"I always travel by balloon."

I was just 14 when 'Room with a View' came out & must have been about 17 the first time that I watched it.
Oh, how I longed to be Lucy Honeychurch!!
(Still do a bit, especially as I re-read the book last year, but there we are . . . . )
There has just been a wonderful exhibition at the Fashion Museum in Bath called 'Dressing the Stars.' It showcased British Costume Design at the Academy Awards and featured an outfit worn by Helena Bonham Carter in the film. (I went to see the exhibition twice!)
Now, all these years on I am on the verge of my first ever trip to Florence so have to plan where to go. Here's my film location wish list;

Pensione Bertolini, where our heroine finds herself in a room without a view, is the Hotel degli Orafi, Lungarno degli Archibusieri 4 alongside the Arno.
When Eleanor Lavish whisks Charlotte Bartlett off to see the real Florence she starts at the statue of Grand Duke Ferdinand in the Piazza Santissima Annunziata, while Lucy sets off to explore the sights alone. She’s hassled by locals at the monument to Dante in the Church of Santa Croce, Piazza Santa Croce 16
The famous knife fight scene took place in Piazza della Signoria.

So, finally, I shall walk these streets but I shan't be playing any Beethoven,

"Mother doesn't like me playing Beethoven. She says I'm always peevish afterwards."

Now,

"You must forgive me if I say stupid things. My brain has gone to pieces."

Books To The Ceiling

Have a head full of books today!!

Firstly, I'm lusting over the newly released 'Vintage 21' - a rainbow of 21 iconic titles from Vintage Books. Each book is a luscious colour and the edges of the pages match the cover! Where to start though???
With 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill???
Or start with a red one, as the rainbow itself starts???
Nothing is easy . . . . .

THEN, there are things to be done about the house, but my current read: 'Lady Rose & Mrs Memmary' by Ruby Ferguson is distraction itself. This year I set myself a New Year's Reading Resolution: to read a wonderful Persephone title each month. So far I have read:
'Mariana'
'The Victorian Chaise Longue'
'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' (Magical!!)
'Cheerful Weather for the Wedding'
'The Priory'
'Bricks & Mortar'
'Operation Heartbreak' (cried & cried at the end!)
. . . and now here we are with the August read. It's a wonderful tale of a great Scottish house, set in the present day & the mid 1870's. A lady visiting the house in the present day is strangely captivated by the lady of the house back in Victorian days . . . . making me think of my recent visit to Chatsworth & Georgiana again. Further distraction . . . . .

Then of course there are the beautiful new Virago releases. I have 3 of the 5, but only 4 of the 10 from last time they did it. Is there a medical term for someone obsessed with sets of books? I wonder . . . .

All this reminds me of this verse by Arnold Lobel:

Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.

My Marilyn Summer

My Marilyn summer continues . . . going to see 'Bus Stop' tomorrow night at the gorgeous 'Little Theatre' in Bath.
Marilyn plays Cherie, a sassy saloon singer, in this 1956 movie. Don Murray plays Bo, the cowboy who falls in love with her & wants to steal her away to get married and live on his ranch in Montana.
This cinematic Marilyn - fest is all thanks to the American Museum in Bath who are hosting this wonderful exhibition to celebrate their 50th anniversary:

http://www.americanmuseum.org/default.cfm/loadindex.238

Mrs Pink has already paid two visits . . . you just know she'll be going again . . .

Happy Birthday Coco!

Happy Birthday Coco Chanel!!!

Born on this day in 1883 & a Mrs Pink muse - her greatest achievement, perhaps???

Do something Chanel-esque today: don your pearls, wear black & white (as I have done!) squirt a little No.5, (A women who doesn't wear perfume has no future, you know) whatever you wish, but DO mark the occasion!

And remember:

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."

'Coco Before Chanel' on DVD tonight, I think . . . . .

We're Peculiar!

Half way through 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' now. All is becoming clear;

"We're peculiar," he replied, sounding a bit puzzled. "Aren't you?" "I don't know. I don't think so." "That's a shame."

I have also learnt so much in the past couple of days: birds are time travellers and

polite persons do not take their supper in the nude!

