It’s a great achievement for an author to be able to recreate such an emotional moment in writing, and it’s a testament to their talent. I also think that D. H. Lawrence has spent a lot of time observing foxes before writing this novella – he even managed to capture that quirky little way that they look back at you over their shoulder before they leave you.

The trees on the wood-edge were a darkish, brownish green in the full light–for it was the end of August. Beyond, the naked, copper-like shafts and limbs of the pine trees shone in the air. Nearer the rough grass, with its long, brownish stalks all agleam, was full of light. The fowls were round about–the ducks were still swimming on the pond under the pine trees. March looked at it all, saw it all, and did not see it. She heard Banford speaking to the fowls in the distance–and she did not hear. What was she thinking about? Heaven knows. Her consciousness was, as it were, held back.

She lowered her eyes, and suddenly saw the fox. He was looking up at her. Her chin was pressed down, and his eyes were looking up. They met her eyes. And he knew her. She was spellbound–she knew he knew her. So he looked into her eyes, and her soul failed her. He knew her, he was not daunted.

She struggled, confusedly she came to herself, and saw him making off, with slow leaps over some fallen boughs, slow, impudent jumps. Then he glanced over his shoulder, and ran smoothly away. She saw his brush held smooth like a feather, she saw his white buttocks twinkle. And he was gone, softly, soft as the wind.

A foxy friend of mine

]]> http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/26/the-fox/feed/ 0 laknifton P1290138 y A foxy friend of mine http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/24/simplicity-5790-a-dead-ringer-for-joan-holloway/ http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/24/simplicity-5790-a-dead-ringer-for-joan-holloway/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:03:31 +0000 L. A. Knifton http://theladyinwaiting.org/?p=2869 Read More →]]> I have been buying vintage patterns online again, and this time I think I may just have found another pattern for a Joan dress. Simplicity 5790 has a gorgeous plunging neckline, revealing an inserted vestee behind it (which could be done in the same fabric as the rest of the dress, or in contrasting colours).

Simplicity 5790 1964© Misses’ and Women’s Half-Size One-Piece Dress with Detachable Vestee: Slim dress with V neckline, collar, bias bow and snap in vestee has side zipper closing, set-in sleeves and self fabric or purchased belt. The skirt with front gathers and back darts features a walking pleat in center back seam. V. 1 has below elbow length sleeves and contrast vestee. V. 2 has short sleeves. 10 pattern pieces. (Copyright – Simplicity Patterns New York, 1964)

This pattern really reminds me of Joan’s blue dress from Mad Men, Season 2. I reckon if you put contrasting patterned fabric in the Simplicity pattern, and enlarged the bow, then you could have a real match for Joan’s dress. You would have to fit it very closely to the body of the woman wearing it, of course, but it could be a real show-stopper of a dress.

Joan Holloway, our idol.

]]> http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/24/simplicity-5790-a-dead-ringer-for-joan-holloway/feed/ 0 laknifton Simplicity 5790 1964© Misses' and Women's Half-Size One-Piece Dress with Detachable Vestee: Slim dress with V neckline, collar, bias bow and snap in vestee has side zipper closing, set-in sleeves and self fabric or purchased belt. The skirt with front gathers and back darts features a walking pleat in center back seam. V. 1 has below elbow length sleeves and contrast vestee. V. 2 has short sleeves. 10 pattern pieces. (Copyright - Simplicity Patterns New York, 1964) Joan Holloway, our idol. http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/24/500-happy-returns-now-on-sale/ http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/24/500-happy-returns-now-on-sale/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:44:03 +0000 L. A. Knifton http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/24/500-happy-returns-now-on-sale/ Read More →]]>

Reblogged from John Knifton:

• 

I am thrilled to announce that my new book, 500 Happy Returns: Nottingham High School's Birthday, is now available for purchase. Over the past month or so I've been working on the finished publication, and I'm delighted that it's now ready to be presented to customers. The proof copies arrived about a week ago, and it was very exciting to see a giant word document transformed into a real, physical book.

Read more… 249 more words

The Queen and the Lord Mayor of London

This week the Queen and Prince Philip attended the funeral of Margaret Thatcher. Her attendance was an important public statement of the respect that she had for Baroness Thatcher, particularly since this was the first funeral of a non-royal that she had attended since the state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.

When the monarch attends a funeral, an ancient ceremonial procession involving a sword takes place. You would expect this sort of thing to go ahead without a problem, but there was a slight “near miss” this year. Perhaps everyone was a bit out of practice, since they last performed this ceremony nearly fifty years ago.

The Mourning Sword

As the monarch approaches the cathedral, they are greeted by the Lord Mayor for the area, who bears the regal Mourning Sword. The Lord Mayor is then meant to lead the monarch into the cathedral, carrying the Mourning Sword in front of them. The sword is all black and held high to symbolise the monarch’s grief over the death of whoever’s funeral it is.

The procession into St Paul’s Cathedral

On Wednesday there was an unexpected turn of events when the Lord Mayor, after greeting the Queen, turned round in front of her with the Mourning Sword. Without thinking, he swung the Mourning Sword out behind him and nearly hit the Queen. She rather swiftly took a step back out the way, and you can see on the video how Prince Philip makes light of the event to try to put her at her ease again.

I know we’ve all experienced the unthinking actions of someone who, turning round in front of us, has swung something back round and has inadvertently hit us (never pleasant, but always worth a giggle afterwards), but it could not have been a great experience for the Queen, live on international television, at the funeral of a friend whose passing she seemed to be very moved by. I think it was very fitting for the Queen to attend Thatcher’s funeral because of their friendship, no doubt  strengthened by their common experiences as two female rulers of Britain, and also because of the important role Thatcher played in defending the Falklands, a British territory that is dependent on the crown for its safety.

The Queen says goodbye to Baroness Thatcher

]]> http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/20/the-queen-at-baroness-thatchers-funeral/feed/ 0 laknifton The Queen and the Lord Mayor of London The Mourning Sword The procession into St Paul's Cathedral The Queen says goodbye to Baroness Thatcher http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/18/new-book-sent-to-the-press/ http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/18/new-book-sent-to-the-press/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:06:05 +0000 L. A. Knifton http://theladyinwaiting.org/2013/04/18/new-book-sent-to-the-press/ Read More →]]>

Reblogged from John Knifton:

Just a quick announcement to say how happy I am that we've managed to secure a publisher for our school project. In February the school celebrated its 500th birthday, and we asked each member of the school - staff, boys (aged 4-18), cleaners, support staff, and caterers - to record what they were doing at any part of their working day in 100 words.

Read more… 109 more words