Friday 13 April 2012

Lady Ophelia catches her breath.


No history lessons today as playing catch up, sorry :)

Week 14 SINGAPORE: The Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid

"Dear Miss Lillian,
Thank you so much for continuing to guide me. I would have created such an awful "Faux par" over the "Armenian" mix up had you not clarified. We are now visiting Singapore, where the Armenian community are in much better straits.
Richard recieved an invitation to play cricket with the local team of the Royal Engineers Regiment. I must tell you , he looked quite dashing in his whites, and proved most energetic in his use of the bat. We then recieved an invite to Tiffin at a private Gentleman's Club, by which I mean Richard did. So miss Francesca and I spent the afternoon with the sister of some of Richard's associates, to whom I was delivering papers on Richards behalf. They are a wealthy Armenian family called Joaquim. The sister, Miss Agnes, grows the most exquisite orchids. She has just developed a new species called the "Vanda", and has kindly given me a plant to send to you.

Yours affectionately, Effie XXX"
"My darling Effie,
so glad to still be of help to you. Miss Agnes sounds a most agreeable woman, I wait in anticipation for the arrival of such a delicate addition to my ever-growing collection. I will heat the glass house in preparation.
It should come as no surprise to you that Sir Richard is a first class cricketer. Most Gentlemen are. Were the Royal Engineers his old regiment?
Not sure how I feel about a Lady such as yourself being used as a messenger boy! Though it did lead you to Miss Joaquim, so I suppose it was a serendipitous event.
As you have not stated otherwise, I will assume you are all in good health.

Your ever-loving Governess,
Miss Lillian xxx

p.s. recEIved "
Images on page; invitation to Tiffin from 1895,
photo of Miss Agnes Joaquim,
photo of Lt.Frederick Guggisberg R.E. Cricket Club 1895,
village in Singapore circa 1890's
Week 15 ICELAND: The Mountain Avens
" Dear Miss Lillian,
Such a dramatic change of climate! Fortunately Richard has "kitted me out" as he calls it, with the latest design in tweed. Perfect for this cold and baron place.
Richard has to take some message from the Foreign Secretary to the Icelandic Fisheries people, apparently our modern ships are catching more fish than theirs.
We visited the main printing office in Rekjavik, and met a nice Scotsman by the name of James Ferguson. He is trying to get up a national football team. What is this fascination with football? It seems to be spreading wherever we go!
The houses are few and far between, so the women form little collectives to help each other out. Richard has been asked to speak to a group this evening, discussing women's right to vote.
Personally, I 'd rather have the right to a new hat.

Yours affectionately, Effie XXX"
Can you see the steam coming out of Miss Lillian's ears???

"My darling Effie,
Tut, Tut, to you! There are many women who do not have the luxury of a rich husband to provide support as you do. Should they not have a voice when it comes to policy making? Are we so dim witted, that our little "girlie" brains would explode if we had to concern ourselves with more than making babies or bread? The Ladies of the Suffragette Movement are to be applauded, NOT MOCKED!
I will say no more on this matter for now, other than you only have one head, how many hats does it need?

Miss Lillian

p.s. You really should show more respect for the lives of the people you are fortunate enough to be visiting, their city is spelled Reykjavik."

On my page; The Isafold printing company Reykjavik(where Mr Ferguson worked),
The Holl, a classic icelandic house from the 1890's.
Mr James Ferguson,
The Icelandic Women's Association form 1895, who petitioned for woman's rights,
and an image from an 1895 Ladies clothing catalogue

Sorry for the break, normal service will resume this week :D XXX
Photobucket

20 comments:

  1. wow! what great postcards..well done for catching. love your story...and great pages.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I missed you last week. I love reading Effie's darling adventures and the ascerbic tongue of her former governess. Beautiful pieces of art as always :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. gorgeous cards as always, and I love the dialogue between them. I had to chuckle at the 'right to a new hat' remark lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looks like you are very busy :) totally love the iceland-page and the little flowers on the envelope!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ha ha, you have nailed these characters, I love the almost soap opera feel of 'what happens next instalment' that you have built up - great artwork to compliment great story :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. You're building a great story!! And you've also been very busy this week!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Singapore and Iceland are both lovely postcards. I like how the governess can't help but still treat her previous pupil as a child, telling her off like that! I like both the pages that the postcards sit on too.

    x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your cards and pages are beautiful. I love reading the notes from Effiento see what the next mistake or misstep she will make. She's so sweet! Sorry for the typos but my Ipad won't let me correct them!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yeah! You caught up as well. Loving the story.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yay, you're back! And I saw received!!! :)))
    Lovely cards and so much info on the pages. Love them! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  11. Delicious composition, I love this beautiful flower, beautiful colors, delicious orchid.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I so enjoy your flowers. :) Great story, too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gina I love the softness of your florals!! The pages in your book are amazing too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Really enjoying your story line. Both cards are quite lovely. Love your pages as well.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful postcards and super pages.
    Jen x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lovely postcards and crack between Effie and Lillian. Brilliant pages.I am visiting Jen and using her computer that is why this comment looks as though she has posted it.

    Janet xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL Thanks for the explanation, thought Jen was loosing it hahaha....:D

      Delete
  17. You've been very busy ... great postcards.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Chuckling about Ophelia's right to a hat and her governess's response (I always enjoy the dialog you write). I'm catching up too-- on my reading! A new country every week is a grueling pace, isn't it? I am impressed with how you work in history. Sweet flower images too!

    ReplyDelete