Yesterday husband en rouge got a call from the production company saying that they want to make Murder in Foie Gras Land. They’d spotted the advert for our house on the internet (we have it on several sites, not sure which one they saw) and are interested in booking it to film in.
When we lived in London, a house a few doors down from us was often used in the series "New Tricks". Eventually the residents got very fed up with the street getting cluttered up with vehicles etc. and asked the folk to desist having their house used in this way.
An acquaintance lent her flat as a location for some film students. It was only when she saw the finished product that she learnt it was a steamy tale of adultery in which her bed featured largely.
Exciting! One of our friend's sinks was in Taggart. They had booked a neighbour's house to film, but the neighbour had a coloured bathroom suite, and they needed a white one, for the "washing the blood off the hands" scene. So everything was filmed in the neighbours house, except for that one scene showing a close up of the hands in the sink. And the starring role of the sink was exciting enough, let alone a whole house!
I used to live in a Victorian terrace in Bethnal Green called Quilter Street, it was next to where the notorious Nichol slum had once stood. There was an area of pokey Victorian shops next to the flower market which was often used for filming, occasionally you’d walk home and see artificial snow.
Mike Leigh filmed Secrets and Lies in our street, buying a house down the other end. Some friends lived in the house opposite and we went with them to the cinema to see it - one squealed out loud when he saw his front door on screen.
Glad you enjoyed Mottisfont daisydaisy - but it makes damn all mention of the woman who gave it to the Trust, or her past, or her family, and only lipservice is paid to the Augustinians who had the original abbey.
I'm surprised to hear you say this, because Maud Russell features heavily in many of the room exhibits. Her diaries are often on display, for instance, and her clothes, and - well, anyway, I find this an unfair comment. When did you visit?
FWIW we would have kept our NT membership for the sake of Motty alone - being able to walk there and enjoy the grounds whatever the weather, plus the wonderful special exhibitions, would have been well worth whatever it is I pay for membership.
Not for quite some time - maybe I should go again! I still think they should have more on the Augustinians...
I go quite regularly, and I think the Augustinians feature in the cellarium (near the main tea shop) and certainly Dear Maud is all around the house. Over the last few years there have been changes, so it’s worth a visit especially in June (roses) but also throughout the year for the various exhibitions.
Exciting news! A French TV channel does a murder mystery series called Murder in… where each episode is set in a different French town.
Yesterday husband en rouge got a call from the production company saying that they want to make Murder in Foie Gras Land. They’d spotted the advert for our house on the internet (we have it on several sites, not sure which one they saw) and are interested in booking it to film in.
We have to get the agreement of all the neighbours, but I think our in-laws are working on that one. Fame at last! Our house is going to be on the telly!
Exciting, indeed - and am I right in thinking that the film or TV peeps actually pay money for the privilege of using one's house?
ION, the Great Episcopal Chariot Inundation Saga draws (hopefully) to a satisfactory conclusion. The insurers have paid out a reasonable sum, enabling me (with the aid of some savings) to buy a not-very-old vehicle, to wit, another Ford Fiesta. Accuse me of lack of imagination, if you will, but these are (said he, hopefully) reliable, and economic, cars.
It is not Blue this time, but is a sort of rather understated, and IMHO elegant, Pale Black. Officially, it's a very dark grey, but YSWIM.
My sister, niece and I had a lovely little jaunt out today to St. Andrews, a wee village on the Bay of Fundy - you can actually see Trumpland from the seafront. The trees were utterly glorious, and did a sterling job of Being Impressive for the Visitors.
When we got back, we had a v.v. good meal at the Palate restaurant, followed by a drink with the choir in the pub.
Nice ride, BF - I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate that into The Professionals, nonetheless. I may come up with some crazy ideas.
Over here, in Continental WesShire, it is Ground Frost Day, for the first time this autumn! Yay! At last! - Not that I dislike summer, but what have I got all those woolly jumpers and warm jackets for if it never gets cold!
