nostalgia

nostalgia // noun // a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.

I love nostalgia. It's weird and beautiful and melancholy and perceptive and heart-warming. It's wistful and sentimental. It's happy and sad. I love that you can't have nostalgia for bad memories - and I love that nostalgia isn't really about memories, it's more about past aspects - like a particular smell, or a smile, or a book, or a room. I love that nostalgia can dawn suddenly, unexpectedly, and make you think, pause; remember, reminisce about the good days past. I love that it reminds us that life has been good and that life is good - because one day we'll be filled with nostalgia for now.

I love nostalgia. It's a nice word too; it sounds nice and it has a twist to it - it's a clever word. It's a word that every individual interprets differently - a word so personal and intimate that no-one can describe quite what nostalgia feels for themselves.

Cows in pastures makes me nostalgic; mainly because we used to live across the road to fields with cows (also chickens; although not in the same field) and I walked there plenty of times. Also, every year we'd go to this farm in Switzerland and yep, you guessed it, cows with bells around their necks - chewing their hearts out on the dewy morning grass - were always part of our stay there.

Newborn babies make me nostalgic. Their crazy small fingers; toenails; ears... their innocence, their pure perfection; their delicate, gorgeous, gorgeous beauty. I love their eyes - looking at things without knowing things, looking at faces and trusting people without knowing a thing. I love their little noses and their kissable feet and wrinkly fingers and ugh goshdarnit they're so terribly adorable. Even if they're ugly and wrinkled, they have tear-drop-worthy gorgeousness about their beings. You get it if you stare at one long enough.

A friend from Church recently had a little boy and I got to hold him (yeahhh for like, five minutes) and his black eyes peering at me from his teensy face just UGH IT'S LIKE MAGIC I TELL YOU.

I guess newborns make me nostalgic because I've so many memories of newborn siblings - going to the hospital and fighting for a turn to hold said new sibling. So many memories of sorting out baby clothes and smelling baby shampoo (best . smell . ever . Can I have an amen?) and feeling those small fingers cling around one of mine. Holding a new sibling always sort of felt like holding part of me... part of my blood; in my young arms - a freakin' human being with a life ahead. Blank pages to fill.

Ladybird books make me nostalgic. (For anyone who doesn't know, Ladybird books aren't books about insects... they're about all sorts of things. They were made in Britain, I believe, to learn kids how to read.) Whenever I was ill, I would take all of them (and we have a lot of ladybird books) and I would read them all in my bed. I loved reading about Peter and Jane and the dolls and the horses and the cookies and the beach and Punch and Judy and just yes I loved it. I personally think the stories are stupid now, but yeah speak about nostalgia.

The Cinderella Ladybird book pictured above makes me so so nostalgic because I have such a vivid memory of discovering it between some boring French grammar books at Grandma and Granddad's house and yes lil' seven-year-old me was like ahhhh this book is the best book ever. I put it back there and every time we revisited, I would go back and reread it. I still kinda want Cinderella's dresses. Obviously mainly the pink one on the cover.

Banana shaped moons make me nostalgic. Now I love full moons; glorious and cunning and smart in the dark sky - but spiky banana moons remind me of when I was little and I would freak out and point at it because IT'S SO EXCITING. LOOK MAMA THERE'S THE MOOOON.

Astrid Lingdren's stories make me nostalgic. I used to be such an Astrid Lingdren fan. I had no idea she was a Swedish author; for me she was the author of 'Madieke en Liesbet' and I thought she lived in Belgium and I felt like she wrote them right to me. 

I luuurved reading about Madieke (I think; Margaret in English? Not sure. I read 'em in Dutch and it doesn't feel right in any other language, haha) and her adventures in her red house with her sister Liesbet. I wanted to throw meatballs from the roof and have an Easter chocolate man and all that. I wanted to be like Lisa in 'The Children of Noisy Village' (the English title sounds so wrong; but I shall use it for my dear readers. Appreciate all I do.) and have an attic room and collect pictures and own a lamb. And have the perfectest life. :-)

Basically, I wanted to live in an Astrid Lingdren book. And the gorgeous, full-colour picture books that I found in the library (see picture above) didn't really help. (Seriously when I found that picture on Pinterest a whole GUST (no, WIND) of nostalgia swept over me.) (#personalfeels)

Seagulls make me nostalgic because I remember being so excited to see them on what-felt-like-the-longest-journey-ever to England. Seeing seagulls meant we were in Calais which meant we were going to board on the ferry, which meant we were going to see the White Cliffs of Dover (ugh yes the White Cliffs of Dover give me such nostalgia... please; don't get me started!), which meant we were going to be in England. I love seagulls. Also the sound of them... nothing screams more beach and coast. It's a beautiful sound.

