Versatile Blogger Award

Oh my gosh! The super awesome Miss Fairchild has given me my very first blog award, The Versatile Blogger award! Thanks Miss, I will treasure it forever!

I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this but then I realised that I have Actual Work to do tomorrow morning and I'm going to the dentist in the afternoon so I wouldn't be able to notify my nominees about it until later.

So you get two posts today, lucky you!

The rules of this game are for me to reveal seven (hopefully interesting) things about myself and then nominate 15 bloggers for the award.


1. I grew up kind of a hippie
Although I currently live in Sydney I was actually born in... Sydney. I grew up in Byron Bay. We were vegetarian and I went to a Steiner School. My family was anti-vax and my GP was a homeopath (he was also a GP). I am much less of a hippie now. Except that...


2. I don't use shampoo
I used to notice that when I was running low on shampoo and used less and less of it to stretch it out my hair seemed much more awesome. I found that the perfect amount of shampoo for maximum awesomeness was... none. Once a week or so I'll wash it with a bicarb solution and then rinse with a vinegar solution.

3. I have a ridiculous bra size
8FF. What even is that? Ridiculous. Actually I have noticed that MYER have recently started stocking bras with size 8 band, so hooray!


4. I feel like a grown up and I am pretty happy with that
I know a lot of people who claim they don't feel like they are Real Adults and/or they don't ever want to feel like an Adult. I'm... actually pretty thrilled to be married and thirty and living with my husband in a city away from my family. I mean, I still freak out over making phone calls but whatever! Being an adult doesn't mean I am not allowed to freak out about things.

5. I have one sister and one and a half brothers
They're all younger than me. I guess I also now have a brother and sister-in law. They are both older than me!

6. I twice walked 100km
In 2009, 2010 and 2012 I participated in the Oxfam Trailwalker in victoria. The first time through I only got 2/3 of the way through but in 2010 and 2012 I walked the full 100km in 29 and 28 hours. 100km is a very long way.

7. I don't like Vanilla
It is not plain, you folks, vanilla is just gross. I can cope with a teeny-tiny bit. I won't gag on vanilla icecream for example. But yuk. I really don't like it.


My nominations for the Versatile Blogger Award (and if you are nominated, then you win! Congratulations) are:

• Subtumblr
• Something Short and Snappy
• Ana Mardoll's Ramblings
• Shallow Depths
• Tricky Eaters (it might be cheating because I help run this blog but I nominate my cohost, Julie)

Edited to Add: I realise this "award" is basically a chain letter. So please don't feel pressured to post about it, or "nominate" other people if you do post about it. I just wanted to let you know that I think your blog is neat :)

Nail stickers

 For this design I used some nail-art stickers that I bought from priceline ("Glamnails" by manicare). They looked super cute but unfortunately I lost the petals of the flowers almost straight away so it didn't really last long.

Nautical Flag Nails

 For Christmas a wonderful friend sent me a pile of nail polish!

So the sensible thing to do was to go and buy three more polishes so that I could do this design - Nautical Flags.

The flags spell my name - I realised too late that I should have used a special flag for the second E as they only have one of each flag.

This was one of my first adventures in Nail Art so some of the lines aren't as clean as they could be. I'm still ridiculously proud of it though.

Done with a combination of sticky tape masks and sticky tape stickers.

Read Along: Pride & Prejudice - Chapter 15

Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility of manner; but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility. 

"a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility" is one of my favourite lines in this chapter.

Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends—of atonement—for inheriting their father's estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part. 

While it is low in romance, I tend to kind of agree with Mr Collins here? I think he likes how generous he thinks it makes him but it doesn't seem like a terrible idea? I think where it gets creepy for me is that he thinks that the eligibility, suitableness, generosity and disinterest make him an un-refusable catch.

His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority; and for the first evening she was his settled choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter of an hour's tete-a-tete with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes, that a mistress might be found for it at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. "As to her younger daughters, she could not take upon her to say—she could not positively answer—but she did not know of any prepossession; her eldest daughter, she must just mention—she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged."  

Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth—and it was soon done—done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course. 

And this is where it gets really gross - the prettiest one is taken so he goes for the second best. He doesn't actually know or care about these people as people.

Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before was now high in her good graces. 

Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast; and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the house, he was used to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely pleased to close his large book, and go. 

In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them. 

(Because they like hats!)

But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with another officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under pretense of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation—a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street.

So here we meet Mr Wickham. He's pretty and charming.

On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat—a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to imagine; it was impossible not to long to know.In another minute, Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend. 

