Happiest of days!!!

[alexandral]

Happy birthday to soniag and earlgrayhot. It has been wonderful to "meet" you on LJ, so many good times ! Thank you very much, ladies!

I have tried to find similar interests for both of you. I am not sure if I am correct but it seems that both of you like tea and BBC adaption of Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South". In honour of your birthdays, one of my favouritest scenes in "North and Sounth", in which Margaret is pouring tea for Mr. Thornton, in pictures. Oh, Smoldering glances! Oh, hand touching!

I adore the following passage from the book. Mr.Thornton is having tea with Hale's family for the first time and Margaret pouring it:

"It appeared to Mr. Thornton that all these graceful cares were
habitual to the family; and especially of a piece with Margaret.
She stood by the tea-table in a light-coloured muslin gown, which
had a good deal of pink about it. She looked as if she was not
attending to the conversation, but solely busy with the tea-cups,
among which her round ivory hands moved with pretty, noiseless,
daintiness. She had a bracelet on one taper arm, which would fall
down over her round wrist. Mr. Thornton watched the replacing of
this troublesome ornament with far more attention than he
listened to her father. It seemed as if it fascinated him to see
her push it up impatiently, until it tightened her soft flesh;
and then to mark the loosening--the fall. He could almost have
exclaimed--'There it goes, again!'"

Comments

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

Eeep! I adore North & South! :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I suspected so. :D Mr.Thornton seems to have won the hearts of women all over the world. Have you read the book too?

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

No, but I loved that quote so much that I think I will, and soon. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

He-he! The book has it's flaws and dated passages about the manufacturing of cotton, master/employee relationship and dying of consumption but it has some of the best moments that haven't made it into the drama too, for example Mr. Thornton's dreams.

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

I got the book a while ago, when you (or someone else) said the BBC adaptation rivals Pride and Prejudice. I got maybe halfway through it and was a little bored.

I just got it back out from the library and plan to finish it up this time around. I'm so excited! Then I'll watch the movie.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

NOOOES! Watch the drama first, than read the book. The book has some totally missable bits but the drama is PERFECT.

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

!!

Really? I tend to like reading then watching. And I really like those kinds of books, I was just bored that time around.

I also feel like I don't want to finish it, or I want the Margaret-Thornton scenes to keep going. I just got to a dinner at the Thorntons and it's still sitting by my bed, unread. I can't wait for the scene.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I also feel like I don't want to finish it, or I want the Margaret-Thornton scenes to keep going. I just got to a dinner at the Thorntons and it's still sitting by my bed, unread. I can't wait for the scene.

Hee! And what a good scene! In this case, you will enjoy watching after the book finishes.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

*makes note of rewatching North & South this summer*

I love that scene. Because, as you say, smouldering glances and hand touching!Yaaay! And Margareth being taken a bit by surprise.
(though my favourite scene is still the last one at the train station. Ahem. ;) )

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

*swoons* Your picspam is spectacular! I love it. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, the last scene, OF COURSE! But for me nothing beats angst, snow and "Look back at me" . Snowy scenes are always a win with me but when it is such a good one, even more!

I need to watch "Robin Hood" one day. maddeinin promised that the second season is much better and has buckets of smoldering Richard Armitage in black leather.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am still in such love with this adaptation, after 3 years. It is such a rare drama, where everything come togather to make the best possible result.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

You know I agree with you 100%!

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

The "Look back at me" scene almost killed me. I think I made actually noises at the tv. (and you mentioning that scene decided it. I HAVE to do a North & South rewatch. Ah, the hardship! ;D)

Another favourite scenes, even though it isn't exclusively Margareth & Thornton, is Margareth walking through the factory while the voice over reads her letter, saying : "I have seen hell, and it is white."
That scene just packs such an emotional punch for me - and the cinematography is gorgeous.

As for Robin Hood I like the idea of lots of Armitage - its just the rest of the series I cannot grasp. I keep getting annoyed at the historical inaccuracy, and that limits my enjoyment a bit. But perhaps I'm just grumpy.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

** hugs ** This somehow reminded me something else we both like - I need to watch the episode 7 of "Around 40"! YAY!

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Me, too - I saw that the subs came out a couple days ago, and I'm hoping to watch it maybe tonight! I can't wait! Things are getting so much more interesting now. :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Another favourite scenes, even though it isn't exclusively Margareth & Thornton, is Margareth walking through the factory while the voice over reads her letter, saying : "I have seen hell, and it is white."