Library cards make me so nostalgic. The stamps marking the history of the travels of a book, the library ladies stamping new stamps on the card (I always wanted to do it because it sounded like so much fun to do)... I miss the library card days, guys. 

So. Many. Library memories. I'm so glad that libraries hadn't yet 'fully developed' into computer-generated libraries in my childhood. I'm so glad I associate stamps and library cards with books. I'm so glad that when I visit a library now I still expect the crunch of the stamp to interrupt the bookish silence in the air. I'm sad that it doesn't. I don't care about the efficiency of computer-technology-look-it-up libraries; I WISH LIBRARY CARDS WERE STILL A THING.

I miss the tiny library that lived near the local church before it disappeared and joined the big, modern one. Just thinking about that adorable library makes me nostalgic because it was literally the cutest place in the world and I always wanted to go there when Mama went. I would come home with BAGS of books (frequently the same ones over and over) and it was the bomb. (*whisper* I know you have no idea what I'm talking about but please, allow me to have my trip down memory lane.)

Pettson and Findus books make me nostalgic. I got these from frequent library visits (and haven't read one in aaages) and my word, so much nostalgia. They're basically books about this old man and his cat (the cat is the coolest kid ever) and the pictures are just gold - filled with adorable detail; little weird creatures peeping from rugs and corners, little bits and bobs... I poured myself into these books. I want to reread them all so badly right now. (If I have kids, these are on my to-buy-for-their-birthdays list; for sure.)

Tapes make me nostalgic. REMEMBER THESE??? When you could put them in CARS? (Sheesh, I'm only eighteen. I should not be feeling this old.) My favourite childhood tape was one my dad made of my older brother singing Nursery Rhymes and Christmas songs. Oh, and there was one tape of annoying Nursery Rhyme songs that my sister Hannah and my brother Daniel ALWAYS listened to - I was so sick of it I hid it in the garden with my older brother. (Still good memories.)

The Martine/Tiny books give me nostalgia. I'm sorry to - once again - talk about books none of you probably know about, but the Tiny (not a word meaning small; it's a name. Don't laugh. Her name is Tiny. It's from the name Martine.) books basically are my childhood. They're MINE. None of my sisters like them much and I can't see why because I when I look back at my childhood I see Tiny books Tiny books Tiny books. 

We still have almost all of them - all 50-something. Tiny was this girl with the perfect life and the pictures are perfect and it's so unrealistic and I LOVED THEM SO MUCH... *goes downstairs to reread them all*

Film rolls make me nostalgic. The old camera has now long been buried and been replaced by a sporty grey lil' pocket-sized thing, and I miss the film roll days, readers. I always wanted to have it after the pictures had been developed... I always had a fascination for it, I guess. I mean, how on earth was my face on this brown see-through object?

There you go... some stuff that makes me wistful and sentimental and nostalgic. 

For some reason, so does a frying pan filled with eggs, but I have no idea why. So do the Little House on the Prairie books of course - I didn't dare even mention those because you'd all be like: "UGHH I KNOW SHHH DON'T SAY IT AGAIN." :-P 

Now, if you read all of this, consider yourself my friend. (I realise it might have been boring for some people. That's okay. Nostalgia is different for different people; I told you in the early realms of this post, if you've been paying any attention.) Does any of the things I listed make you nostalgic? If so, consider yourself my friend as well. Tell me about all the personal feels in the comment section; I'm all ears.

"Look, Caroline," he said, "how Laura's eyes are shining."

