lørdag den 24. september 2016

The Jane Austen Festival 2016


Another festival has ended, and that means the approach of winter - but it seems that summer doesn't want to let go of Europe quite yet.
This year's trip to Bath ended up being more adventure and discovery than festival for me. In company of  few friends, you know who you are ;-)

A visit to Little Combe, Montacute House (third most haunted house in GB), Dorchester, Taunton, Winchester, Lyme and Stourhead Gardens was the order of the days (Wednesday 14th and Friday 16th)
So I got to follow in the footprints of Anne Elliot, Captain Wentworth, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy at the Temple where Matthew Macfadyen as Darcy screws up his rainy proposal, enough to say I have more than enough pictures!

Though I did attend a few things during the festival. Including John White's Social Grace talk! Amazing man and lecturer, the fan dance workshop was good fun with Martin or Mr. Bennet from the JA center calling the dances and taught us a few dances, it was really good dancing again! I have missed it! It allows you to talk with so many interesting people at both workshops and balls.
The John Mullan, 'Let's talk sense' talk! My goodness, no wonder that man has made Jane Austen and her works into his lives work. He knows her books forwards and backwards! A true joy to listen to! And he was a very pleasant man as well to talk to.

The Pride and Prejudice Musical, my god! It was SO funny! I have never laughed so much, I was literally falling off my chair half the time from laughing at the hysterical show that was the musical. The songs were pretty good too, and the actors were very good - I couldn't believe it when I found out that they are not professional actors! Their playing obviously didn't fall in everybody's taste but for myself I was in stitches of laughter every 5 seconds. And a shocking admission, I really liked Wickham! He was dead charming and dead handsome! First and last time I will admit that! Haha

And of course the Fartingales Ball in the Higher Rooms - The Assembly Rooms. Loads of ladies and gentlemen in wonderful costumes. I met up with people I have known for 3 years now, it was also great catching up with people and meeting new people, dancing and fooling around with friends.

Despite drama, it was a wonderful week! The sun was shinning, also on the mini promenade to finish of the festival on the 18th of this month. For myself my Austen experience did not end until well after midnight, after a wonderful Austenland pool party at a friends house, with drinks, great food and loads of mischief.
I also managed to visit 4 different counties, I did interview Jane Odiwe over tea at the Jane Austen Center Tea Room, I also managed to talk with lovely Cassandra Grafton - she has recently published a co-written book, "The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen" which is a WONDERFUL book. I will put up my interviews in separate blogs in the next few days.

All in all a wonderful holiday has ended and another winter season is ahead of us.

If you want to read the whole blog and view pictures at the same time, then visit my other blog; https://interestsofajaneaustengirl.wordpress.com/



















mandag den 5. september 2016

Autumn & Austen

Yet again autumn has descended in the Northern Europe & Scandinavia and that can only mean one thing; The Jane Austen Festival is rapidly approaching!

I know quite a few ladies who are packed and ready to go, even if there is still several days until the start of the festival. This year is my 3rd year in Bath,-  I can hardly believe it has been three years already!

This year will also be the third house party that The Jane Austen Pineapple Appreciation Society will host, with Laughing with Lizzie as joint hostess with long time friends Emma and Laurie. At this wonderful house party, the heads of the German and Danish Societies will also reside with several other wonderful and colorful guests, this also includes Jane Austen Authoress Joana Starnes.
Hopefully we will also see Cas Grafton and Jane Odiew,  both of them Austen authors, and in my usual After Piece on the Festival, I can reveal that a few interviews will be present – I will let your imaginations make the necessary deductions *wink*

Personally, I am looking forward to seeing long time friends, I have not seen since winter. I am also looking forward to dancing, and attending the many activities around Bath alongside my fellow Pineapples friends. Reunion with regency clothes, and regency family & friends. It can only end one way; Pineapple Mischief.

In my own personal plans, is visits to Lyme and Sidmouth Gardens – also known from Persuasion and the 2005 Pride and Prejudice, 1st proposal scene in the rain. Therefore I will join my friend and fellow Pineapple, Cati on her road trips to these wonderful locations.
New dresses, spencers and hats bought and made, – jewellery packed, trunk to be packed in the coming days; Check! Now every girls problem; which shoes to bring? Dancing slippers obviously! But the British Weather is known to be traitorous so maybe autumn boots? Ballerina shoes, of course and maybe the new elegant walking shoes with the lace D’Anglais?
Fans, shawls and gloves ready, pressed and ready to be put in their box for traveling; Check!
And of course limit what I bring… *sigh*, problem!

I wonder if Jane Austen would ever believe how popular she has become during the 21st century? America has two or more Austen Societies. Australia, England, France, Malta, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and many more have societies. Variations of her works are booming on the internet, from Amazon to Beyond Austen, with authors from all over the Globe. Variations are also being made into movies these days; Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Unleashing Mr. Darcy and Love and Friendship just to mention a few.

Several well known authors are members of different Austen Societies including our own regency aunt Joana Starnes, Jane Odiew and Cas Grafton in the British Society – like Abigail Reynolds and Jack Caldwell are members of the American Society. Of course America and Great Britain are also in competition on how many people attend their respective festivals…

The Clock is ticking and I cannot wait as it can only end in loads of fun, little sleep, laughter and friendships being rekindled.