OH, I think I need a re-watch too. This is scene is actually may be the greatest, because it is not a romantic scene, but something that just wraps the feeling of life's desperation with life's beauty.

As for Robin Hood I like the idea of lots of Armitage - its just the rest of the series I cannot grasp. I keep getting annoyed at the historical inaccuracy, and that limits my enjoyment a bit. But perhaps I'm just grumpy.

It is not only historical inaccuracy, the season 1 was all kinds of boring and quite shamefully bad in places. But I might give the season 2 a chance from what I have heard (and seen in screencaps :D).

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Things are getting so much more interesting now. :D

So true. Okamura is becoming quite adorable with his eco-consciousness. :D

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

And he looked so sweet and vulnerable in episode 6 when he was worried that Ogata looked down on him because he was lower-status and lower-income than she is! They're really well-suited to each other in many ways, I don't feel like the relationship is forced at all, because they're both very egalitarian in their approach to other people and certainly to each other.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

They are definitely not measuring people by the standards of how much money they earn. And they do have many common interests and views on life, which IMHO is very important in a relationship.

[soniag.livejournal.com]

OMG! Thanks! The passage + picspam = something even sexier than sex!

Oh, Smoldering glances! Oh, hand touching!

I just swooned about five times! Someone bring me the smelling salts!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Hee! Glad you liked! happy birthday!

OMG! Thanks! The passage + picspam = something even sexier than sex!

Just to add to this I am sending you some virtual chocolates (the best kind, no calories!)

Mr. Thornton - how can we not to swoon. I bet if we can collect all swoons all over the world for Mr.Thornton's sake we could produce some energy!

[earlgrayhot.livejournal.com]

Well you got my interests right on the nose ;) And what a scene - the book excerpt and the film screen-caps .... yummmmmm

Thank you very much! Couldn't ask for a better prezzie!

[elspethsheir.livejournal.com]

I love that we all benefit on birthdays! Huzzah for Mr. Thornton, and for you, for sharing this!!

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness! So much pretty! I want to watch North & South! :D And the tea set! LOVE!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday! I hope you had a nice day! I am glad I guessed correctly!

Mr.thornton! Every time I watch this drama I swoon. ;D

[trailer-spot.livejournal.com]

Another very kind soul provided me with a copy of the DVDs of the mini-series a few weeks ago. But I haven't found time yet to watch them. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It is a fantastic drama! You must watch it! Can you find it in Indonesia? If not, I again volunteer to send you DVDs..

Te set looks like the classic Johnson Brothers Willow Blue (http://www.dinnerwaredepot.com/shop/catalog/handler~event~familySelected~pf_id~2557.htm). I love this pattern by Wedgwood, but it is So expensive.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Hee! How excellent. Of course, I have to say that you must watch this ASAP. I remember you mentioned that you are a romantic and this is VERY romantic. :D And it is gorgeously filmed with some very interesting, especially for a drama, snowy and cotton mill scenes.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Huzzah for Mai being back!! I must re-watch this now, I am called by Mr.Thornton's gorgeous voice now. :D

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

Ah, isn't that wonderful? :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It truly is! It is one of the "Makes me proud to be newly British" BBC dramas.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Heeee... thank you very much for your grand offer! I confess I have been looking for North and South for quite a while now, and still cannot find it anywhere, both in official/bootleg version. This is quite strange because there are a heap of BBC dramas that have Indonesian releases (ie. Pride and Prejudice, Perfect Strangers, and Jane Eyre), but not North and South.

I do not want to trouble you though ~ usually it is just a matter of time until we get the Indonesian release made. I waited long enough for La Femme Nikita to be available here, and alas it finally happened! :D

I love classic-designed chinaware! So pretty! If I had tons of cash I'd spoil myself silly with as much china as I can, LOL. I am very fond of Japanese china, as well. Narumi and Noritake are particular favourites. As you said, though, they cost a leg and an arm (and more!) :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I do not want to trouble you though ~ usually it is just a matter of time until we get the Indonesian release made. I waited long enough for La Femme Nikita to be available here, and alas it finally happened! :D

Oh, I would love to send you British version. :D Decided! I think any woman deserved to see Mr.Thornton in original version and I would love to spread the love of "North and South" further.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Oh you are too good!!! Thank you very, very much. I really appreciate it!! I will have to think of a way to return your kindness! :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

No need to do ANYTHING!!

Can you watch region 2 DVDs?

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Can you watch region 2 DVDs?
No I don't think so. I can only watch region 3 DVDs :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am glad I asked. I'll make a region-less copy in this case!

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! :)