I am a HUGE Little House fan. I've read all the books, of course, including ALL the Martha books, ALL the Charlotte books, ALL (but one because that one is SUPER expensive) the Caroline books, ALL the Laura books (duh) and ALL the Rose books. (I'll stop typing the word 'all' in caps - it sounds very obnoxious.) I've read all of them at least three time. Not kidding you, I promise. Most of them have been re-read about ten times, happily. I've also read a lot of About-Little-House books and Laura's diary and so on.

I'm STILL a fan. I never tire of those lovely golden-glowy-filled books. I love it all, from Ma's dress patterns to Mary's presents to her family when she comes home from the blind school.

I have such great childhood memories concerning Little House on the Prairie. That day when I read 'the Little House on the Prairie', 'Farmer Boy' and 'On the Banks of Plum Creek' in one. sitting. That day when Grandma bought my sister that entire Martha and Charlotte series for her birthday, and I was happier about it than my sister was. (I have them in my possession now. Hahaha.) That time when my other Grandma photocopied some of the Garth Williams Little House pictures for me to colour in. That time when I created a Little House folder and decorated with Laura and Nellie pictures. That time when some friends of ours gave us a Little House magazine which I went absolutely crazy over. That time when I memorized some Little House songs. Those many times when I yearned to go to a corn-husking like Caroline. Oh, and those times when I wanted to have Ma's raspberry dress. Those days when I Mama and I watched Little House episodes in the attic. (I mistook Mary for Pa and then Mama realised I needed glasses. Thank you, Little House. :-D)

As you can see, I could go on and ON.

I just LOVE the Little House world. I still do. I ALWAYS WILL. I will force my children to read them. :-P I recently re-read my favourite Laura-book, Those Happy Golden Years and fell in love with her whole life and the whole Little House world again.

Garth Williams is one of favourite illustrators. He's carved images in my brain and I love them all so much.

Don't you just love the bit in Little House on the Prairie where they go to town and dress up for it? I love the idea of dressing up to go to town. You know, ribbons, and Sunday clothes, and all that. And then Laura and Mary both get candy, and Mary's candy has a nicer 'poem' engraved on it. And then they get new dresses, and Laura's so happy. And Pa buys Ma a cooooaaat. (I'm always squealing over every tiny Pa-and-Ma-are-cute scene. I love it when Pa plays 'vulgar' violin tunes to tease Ma. Those two are so adorable. I love the latest Caroline book to bits and you know why.)

Oh, and Aunt Lottie. I think it's weird that Laura and Mary call her cousin Lottie. She's actually Ma's younger step-sister. But maybe this is another Lottie. (If you're a huge fan like me, read this touching letter Laura wrote to Lottie years later. I almost cried.)

And the Christmas. Laura's new dollll. I will never get over how cute that cousin-happy-pancake-man-Ma's-new-shelf Christmas is. I'll re-read it soon, for Christmas. :-D

Oh, and do you remember all those happy moments in On the Banks of Plum Creek?!! (This was my favourite book for years and years.) The house under the ground (which I still want to buy) and then the new house with the attic and 'two rooms (!)' And then all the Nellie Oleson scenes. I love all the Nellie Oleson scenes. I'm probably Nellie's biggest fan, haha. I love her doll and her dresses and her parlour and her whole birthday party. :-)

And Ma's Vanity cakes. I've ALWAYS and I STILL want to eat those. They sound like so much fun to eat.

AND THEN THE PLUM CREEK CHRISTMAS. Ahhh. It makes me so happy, that Christmas. All the Christmasses in all the books make me so happy - I can't pick a favourite. I remember the Plum Creek Christmas - the one where Laura gets a fur coat and muff - was my favourite for a long time, though. I even made a children's book about it, for my little sister.

In The Shores of the Silver Lake, I always felt so sorry for Laura because Docia let her daughter do crazy wild things, and she couldn't. Oh, and THE TRAIN TRIP. I don't know why, but it makes me so happy.

And then we have all the other books. I'll just go through some of my MANY favourite bits.

When Pa shovels snow from the beds. I've always thought it sounded ridiculously fun. When Laura sees Nellie agaaaain. And oh, the whole mean-but-hey-fun Eliza Jane plot. Poor Eliza Jane. (I still don't like her, though.)

