Kristine Hughes – Page 217 – Number One London

That Woman is Coming to the US

I wonder how many of us can add a guilty fascination with Wallis Simpson to our list of insignificant transgressions? Admire her or hate her, she remains one of those figures who continues to fascinate. Last summer, Wiedenfeld & Nicolson published That Woman by Anne Sebba in the UK — and it will be out in March 2012 in the US from St. Martin’s. The New York Times recently carried an article about the book, which is here.

Above, Anne Sebba, author of That Woman. Sebba is a lecturer and tv presenter as well as the author of a number of books. According to her website (here), she particularly likes to write about strong women. Other subjects she has written of include such disparate personages as Jennie Jerome Churchill, Mother Teresa, and Laura Ashley. Of course, the most scandalous aspect of the Duchess of Windsor book was eagerly received by newspapers. Here is an article from the Daily Mail.

Above, the wedding, in 1937, in France. Bessie Wallis Warfield was born in Pennsylvania in 1896. The story of how she became the woman who made a king abdicate, one of the most hated women ever, yet a style trend setter and source of endless public attention has been told over and over. Nevertheless, it will be told many more times I am sure.

In many ways, I think the Duke and Duchess led a lonely life of wandering, early in their marriage accused (with some justification it seems) of being Nazi sympathizers, and later of being only too eager to accept whatever largesse came their way from social climbers, publicity seeking hangs-on, and celebrity wannabes.

The Duke had a lifelong obsession with the fact his wife could not be correctly addressed as Her
Royal Highness, and he insisted on everyone calling her by that title — which to me would only have made it worse, as every time she heard it, the phrase must have grated. She was known for some witty phrases — “a woman can never be too rich or too thin.” Her clothing and jewels were much admired.

The famous jeweled flamingo clip, above in an auction promotional shot, was sold for a record price. It was made by Cartier in 1940 — costume jewelry replicas are not hard to find.

Madonna’s film about That Woman — titled W.E. — is set to open in February in the U.S. It got some good reviews from film festivals. And the trailer, below, looks interesting.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1536048/

In the meantime, while we wait for the book That Woman and the movie W.E., you might take a look at the 1978 television series Edward and Mrs. Simpson, which I recall with pleasure. Though just how guilty a pleasure it was, I shall have to reassess!

It originally ran in seven parts, and it starred Edward Fox as Edward and Cynthia Harris as Wallis. Just the thing for an evening when the snow begins to fall and you have a nice bowl of popcorn on hand. Or make that a couple of evenings!

Like the topic of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, the story has everything — romance, scandal, royalty, and a dysfunctional family. What more could we ask?

Save The Cleveland Street Workhouse – An Update

You may recall that we ran a post a few months back asking for your support in saving the Cleveland Street Workhouse in London, which has connections to Charles Dickens.
The Cleveland Street workhouse was originally built in 1775 and it is the best preserved Georgian era workhouse in Central London, one of only three remaining in the Capital. Here is the latest update on the status of the project:

Thank you for continuing to support our campaign to save the Cleveland Street
Workhouse. Your signature, together with nearly 6000 others, was vital in our
effort of obtaining listed status for the workhouse. As you will hopefully be
aware, the workhouse was granted Grade II listed status by the Secretary of
State in March 2011, however it has come to our attention that the building may
again be under threat. We are therefore asking for your help once again.

University College London NHS Foundation Trust recently decided to evict the
current guardians of the site, leaving the building exposed to possible further
decay, speeding up its demise. With the recent spate of squatting in the area,
our group is also concerned that squatters may take over the building and damage
it, further exacerbating the situation.

The Cleveland Street Workhouse has served as short term accommodation for young
professionals for more than 3 years. The inhabitants have been placed within the
building through a “Protection by Occupation” scheme, which forbids squatters
from occupying the premises and helps prevent decay. Without constant monitoring
and heating during the winter months, the elements will take their toll.

In light of these potentially disastrous developments, we would like to call
upon UCLH NHS Foundation Trust to reconsider this decision.