In addition, there is still this overall lack of rain, for the second year in a row, and I really miss the seemingly endless miserable days when you're stuck inside or get rather wet when you go outside. I know, it may be strange to say such a thing, but this quasi-eternal sunshine of the last few months and actually years is getting to me. It is unsual for this neck of the Continental woods, thus I suppose justifies my longing for rainy days aplenty...
So we'll see.
In other news, I went to see a circus show, one of those in the big tent, a few days back, and a very enjoyable thing it was too. I marvel at the agility of the human body (and, I reckon, of the human mind as well!), and the animal scenes were also very good. I always find the circus quite inspirational; it has this sometimes wild eccentricity that we often don't (want to?) see in our everyday lives, and all of it is done in a playful, somewhat exaggerated manner, with music and lights, in a big show... so perhaps I/we too can dare and be a bit eccentric at times? It's rather therapeutic in this respect!
Mine's a 2014 model - not so very new, but newer than the Drowned One!
I had a Ford Fiesta for years - I still remember it fondly. Posh ‘tho our car is now (Skoda superb with all the extras) I would go back to a Fiesta like a shot if it were my choice.
In addition, there is still this overall lack of rain, for the second year in a row, and I really miss the seemingly endless miserable days when you're stuck inside or get rather wet when you go outside.
We had all your rain, Wesley J, and a share of everyone else's yesterday at Leeds Light Night, a collection of exhibitions, installations, games and projected stuff. It's a mostly outdoor event so you could either go home or grin and bear it. I'm glad we stayed as it was excellent but it was a mite soggy, and we gave the water taxi on the canal a miss.
It wasn't a bad day here, although not as lovely as yesterday; my sister and niece had a v. nice walk in a local park while I baked some bread, and then we were invited out for dinner with friends, which was delightful and delicious.
I've started bagging up some of the teddy-bears to go to a charity shop before I put the house on the market; it's not that I don't want them, but realistically I'm not going to be able to keep them all when I move, so I'm having to edit them. I won't throw them away - I couldn't do that - but I'll have to pick and choose the ones that'll be kept and those that'll be rehomed.
I found the last one that D. gave me - a Tim Horton's Foundation teddy - I'll have to keep him.
When my sister died unexpectedly several years ago (in her 60s), what really broke my heart when I walked into her apartment was her life-long collection of teddy bears -- one had been with her since birth. I couldn't face them and had to ask a friend of hers to remove them for me. Where they went I don't know (and didn't want to).
@Piglet, so glad that you've got family with you and that your friends are making sure you're kept busy. Moving back to the UK sounds like the sensible thing to do, but don't do anything too hastily if you can help it.
My husband's away this weekend so I'm having a nice lazy time, though I've promised myself I'll clear out some clothes to take to the charity shop.
Piglet - I recently bought a teddy bear from a charity shop, and he is giving me so much pleasure. His head was a bit wobbly so I have knitted him a scarf to help keep it steady. He's very friendly and cuddly.... In this instance I think the term 'pre-loved' for a secondhand item is wholly appropriate. I'm sure your bears will bring a lot of happiness to people.
Piglet - I recently bought a teddy bear from a charity shop, and he is giving me so much pleasure. His head was a bit wobbly so I have knitted him a scarf to help keep it steady. He's very friendly and cuddly.... In this instance I think the term 'pre-loved' for a secondhand item is wholly appropriate. I'm sure your bears will bring a lot of happiness to people.
Agreed.
I collect pre-loved soft toys all year and sell them at our Christmas fair to raise money for Guide Dogs. The pleasure on the buyers faces is lovely to behold - as is the long time they spend choosing their new cuddlies.
I have two tiny bears I've had since I was 18 months old. They are very tatty now, and I couldn't bear the thought of them even being given away, so I have arranged with my daughter that they are to go in my coffin with me.