Ida Brown and Mary Power. I Love them, especially Ida. Ida sounds like the kindest girl ever. Oh, and when Laura and Mary Power buy name-cards and Laura exchanges one with Almanzo. And when Ma's writes that poem in Laura's album - I love that poem. And when Reverend Alden comes again and talks with Mary, who's blind, and tells her that Blind Schools exist. And then Mary goooeees. And when Pa buys Ma a sewing machine. And when Carrie did her recital with her buttons inside out. And when Laura found Grace in the patch of violets. Oh and Mrs Boast. I LOVE Mr and Mrs Boast so much!!!!

(*coughs politely after another long badly-written paragraph and pretends nothing happened*)

Ohhh, and Those Happy Golden Years. I rambled about it here. If you want more of my rambles, that is to say. Which of course you don't.

Thank you for letting me ramble on a bit. I just needed my love for these amazing books to flow out SOMEwhere, for someone to listen.

Of course, I'm not really finished yet. I haven't told you how I want a whatnot, how I want a popcorn-ball and how I love it when Mary wore pink ribbons and Laura blue. I also haven't spoken about the Caroline series - how BADLY I want corn-husking parties to go back into the fashion - and how I love Charles as a booooy - and how I want to be part of the Ingalls-Quiner community. I love how two of Caroline's siblings married two of Charles' siblings. I also haven't yet expressed my love for the Rose books - how I hate that she never married Paul and how it makes me cry when Laura goes home for Pa's death.

Oh, oh, oh. I love the Little House books to bits. Thank goodness they exist.

Sailor Suits in Period Dramas

This might be a weird idea for a post in some of your opinions, but, as I think sailor suits are the most adorable things on earth (seriously, take any kid, put him or her in a sailor suit, ét voila, you have a kid cute as gold. I don't know what sailor suits do, but they do a lot. (Am I talking a lot of nonsense?)) I thought it would be rather nice to devote a post to sailor suits in Period Dramas. 

Why not, and all that.

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Downton Abbey

Dear little George Crawley in a sailor suit! I knew he was cute but this really... awwness, everyone. I love the dark navy blue sailor suits most for little boys. Once we had a baptism at our Church where the brothers and sister and cousins of baby getting baptised all wore navy blue sailor suits like this - it was TOO cute for words. Everyone was distracted.

And Rose's adorable sailor look in her teenagery years! Isn't it beautiful! She looks so young and youthful in it.

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Pollyanna

My siblings and I watched the Hayley Mills version of Pollyanna several days ago and I immediatly fell in love with the costumes! Especially Aunt Polly wears some most delicious Edwardian things. This sweet sailor-suit dress was ADORABLE (*snort* I feel like I'm over-using that word already. Please do accept the pardon I beg.) on Pollyanna.

I still much prefer 'my' Pollyanna version, though. The Hayley Mills version was very nice, but they changed so doggoned MUCH from the book! Like, even the names? Mr Pendleton is called PendleTON, everyone, not PendeGAST. And the whole bazaar thing... not in the book, that. But it was a lot of fun, though. I really like Hayley Mills - she has the cutest little voice.

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The Sound of Music

Of course these classic sailor suits were the first that came to my mind when I prepared this post. Captain von Trapp and all his sailors. I think these suits are lovely, but I've always pitied the children for having to wear exactly the same. I would rather Hate to wear the same as all my siblings, even if what we wore were as darling as sailor suits.

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Berkeley Square

*Strokes Berkeley Square over the head* This is a such a poor, neglected series! I so wish they had made a second one because there are so many things not yet wrapped up. Unfair. T'is MOST unfair.

Anyway, about the sailor suit. There are a few in Berkeley Square. I especially like Thomas' one. And the STRAW-HAT. Just toooooo adorable. I wish boys still wanted to wear straw hats. I would have a lot more respect for them if they did.

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The Secret Garden

I'm not the Secret Garden's biggest fan (no reason in particular, I'm not just that one biggest fan, that's all) but I DO love Mary's sailor-ish outfit.

By the way, dear people reading this, did you know that the actress who played Mary, a certain Kate Maberly, is the sister of the actress Polly Maberly, who played Kitty Bennet in Pride and Prejudice '95? Just a little nice fact to pass your day.

