Ann Lethbridge's Blog, page 29

Have your say!

Every now and then I am asked to help a student studying some aspect of the romance genre. This time is a little different.  Here is your chance to have input to a survey of romance readers on a variety of topics.

Help a student learn more about our genre and complete the survey.  Here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/65TCL33

I'll be blogging again later in the week trying to finish off my trip to Clovelly, if blogger will cooperate on the uploading of the pictures, that is.

More Old Devon

One of the most interesting spots we visited in Clovelly was the Fisherman's cottage in Providence Row.

Here we got to understand something of the life of the people who lived among the twisty narrow streets clinging to the hillside.  And they are clinging by the way. Several have slipped down that hillside over the years.

The villagers used what they had to hand to build their houses.  Stones from the beach, earth from their excavations, lime from the kiln after it was build in the 17th century.   They created what are called cob and stone walls. The stones formed the foundations for the wall and the cob was a mixture of mud and straw and small stones formed into bricks.

 Here is a picture of an exposed cob and stone wall. Plastering, the covering over the cob and stone was mud and hay and lime putty. Later more lime was added to the plastering mix.


This is the kitchen taken from two directions.

I love the way one cupboard is tucked into the corner and another let into the wall. You have the feeling that not an inch of space is wasted.

It was interesting to learn that they melted down fishbones to make a very good adhesive.
Up stairs, and very steep and narrow stairs there are there are three more rooms. Can you see how the nightgown hangs across the corner of the room. There is another corner hanger like this on the other side of the window.

This is what we would call the master bed room.


And this next one the children's room.

And according to the information provided, boys who worked on the farmland might occupy the attic.  Or my guess is that it would also serve as an overflow for older children.

And below we have the tools of the owner's trade.

I have many more pictures of Clovelly to share, but once more Blogger has exhausted my patience with waiting for photos to upload, so until next time, Happy Rambles.

RWA 2011

If you wondered where I have been, this may help. The Romance Writers of America conference was in New York this year and I combined it with a visit to nearby family.  I had thought I would blog while I was away, but, hangs head in shame, was too busy having a good time! Here are some pictures of what authors get up to when they emerge from their caves.

This is a view of sunset taken from my hotel window the first night I arrived.  This is looking west across the Hudson to New Jersey.

Who wouldn't be pleased with such a view, though the sunset was more impressive in real life, I must say.

 Authors and editors Travelling in style

Th picture on the right is me with my editor.
 
Toes to match your shoes. How about that!We had a fun afternoon with our editors visiting a house that used to be a Day Inn used by people in the city to get away, and is now surrounded by skyscrapers The Harlequin Party was amazing. Held at the Waldorf Astoria, here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what a great time we had.

And here is me with my agent in my black and white dress, since, if you didn't already guess the party was a black and white ball and every one looked great.

Old Devon Continued

Hah, did no one notice my silly mistake?


Another question. Are you ready for the big climb?

I'm diggin' the mac, by the way. I look a bit like an escapee from a detective show.  This is only one of the many hills to climb in Clovelly. And maybe I'm looking for a lost boat. They do turn up in the oddest places.

<<-----Look up                                                                      
                                                       Look down--->>


Look out!

No, I mean look out at the view!

How about seeing that from your window every morning. I can imagine how wild and bleak it is during a storm or during the winter.  I will post a few more pictures for those of you who like this sort of stuff, without comment, since there really isn't much to add, then next time talk a little more about life in the village.
                                 
  















So blogger being blogger and time being time, I have stopped trying to move them and you have them in one long row. Hope you enjoyed. We have more to learn about the village, but this is all about how pretty it is.

More Old Devon

But first a squee! 

On Wednesday you will find my short story, Deliciously Debauched by the Rake on e-harlequin.com - follow the link to e-harlequin on the right. I think this cover is delicious all by itself!


Elizabeth Bentham has been John, Lord Radthorn's lover for five glorious years. But she wants him to have a chance to marry a respectable lady, not a woman with her tarnished reputation. Elizabeth thinks telling him their relationship has lost its spark will help him move on...but John isn't prepared to lose her, and sets out to prove their passion is as strong as ever....
I did have fun writing this story about minor characters who appear in The Gamekeeper's Lady. This is a fun and sexy read.

Clovelly Continued:

There is no mistaking what the inhabitants of this charming village do for a living, apart from tourists, with all the lobster pots attractively arranged at the entrance to the alleyway behind the cottages that face the harbour and the sea.  Although Tourism is probably the prevalent business now.
In past days there was another important industry for the people along the coast.  If you look closely, at the picture to the right you will see a rounded stone shape that looks a bit like a castle turret.  This was a lime-kiln.

