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Friday 3 April 2009

I grow old, I grow old, I shall wear my trousers rolled...

Greta Garbo Pictures, Images and Photos

Where were we yesterday, mes dahlinks?

What's that you say? Fhina lifts ear trumpet to cabbage ear...

Ah, yes, la Wiki and her foretelling of what might happen to la Fhina were she not to get her dear ass back to The Office next week...

It won't be easy for her, you say?

How do you imagine that? For we all pretty much have to work, to earn our baguette, don't we?

... Unless one is, as you say, like eccentric Miss Havisham, 'independently wealthy...'

"Although she has often been portrayed in film versions as very elderly, Dickens's own notes indicate that Miss Havisham is only in her mid-fifties... (Phew, I've still got a few years left, then!)

However, it is also indicated that her long life away from the sunlight has in itself aged her, and she is said to look like a cross between a waxwork and a skeleton, with moving eyes. (...Not a good look, Fhina has found - Not even the Sainted YSL's Touche Eclat can help with that, mes jolies!)

Garbo in The Kiss Pictures, Images and Photos

"Miss Havisham's mother died when she was just a baby, and her father, a wealthy brewer, spoiled her as a result. When he died, he left her most of his money. As an adult, she fell for a man named Compeyson, who was out to swindle her of her riches. Her cousin warned her to be careful, but she was too much in love to listen.

Greta Garbo & John Gilbert Pictures, Images and Photos

At twenty minutes to nine on their wedding day, while she was dressing, Miss Havisham received a letter from Compeyson and realized that he had defrauded her and she had been left at the altar.

"Humiliated and heartbroken, Havisham had all the clocks stopped at the exact point in which she had learned of her betrayal. From that day on, she remained by herself in her decaying mansion, Satis House, never removing her wedding dress (as a result of being in the process of getting dressed when she receives the letter, she only has one shoe on), leaving the wedding cake uneaten on the table and only allowing a few people to see her. She can be called eccentric..."

You don't say! Fhina, in a very large nutshell, en effet!

Did you know, mes dahlinks, that, Eliza Emily Donnithorne (1827-1886) of Camperdown, Sydney, was jilted by her groom on her wedding day in 1846 and spent the rest of her life in a darkened house, her rotting wedding cake left as it was on the table, and her front door kept permanently ajar in case her groom ever returned (although he died in 1852). ...She was widely considered at the time to be Dickens' model for Miss Havisham, although this cannot be proven".

Greta Garbo Pictures, Images and Photos

And there you have it, mes dahlinks, never mind 'Blogger's Ass', if I were to remain at home, with only the love of blogging to sustain me, I could turn into one of the Miss Havishams, or might even become like Greta, hiding from the world, in order to sustain my mystique, my beauty (*ahem*), my intrigue and feminine allure, for many years...

Do you believe that, mes paramours? No, neither do I, but I have to get to a point where I say it... I love you more than I love my possessions... You have become more than dahlink friends to me, and have seen me through wibbles and wobbles and secrets and lies (there weren't any lies, really, truly...For you know I can't...); the glass half full, glass half empty; the stained glass; the designer baggage, and my literary aspirations, and things for me will never be the same again...

I shall be stepping up my entry back to the world of full time work over the next few weeks, with more than full time commuting -- Living out in the sticks as I do and working in the city...

Please forgive me and please do stick with me if I seem a little distant, a tad more absent, over this time... If I do not manage to come and say, Bonjour, each day, in fact...

journeyhome Pictures, Images and Photos

...It is not me who is driving Fhina to this madness, it is that mustachio-twirling evil-doer, that weighted millstone around my neck, it is the blasted mortgage on Crumbling Crawford Mansions that is pulling me back to the harsh strip light of the modern gaol cell - The Office...
ricky gervais Pictures, Images and Photos


Greta Garbo Pictures, Images and Photos
As Garbo, I want to say, and I know you know, I love you lots, loads in fact, and will see (and kiss, air or otherwise - for you know how soppy la Fhina can be?) you soon, mes champignons du mars... I might not be here every day from Wednesday onwards, but think of me here, indomitable in spirit, and seen only in glimpses, in chi-chi sunglasses, undulating silk scarf pulled over my golden tresses, and always, always, that raincoat, cinched provocatively around my (ever-expanding!)waist a la Garbo...

