Eros and Psyche
Juliet Stevenson - Actor - See blog later this week for more details...
And thank you to those of you who have offered me feedback about my writing - I am very grateful for your thoughts, and I shall endeavour to keep things shorter in future, perhaps with less piccies!
Today, my blog contains a few images of some of my favourite women, strong and creative souls, to mark International Women's Day earlier this week.
I also want to acknowledge the woman who married my mate on Saturday! She has my sincere admiration for what she has achieved in life, as well as on their very important day... Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro being only one of Mad's achievements!
Annie Lennox
Back To The Future: The Wedding: Guests at the wedding were served prawns as horse's doovers, or little Mushroom Cheesecakes for the veggies... A few of us toyed with the cheesecake, concurring that it was a little like cold, thickened Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup on a biscuit - Alas, an acquired taste...
This was followed by lovely, heart-warming Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pud, or Salmon, with a cheese and ceps Strudel for the veg-inclined, with baby swedes and carrots - Delish! By this point, I was stuffed, but pud for all was a sublimely piquant Lemon Cheesecake, on the very bases that survived the mushroom starter! Dessert was scoffed wholeheartedly...
(Isadora Duncan...) As our place settings, Mads had spent most of her daylight hours, it appeared, hand-painting charming little glass tea-light holders, in shades of vibrant violet to match her dress, scripting our names in gold filigree.
Sarah BernhardtThese are wonderful souvenirs of the day, with the date of their joining-of-hands also inscribed... I had to nick a hotel napkin to ensure GJ's and mine would reach home in one piece... I have explained to you before how accident prone I am, haven't I?! Please don't call for the handcuffs just yet!
The Wedding Invitations came as hand-lettered scrolls in cleverly-crafted boxes... Ingenious! There were five little favours for the guests*** - Cute boxes holding 5 heart-shaped chocolates in purple foil... For the evening, tables were resplendent in purple voile, scattered with shiny purple confetti hearts and matching fabric petals, tethered cream and violet balloons, a little magenta sheath of fizzing firework sparklers, some bubbles to blow over the gathered throng, and glass bowls full of mini packets of Love Hearts sweeties! Have they made it over the pond? Sugary sweet confections with loved-up messages like Marry Me, on them?
La Billie...
Emily Wilding Davison
At this point, I had found two chairs to sort of collapse in, what I thought to be, a rather interesting pose, given that my back was finally telling me - Enough for one day! I spoke to some colleagues from my office, which I am dodging at the mo'... They told me that morale there is in deep decline, and everyone is being shoe-horned in to increasingly smaller spaces, with one chap cracking under the strain recently, and throwing his computer keyboard at a window...
Marie Stopes
I managed to cope with what the day had brought... For GJ, who was very keen to go to the wedding, to enjoy something positive and uplifting, he had the chance to chat with Phil and to watch Phil's and his Guitar Hero, Paul Rose, play like an angel to the gathered Chatterati, and for Fhina there was the chance for a colourful airing, (...for I have rarely slipped from the house since November!), to see friends happy and looking forward to a wonderful start in life...
I enjoyed meeting new people so beloved of my friends; And the opportunity to muse on the cords that bind us, the things that link us back to the same people over and again... Considering those we choose to spend our lives with - Friends, sometimes soulmates, and having some insight into how to mend hearts, to see our own skittering reflections and memories reflected there...
***Five Favours: A short history and meaning of wedding favours
The custom of giving wedding favours dates back to early European history when they were given to celebrate marriages, birthdays and christenings by wealthy aristocrats.
Favours symbolise the bride's acknowledgment of each friend and relative who shares her special day. A beautiful thank you and keepsake.
Traditionally, the bride wraps 5 sugared almonds either in the form of delicate lace nets or elegantly designed boxes. These symbolise the following 5 wishes:
Health, Wealth, Happiness, Long Life and Fertility.
Dreams unwind, love is hard to find...
36 comments:
sublimely lovely post Fhi! you have the most evocative images.
My breath always snags and catches when l see an image of Sylvia Plath, there but for the grace and all that.....
must dash.. l have to take my attic gear to the vintage shop this morning, then go by beds, and find some furniture...think of a quick meal, take son to shop for Duke of E gear to buy then go measure up bedrooms in new place.. and with a headache..sigh!
catcha later
Phew, well I came over to catch up and just don't know where you find the time to do all of that before 9 am!! I'm most impressed, but it's so long since I was involved in all that LOVE (and marriage)... lovely, but a distant memory for me.
