oh, mmmmMr Rochester!

Helloooo!

I don't know whether or not you noticed the badge on the side bar saying Bronte-along but...I've joined up with two lovely ladies (and a host of other Bronte/Austen and all things period-drama, devotees) at  Eggplantia in a, well, Bronte-along! It pretty much does what it says on the tin :)

This basically involves the reading of Jane Eyre (for me as I think I'm a little late to the party), maybe watching a BBC adapation (or 2, or 3...) and maybe even listening to the audio version of the novel. And then, if I fancy it, I can pop on over to Facebook and leave a comment for all the other Bronte-along-ers to read and catch up on what they have to say about all things Bronte.

You catch my drift.

Bronte, Bronte, Bronte, swoon, swoon, swoon. *contented sigh*

Anyhoo, back to the point of this post... We took a trip to Wycoller! Wahoo! "Wycoller?" I hear you ask. Yup, Wycoller, for this is the home of Wycoller Hall, the inspiration for Ferndean Manor (Sire Rochester's abode, I'll have you know) and it's also where some of my favourite people in the world live...my fairy-aunty-god-mum, my uncle and my wonderful friend & cousin. Ahh. ♥

So, in the name of  trip-to-see-loved-ones-to-chat-and-drink-tea-and-eat-buns *ahem* research, we baked lemon drizzle buns and then got in the car and drove the 10 miles there. George & I had a wander around the ruins of the hall (and a few games of hide and seek) and took photos of what would have been a splendid home in it's day.

"The manor-house of Ferndean was a building of considerable
antiquity, moderate size, and no architectural pretensions, deep
buried in a wood.  I had heard of it before.  Mr. Rochester often
spoke of it, and sometimes went there."

 I can just imagine the delicious Toby Stephens, I mean Rochester (well, they are one & the same in mind head!) sitting in front of the fire being all moody and mysterious *swoon*

"But in his countenance I saw a change:  that looked
desperate and brooding--that reminded me of some wronged and
fettered wild beast or bird, dangerous to approach in his sullen
woe.  The caged eagle, whose gold-ringed eyes cruelty has
extinguished, might look as looked that sightless Samson."

We had a lovely afternoon, wandering around the village, looking at the signs of Spring and playing in the ruins - I hope you like our photographic tour of Jane and Edward's final home together.

"Then he stretched his hand out to be led.  I took that dear hand,
held it a moment to my lips, then let it pass round my shoulder:
being so much lower of stature than he, I served both for his prop
and guide.  We entered the wood, and wended homeward."

 

It's Wuthering Heights next, folks - doom, gloom and despair on the moors with a little of the fantastic Kate Bush thrown in for good measure ("Heathcliffe, it's me, oh Cathy, I've come home now"). Brilliant! If you fancy joining in, head on over to Eggplantia's Facebook page for more details!

Found you!

 

Cheerio for now

:)

links for further info:

http://www.online-literature.com/brontec/janeeyre/

http://www.facebook.com/eggplantia?ref=ts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wycoller_Hall