Lime was a very important product in the 18th and 19th century, used by farmers to counteract the acidity in their soil and for whitewash for cottage walls.  The lime-kiln used a very cheap form of fuel, coal dust, called culm, brought by boat from South Wales.

Layers of lime and coal dust were put in the top of the kiln, called the pot, then set alight from the base. You can see the arched entrance, which is now covered by a wooden door.  As the stone burned, it produced calcium oxide or the substance we know as quicklime which was drawn off through the draw hole loaded onto donkey and taken up the hill.  Lime mortar was also used between the stones from which the cottages are built. This mortar allows the walls to "breathe" in the damp climate and is used today.  This kiln ceased operation in 1911.

Steps up to the pier are not for the faint-hearted and flat shoes are recommended, but once up there the views are worth the effort.

That is all from me, today, but make sure you have your walking shoes handy next time because we will be climbing up the cobbled street to the top of the hill.

Until then, Happy Rambles

More Old Cornwall

But first a squee! 

On Wednesday you will find my short story, Deliciously Debauched by the Rake on e-harlequin.com - follow the link to e-harlequin on the right. I think this cover is delicious all by itself!


Elizabeth Bentham has been John, Lord Radthorn's lover for five glorious years. But she wants him to have a chance to marry a respectable lady, not a woman with her tarnished reputation. Elizabeth thinks telling him their relationship has lost its spark will help him move on...but John isn't prepared to lose her, and sets out to prove their passion is as strong as ever....
I did have fun writing this story about minor characters who appear in The Gamekeeper's Lady. This is a fun and sexy read.

Clovelly Continued:

There is no mistaking what the inhabitants of this charming village do for a living, apart from tourists, with all the lobster pots attractively arranged at the entrance to the alleyway behind the cottages that face the harbour and the sea.  Although Tourism is probably the prevalent business now.
In past days there was another important industry for the people along the coast.  If you look closely, at the picture to the right you will see a rounded stone shape that looks a bit like a castle turret.  This was a lime-kiln.

Lime was a very important product in the 18th and 19th century, used by farmers to counteract the acidity in their soil and for whitewash for cottage walls.  The lime-kiln used a very cheap form of fuel, coal dust, called culm, brought by boat from South Wales.

Layers of lime and coal dust were put in the top of the kiln, called the pot, then set alight from the base. You can see the arched entrance, which is now covered by a wooden door.  As the stone burned, it produced calcium oxide or the substance we know as quicklime which was drawn off through the draw hole loaded onto donkey and taken up the hill.  Lime mortar was also used between the stones from which the cottages are built. This mortar allows the walls to "breathe" in the damp climate and is used today.  This kiln ceased operation in 1911.

Steps up to the pier are not for the faint-hearted and flat shoes are recommended, but once up there the views are worth the effort.

That is all from me, today, but make sure you have your walking shoes handy next time because we will be climbing up the cobbled street to the top of the hill.

Until then, Happy Rambles

Rambling in Old Devon

In Cornish, the word for Cornwall is Kernow.

Did I ever tell you I consider myself a very fortunate person. I have a wonderful family, and lots of great friends.

This last week, I was once again reminded how fortunate I am, when my sister-in-law and brother-in-law surprised me by booking a room in a hotel in Clovelly.  I knew we were going to visit Clovelly, but did not expect to be staying there, because it is very small and very difficult to access. You will see why I was so excited and pleased, when you see the pictures I am going to share with you over the next few posts.

This is the Red Lion hotel where we stayed and as you can see we were blessed with lovely weather. It was once several fishermen's cottages and was joined together to form an inn a great many years ago.

Early records of the village date back to Saxon times, but  it has been around in something like its present form since the 16th century.  If you haven't visited Clovelly, then hopefully you enjoy thes pictures as we rambled around the harbour and up through the village itself.

 The populatin in the village in 1801 was 714 people and a great many of these would have been children, since families were large and the number of cottages is quite small.

The hillside is very steep so we have to go up very slowly and you will have to take lots of breaks, but first may I suggest a small libation at the bar in the Red Lion.  We also had a crab sandwich for lunch, which was delicious.


To get down to the hotel by car (as only hotel guests are permitted to do), we used what is called The Turnpike road, which in the old days was very steep and very rough and it is this way that the supplies were delivered to the village at the very bottom of the hill, only to be have to then carried up to the houses. More about this later.



This is the cobbled alleyway that leads from Turnpike at the back of the Red Lion to the harbour side of the pier.


And here is the harbour as it appeared to us the day we arrived. You can see that the tide is out.