I have historically spent a lot of time reading this passage trying to work out who is white and who is red. I tend to associate turning 'red' with embarassment but couldn't work out who would be embarassed here (based on the history between them which is revealed later). I now realise though that Mr Darcy is probably red with anger and Wickham is white with shock/fear. Or is it something else? Are we supposed to know? Their history won't be revealed for several chapters. Or is it just based on the order they appeared so "one... the other" is "Wickham... Darcy"?

Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Phillip's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they should come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Phillips's throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the invitation.  

Mrs. Phillips was always glad to see her nieces; and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop-boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologising for his intrusion, without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Phillips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put to an end by exclamations and inquiries about the other; of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the ——shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed windows now except a few of the officers, who, in comparison with the stranger, were become "stupid, disagreeable fellows." Some of them were to dine with the Phillipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Phillips protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless. 

As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be in the wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her sister.Mr. Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Phillips's manners and politeness. He protested that, except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but even pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to her before. Something, he supposed, might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life.

Once again I kind of feel sorry for Mr Collins and wonder how he expects to be treated if 'unwearing civility' warrants such praise.

Coming Soon - Nail Art posts!

So a slip of the fingers may have made one of my new posts come up before it should have! My friend Chifley suggested that I put my nail art photos on my blog for the people who miss them when I put them up on twitter.

So! I have a few old designs that I'll put up over the next couple of weeks. From then on they'll probably just go up whenever I give myself another manicure (generally once or twice a week depending on how bored I get and how quickly a design chips off).

Stories in the future - The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

I'm not sure why it took me so long to discover The Lizzie Bennet Diaries but... oh my gosh.

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is an online modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice. Lizzie Bennet has a video blog... and then the characters have twitter and tumblr and... it's a thing that could only be done now. It's not just P&P set in the modern world, it is told in the modern world. The characters comment on the earlier videos after they watch them later. I am only beginning to see what's going on on twitter. The future, it is here.

I never thought that a modern adaption of Pride and Prejudice could be this faithful to the book. It's really amazing. The characters are all really well done and the changes made to fit the story into the modern world are all really great as well.

But mostly everything about this adaption screams out that the creators really REALLY REALLY LOVE the novel. There are so many in-jokes and throwaway lines and references and yes.

I know this is kind of weird and incoherent but I am so happy and excited that I found this thing and yay. It's super.

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries website has links to all the other stuff. Or just start with Lizzie's vlog.

Read Along: Pride & Prejudice - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect he protested that "he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank—such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to approve of both of the discourses which he had already had the honour of preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he knew, but he had never seen anything but affability in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman;

If this is true I suspect it is only because Lady Catherine is rude to everyone.

she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood nor to his leaving the parish occasionally for a week or two, to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage, where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself—some shelves in the closet up stairs." 

"That is all very proper and civil, I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet, "and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?" 

"The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence." 

"I think you said she was a widow, sir? Has she any family?" 

"She has only one daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property." 

It seems terribly unfair that Miss de Bourgh gets to inherit, but Miss Bennet does not.

"Ah!" said Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, "then she is better off than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? Is she handsome?" 

"She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says that, in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex, because there is that in her features which marks the young lady of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her from making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not have otherwise failed of, as I am informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies." 

I find Mr Collins descriptions of what constitutes friendly behaviour quite amusing. Lady Catherine is 'affable' because she tells him what to do, Miss de Bourgh is 'perfectly amiable' because she occasionally drives past his house.

It makes me wonder what Mr Collins base level of noble behaviour is? What was he expecting?

"Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court." 

"Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest ornament. Her ladyship seemed pleased with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay." 

Sometimes I wonder how Lady Catherine can possibly stand Mr Collins. But then I think possibly she actually enjoys his ridiculous compliments and they're actually perfect for one another. Lady Catherine/Mr Collins OTP?

"You judge very properly," said Mr. Bennet, "and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?" 

"They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible." 

Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure. 

By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and, when tea was over, glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book was produced; but, on beholding it (for everything announced it to be from a circulating library), he started back, and begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she interrupted him with: 

Fordyce's Sermons To Young Women is apparently a book all about how proper young women should behave. It seems an exceedingly weird thing to read to a bunch of ladies you intend to pick a wife from. Gross.

"Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Phillips talks of turning away Richard; and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town." 

Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said: 

"I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin." 

Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for Lydia's interruption, and promised that it should not occur again, if he would resume his book; but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill-will, and should never resent her behaviour as any affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for backgammon.

You can get (get) anything that you want

When I was in high school a bunch of my friends were obsessed with The Backstreet Boys, the boyband of my high school days. They each had a favourite Boy and I think, in fact, there may have been five of them so they all had their own favourite? There wasn't general consensus on who was the Cutest anyway.

