Good morrow, viewers.
Today (or yesterday, I should say), my personal peregrination took me to England. I must say, it suited me prodigiously.
I began my journey at Midnight, with a cup of English breakfast tea, and 2 Hobnobs, which I consumed whilst watching the 1972 BBC mini-series
Emma based on Jane Austen's beloved novel. The story is set in Surrey, but I'm not sure where the filming took place.
After getting about half-way through it, I was obliged to take a nap for a couple of hours, since I needed to spend the morning babysitting for a friend.
At around 1:30 p.m., I was able to resume my travels, and finished watching Emma whilst a ate a ham sandwhich, and a cup of Earl Grey tea.
Incidentally, the sandwich is named after The Right Honourable John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, who was a British statesman. Earl Grey tea is assumed to be after the 2nd Earl Grey, who was the British prime minister in the 1830's.
I did not put together an elaborate costume this time, but inasmuch as the rose is the flower of England, I wore rose jewelry, and scented myself with rose water.
A little while after lunch, I watched
Shakespeare Re-told: Much Ado About Nothing (2005), which is set in modern England, in the Wessex region. It is a very charming version of my favourite Shakespeare play.
While I watched it, I had some pretzels and crackers dipped in pub cheese, which tasted something akin to nacho cheese, but less artificial.
Later in the afternoon, I had a traditional Devon cream tea, which consists of English black tea with cream and sugar, and a split scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. I cannot tell you how long I have wanted this. I was able to procure a tiny jar of clotted cream at World Market the other day, which made this experience possible. And it was lovely. I'd have it every day, were it possible.
I used some of the fine English china given to me by my grandmother. Pretty, what? They're part of a large set; she gave me several place settings for my trousseau.
After tea, I looked at art by my favourite English artist, John William Waterhouse. He did several paintings of women with dark red hair, which I think is beautiful.
Here are a few portraits of English actors that I did a few years ago. Mind you, these are not examples of "fan-art". Speaking generally, I find British features aesthetically pleasing, and I enjoy drawing them.
For dinner, my mum made a pot roast, and for the side dish, we made cauliflower cheese (cauliflower covered in cheese sauce, and broiled).
After dinner, I watched
The Young Victoria (2009), a portrayal of the young monarch's ascention to the throne, and her courtship/married life with Prince Albert.
The Young Victoria was filmed at many locations, and many historical landmarks in England.
For dessert, I had a tiny steamed pudding in a pool of creme anglaise (English cream).
After that, with songs by The Beatles playing in the backround, I settled into my little chair by my bookcase with a pot of "Ernest Hemmingway tea".
Choosing a book was not at all easy; most of the books I own are English classics, and all of them quite admirable; it didn't seem right to leave any of them out, so I read my favourite bits from all 30 of them. I do love books...
And there was the end of my English experience; 24 hours, 30 books, and 6 cups of tea later.