If you could take a moment of your time to write to the University College
London Hospital Trust expressing your concern about recent developments, you
would once again provide invaluable help to preserve the building. Due to the
urgent nature of the situation, please address your correspondence direct to
UCLH NHS Foundation Trust’s CEO:

Sir Robert Naylor
Chief Executive
UCLH NHS Foundation Trust
235 Euston Road
London NW1 2BU

e-mail: robert.naylor@uclh.nhs.uk

For more information, please visit The Cleveland Street Workhouse website.

A Letter From the Duke of Rutland

John Henry Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland

From the Duke of Rutland to Lady Shelley

Belvoir Castle, November 26, 1825.

My Dear Lady Shelley,

“So, at length you have deigned to notice me, and to remember that you had such a friend in existence! I know not how many months it is since I wrote my last letter to you; and I was trying to recollect whether it contained aught which could have affronted you, when your letter arrived to dispel all sombre suppositions from my mind, and to revivify me again with the cheering ray of your kind friendship, on which, believe me, I place a value of high (I may say highest) degree. At one time I thought you was treating me as you did at Burlington House, completely as a faute de mieux fellow; and that you was engaged in a more agreeable correspondence, perhaps with the very Duke who, on the occasion alluded to, drove me to the wall. Several times have I nearly been writing to you; but I have restrained myself, from the practice which I have of writing to you, Mrs. Fox, and a few other such highflown dames of fashion, only when I have received a letter from you. 1 do this from the idea that, till you write, you do not wish to hear from me. . . . You will hear from Shelley of all that passed during October. We were very merry at Cheveley. But to myself it was a most disastrous month, as far as gambling was concerned. I lost nothing terrifick on the turf; but the whist table really persecuted me! I shall be like Shelley, and give it up; at least all future high play. I mean to reduce my stake one-half, and my resolution is so fixed that I feel confident that it will not give way. … It is a sin that you should have Mazeppa (a horse) in your possession, and not bring him here to show his perfections to an admiring field! But Mazeppa goes out to a disadvantage under you, since he gets robbed of a considerable part of the admiration he would, under other circumstances (Jest a dire, under another person’s pressure) attract. It is a case in which ‘the horse and is rider’ must share by tallies, in admiration and applause. I have an admirable set of horses if I had nerves and head to ride them. Yet I entertain no doubt that Mazeppa would show a brilliant gem among them. Charles Thornton was asking after him last night. He has a monstrous opinion of him.

Belvoir Castle

“We are living entirely alone here; the Duchess has not been very well lately, and she wishes an interval of quiet, in order to recruit before the bustling time, a large society of Christmas, summon her to a re-exertion of strength. There is almost as much labour in directing the household concerns of a large party in a country house, as in guiding a hunter across a stony country in a mist. We have not yet allowed my two brothers (who are at Melton) to come to us. On December (?) I go to Beaudesert for a couple of days woodcock shooting, and when there I shall probably press forward for two nights to Willey. So you heard of the Anklet! We all agreed it was a beautiful, as well as a novel custom, and credit was given to the Columbus of it. It will very likely be the fashion next year in London, but there must be a curtailment of the flounces and furbelows, or it will be like the flower which springs to blush unseen. . . .

“You have my best wishes for your success in the important object relative to the diversion of the turnpike road. I can easily understand how great an improvement it will make to the comfort, the privacy, and the actual appearance of Maresfield. Nothing will give me greater pleasure than to visit you there; but I do not look so much to the pleasure of seeing the place, as of seeing its owner, and I beg that the success of your turnpike road diversion may not be the sine qua non of our visit to Maresfield! I trust that I shall also be able to congratulate you on the realisation of your golden dreams respecting the union of the Medway and the Ouse, and the consequent improvement in value of your property. Besides being an important object to you it would be a most important one to the country, for the causes which you ave detailed. Our lake here is just completed, and the water turned into it for a perpetuity a fortnight ago. It has all the effect which we wished, and expected, and does the Duchess’s conception and planning the highest credit. We are busily engaged in fitting up the large drawing-room, which I really think will be the handsomest room in the kingdom, as well as unique in its design. Twenty gilders are at this instant busily occupied at Knipton Lodge in preparing the parquets from Madame de Maintenon’s apartment in the Trianon, which are to form the fittings of the room, and they are superb. Our object was to have the room completed by New Year’s Day; but it is impossible.