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The Railway Children

The Railway Children has two spot-on sailor suits, but I only found one picture - this one of Peter's. Peter's such a nice, fun chap, isn't he? He looks like an absolute SPORT decked in the white sailor suit.

The other sailor suit (here's a tiiiiny picture) belongs to Bobby. She looks very profesh in it. Also very sailor-y, which is a pretty useless thing to say considering the fact that she's wearing a sailor suit. (Because, yeah, sailor suits are supposed to be sailor-y. I'll stop blabbering.)

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What are your opinions on sailor suits, people? (That is if you have one (an opinion, not a sailor suit) to start with. One might not have an opinion.)

Can you think of any other sailor suits in movies?

5 good movies I have the feeling no-one knows about

#1 Goodbye Mr Chips

First off, we have 'Goodbye Mr Chips' (2002). We watched this movie quite recently, with the whole family, and we adored it. It was one of those movies that just touched my inmost soul. Yeah, I know that sounds Anne-of-Green-Gables-ish, but I am like Anne. And besides, it did touch me in a very personal way. I laughed, I cried. I cried a lot. It's a beautiful, beautiful movie and I'd recommend it to anyone. I truly do not understand why it's so not-famous.

 

It's about a teacher (Mr Chipping, later nicknamed as 'Mr Chips') who, in the beginning, starts teaching Latin as a fairly young man. Some of his pupils are naughty and bullies, but he has clever tricks and manages to keep order (this is great fun to watch.) He eventually marries a very sweet lady (acted by Victoria Hamilton, who we recognised as Ruby Pearl in Lark Rise and Harriet Foster in P&P95). Together, they both strive against bullying and making the school's attitude a nicer, better one. Mr Chips goes through many trials, including the death of his wife and son, the first world war etc.

 

Oh it's just epic. Go buy it. Or, you can watch the whole movie here.

 

My favourite quote:

"Now, we know the Chronicles of the Romans were written by a scribe with first-hand knowledge and experience - to whom do I refer, please gentlemen? Yes Collin? And Collin please do not say like you usually do, 'Well sir, it wasn't me.'"

 

 

 

 

#2 Treasures of the Snow

 

Oh, this one will make you cry too. Definitely. The book even makes me cry. I personally think the book is even better than the movie, but the movie is really sweet and heart-rendering. It's suitable for the whole family, and we tend to watch it every year, with Christmas. There's a beautiful Christian message in this story.

 

The story is about a boy (Lucien) who has never got along well with the neighbour's girl (Annette) and always tease each-other. One day, Lucien finds Annette's little brother picking flowers in the mountains, and, to tease Dani (the little boy) he grabs his kitten and pretends that he'll let him fall over a ravine/cliff. ACCIDENTLY he really lets go of the kitten. Dani resolutely goes climbing down, to get the kitten who's stuck on a rock. Before Lucien can stop him, Dani has fallen down.

 

Dani will be paralysed for the rest of his life and everyone blames Lucien - everyone dispises him, Annette will never forgive him.

 

The rest of the story is for you to find out! You can watch the whole movie here.

 

Oh yes, the music is beautiful and the scenery priceless. The actors could be better, but it's an adorable movie all in all. Highly recommended!

 

 

#3 Just William

 

 

Some of you may have read my review here.

 

If you haven't - well, this movie is funny. Not dramatic or emotional and not the best movie in the world, but it will really cheer you up. The adventures and stupid things William does are hilarious. It's... just William.

 

 

#4 Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

 

 

 

I have to admit this is not my favourite movie, but I have seen it more than twice so it can't be that bad. No, I do like it. It's great fun, and there are some adorable costumes and very quotable lines. Again, this is not an emotional movie. If you looking for a good cry, you should watch the first two of my list. If you are looking for some sensible humour, choose this one.

 

Basically what this movie is about, is when 'Flying Machines' came 'in'. It's about this world-wide competition who all go flying a certain distance with their Flying Machines. It's very funny to see all the different countries - this movie does have very strong opinions about countries, and some people might be offended. The American guy though, rest assured, is the hero. There are some GREAT characters in here.