I have to say that we were enchanted with these first view of Clovelly, and there is so much more to come.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

Rambling in Old Cornwall

In Cornish, the word for Cornwall is Kernow.

Did I ever tell you I consider myself a very fortunate person. I have a wonderful family, and lots of great friends.

This last week, I was once again reminded how fortunate I am, when my sister-in-law and brother-in-law surprised me by booking a room in a hotel in Clovelly.  I knew we were going to visit Clovelly, but did not expect to be staying there, because it is very small and very difficult to access. You will see why I was so excited and pleased, when you see the pictures I am going to share with you over the next few posts.

This is the Red Lion hotel where we stayed and as you can see we were blessed with lovely weather. It was once several fishermen's cottages and was joined together to form an inn a great many years ago.

Early records of the village date back to Saxon times, but  it has been around in something like its present form since the 16th century.  If you haven't visited Clovelly, then hopefully you enjoy thes pictures as we rambled around the harbour and up through the village itself.

 The populatin in the village in 1801 was 714 people and a great many of these would have been children, since families were large and the number of cottages is quite small.

The hillside is very steep so we have to go up very slowly and you will have to take lots of breaks, but first may I suggest a small libation at the bar in the Red Lion.  We also had a crab sandwich for lunch, which was delicious.


To get down to the hotel by car (as only hotel guests are permitted to do), we used what is called The Turnpike road, which in the old days was very steep and very rough and it is this way that the supplies were delivered to the village at the very bottom of the hill, only to be have to then carried up to the houses. More about this later.



This is the cobbled alleyway that leads from Turnpike at the back of the Red Lion to the harbour side of the pier.


And here is the harbour as it appeared to us the day we arrived. You can see that the tide is out.

I have to say that we were enchanted with these first view of Clovelly, and there is so much more to come.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

Regency Fashion 1811

We are still in the first year of the Regency, 1811,  and what is everyone wearing?


May 1811 Evening Dress

Clearly this has all the Regency classic styling we have come to expect, with the romanesque draping to the gown and the tunic style overdress.  Personally I am not keen on the turban, but the whole outfit is very nicely pulled together by the gold and green embroidery and the diamond shapes.

A robe and petticoat of white satin with short sleeves,trimmed with green or yellow chenille, over which is worn a light green drapery of crape, fastened on the left shoulder with an amber or cornelian brooch, folded over the left side of the figure in front , nearly concealing the waist on that side. The hind part of the drapery is simply bound in at the bottom of the waist, confined underneath the drapery in front, entirely ornamented round with yellow chenille. With this dress is worn a Turkish turban of green crape, with trimming to correspond with plume on the right side. Shoes of green kid or silk.

The gowns on the right are opera dresses for the same month.

Book Stuff

Once in a while I like to post about writerly stuff which I hope you  find of passing interest. 

Last weekend I was invited to a bookfair in Selkirk, Ontario. A very small place in rural Ontario near Lake Erie. It had a Victorian Theme, so it was kind of them to invite me, though the Prince Regent was  related to Queen Victoria, being one of her uncles so there was a tenuous connection.

The setting was great.  All of the organizers and helpers were dressed in Victorian costume.  If they do it again, I am going to be sure to wear my Regency Gown. 

I met some really interesting writers while I was there, some published and some aspiring. I do love talking about writing with people who write. So I had a splendiferous time.  We were making so much chit chat at one point, we got shushed, because there was a talk going on in another room and we were too noisy.  Funny. After that we whispered like naughty school children.
 
Talking of dressing up, if any of you are going to Rom Con, I have agreed to participate in the costume workshop, so will be dressing up too. I'll post more information a bit later.  I will do my best to get pictures from there and from RWA.  I will be handing out the new Romance Trading Cards for these books at these events if anyone is interested.

On the book front, The Gamekeeper's Lady is in stores and receiving some nice reviews, which I have posted on the website http://www.annlethbridge.com  where you will find lots of links of where you can buy. A new Undone is hovering in the wings. Called Deliciously Debauched by the Rake it is the story of two minor characters in The Gamekeeper's Lady. It will be out June 1, but I am not seeing a cover for it yet. 

More Than a Mistress will be out soon.  The second in the Rakes in Disgrace Series about Robert's twin brother Charlie.

And finally, I learned that the Brides of the West anthology is to be translated into Portuguese and come out in Brazil, so Michele Ann Young is going international again!

I am determined to get a fashion post done for you next, and then more sights and sounds from Britain. So until next time, Happy Rambles.


What I am reading:

[image error] Water for Elephants Water for Elephants








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