Garbo as The Temptress Pictures, Images and Photos

Things will never be quite the same again, now that I have met y'all, you beauties, and thank you in advance for staying by me... It's not au revoir, it's more a bientot

Greta Garbo Pictures, Images and Photos

32 comments:

Jinksy said...

As Khalil Gibran once said, 'Every end is a new beginning' - good luck with yours, m'dear! x

French Fancy... said...

Good luck with going back to work. I don't know the City of London very well, despite having done a few organised Sunday walks. I've always been either in the West End or theatreland.

Just think of your return to work as new blog fodder

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Jinks: Still need to amend my email, v. sorry la jinks - Too true, too true, m'darling! x

FF: V. sorry to mislead you FF, I live in the northernmost county, and work in the city of Newcastle, not THE City - Still, I get to commute longer than most Londoners I know! Take care x

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Ah yes the return to work by "dahlink" who must leave her readers- as the Fhina you writes- "mes paramours"- don't worry if you visit a bit less when your pace changes...you have found a place in your readers' hearts...they will keep checking and wonder where the woman is...you were posting a lot even when you were sick! (Now maybe I can keep up.) My posting changed when I returned to work...its a natural evolution. Love the Garbo here...such a mood! <3

Chairman Bill said...

Work? The scourge of the drinking classes.

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Cynthia - A natural evolution, I like it! And people like you who continue to hold down demanding jobs and lifestyles as well as blogging beautifully, are my heroes and heroines! Take care, dahlink! x

Chairman Bill: 'Tis true! And I have no doubt my alcohol consumption shall rise, that is unless my liver says this far and no further!

Zuzana said...

Ha, I pity these women to lock themselves away from the beauty of the world for such a reason!
No, you are nothing like them.;) Eccentric can mean so much more than never to recover from a broken heart.;)
I hope Friday is treating you well and I wish you a great weekend.;)
Good luck with the new ventures ahead of you.;))

Maternal Tales said...

I don't know what to say - I have only just found you and now you will be with me less and less. I think I may have to resort to becoming a hermit too and forever checking to see if you've updated. It's ok, I will wait. Good luck with your work (yuck may I be forever at home and never have to experience strip lighting again - it does nothing for my skin). xxxx

blognut said...

Oh, Fhina! I fear a little piece of my heart is breaking.

I have learned to start my day reading your lovely blog because it never fails to put my head in a calm place (as opposed to putting it up my backside, which comes later in the day). In my circus of a life, calm places can be hard to find.

Nevertheless, I shall continue to stalk your blog as you see fit to update it, and maybe even when you don't, because your wisdom is timeless. I can read it over and over again, and still find peace within it... and peace is another thing that is hard to find.

I do love you my, my dear. Have yourself a wonderful day, you beautiful thing.

Bloggus Nuttus
xooooox

Carma Sez said...

Please visit my blog today if you get a chance :D

We'll all still be here for you, even if you don't post everyday...

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

Don't worry. . . in fine Havisham style we will sit here. . . ass in chair. . .one shoe on. . .waiting for your return.

Or until Pip comes to free us. . .

Michelle said...

GOOD FREAKING LUCK MY FRIEND!!!

I am going to miss the heck out of you but you will be posting right?

I am glad your feeling so much better to be able to go back to your work!!! I am sure you were missed there!!!

Just don't let us miss you here too much OK???

Eleonora Baldwin said...

Coals to Newcastle... I won't be original, you have plenty of readers telling you this, but it's true: blogland will be a sadder place for a while. A bientot, cherie. (Don't work too hard) We'll miss you.

Unknown said...

Hello Fhina,

I never knew about the Aussie Miss Havisham!

If you are half as entertaining, informative and fraternal at work as you have been here, your colleagues will be desperately awaiting your return!

Wear something fabulous and knock 'em dead!