 

We watched this film with the whole family, and we didn't have to skip any scenes. There is however, talking of unsuitable stuff, but it's over in a jiffy. I'd not say it's high on my favourites list, but it's an enjoyable watch.

 

Favourite quotes:

As I said, this movie is very, very quotable.

 

American chap: "You punched me when I wasn't looking."

British chap: "My dear fellow, if you continue to pursue a certain party I shall take the greatest pleasure in punching you when you are looking."

American chap: "Well, you are going to have your hands full, because I'm going to marry that certain party."

British chap: "Well, I'm afraid that's going to be rather awkward old chap, because I'm going to marry her also."

 

"Got a cold, Guv'nor?" (asking someone who's just been punched on the nose/ This is another punch- yes there are some :)

"Buzz off, Courtney!"

 

(After someone just kissed his daughter.) "That's the problem with these international affairs - they attract foreigners."

 

"No more flying!"

"Yes, father."

"And no more riding motor cycles!"

"Yes father."

"And that includes the one you keep hiding in the garden shed."

 

 

#5 Berkeley Square

 

 

And last but certainly not least, we have the Mini-Series (it has 10 episodes) called Berkeley Square, which we are currently watching. As we are only on episode three, I can perhaps not make a proper judgement. But judging from the three first episodes, this must be one of my favourite films ever. It's really, really good. Why has no-one heard of this?

 

It's basically about three very different ladies all coming to work in Berkeley Square (which is a road, not one house).

 

One, Matty Wickham, is kind, generous, but sensible. The scenes involving her are probably my favourites, because I think she's terribly sweet. She looks after three children (one is a baby), two of them, Thomas and Harriet, getting the most screen-views. Lydia Weston is generous, but very naïve. She comes from a large farmer-family, and loves adapting to city life. Finally, we have poor Hannah Randall, a single woman with a baby (we don't here much about it- so far scenes have been suitable), trying to keep that a secret. She looks after a very sweet boy during the day time, and often sneaks away during the night to look upon her secret baby, who's under the care of a kind, old Polish lady.

 

 All the episodes are available on Youtube. Happy watching!

Have you heard of these?

Have you see them?

 

PS I know I've done enough advertising, but I'm going to do it again. If you haven't checked out my new Montgomery-fan-blog, do check it out now! I love followers. You get the point. And no, I was not hinting. How dare you. 

In which I tell you how it all began

 

It must have started somewhere, my complete craze for Period Drama. It did, I tell you. This all had a beginning. If something wouldn't have happened I wouldn't be here now writing a Period-Drama-related post in a Period-Drama-related blog with zillibillions of Period-Drama-related pictures and Period Drama eye candy.

 

 

Here, readers is my story: How it all began.

 

When I was a youngster ('bout eight, seven) the only period drama's I had any knowledge of were Heidi (I re and re-watched that one continuously), The Sound of Music (like every reader, this is needless to say), Mary Poppins and my beloved Little House on the Prairie which I devoured.

 

Since I had no Downton Abbey, Wives and Daughters, Sense and Sensibilty and Pride and Prejudice to rave and fangirl over, I had to be happy with what I had, and I became a Little House on the Prairie addict. I still like 'the Little House on the P.... this is such a long title, from now on I'm going to shorten it, okay?' but I'm not a fan now. Nope. I have far better things to swoon over.

Anyway, I loved those four movies and I didn't even know Pride and Prejudice existed. It's amazing I'm still alive, I know- but I survived. But then one day- I was eleven years old- my mother bought 'Pride and Prejudice 1995' on Amazon on DVD. My mother had seen it before, and whilst a sudden remembrance of how good it had been, she had been tempted to buy it again and had. (Forgive that last sentence- it was horribly phrased.)

And this....

.... Came in the letterbox.

Don't laugh at me as I say the following, please. I fell in love with the movie even before watching it. I fell in love with the cover, the far-too-small pictures at the back which I studied as closely as I could, and the story summarised in such a painfully short and byzantine (a new favourite word of mine- means 'complicated') way at the back.

I loved- adored Elizabeth's face and hairstyle and thought Darcy's cravat was the handsomest men's wear I had ever set eyes on. I loved Elizabeth's high-waist dress and studied the cover endlessly and enthusiastically.

