Hazel Ceej

In 1811 Thomas Egerton of Whitehall, London published Sense and Sensibility . Quick math shows it has been two centuries since Jane Austen became a full-fledged author. Quite an anniversary, indeed. A celebration, I declare . Blogs regarding the publication anniversary of this romance novel picture Jane Austen 's engagements whilst making the final touches of her manuscript from Sloane Street. In letters to her sister Cassandra, Jane gave accounts of her shopping for muslin, the party that their brother Henry and SIL Eliza gave; mentioned several acquaintances, and referred to her book as S and S . As a fan I wonder which between sense and sensibility did JA deem more important since she portrayed both attributes equally well. I'm obliged to enthuse over my S & S reading experience. Alas, I only managed fourteen chapters before getting sidetracked by another novel, the very first that JA wrote. I will resume and complete my affair with the celebrant before 2011 ends. Th

The Rumford is a much more efficient way to heat a room than earlier fireplaces.... ( Wikipedia on Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, designer of tall, shallow fireplaces which are now known as the Rumford, was an Anglo-American physicist known for his investigations of heat) Living in the tropics, I have been in close proximity with only three fireplaces in my life. There was an unused one in the home of my college professor in the Philippines. The other one from which I could feel the heat and see the fire dancing was in a hotel lobby in the Yorkshire Moors. Picture taking was quick. Two old ladies were having tea by it, but that was my first ever real fireplace experience, and I loved it. The latest I have touched is the one in Jane Austen's imaginary Northanger Abbey. The fireplace, where she had expected the ample width and ponderous carvings of former times, was contracted to a Rumford , with slabs of plain though handsome marbles, and ornament over it of the prettiest Engl

"All the heroical fictions of ecclesiastical quixoticism" That, claims, Wikipedia, is the first time quixoticism is mentioned, giving Pulpit Popery, True Popery as the source. Urban Dictionary defines quixoticism as unattainable idealism. Let's take ism from quixoticism and we have quixotic . Anyone who knows Don Quixote would have an idea what the adjective is about.  Merriam Webster defines it as foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action . "It doesn't do to be quixotic. Telling the truth to people who misunderstand you is really promoting falsehood." ~ Anthony Hope Then we take ic from quixotic and finally we have quixote . Enter (drum roll please) Don Quixote of La Mancha, the windmills, skinny Rosinante, ladylove Dulcinea.... Chivalry at its quixotic best!  "The Quixotes of this Age fight with the Wind-mills of their owne Heads" - John Cleveland, The c

Remember that 1995 Sense and Sensibility scene in which dashing Mr. Willoughby recklessly drives a phaeton around town with Marianne Dashwood? The novel was published in 1811.  Fast drag your imagination to 2011 and the two lovers are today's rich hunk and a happy-go-lucky, attractive chick speeding on say, a Lamborghini Reventon. In Pride and Prejudice, obsequious Mr Collin declares, "she (Lady Catherine de Bough) is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies." pha·e·ton   (f -tn) n. 1. A light, four-wheeled open carriage, usually drawn by a pair of horses.    2. A touring car. ( The Free Dictionary) Jane Austen in Vermont Two ladies in a high perch phaeton. The owners of these sporty, open-air and lightning fast carriages actually drove the vehicle, as there was no place for a coachman. Phaeton seats were built high off the ground, the sides of the vehicle were open to the elements (a top could be pu

There's a marriage celebration in a castle where the bride is hassled for a campaign tagline. Everyone would die did you just sigh? Back to the title Melancholia must be that high. ~ Hazel, Stasia Desiderata Cannes Review Has anyone seen Melancholia yet? I haven't. My coffee and movie meetup group sent me an invite to watch this film which is shown this week in Bangkok.  According to summaries around Lars Von Trier creates psychological devastation.  The sooner we get over it, the better: nobody survives. "In a way, the film does have a happy ending," remarks Trier.  Everyone perishes and there's a happy ending(?). That might send me to the theater to find out how true, how come and why. There are beautiful scenes in the trailer. Watch. This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