Piglet, check out the police and fire departments near you. Quite often they will take on a collection like yours and keep them on hand for occasions when needed for young ones. The Christmas toy drive might also be interested. I remember giving toys to a group who ran a women's shelter for young mom's. I would expect that they would be glad to have the teddy's. Be sure to take photos of them all to hold on to after.
Talking about teddy bears, I have two (Bruin, and Ted), which I have owned since I was Very Small Indeed. The bears might actually be older than me...
Bruin is a fairly typical bear, I think, with golden fur, but Ted seems to be made of some indeterminate material (he looks rather like Mr Bean's bear, in the TV series).
Question - Of Great Import! Please Pay Close Attention!
How do I clean/ restore them? They are...um...dusty, and rather soiled generally, having been relegated to a plastic bag for many years. Alas, at some remote point in his career, poor Bruin has been subjected to an infestation of Bed-Bugs, and I do NOT wish to have such beasties reactivated...
The subject of teddy bears always seems to evoke much feeling. I read somewhere a while ago of a workplace that invited people to bring in their teddies (a kind of adult show-and-tell, I think) and it was the subject of great debate about how safe they would be, and how carefully handled.
My eldest brother owned a teddy bear, imaginatively called Teddy, and he was a big part of my childhood as said brother was 12 when I was born so the teddy sort of became mine. He'd lost all his hair and my mum had knitted a blue top and shorts for him. He sat in the house where I grew up, on a shelf in my mum's room as she became bedridden, and he moved with my brother into a retirement flat when my mum died. When my brother died I thought I would bring Teddy home with me. But I took an honest look at him; he was in a pretty sorry state and I realised I didn't really want to give him house room so we consigned him to the, er, bin.
I own a number of soft toys but feel I need a teddy bear in my life so am always on the lookout for The One. I'm sure he'll find me one day.
@Piglet your bears will give their new companions a lot of pleasure, I’m sure.
Yesterday I took a large-ish pre-loved teddy into the photography class I’m taking for this wonderful organisation so we could experiment with taking photos of animals from different angles. Teddy got lots of cuddles from each of the students, and didn’t move unlike the goats, donkeys, geese and horse that we went outside to snap - we got lots of blurred images/action shots!
My own bear watches over me when I’m at my desk - he was a replacement for the much loved bear who went missing on a long-haul flight when I was 7, causing much distress. My grannie knitted identical rompers and jumpers for them to help me get used to the new one (she even got him from the same shop) but I struggled. However, I didn’t realise how much I loved him until I unpacked him when I took boxes out of storage, so he now keeps me company.
I'm one of the few proud and truly blesséd owners of a Rowan Bear, see also the BBC article from 2003. He watches over me from atop a shelf. He is a preciousssssss bear!
Piglet - Maybe, once you’re settled in your new place, we can send you bears from all around the globe to help you settle in. I’ll keep my eyes open for a Manchester Bee bear in anticipation.
I have two tiny bears I've had since I was 18 months old. They are very tatty now, and I couldn't bear the thought of them even being given away, so I have arranged with my daughter that they are to go in my coffin with me.
I had wished that I could have done that for my sister, but it wasn't a possibility. Somehow I have a feeling he made it to Heaven to be with her. (Need I say, that her beloved very-first-bear was named Teddy?)
Question - Of Great Import! Please Pay Close Attention!
How do I clean/ restore them? They are...um...dusty, and rather soiled generally, having been relegated to a plastic bag for many years. Alas, at some remote point in his career, poor Bruin has been subjected to an infestation of Bed-Bugs, and I do NOT wish to have such beasties reactivated...
I would then be rather brutal and put them through the washing machine on a cool wash, but perhaps other people have some kinder ideas? Even if they still looked a bit grotty afterwards, at least you would know they were clean.
Piglet, check out the police and fire departments near you. Quite often they will take on a collection like yours and keep them on hand for occasions when needed for young ones. The Christmas toy drive might also be interested. I remember giving toys to a group who ran a women's shelter for young mom's. I would expect that they would be glad to have the teddy's. Be sure to take photos of them all to hold on to after.