Ever truly and affectionately yours,

Rutland

Christmas Ideas from the National Trust

When you are making up your Christmas list for yourself or for lucky giftees, you might want to take a look at the National Trust’s gift shop.

The historic Blewcoat School on Caxton Street in London is a to-die-for shop you won’t want to miss next time you are in London. But if you can’t quite make it to London this holiday season, shop on line here. There is something for everyone.

If you live in the US and travel to Britain, you should join the Royal Oak, the US support group for the National Trust. It will give you free admission to Trust properties, newsletters and magazines from both organizations, discounts on purchases, and a great deal of satisfaction. I have often shown my Royal Oak membership card at a Trust stately home and received a big cheer from the volunteers. “We love our Royal Oak members,” they always say. Additional perks are invitations to special programs in major US cities by traveling lecturers and authors sponsored by the Trust and the Royal Oak — and some travel tours that sound brilliant. Or if you are in Britain or elsewhere, join the Trust. And memberships make great gifts too.

As you will see on their website, the Trust’s shops have a wide variety of books. The Christmas recipe collection above is on my list, for sure.

A few more selections… of 100’s.

Or you could choose a photo album and fill it with your own snapshots.

As seen in the examples above, the Trust sells magnificent prints, many by renowned photographers, suitable for framing.

The National Trust runs many shops both in cities and on their properties. They are always good for a browse.

Many popular items such as ceramic mugs and pieces of china compete with wonderful lotions and soaps, silk scarves and shawls, umbrellas and even hiking shoes. Here are two more books I covet:

Could someone please contact Santa and give him my list?

Photos from the National Trust.

London Advent Calendar

I am devoted to Jacquie Lawson animated e-cards, for almost any occasion. Jacquie (I feel like she is my friend!) has created two advent calendars to mark the 25 days leading up to Christmas 2011.

The panorama changes according to the time of day; London’s night lights are particularly lovely. Each day there is a new scene or story to enchant you and kiddies of all ages. Also available is a Village Advent Calendar.

Colorful and musical, these calendars are as charming as the Jacquie Lawson cards. You really need to see the animations to get the full effect. See the website here.

Joining the website is not expensive and you will have many choices of Christmas, birthday, Easter, Valentine and other holiday cards — British, Canadian and American. All are accompanied by delightful sound tracks.

It is certainly not too late to send Thanksgiving cards, such as the above Turkey created from bunches of vegetables. Most of the cards can be sent almost instantaneously once you are registered, but obviously you have to take traffic into consideration for popular holidays.

Jacquie Lawson, above, lives in the village of Lurgashall in West Sussex. She is a lady of a ‘certain age’ but has about the most youthful and creative mind I can imagine. According to the story — nearly a legend by now — she created an animated Christmas card and sent it to 30 friends about a dozen years ago. She got back thousands of responses — for everyone had forwarded it to their entire e-address book. From this modest beginning, her business has become wildly successful, sending millions of cards each year on behalf of members.

Among her most requested cards are those with her dog Chudleigh, a black lab, and his canine and feline friends. Some of the cards are done as Pelmanism puzzles, favorites of many in the younger set. You match pairs (as in the game Memory) and when you make a match, another section of the card is revealed.

Another favorite recurring figure is Teddy, who has many adventures indeed, and will bring greetings for almost any purpose — or none but a cheery hello.

Returning to the holidays fast approaching, check out Jacquie’s wonderful e-cards, screen-savers and note cards, just in case you still like to send actual paper cards, as I often do — though not often enough.

And as the days darken ever earlier — until the most welcome day of the year, the winter solstice — keep your days bright and merry with Jacquie’s creations.

Just so you know, this blog post is done unsolicited, without the knowledge of Jacqui Lawson — just a hint about something we enjoy and you might too. Cheerio!