Look forward to hearing more about your Opsimath Activities. M xxx
Sounds like it was a wonderful wedding, very well planned and organized. And that everyone enjoyed themselves.;))
I can not help thinking though; it must have been some expensive occasion.;)) I sure would not be able to afford anything this lovely.
Shirley MacLaine is one of my favorite actresses.;))
Saz: Bach Rescue Remedy for stress - I swear by it - Pasta for lunch - Quick and filling - and good luck with the D of E hunt, and just think of how wonderful it shall be when you are all installed, cosy in your new chez nous! A number of my strong women choices have tear-jerkingly sad stories, n'est-ce pas? All the best, dahlink! xox
Motherlylove: I wrote this yesterday, hence it getting posted early! I'm not always this organised, rest assured! Opsimath? Do you mean Kleptomaniac?! x
Z: I really think that my friends had a very economical wedding - I hear of some folk spending thousands of pounds, (cars/photos/three thousand pounds on dresses), which is just silly in my book... I know the couple is (like most of us) on a budget, and I think they managed to organise many things themselves - Friends to take photos, self-made favours and decorations - a lot of work, but cheaper than paying for organisers or hotels to offer the fripperies... The main expense would have been the reception for 30. Keeping numbers low means it would have been less expensive than inviting 120, for example. Don't be put off, I think one of the reasons that it was all so relaxed and lovely was because of the very personal touches, rather than paying a fortune for other people to do the work, and everyone being stressed to the hilt! Shirley Maclaine is just fabulous, and so quirkily interesting, no?! xox
I love your writing! You just took us all to what sounds like a lovely wedding. Why would you change a thing?
Bloggus, bless you for your ever-loveliness, dahlink! I treasure your support, I do! x
That was a lovely post and I do agree on the women you selected. The wedding sounded lovely - I love purple and violet and all the toning shades.
Fhina, on your profile, can you change your setting and tick the box that says "show email" so I can reply to your comments? That's how I'm answering comments on my site these days... :)
I love the picture of the Gentlelady at night
Sounds like a lovely wedding! I've not been to one in ages... sigh. XO
You are simply the bestest!!! I love your writing and your photo selections!!! Heck, I love it all. Only change IF YOU WANT TO!!! K?
Lovely sounding wedding. Lovely sounding food. Lovely sounding everything!!!
Also, Happy International Women's Day to you!!! I am sending you virtual flowers!!! Whatever you love!!! SUNFLOWERS PERHAPS??
I am off to Toe doc!!! I will blog later all about it!!!! OR NOT!
Love ya!!!
I feel as if I was in attendance myself! Sounds like a wonderful event. Love the little video of the dancing woman!
FF: You are lovely, FF - The wedding was just very sweet and lovely! My list of important women was not definitive, but I'd bet we'd agree on pretty much everything anyway! x
♥ Braja: I think I have amended that, B! Blessings x
Leatherdykeuk: Hello you! Glad you liked that pic!
Diane: It was a gentle, positive life event and we have so few of those these days. non? xo
Michelle: Where have you been, my darling - Thank you for your support! All the best chez le lovely docteur! Take care, speaks soon? xox BTW, I adore sunflowers, and I'm sending you some lovely peonies from Saturday's Wedding Bouquet!
Artist Unplugged: I guess I just wanted to offer a little bit of loveliness to share! That dancing lady is la belle Isadora Duncan!
I do love weddings. Every detail of them. The couple, the guests, the chosen food and so on. Sounds lovely.
Juliet Stevensen - fabulous actress, was in a great film with Alan Rickman - agh what was it called?! She cried so well they use the VT in drama schools to train budding actors.
Annie Lennox, well what's not to like, brill brill brill. Brought her a bottle of gin once when I did some student work, usheretting at the Brighton Centre. Great choice, her I mean, not the gin...
Get it on! -Like the photo, Importance. Now come on, is that your real hair? ;-)
Marriage is so 20th century, don't you think?
Whenever Hay and I talk about marriage, we can't some up with sufficient reasons - or indeed any reasons. We're happy as we are.
The only excuse we can come up with having a good party, in which case we may do it when the house it topped out.
I really like several of your pics. Billie Holiday is beautiful. The style of dress in her time was unbelieveably fashionable and feminine...not to mention her contribution to all eras of music!
Dreams Unwind is a beautiful picture. Wish we all could sleep so peaceful! We women would love to be embraced by a love so strong and wonderful, have strong arms wrapped around us to keep us safe and to love us so passionately as in the picture of the woman smiling as she is held by her angel.
The heart held so gently by the hands of partners, very nice. A mutual love to protect each other's hearts.