I was too poor to afford to buy CDs (let alone any other branded swag), but I pretended I was too cool to like the band, I think.

I've always found it difficult to love something half-heartedly. It's either nothing or a kind of all consuming passion. And I couldn't afford to buy CDs and was too proud to just ask for a copy on tape or something.

I lied and pretended not to care about things I couldn't afford to buy because I didn't want people to know how things really were.

In later, post-napster, days I fell in love with the Barenaked Ladies and I think it took me six months or so to buy Stunt, and it's funny I can't remember if I suffered much at home from that instance of spending money on myself (which generally resulted in a screaming match all about how wasteful and irresponsible I was).

Sometimes I lie and pretend I couldn't afford to buy things I cared about because I don't want people to know how things really were.

Anyway, I never had a favourite Backstreet Boy.  Not even a secret favourite that I didn't tell anyone about. I feel like I missed out on something, and I'm sad about it because I don't even know if it was important.

SO. I love this video, and Liam is my favourite member of One Direction.

Read Along: Pride & Prejudice - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"I hope, my dear," said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at breakfast the next morning, "that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party." 

"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in—and I hope my dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home." 

"The person of whom I speak is a gentleman, and a stranger." 

Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. "A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. But—good Lord! how unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell—I must speak to Hill this moment." 

If, at this point, Mr Bingley is still a 'stranger' then how much do you have to know someone for them to not be a stranger? hmm?

"It is not Mr. Bingley," said her husband; "it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life." 

This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and his five daughters at once. 

After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained: 

"About a month ago I received this letter; and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases." 

You may wonder why Mr Collins, if he is descended from the same paternal line as Mr Bennet has a different surname. The internet tells me that he (or possibly his father) was probably 'adopted' as an heir of someone or other who gave him a bunch of money and their surname was changed in response to that. Mr Collins must be decended from a younger Bennet brother at some point so they would have had to live on something.

"Oh! my dear," cried his wife, "I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure, if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it." 

Jane and Elizabeth tried to explain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attempted to do it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason, and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about. 

"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself." 

"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it is very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. Why could he not keep on quarreling with you, as his father did before him?" 

"Why, indeed; he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear." 

"Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15th October. 

"Dear Sir,— 

"The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.—'There, Mrs. Bennet.'—My mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive-branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends—but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'ennight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day.—I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend, 

"WILLIAM COLLINS" 

"At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peace-making gentleman," said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. "He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word, and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again." 

"There is some sense in what he says about the girls, however, and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him." 

"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit." 

Elizabeth was chiefly struck by his extraordinary deference for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his parishioners whenever it were required. 

"He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him out.—There is something very pompous in his style.—And what can he mean by apologising for being next in the entail?—We cannot suppose he would help it if he could.—Could he be a sensible man, sir?" 

"No, my dear, I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him." 

Mr Bennet is being a jerk here - "he seems ridiculous, I can't wait to hang out with him so I can laugh at him behind his back" :|

"In point of composition," said Mary, "the letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive-branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed." 

To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband and daughters. 

Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters; said he had heard much of their beauty, but that in this instance fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers; but Mrs. Bennet, who quarreled with no compliments, answered most readily. 

"You are very kind, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may prove so, for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly." 

"You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate." 

"Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things I know are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed." 

"I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more; but, perhaps, when we are better acquainted—" 

He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled on each other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture, were examined and praised; and his commendation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property. The dinner too in its turn was highly admired; and he begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellency of its cooking was owing. But he was set right there by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologise for about a quarter of an hour.

And so we meet Mr Collins! He's super awkward but he'll hang around for a few more chapters yet so we'll have to get used to him.

One of the things I find weirdest/most uncomfortable about Mr Collins is his habit of complimenting everything. But I really like complimenting people (but unlike Mr Collins I only do it when I like something about someone/something. So I figure it's pretty different?) and then I feel guilty in case it makes them feel weird and uncomfortable. How do you react to giving/receiving compliments?

Read Along: Pride & Prejudice - Chapter 12

Chapter 12 

In consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote the next morning to their mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which would exactly finish Jane's week, could not bring herself to receive them with pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home. Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday; and in her postscript it was added, that if Mr. Bingley and his sister pressed them to stay longer, she could spare them very well. Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively resolved—nor did she much expect it would be asked; and fearful, on the contrary, as being considered as intruding themselves needlessly long, she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage immediately, and at length it was settled that their original design of leaving Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the request made. 

The communication excited many professions of concern; and enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day to work on Jane; and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other. 

So I guess Miss Bingley does like Jane at least a bit? She's been there a while... I had some super close friends stay with me for a week and that was super exhausting even though they are some of my favourite people ever. I suppose my house is probably smaller than Netherfield though.