Down here these are known as Trauma teddies and are usually knitted.
St John Ambulance use hand knit penguins for the same purpose. I made many for a friend a few years ago.
An explanatory afterthought. Down here Ambulances for emergency purposes are run in many states by St John.
Different volunteers staff events for basically first aid. Also from St John. It is this group which had the penguins.
After my sister’s first operation for breast cancer,I bought her a teddy which I named Freedom after shop he was bought in. He saved her a lot of pain as she used him to raise her upper arm for comfort. He helped her through two mastectomies, a reconstruction and is now over twenty years old and showing his age. Much loved, he has travelled with her all over Australia, kept her company on the drive across the Nullarbor Plain and up the coast of Western Australia. There are pictures of him on a car trailer when the engine of her car seized. Pictures in motels, in the Outback and more.
He is not as adventurous these days, so I bought him a young companion from Tambo Teddies. Freedom was not expensive when bought and he has given so much love and comfort that he has repaid my purchase many times over. They were made for each other.
Question - Of Great Import! Please Pay Close Attention!
How do I clean/ restore them? They are...um...dusty, and rather soiled generally, having been relegated to a plastic bag for many years. Alas, at some remote point in his career, poor Bruin has been subjected to an infestation of Bed-Bugs, and I do NOT wish to have such beasties reactivated...
I would then be rather brutal and put them through the washing machine on a cool wash, but perhaps other people have some kinder ideas? Even if they still looked a bit grotty afterwards, at least you would know they were clean.
Question - Of Great Import! Please Pay Close Attention!
How do I clean/ restore them? They are...um...dusty, and rather soiled generally, having been relegated to a plastic bag for many years. Alas, at some remote point in his career, poor Bruin has been subjected to an infestation of Bed-Bugs, and I do NOT wish to have such beasties reactivated...
I would then be rather brutal and put them through the washing machine on a cool wash, but perhaps other people have some kinder ideas? Even if they still looked a bit grotty afterwards, at least you would know they were clean.
Thanks for the advice! I'll give it a try...
I don’t know about the removal of bedbugs but to kill moth larvae in yarn you put it in a bag in the freezer.
He might have been stuffed with cotton, kapok or wood wool. My c.1962 teddy is stuffed with wood wool, IIRC. He used to have a growl, but lost it when, as a child, I gave him a bath.
I washed my Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, thinking I would spruce them up a bit after 50+years and, sadly, they were stuffed with something that can't be washed. Their faces are now horribly stained but I don't want to throw them away.
Re. the bedbugs, as long as it has been in a sealed bag for a year or more, they would be dead. Freezing things for a couple of weeks kills the wee critters too. I wish I didn't know this first hand.
... Down here these are known as Trauma teddies and are usually knitted.
...
When we were in Newfoundland, D. used to do a "Last Night of the Proms" organ concert (with all the patriotic bells and whistles), and we encouraged audience members to bring along teddies, who were collected at the end and given to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's Trauma Teddies appeal.
I used to bring some of our larger bears, and set them on the chancel steps with assorted flags in their paws.
We sent six large bin-bags of assorted teddies to Value Village, so I hope they'll find kindly humans.
My niece in particular has been brilliant in chivvying me along to get as many things cleared away as possible before the estate agent comes to the house on Tuesday.
We had a v. good and v. indulgent dinner this evening at Brewbakers as it's their last night. I'm a wee bit worried about how I'll be after they've gone, but I expect I'll be much as I am just now - totally unpredictable. I found a folder with my old school exam certificates in it today, and when I found the one for Higher music I got an attack of waterworks - D. was my teacher in that class, and I was his first success.
These things aren't easy, the one predictable thing is not being able to predict your emotions!
One thing about Edinburgh: much less sn*w than where you are now. In fact you might find winters Unseasonably Warm. (Mind you, those east coast winds ...).