 

 

I admit I was rather disappointed when my mother told me kindly that she and Daddy wanted to see it first, because they didn't remember how suitable it was for children.

 

After every episode they watched I literally plagued and peppered them with unending questions. 'Mother, what does Jane look like?' 'What's Elizabeth like?' 'What's their house like?' 'Who shares bedrooms with who?' 'Who's your favourite girl?' and so on and on. My mother answered them all as well as she could, quite enthusiastically- because she was loving it.

I already "lived" in P&P before watching it. I imagined a story of the Regency Bennet sisters. Don't ask me why, but Jane was the main character (and yes, she wasn't very much like Susannah Harker) and she fell in love with a mysterious man who hid in the garden, behind a bush, whilst her younger sister recited poetry in the parlour. It was a stupid story, but I knew no better.

And then, the following year I watched it. I was so amazed at its goodness. I loved it so much. It was simply perfect in every way. I must admit I didn't understand anything about the Wickham-Darcy-Georgiana and the Darcy-Jane plot line, but I didn't care a mite. Immediately this film was marked as my all-time favourite movie.

Lydia was my favourite character at that point. I loved her giggles and I just thought she was a lovely character... not good of me I know, but I kinda copied her. I still snort a lot, but that's where my snorts began. :-)

I watched Pride and Prejudice on every birthday of mine that followed. (Our family tradition is that the birthday girl/boy may choose a movie to watch). I watched it on my thirteenth and loved it even more because I understood everything. I had, by that time, also read the book, of course. I watched it for my fourteenth birthday, loved it to pieces.

By that time I had, of course, realised Jane Austen had written other books. I had read Sense and Sensibility and I had loved it. My aunt coincidentally gave me a dvd copy of the Emma Thompson version of S&S and I was wild of excitement when I watched because I loved it dearly. Not as much as P&P (that's not really possible, is it?) but almost.

That same year, we received the Elizabeth Gaskell movies from our neighbours. I enjoyed them so much... it was then that I officially became a Period Drama nut. I had also, by that time, watched some Dickens films, Anne of Green Gables, Pollyanna and Downton Abbey had delightfully introduced me to a new series of swoons and dreamy sighs.

I still have a great deal of Period Dramas I feel I must quickly! watch. For example, I haven't watched Little Dorrit, or The Scarlett Pimpernel or Les Miserables. Shocking? I know. But nevertheless, one cannot deny that- despite missing out on quite a few movies- I am  and always will be a Period Drama fan.

I love Period Dramas. They are so inspirational and dreamy and amazing and... I don't know. It's ridiculously fun to spot double actors, choose your favourite dress, quote your favourite lines, pretend you are one of the characters, make up your 'what if' stories and copy the character's poise and hairstyles. Period Dramas are just ridiculously fun.

Absurdly so.

 

Just William (2010) ~ Review

I have recently watched 'Just William' (2010) with my siblings, and we all enjoyed it a lot (more than I expected.) But still, it is not a perfect movie, and definitely not on my top-ten list (because there are so many which are far nicer.)

For those of you who have never heard about the William series, it is about a very cheeky schoolboy of about ten, who gets into mischief the whole time and so on. It's a very funny movie, and it's very well cast!

The Brown Family
William is the cheekiest boy probably ever put to screen. Unfortunately he's a tad too rude sometimes and looses his respect towards the elder generation, including his dad and mum. As me and my many siblings watched this movie, I almost began to feel afraid that my brothers would mayyybe copy that example a bit.
Luckily, they didn't. :-P

But some children might think that William is a perfect role-model, which he isn't. William is played by the very talented Daniel Roche, who- I believe- has not acted in any other movies I know of.
Some funny "Just William" conversations:

Mother: William, just to say that Ethel's in quarantine.
William: What! It's so unfair! You get to go to Africa, and now Ethel's in Quarantine! Why don't I get to go somewhere?

Father: William, you should be kind to everyone.
William: Should I be kind to Hitler?