Saz said...

a stunning woman in every way...dahlink

Saz said...

hope you got my gratefull email I sent you earlier in the week Fhi!

Rachel Green said...

Oh! I love Garbo!

Clippy Mat said...

poor miss havisham.
poor you.
hey my daughter works in newcastle too. maybe you will bump into each other in m&s and pass each other by, unknowing....
get back to work. why should you have all the fun?
but don't stray too far.
there's cobwebs all over my wedding cake at my blog too!
:-))

Tim Atkinson said...

...just a different kind of work, surely. (Good luck with it!)

Sometimes Sophia said...

You've gathered an amazing collection of Garbo pictures here. Does the kiss come from Foreign Legion? An absolutely stunning image, that one.

Good luck with your change of routine. Your work here is a treasure. Thank you so much... and come back soon.

Belle said...

I had no idea Miss Havisham was SO young. You are such a mine of information.
x
Gorgeous pictures.

Heather said...

We will wait, eager to hear from you. Good luck and know that you will be sorely missed!

Diane said...

I have but one thing to say... our loss is The Office's gain... lucky, lucky office.

We shall be here, darling Fhina, whether you are or not... xo

Suldog said...

Ick. I read about people who stop living when someone jilts them and I want to run to them, shake them, and say, "Wake up! You are not being punished! You have, instead, been saved from a miserable life with a terrible f'ing sod! Now, instead of moping around in the mold all day, get out and have at it with this new gift of life you've been granted!"

Margo said...

Good luck with your next chapter! It sounds like a big change. Please promise to be gentle with yourself as far as your expectations of how much you "should" do. Treat yourself as you would your very best friend. I look forward to visiting you here as often as you post, however often, or not, that turns out to be :)

kapgaf said...

Ma pauvre petite chérie,
Je te souhaite un retour au travail tout en douceur. Des journées paisibles avec de bons collègues retrouvés et du matériel pour un blog moins régulier mais plus croustillant !
A la prochaine.

findingmywingsinlife said...

I love your optimism and open heartedness! Today was the first day I have really had the opportunity to peruse through all of my blogger friends recent posts and you've made me smile Fhina!

Woman in a Window said...

You and I both off to work. I've one week left. Let's try to hang in there, k?

Susan English Mason said...

A girl's got to make a living for sure! It's all about priorities. Maybe with some luck you will be able to sneak on to the internet throughout the day. (I won't tell.)

Anonymous said...

Good luck with working in the office... and all that commuting! Just think of all the wonderful books you can read while commuting though - and all the stories of the office that you can regale us with on your blog!

This is not the end dahlink, just a new kind of beginning...

sallymandy said...

All good wishes and support for your venture back, Fhina! Maybe you will find that your blog and work inspire each other. Please only do what you can, and know that all your friends out here aren't going away. I look forward to hearing how the transition goes for you. love...

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Protege: Thank you precious Z! I know exactly what you mean, and I am proud to be considered not so mainstream, except I'm maybe not that eccentric either - More of a balance. Always good, non?! Have a fine weekend, my friend, ! x

Maternal Tales: I am glad you have found me, and vice versa, dahlink! I think sometimes with la Fhina, less is more, so perhaps my wine will be more fermented and even sweeter, rather than being like diluted cordials or turning into vinegar! I hope so! I always have to avert my eyes when in our ladies loos at work, as I resemble nothing more savoury than a cadaver reflected there in the glass! Bless you for your loveliness, and I wish for you a peaceful and extended stay at home too, for all the right reasons. x