Well done, nice selection...as always
Meredith, thank you - How are you? x
Reasons: Oui, c'est moi in that photo - Taken a couple of years back for a publication, hence the formal pose(!), and it helped prevent two of my chins showing), and now pressed into charitable service!
My hair is probably about the same now it's been lopped and I've been civilized! You cheeky bism - I know it looks like straw, but it is all I have! LOL! x
Juliet was in Truly, Madly, Deeply with the lovely Alan, directed by the lovely, late Anthony Minghella - Fab! And I had no idea they use the VT in drama schools - Excellent stuff - It is one of my favourite comfort films... And, as for proffering Annie Lennox a bottle of gin - Wow, what a brush with a legend, Reasons - Annie came over very down to earth and sensitive in a recent TV interview... Thank you for sharing! x
Bill, sorry, missed you there! Too big a red nose, methinks!
I know what you mean about the institution of marriage, and I did not expect to be 'wowed' by our friends' very quiet, understated and intimate 'do', but it was lovely, and it was a pleasure to see them decide on this, at this stage in their lives, if you know what I mean...
And they have no topping off ceremony to have instead, I must add!
Badgers don't marry in any case, do they?!
presious, missed you too, so sorry! We must all be posting simulataneously - It's just I take ages to comment, and it becomes like some whole n'other blog!
Glad you liked the pics, Billie is elegant and timeless, and I was almost teetering over into a Valentine's Day posting, with all those hearts, but I do like that pic of hands holding the heart encased in wrought metal - Lovely! x
I love every minute I spend at your place. You create the scene like an art director, every thing adding to the overall effect. If you changed anything, like removing one little thing, the scene would feel diminished. Keep it up, with a crescendo.
LV: You are such a blogging star, my darling, with that lovely POTD award now recognising your wonders! You are kind and thank you for your goodness! x
Did you know that sugared almonds were once considered an aphrodisiac? Hope you enjoyed Saturday night....
So many women to admire . . . I especially like Annie (wonderful pictures of her) and Juliet.
I worry when young people get too caught up in wedding preparations, but it seems sweet when a more (ahem) mature couple fret over the details. When you are in such a small crowd you really DO feel that you have been brought together to wish the new couple well.
A wondeful post full of wonderful, admirable women. The wedding sounded lovely!
Truly Madly Deeply - that was it!! Juliet Stevenson & the wonderfully larconic Alan Rickman - he was a ghost. x
Scriptor Senex: I didn't know that sugared almonds were once considered an aphrodisiac? Bizarre - I wondered what they were to do with weddings! I slept very well, thank you! The favours were chocs not nuts!
Bee: Thank you for taking the time to come here lovely Bee! I think weddings can get out of hand and obscenely expensive - I had a colleague with little money pondering ice statues and the like because she had seen them in a magazine - So wrong! It is true, our age has a lot to do with loving it when someone still has faith to marry and take that risk in life once again... x
10 March 2009 18:08
Candy's daily Dandy: Hello sweetie - Glad you enjoyed it! x
Reasons to be Cheerful 1,2,3: Rickman was a glorious and sneezy, stroppy ghost - It always chokes me up when I watch it! x
Lovely wedding description.
I wanna throw my work keyboard - can I , Can I , huh , pleeeeese ?
Well maybe not - need to keep my job a while longer
Love and hugs (if your back will take it ?)
Jan - I think we all get close to throwing keyboards - I once had to go all around the floor full of folk at work, apologising for having screamed at the top of my lungs after a frustrating 'phone call! I've never lived it down! Thank you so for the hug ((( Back to you!))) x
That first picture, Eros and Psyche, has been a favorite of mine since I saw it floating around the internet a few years back. Beautiful image.
Finding: I went off on a bit of an Eros and Psyche kick with the images - and I need to research that a little more, for my own satisfaction! ~Thankyou for dropping by!
I love Annie Lennix and Marie Stopes did so much good for women. The wedding menu sounded amazing!
I love this post so much! So many strong, beautiful women! Shirley McClain is incredible in my opinion! Thank you for stopping by my little hole in the webosphere and leaving your kind words. I agree that this too shall pass. I think we all have a bit of extra strength we didn't know was there until needed!
Sarah: Bless you for knowing who Marie Stopes is - A very important woman indeed for the UK! Congrats on David McMahon's Post Of The Day, Sarah!
Simplicity: Welcome in, sweetie! You are very, very welcome - I wish you all the best, and sometimes we are stronger than we would ever give ourselves credit for! Take care.
Well, Fhina! With 34 comments do I need to add another? Except to say that I'm glad the 'do' was so enjoyable. And you've chosen some lovely ladies.
I love how much work you put into these posts. Marvelous.
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