Comments
Ah, Murder Most Fowl.
When we lived in London, a house a few doors down from us was often used in the series "New Tricks". Eventually the residents got very fed up with the street getting cluttered up with vehicles etc. and asked the folk to desist having their house used in this way.
Mike Leigh filmed Secrets and Lies in our street, buying a house down the other end. Some friends lived in the house opposite and we went with them to the cinema to see it - one squealed out loud when he saw his front door on screen.
Wow - exciting!
ION, the Great Episcopal Chariot Inundation Saga draws (hopefully) to a satisfactory conclusion. The insurers have paid out a reasonable sum, enabling me (with the aid of some savings) to buy a not-very-old vehicle, to wit, another Ford Fiesta. Accuse me of lack of imagination, if you will, but these are (said he, hopefully) reliable, and economic, cars.
It is not Blue this time, but is a sort of rather understated, and IMHO elegant, Pale Black. Officially, it's a very dark grey, but YSWIM.
https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/ford/fiesta/2014/oem/2014_ford_fiesta_sedan_titanium_fq_oem_2_500.jpg
Mine's a 2014 model - not so very new, but newer than the Drowned One!
My sister, niece and I had a lovely little jaunt out today to St. Andrews, a wee village on the Bay of Fundy - you can actually see Trumpland from the seafront. The trees were utterly glorious, and did a sterling job of Being Impressive for the Visitors.
When we got back, we had a v.v. good meal at the Palate restaurant, followed by a drink with the choir in the pub.
Nice ride, BF - I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate that into The Professionals, nonetheless. I may come up with some crazy ideas.
Over here, in Continental WesShire, it is Ground Frost Day, for the first time this autumn! Yay! At last! - Not that I dislike summer, but what have I got all those woolly jumpers and warm jackets for if it never gets cold!
In addition, there is still this overall lack of rain, for the second year in a row, and I really miss the seemingly endless miserable days when you're stuck inside or get rather wet when you go outside. I know, it may be strange to say such a thing, but this quasi-eternal sunshine of the last few months and actually years is getting to me. It is unsual for this neck of the Continental woods, thus I suppose justifies my longing for rainy days aplenty...
So we'll see.
In other news, I went to see a circus show, one of those in the big tent, a few days back, and a very enjoyable thing it was too. I marvel at the agility of the human body (and, I reckon, of the human mind as well!), and the animal scenes were also very good. I always find the circus quite inspirational; it has this sometimes wild eccentricity that we often don't (want to?) see in our everyday lives, and all of it is done in a playful, somewhat exaggerated manner, with music and lights, in a big show... so perhaps I/we too can dare and be a bit eccentric at times? It's rather therapeutic in this respect!
Respect to the artists, indeed!
I had a Ford Fiesta for years - I still remember it fondly. Posh ‘tho our car is now (Skoda superb with all the extras) I would go back to a Fiesta like a shot if it were my choice.
I've started bagging up some of the teddy-bears to go to a charity shop before I put the house on the market; it's not that I don't want them, but realistically I'm not going to be able to keep them all when I move, so I'm having to edit them. I won't throw them away - I couldn't do that - but I'll have to pick and choose the ones that'll be kept and those that'll be rehomed.
I found the last one that D. gave me - a Tim Horton's Foundation teddy - I'll have to keep him.
Sharing hugs and prayers with another arctophile.
My husband's away this weekend so I'm having a nice lazy time, though I've promised myself I'll clear out some clothes to take to the charity shop.
Agreed.
I collect pre-loved soft toys all year and sell them at our Christmas fair to raise money for Guide Dogs. The pleasure on the buyers faces is lovely to behold - as is the long time they spend choosing their new cuddlies.
We are probably all daft when it comes to bears!
Bruin is a fairly typical bear, I think, with golden fur, but Ted seems to be made of some indeterminate material (he looks rather like Mr Bean's bear, in the TV series).