Treasured Bloggus Nuttus: I love it that you can say you find some calm here, darling BN. I do try to put that over, as well as my wild heart, which is breaking too at the thought of having to return to full time toil. I loved it, but I have found other things to occupy my troubled mind here at home, during my enforced absence, as you know - And leaving you is like taking a bitter pill, but I shall probably find I can read just as much of all your loveliness, as I have been, and write too, for I have practically given up watching TV, which was always the way I relaxed when I came home from the office - Especially in the winter, so all that has changed, and I have found y'all! Fabulous stuff, eh! I am concerned about returning fully to my circus life, which I would guess is much like yours BN, except I only have one child, well two if you count GJ, who's very much a Big Baby! I think what we both have to do, as you so wisely say, is to create spaces of peace, just as your blogspace is somewhere I come to reflect, to love and to really laugh heartily - I wish I could do funny just as well as you, darling, BN - Oops, this is almost another blog... Have a wonderful weekend, my sweet BN xxooxx

carma: Fabulous, dahlink, thank you so much! And for everything! :)

lizspin: I was about to walk out the house the other day with two different shoes on, a la Miss Havisham, I kid you not! Must get my eyes tested again shortly :) x

Michelle: I shall need your good freaking luck, Michelle, tenfold! I will be posting - Wild horses couldn't drag me away from you lot, you lovely, lovely, cheeky, charming dahlinks! xxooxx

Lola: I shall try not to work too hard, but that old fever always gets its grip on my system, and I run myself ragged, but knowing I can be here, and be me, and read wonderful blogs, is now so uplifting to me, and I care very much about y'all, I truly do!

Derrick: You can imagine, Sir, just how many times my colleagues' eyes roll at work, with the sorts of things I can come up with... I do rein quite a bit of myself in, as I'm not really much of a conformist, and that can be overwhelming, plus not everyone gets my references or humour, and my bosses tend to make fun of the language I use, and I end up having to explain what I mean all the time, because so much of how I plan projects is in my head, if you know what I mean... I'll just have to keep taking the tablets ;) I do have a couple of really good friends at work, 'though, who do 'get' me as you lovelies do, so that's heartening!

Fat, frumpy and fifty: Thank you, so, Saz! Hope you have a fantabulous weekend, you deserve a rest and a treat, girl! xxooxx

Leatherdykeuk: :) x

Clipstress: It's you, you clippy treasure! I shall look out for your lovely daughter, don't you worry! Does she work, or just shop in Marksies? And we await your glorious return to blogging, Lady Clippy x

The Dotterel: You are right, Sir! Thank you for your good luck wishes, I shall need them...

Sometimes Sophia: I am not certain of the origins of the pics, SS, other than that they are from Photobucket... I have not seen all of Garbo's oeuvre, I must admit... Bless you for being here, and being all that you are, SS xx

Belle: I am a mine of all kinds of useless trivia, but I also research, so I can't claim to know it all! x

Heather: Bless you for your kindness x

Diane: They do tell me that they've missed me at work, and I do think they're just being kind... And you know that nothing will keep me away from here, seeing as you and all my friends are here! xxooxx

Suldog: You are indeed so wise, Sir Suldog!

Margo: Thank you precious Margo! I shall see it as my next chapter, you are so right...and to treat myself as my best friend, is such good advice, thank you so much! x

kapgaf: Merci millefois, mon petit chouxfleur! J'aime tellement cette expression de vous: "un blog moins régulier mais plus croustillant". Ca, serait magnifique, vous etes si gentil, si intelligent, vous aurez toujours mes meilleurs voeux!

findingmywingsinlife: Thank you, sweetie! Thank you for understanding my wild, open heart! I have also done that this week, read back through some people's blogs - We always dash at things, don't we, and there is so much to read and to learn of others - This is a treasured place! I am glad to have raised a smile with you x

Woman in a Window: You're off to work too? We do need to hang on, even if just by our fingertips, non?! x

Pouty Lips: Hello dahlink Poutress! I shall not be able to sneak on t'internet throughout day, only at lunchtimes, I'm afraid - I shall have the Blogland DT's you can be sure! x

ladyfi: I am afraid ladyfi that my commuting is being driven by my hubby, or driving myself - There is no suitable public transport where I live, so I cannot find time, nor peace to read while GJ is screaming at other traffic! You are right that I need to think of this move very positively, thank you, bless you! x

sallymandy: Thank you, sallymandy! Bless you, and I shall be here, as well as there, as ever, and I am sure to find much to rant about here, you will imagine! Love to you... x

Something I wrote earlier...

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