• Tuesday: Jane visits to "dine" with Miss Bennet and Mrs Hurst - stays the night as it is raining
• Wednesday: Jane wakes up ill, sends for Elizabeth. Has dinner, reads while the others play cards. Discussion about ladies accomplishments.
• Thursday: Mrs Bennet and Lydia visit, Darcy writes a letter to his sister and Darcy, Lizzy and Bingley argue about the merits of being easily persuaded.
• Friday: Caroline teases Mr Darcy about his 'future uncle and aunt', Jane comes down for the evening. Miss Bingley pretends to read a book, Elizabeth teases Mr Darcy about his faults.
• Saturday: Elizabeth asks to be taken home, Caroline offers the carriage but suggests they stay an additional day.
• Sunday: They leave

The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be safe for her—that she was not enough recovered; but Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right. 

Interesting - so Jane can stand up for herself where she feels herself to be right. I guess she didn't feel right about insisting on using the carriage to get over here in the first place?

To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence—Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked—and Miss Bingley was uncivil to her, and more teasing than usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should now escape him, nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material weight in confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour, he adhered most conscientiously to his book, and would not even look at her. 

I find this very interesting and something similar was said in the last chapter ("He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention"). Mr Darcy believes that Elizabeth may well be aware of his crush on her - so he treats her poorly so that she won't get the wrong idea and think that they could be together. I find this interesting because he's treating her worse than he normally would (maybe?). And I think it's worth pointing out that Elizabeth isn't unaware of his treatment of her because he's super subtle or because she's oblivious: it's an obvious explanation of the way he treats her and the way he looks at her which she has discarded because she thinks it impossible that he would care about her.

On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable to almost all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabeth increased at last very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane; and when they parted, after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most tenderly, she even shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in the liveliest of spirits. 

They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought them very wrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. But their father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation, and almost all its sense by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth. 

They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough-bass and human nature; and had some extracts to admire, and some new observations of threadbare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different sort. Much had been done and much had been said in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers had dined lately with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married.

It's taken us a while but we've now reached the end of Episode 1 of the 1995 BBC adaption of Pride & Prejudice.

Also! Happy New Year to all my rad readers.

Did you celebrate NYE? If so, what did you do? My husband and I went to Garden Island and watched the fireworks on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was pretty spectacular.

The Fellowship of The Hobbit

I remember the first time I read The Hobbit I was thrilled to discover that there was even more of the story than I'd heard numerous times on the book-on-tape version I had. I had a lot of trouble getting to sleep as a child (and as an adult) and I'd listen to my The Hobbit cassette while trying to get to sleep. And in the car on long drives. And sometimes just because I was bored. 

So eventually I borrowed a copy of the book from the library and suddenly I realised that my cassette tape had left bits out. There were new bits I hadn't heard before and I felt both betrayed (my cassette tape was wrong) and excited.

But mostly I was disappointed because those new (to me) bits of The Hobbit? They... kind of sucked. I found myself skimming over them to get back to the actual story because elves are boring.

So I think part of my enduring love of The Hobbit (compared with The Lord of The Rings which I don't care for at all) may be partly an enduring love of a clearly and soothingly voiced abridged version. I haven't read it in a while and I am pretty sure that I still like the book a lot.

This afternoon my husband and I went to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It's part one of a three film epic and I'm disappointed because I still think The Hobbit is a story which is improved by removing things, rather than adding them. 

As Leonard Nimoy says: perfection is achieved not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. (Actually Antoine de Saint-Exupery might have said it, but I can only hear it in Leonard Nimoy's voice). The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey could have had quite a lot of stuff taken away.

I met a guy at a meetup event once who was studying filmmaking and so we got to talking about movies when discussing films that I thought were great I often commented on the pacing. He laughed (but in kind of a delighted way, I think) and told me that he'd only ever really talked about the pacing of movies with his fellow students. I don't know, I think that if you can watch a movie without being bored or confused then someone in editing has done a pretty good job. Pacing killed The Hobbit for me, I was bored through most of it. So that was pretty disappointing. I really enjoyed my favourite scenes from the book ("Good Morning!" and the riddle scene) but... pretty much everything was too long and it felt like Jackson was just showing off for the sake of it. Huge fancy scenes devoted to something that could have been a quick cut-away during dialogue, fight scenes that just went on for way too long. Ugh, oh well.

I have pretty high hopes for an amateur re-cut 120min version of all three films once they're all out on DVD though. That could be really amazing. 

Suresh's comment was that he wasn't sure whether the film was LotR: Episode 1 or LotR Fan Fiction. What do you think?