L for Ligeia L ydian L igeia didn't l ast would she have given up forbidden wisdom in exchange for l yterian? A ll an gulps in l ypemania as she sleeps underneath the earth  where a l ychgate stands  even in her l ysis she l ies l yncean - Hazel, Stasia Desiderata Wikipedia Ligeia is a story about female beauty, intelligence, human mortality and opium-induced hallucinations of  resurrection, by Edgar Allan Poe. Trust Poe to weave brilliant tales out of his drunken episodes.  Now we have film adaptations as well as moments of l iterary l uxury l istening to his genius, The Conqueror Worm.     Witch Ghetto In beauty of face no maiden ever equaled her. It was the radiance of an opium-dream – an airy and spirit-lifting vision more wildly divine than the fantasies which hovered about the slumber... ( source ) This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

H for Hazel I went out to the hazelwood because a fire was in my head. The Song of Wandering Aengus - W.B. Yeats Well I went out to Kuala Lumpur because I was such a crackling dormouse for two days a nibbling nut I so forgot to take a shot of the tower. The hazel might be said to be the quintessential Celtic tree because of its legendary position at the heart of the Otherworld -  Hazel - Coll - Expansive during the Mesolithic effects of its brew are said to be psychotropic It endows Druids with powers prophetic,  and now before I wax poetic what I really mean is it is as a tree that I love my namesake best. Trees for Life   This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

F for Frangipani worn on a wrist or crowning a maiden's head fragrant and fresh flawless on a garden shed fair and dainty lovely as a bride's bouquet This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

E for Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations Edward Elgar, Sir! You hid your Enigma well Out of its fourteen variations They have made some commotion Offering their solutions Friends portrayed theme not played.... Edward Elgar, Sir!  Puzzlingly they would confer. photo Enigma Variations is a set of a theme and its variations written for orchestra - Wikipedia This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

A for Antique design A full century is the debate Some in the a rts attempt to halve it To this a lternative a sset-loving a rm An a ntique design is quite a charm. This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

Orchid An aircraft takes off and she's not in it the clock ticks as she heads back for the exit Christmas is nigh and alone she passes by Just in time for the orchid to sigh. Suvarnabhumi (Thailand international airport), almost midnight, December 24th 2010. I sent off friends who flew home for Christmas.   This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

N ever Let Me Go   Kazuo Ishiguro - a novel I am reading for a book club meeting I am attending on the last week of this month. Being 'pop sci-fi thriller' it's not what I normally read but exploring new nooks of genre is nifty.   Characters of this novel (2005) are children raised in a boarding school in East Sussex, England as clones intended to provide organs for non-clones. A film adaptation of the same title was released in 2010. Never Let Me Go Hazel, Delineating Des   Baby, never let me go Kathy sings as she hugs her pillow Madame watches her and cries Kathy later asks her why And Madame replies: because I see this little girl A new world she is facing An efficient but cruel world But it is emerging Never let me go To the old world The little girl is asking. This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

Kneel It happens in church and in church school Children are taught that praying is cool. God loves you, He took the cross for you Talk to Him, He'd love a feel Kneel in prayer and seal the deal.   This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a Jane Austen addiction must be in want of more Jane Austen adaptations - Hazel, Delineating Des  J ane Austen 16 December 1775 - 18 July 1817 an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics. - Wikipedia Among ABC Wednesday players I doubt a Jane Austen needs much introduction. Even less known facts about her must not be much surprise to many of you. But forgive me I couldn't resist. Bride and Prejudice , Tents and Tentsabilit y, Fried and Pre-juiced Dishes , the book clubs, the blogs, the societies, and many more are a testament to her popularity. As a fan working in the Education industry and trained in research, my readings about Jane Austen, tilt towards the literary criticism side of

I i ntroduce i ncense . I sing the sweets I know, the charms I feel, My morning incense ... The sweets of Hasty-Pudding. Come ... glide o'er my palate, and inspire my soul. -Barlow, Joel 'The Hasty-Pudding', canto1 Like Barlow's, these are also morning incense. Or I see them burning in the morning. Never in the evening. These incense sticks in my workplace burn endlessly. I've been here awhile.  The years have accustomed me to the fragrance. Thais burn incense reverently like this one does. This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .