son.

I agree Jilly thinks social climbing is the lowest of low and therefore heinous.

Crusytoenail your welcome I hope your skiving and Jilly session was accompanied by an alcoholic beverage.

I'm just sloshing a bit cognac in my coffee, putting my feet up and switching off the world to inhabit the delights of our dear Jilly.

Bella's fella Wass Lazlo iirc.
My fave was Prudence - Ace Mulholland set the bar high for men.
Start with Riders if you've never read any Jilly. You won't 'get' Rupert Campbell Black in Rivals if you don't start with Riders

I've just finished polo on audio books. Wonderful escape - TMWMHJ is next

I read and reread Prudence, Bella, Harriet, Emily, Imogen and Octavia in my teens before Riders... I utterly adored them all. The covers then had (I think) misty pictures of Jilly herself made up as each titular character.

Sigh.

Just ordered the lot of Amazon used.

Very true @Aderyn19 Rupert does evolve as a character.

They are a truly wonderful escape @loobylou10 enjoy TMWMHJ

You will have to share a photo when they all come @HighlyUnlikely I'd love to see the Jilly covers en masse.

I named my daughter after my favourite Jilly character...didn’t tell DH until after he’d registered the name! I was a bit in love with Jake Lovell growing up. Not least as I wanted to lose so much weight my rings would slide round my fingers...can you imagine?! I also wanted to be Janey, til she had her fling with Kev Coaley. Dreadful chap.

I still have a huge crush on both Ricky FL and Drew Benedict (yes, I know he’s a shit, but ‘pleasured my lady with my boots on’ is a brilliant line!)

I adore Jilly and met her at a local book festival a couple of years ago. She’s marvellous, and was squiffy and hilarious. She came across as being terribly fragile though.

I also love her stories of life on Wimbledon Common.

Must reread How to Survive Christmas in time for this years’ seasonal offering...

Bloody loved jilly cooper as a teen.
Sorry to hear of your bad news op