Quite right. You know when you are truly loving a book when you take any & every chance to read it, even if it is only a couple of lines. I have kept this book by my side all day, placing it on my desk at work so I can see it at all times. Off to read some more now . . . .

Quotable Jane!

As part of my day job I am putting together 365 Jane Austen quotes for a 'Quote A Day' app. Searching lesser known works I have just come across this passage from 'The Three Sisiters' and it made me giggle so much I thought I would share it with you!

"And is your Courting so soon over?" said Sophy.

"Courting! (replied Mary) we have been quarrelling. Watts is such a Fool! I hope I shall never see him again."

"I am afraid you will, (said I) as he dines here today. But what has been your dispute?"

"Why, only because I told him that I had seen a Man much handsomer than he was this Morning, he flew into a great Passion and called me a Vixen, so I only stayed to tell him I thought him a Blackguard and came away."

"Short and sweet; (said Sophy)

Just lovely!

Potiche: C'est Magnifique!

Mrs Pink & two dear friends went to see 'Potiche' tonight. Delightful. had a silly smile on my face the whole way through!

Read On . . .

I read another 35 pages of my book today. When you read it - and you really must - you will know just how excited I was to read the following passage:

(Fret not, this doesn't give any plot away!)

“Okay!” I said loudly, reaching for the last present. “This one’s from Aunt Susie.”

“Actually, “ my aunt said as I began tearing away the wrapping paper, “it’s from your grandfather.”

I stopped mid tear. The room went dead quiet, people looking at Aunt Susie as if she’d invoked the name of some evil spirit. My dad’s jaw tensed and my mom shot back the last of her wine.

“Just open it and you’ll see, “ Aunt Susie said.

I ripped away the rest of the wrapping paper to find an old hardback, dog-eared and missing its dust jacket. It was The Selected Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

One thing I will say though: The UK & USA are two nations divided by a shared language. What on earth is a palmetto??!!??

Viva Elvis

On this day in 1977 Elvis Presley died. Here's a little story to show you it's not just important to be Mrs Pink, it's glamorous too . . . .

In 2005 Priscilla Presley came over to the UK to promote her new range of bed linens. She made just two appearances, in Harrods, London and Jolly’s Department Store in Bath.

Mr Pink was in charge of the restaurant in Bath where Priscilla was to sign her pillowcases et al so as a result I got to be on the small team of people who looked after her.

Small team or not, there were just too many people around for Mrs Presley so showing excellent taste ( & perhaps recognising another Mrs P!) Priscilla asked me and only me to stay behind.

She was absolutely charming (and very tiny) as we chatted about how beautiful Bath was, how she wished she had more time to spend here, where she might go for dinner that evening etc. She also said how she never wore the jewellery that Elvis had given her as she was afraid that someone would snatch it from her.

Ever prepared, I just happened to have a copy of ‘Elvis by the Presleys’ with me which Priscilla signed:

All my best and thanks, Priscilla Presley

When it came time to greet her eager public my new best friend Priscilla asked if I would mind staying behind in the room and looking after her handbag. (Marc Jacobs as you’re asking)

Afterwards she came back into the private lounge and I made her some tea - terribly English – which she took with brown sugar – terribly odd . . .

When it finally came time for her to go, Priscilla made a point of saying farewell and Mr Pink & I stood on the fire escape outside & waved goodbye.

A lovely day which I’m remembering today . . . .

A New Blog Calls For A New Book . . .

Mrs Pink started a new book today . . . always attracted by a quirky title and intriguing cover, 'Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children' couldn't fail to tempt . . . and then there is that wonderful first line:

"I had just come to accept that my life would be ordinary when extraordinary things began to happen."

Only 25 pages in and I am utterly hooked. I shall keep you posted . . . .

A Lesson Dear Reader . . .

Now here is a lesson learned. Today Mrs Pink went into Hobbs to snap up the lovely 'Races' headscarf that she has been craving and saw instore just yesterday. Alas, twas too late, someone had beaten her to it. Lesson learned? buy these things when you see them!!!

Getting Started . . .

Just sat here setting up my blog and having a cheeky Babycham while I'm about it.

I hope you will follow and enjoy my tales of buying and selling vintage scarves, my new frocks, the books I'm reading and in general all the things that are important to Mrs Pink!