In a letter dated Saturday (9 January 1796), Austen mentioned Lefroy.

“

You scold me so much in the nice long letter which I have this moment received from you, that I am almost afraid to tell you how my Irish friend and I behaved. Imagine to yourself everything most profligate and shocking in the way of dancing and sitting down together. I can expose myself however, only once more, because he leaves the country soon after next Friday, on which day we are to have a dance at Ashe after all. He is a very gentlemanlike, good-looking, pleasant young man, I assure you. But as to our having ever met, except at the three last balls, I cannot say much; for he is so excessively laughed at about me at Ashe, that he is ashamed of coming to Steventon, and ran away when we called on Mrs. Lefroy a few days ago. . . . After I had written the above, we received a visit from Mr. Tom Lefroy and his cousin George. The latter is really very well-behaved now; and as for the other, he has but one fault, which time will, I trust, entirely remove — it is that his morning coat is a great deal too light. He is a very great admirer of Tom Jones, and therefore wears the same coloured clothes, I imagine, which he did when he was wounded.

”

In a letter started on Thursday (14 January 1796), and finished the following morning, there is another mention of him.

“

Friday. — At length the day is come on which I am to flirt my last with Tom Lefroy, and when you receive this it will be over. My tears flow as I write at the melancholy idea.

”

Upon learning of Jane Austen’s death (on 18 July 1817), Thomas Langlois Lefroy traveled from Ireland to England to pay his respects to the British author.^[2] In addition, at an auction of Cadell's papers (possibly in London), Tom bought a Cadell publisher's rejection letter—for Austen’s early version of Pride and Prejudice (originally titled First Impressions).

For Natalie

Stourhead with Natalie Sorry! My computer broke down so I've lost all of my files etc . which is a bummer so I haven't written and published posts in a while.In half term Natalie and I went to Stourhead where part of the film Pride and Prejudice was shot. You know the scene! In the rain!

‘In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.' It absolutely chucked it down and there was hale too! Somehow it didn't seem quite so romantic as the film! If only Mr Darcy arrived to profess his undying love! Well, we did find our Mr Darcy inside the house. There was a picture of a sailor stranded on rocks at sea, being watched by an eagle. It was painted by Henry Thomson (1773-1843). I fell in love with that sailor! We stood there for at least 30 minutes looking at it and asking questions about it. There was also a poem written underneath by the poet James Thomson. You're not allowed to take photographs but I desperately wish I had. I guess if I go again I could perhaps sneak a picture! It would be weird if someone painted your picture and people still see you 200 years later. And admire you! We also went to the children's area and the lady dressed us up as servants!

The drive was beautiful!

Sometimes I like the journey more than the destination! Cruising along the winding roads, my stomach whirling as we fly up and down the rolling hills, clouds shadows smeared across the countryside.

I like to feel the wind in my hair

However on this journey it was far too chilly! I wound down the window slightly to feel the icy air prick against my skin, absorbing the countryside, imagining the men and women who had passed over the fields like the cloud, admiring their beauty as I did too. They're gone now

There is something so beautiful about British country that calms me

I daydream out the window down to the trees in a valley, yearning for a life living amongst the flora and fauna, picking berries for breakfast, sleeping under the shelter of a ancient oak tree.

When I was little and we drove to Wales, I would desperately wish to run away from everything and everyone, and live out in a valley.

I'd wash in the streams, weave a home from branches and mud, built in a tree. I would befriend the animals of the forest and drink nettle soup each evening buy a large fire, singing loudly and dancing wildly, my long wavy hair dancing too.

i would never be found by my parents, although they may wonder where i had gone.

this was a time when I also thought, when asked by relatives, hippy was a valid occupation.

How ridiculously naive this now sounds, although I miss this innocence of childhood. That anything is possible,

I try to cling onto it hopelessly getting further and further from childhood.

Adulthood frightens me. The cynicism the fear of loneliness, loosing imagination, being unable to occupy and entertain myself with games,

Anyway, on the journey back we stopped in Shaftesbury, the place where the Hovis advert was filmed on the cobbles,

We went to a bead shop where Natalie bought some to make a necklace for her mum

We went down the cobbled road which was really steep! the houses were lovely and i couldn't help but take quick snap of the window of this house. It looked so cosy and I loved the colours and lighting behind the lace curtains

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

I've finally finished Pride and Prejudice! And what an amazing book! Jane Austen captures the characters and their idiosyncracies so well. Aswell as the confusions of love and hate I went shopping today with my friend Jess across the road. I bought a 30s style hat from H&M which'll be fab for winter! We ended up walking home! It was freezing and scary. We held hands all the way home! But we had a lovely long talk and it was great to catch up. I got home at 8:30 so missed half of the final episode of Twiggy's Frock Exchange. It's a brilliant programme so if you missed it youtube it! Following was British Style Genius. This episode was about Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen! 3 of my favourite designers! I was in heaven! The highlight was where Vivienne described where she found her inspiration for, and how she created, those amazing lace dresses. She had a large rag of lace, perhaps from a church, which she photocopied many times and cut out. she then positioned it onto a mannequin to create the seamless dresses. It took her a week to then get the paper from mannequin to flat! I desperately wish I could be as inventive and innovative as any of these designers! THEN there was a programme... I think 'imagine' about love in literature which was just gorgeous!

Books

I have actually started reading books, or atleast buying them. Ands even then they're more like picture books. But I am reading Pride and Prejudice which is brilliant and I 've almost finished! I recently bough Cheap Dates Guide to Style which is ok but doesn't include many tips for customising ect. Does anyone know of a book that does? I also bought The Mighty Book of Boosh which is hilarious and has some brilliant pictures. But the books on my wishlist are The Clash which has just been released, with contributions from all of them, and from a quick flick through there are some amazing pictures too! I am also hoping for Tim Walker Pictures