Friday 10 February 2012

Lady Ophelia and the Beardy Belgians...

Week 6 of Darcy's Postcard Challenge sees Lady Ophelia visiting Belgium....a country that has only existed in it's own right for about 30 years.
The ruling monarch is Leopold II, who is at this time responsible for the violent suppression and death of millions of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, land acquired by Belgium with the assistance of Mr Stanley of "Dr Livingstone I presume" fame.
Belgium is also in the grips of the Socialist Revolution in Europe, with the writings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engel in high demand.
Amid this upheaval, The Belgians decided it was time to rationalise it's football leagues, and in 1895 the Belgian National Association of Football was born.

(Doh...forgot to add the black to centre of poppy)

" My Dear Miss Lillian,
I am happy to report that Richard is much brighter this week. We were invited to a little town called Liege to watch the first match their team is playing since the formation of the Belgian National Association of Football. They are tipped to win the "Coup de Championatt" whatever that is! We accompanied HRH King Leopold II, a very sour-faced gentleman, not much fun at all. Richard was very respectful, although I suspect he did not truly like him.
We were later entertained by a Mr ADOLPHE SAX, who played the most peculular looking instrument, to be known as a "SAX-A-PHONE". For all it's strange appearance it does make a rather soothing melody.
Took a stroll out into the country-side near the town. This is such a beautiful little country, even in winter. Apparently, the surrounding fields are on ocean of Red Poppies in the summer.

Yours affectionately
Effie XXX"

" My Darling Effie,
How very "Working class" of you to attend such a function as a "football match". It would seem that Messrs Marx and Engel are certainly getting their way in that new "little country" as you called it. I am afraid I can be of no assistance with regard to "Coup de Championatt", as I prefer the more gentlemanly sport of cricket.
I would say I am surprised His Royal Highness also attended, but his popularity at this time is so low I suppose he has no choice but to curry favour with his people, and if Sir Richard truly has no affection for King Leopold, he grows higher in my estimations by the day!
You may recall, that as the daughter of a Missionary, I spent many years amongst the people of the Dark Continent, and am both angry and disgusted at their treatment under King Leopold's rule. Mr Stanley must be thoroughly ashamed of assisting him so.
You seem, at last, to be spending more time with your husband. A walk in the fresh spring air will have done you both the power of good. I look forward to listening to Mr Sax should he ever reach England. I am intrigued by this "Sax-a-phone" of his.

your ever-loving Governess
Miss Lillian xxx

p.s. Please pay closer attention to your tenses dear....if you "were" invited their team "were" playing, and the correct spelling is "peculiar"

Images on page: Top left King Leopold II of Belgium, top right Adolphe Sax, bottom left Friedrich Engel and Karl Marx and bottom right some pretty faeries playing in a poppy field from Dezinaworld :D(because I couldn't have a page of just grumpy looking bearded men)

Enjoy :D XXX
Photobucket

41 comments:

  1. loving your research, story and art, Gina!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your beautiful flower (pencil crayons?)
    I too am enjoying all the facts and the story!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am using watercolour pencils for these cards, so as to get the hand made look...which they are lol :D

      Delete
  3. I love reading all these little facts about the countries w visit each week. :) I can't imagine they played football in the 19th century. :) I wonder how they were dressed. :)) Great book page, Gina and I love the poppy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh what fun! Love the facts you weave into your story and the images are perfect..:)
    Hugs xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Superb! Your flower paintings are very pretty and the factual content of your narrative is so interesting. Love the social history to football - it was what I always imagined!! You are right, the fairies are a lovely break from the bearded Belgians.

    Janet xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. lovely card and a great bit of History x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ooh I always look forward to these. Who knew the Saxaphone was such a recent invention?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am amazed by the detail of your story What a wonderful job you are doing. Your postcard is great (even without the black :D). Enjoy the weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ah, needed a moment to get back a century, was thinking Leopold? Isn't it Albert? Duh...
    Love the poppy! ♥
    And yay, for miss Lillian correcting again! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the history lesson I get from your story. I must admit as a saxophone player I missed the connection to Belgium and now am once again off to research that which I thought I knew. Perhaps I need a miss Lillian to help me along as well.

    ReplyDelete
  11. love the flower even without the black center... ;-0 you can add it

    ReplyDelete
  12. Loev your painted flower, also your page looks wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love your history lessons and the wonderful dialogue between your characters. Pretty card. A xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. great page for your book. love how you've put the address with the lovely flower. I, too, love all the history and the old fashioned etiquette.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely poppy. Enjoyed reading your story. I learn something new every week. Glad I don't have Miss Lillian checking my grammar and spelling!
    Jen x

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am so into your story. Such amazing research and facts are evolving. Surprised about Mr Sax, never heard of him and I love to hear a saxaphone.Wonderful drawing of the poppy. Caz

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hmmm ... working class and gentlemanly sports?!? Lovely poppy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah I know...what would Miss Lillian think of today's sportsmen and women lol :D

      Delete
  18. beautiful, and I love the detailed history and the way the story is told. so engaging,

    dx

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful poppy. I'm really enjoying this storyline, another great history lesson :o)

    x

    ReplyDelete
  20. I loved the delicate poppy and the historical facts continue to amaze me. Vicki

    ReplyDelete
  21. So wonderful!! And your journal is so great!

    ReplyDelete
  22. A lovely postcard. I also did some research on the man who invented the saxophone. great minds. lol.great storyline..

    ReplyDelete
  23. Gorgeous... and I LOVE all the research & reading.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Charming and delightful and just so much fun. I'm loving following along as your folks travel the world!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love the info!!! When I researched this for chocolate I found out that leopold discovered cocoa there and took all he could from them and therefor "belgian congo"!!!
    Loved your cards!!!
    And I learned something new!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm loving your drawings! I'm also so impressed with the amount of research you are doing and how you seamlessly include it into the storyline.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Lovely card (and page) Really enjoying your 2 characters, and the history.
    J

    ReplyDelete
  28. Aloha Gina...just FABulous...love the soft blush of color...and again
    Miss Lillian's witty comments to Effie.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Just was reading a bit about Leopold the other day. Dreadful fellow. It seems there was a shortage of names in Europe, they all seem to be Leo or Frederick, Maria or Louise. I find it quite confusing which one is which. Is it just me?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. no it's not you Sabrina lol. I England around 1800 every other child was called william or mary. Family research is a nightmare lol :D

      Delete
  30. love the poppy, they are by far my fave flower. 'working class' made me chuckle..

    ReplyDelete
  31. Beautiful flower and great story. Love your page to hold the card to. Great images.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Beautiful card, the poppy is so lovely! Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  33. OMG I am so glad I wasn't schooled by that woman!!!I so love your flowers Gina and I love coming over to visit you for this challenge!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  34. Really beautiful work Gina. Just wonderful to see. I am admiring your storyline too! *smiles* Norma

    ReplyDelete
  35. I am so loving this conversation between the characters. The comments on grammar and spelling are just perfect... you can hear the voice of the characters through your writing.
    Plus obviously the art is just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Lovely card and interesting story

    ReplyDelete
  37. Lovely card and interesting story

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am in awe of your research. Your story telling is brilliant. The poppy is very nice!

    ReplyDelete