Ethel's boyfriend (talking about Ethel with the measles): This is awful news.
William (talking about his dead mouse): Yes, it is. Awful.
Ethel's boyfriend: 'Cos she seemed all right yesterday.
William: She was. I think it was eating those berries.
Ethel's boyfriend: What berries?
William: The one Ginger gave us.
Ethel's boyfriend (Ginger's older brother): Ginger? Ginger gave some berries?
William: Yeah. He got them from his garden- she ate them all.
Ethel's boyfriend: But I heard in the village it was measles!
William: No, it's worse than that. She's dead. She died in the night.
Ethel's boyfriend: What!

Haha. I love that scene!

 

Another rather "silly" thing in this movie which annoyed me excessively was the boy-girl relationships between tiny little kids. It's like a romance is going on! Come on guys, they are KIDS. It

always annoys me terribly when young children go and do mushy and sentimental stuff.

 

Okay yes, I do it, and I'm young, but that's different. I'm in love with fictional characters, such as Mr Knightley, Matthew Crawley and Mr Darcy. That's different. MUCH different.

 

William normally abhors girls- he cannot STAND Violet Elizabeth, the new neighbours girl- but he likes the other side neighbours girl, who gave him the skin of a dead frog, which- according to William- was the best present he had ever received.

 

So to make a long story short, William is hilarious, but not a good role model. But still, I cannot help but like him.

 

I really loved William's mother (in all the episodes but one), Mrs Brown (Rebecca Front). Some of you may recognise her as Mrs Bennet in 'Death Comes to Pemberly' (which I have not yet watched).

I like Mrs Brown, because she so calm and handles things so wittily. For example when her oldest son Robert says he leaving house to go on strike, she says something like 'Thank you for telling me, now I know I will have to cook for four instead of five.' She didn't say that, but it was something like that.

Mr Brown was also extremely funny. He is somewhat less calm than his wife, but he always has dry and sardonic comments, and the his facial expressions crack me up completely (same about William, by the way.)

Ethel Brown, William's older and boy-crazy sister is acted by no-one else but Lily James, who is Rose in Downton Abbey. It was nice to see her as a brunette.

Ethel is similar to Rose in Downton Abbey- they both attract too many men and wear clothes in the utmost fashion. Plus both of them are slightly spoilt and giggly. Ethel had some very pretty dresses and skirts, and although she isn't in the show terribly much, she's a funny character.

Ethel annoyed me because she was a terrible flirt and only used men to get the things she wants. In one of the four episodes called 'Parrots for Ethel' she tells her two current boyfriends that she'd like a parrot.
"Marry me!" the boy on her right squawked.
Ethel looked at him, frowning.
'I-I was just imitating a parrot,' he stammered apologetically.

Like all of the three Brown children, Ethel is silly and not a role model. But as this movie is just a comedy and silly movie, it appears pretty understandable.

Robert Brown, William's older brother is- to my opinion- the worst of the three children. Again, like Ethel, he's not one of the main characters, but he does have a fairly big-ish role. He's always off to somewhere, saying he's going on strike for something, but he always comes back again.

In one funny scene with him, he is writing poetry. My brothers like to quote his stupid poetry: "Oh trees, you make me angry... because your bark is worse than your bite!"
Robert is always unhappy and negative and I really do not like him. Go away.

The annoying and very rich neighbours, the Bott family, were-- um, really... um-- special. Mr Bott whose picky wife keeps on nagging him to lose some weight, is acted by Warren Clark (he had a role in "Call the Midwives" and "Bleak House"). Mrs Bott was downright stingy and irritating, and Violet-Elizabeth their very spoilt girl who teases William excessively, was acted by the very talented Isabella Blake-Thomas.

There were some very lovely dresses in  the Bott family, especially on Violet-Elizabeth's part.

I haven't much to say about the Bott family apart from that they weren't very nice neighbours. Heehee.

There weren't any other familiar characters, apart from the head-master who was acted by Dennis Lawson (Horiato Hornblower, Bleak House and the Importance of Being Earnest).

The Music and the Scenery was very good, especially the Music. It's a vey catchy tune which our family kept on humming for weeks afterwards!

Here's the trailer for you to watch:

I'd rate this movie 7/10. I couldn't rate it more than that because of the silly characters, the disrespect William shows and mushy scenes between young children. But I must say we all enjoyed this movie, and it is suitable for younger children. It's lovely if you're sad and want some cheering up!