Question - Of Great Import! Please Pay Close Attention!
How do I clean/ restore them? They are...um...dusty, and rather soiled generally, having been relegated to a plastic bag for many years. Alas, at some remote point in his career, poor Bruin has been subjected to an infestation of Bed-Bugs, and I do NOT wish to have such beasties reactivated...
My eldest brother owned a teddy bear, imaginatively called Teddy, and he was a big part of my childhood as said brother was 12 when I was born so the teddy sort of became mine. He'd lost all his hair and my mum had knitted a blue top and shorts for him. He sat in the house where I grew up, on a shelf in my mum's room as she became bedridden, and he moved with my brother into a retirement flat when my mum died. When my brother died I thought I would bring Teddy home with me. But I took an honest look at him; he was in a pretty sorry state and I realised I didn't really want to give him house room so we consigned him to the, er, bin.
I own a number of soft toys but feel I need a teddy bear in my life so am always on the lookout for The One. I'm sure he'll find me one day.
Yesterday I took a large-ish pre-loved teddy into the photography class I’m taking for this wonderful organisation so we could experiment with taking photos of animals from different angles. Teddy got lots of cuddles from each of the students, and didn’t move unlike the goats, donkeys, geese and horse that we went outside to snap - we got lots of blurred images/action shots!
My own bear watches over me when I’m at my desk - he was a replacement for the much loved bear who went missing on a long-haul flight when I was 7, causing much distress. My grannie knitted identical rompers and jumpers for them to help me get used to the new one (she even got him from the same shop) but I struggled. However, I didn’t realise how much I loved him until I unpacked him when I took boxes out of storage, so he now keeps me company.
Jen xx
I had wished that I could have done that for my sister, but it wasn't a possibility. Somehow I have a feeling he made it to Heaven to be with her. (Need I say, that her beloved very-first-bear was named Teddy?)
I am sorry to hear about poor Bruin!
I found this article on toys and bedbugs from the University of Minnesota.
https://tinyurl.com/y2skcg5z
I would then be rather brutal and put them through the washing machine on a cool wash, but perhaps other people have some kinder ideas? Even if they still looked a bit grotty afterwards, at least you would know they were clean.
Down here these are known as Trauma teddies and are usually knitted.
St John Ambulance use hand knit penguins for the same purpose. I made many for a friend a few years ago.
An explanatory afterthought. Down here Ambulances for emergency purposes are run in many states by St John.
Different volunteers staff events for basically first aid. Also from St John. It is this group which had the penguins.
He is not as adventurous these days, so I bought him a young companion from Tambo Teddies. Freedom was not expensive when bought and he has given so much love and comfort that he has repaid my purchase many times over. They were made for each other.
Tambo teddies are from Queensland.I love the stockman with his drizabone and Akubra, but bought a more basic model , now much loved.
Thanks for the advice! I'll give it a try...
I thought about hand-washing him, and drying him gently by putting him close (but not too close!) to my Rayburn range for a few days.
Re. the bedbugs, as long as it has been in a sealed bag for a year or more, they would be dead. Freezing things for a couple of weeks kills the wee critters too. I wish I didn't know this first hand.
I used to bring some of our larger bears, and set them on the chancel steps with assorted flags in their paws.
We sent six large bin-bags of assorted teddies to Value Village, so I hope they'll find kindly humans.
My niece in particular has been brilliant in chivvying me along to get as many things cleared away as possible before the estate agent comes to the house on Tuesday.
We had a v. good and v. indulgent dinner this evening at Brewbakers as it's their last night. I'm a wee bit worried about how I'll be after they've gone, but I expect I'll be much as I am just now - totally unpredictable. I found a folder with my old school exam certificates in it today, and when I found the one for Higher music I got an attack of waterworks - D. was my teacher in that class, and I was his first success.
One thing about Edinburgh: much less sn*w than where you are now. In fact you might find winters Unseasonably Warm. (Mind you, those east coast winds ...).