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You had me at Colin Firth dripping wet. That was my introduction to Mr. Firth and it’s been love/lust ever since. But what a rollicking adventure! I kept reading, thinking ‘Wow!’ ‘Wow!’ ‘Wow!’ 😲😲😲

What talent! What creativity! What FUN!

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It WAS fun, Ramona. And I needed to write this as I still find it hard to believe we actually did it!

Back in 2010, things were so very different...

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I’m so glad you were able to piece it together, with pictures and everything. Let me just add one more ‘wow’!

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I had to go back through archived blogposts, Ramona, to get the odd image. And then I remembered that I had some pinned on my Pinterest account https://www.pinterest.com.au/pruebatten/the-masked-ball/

It's nice to know they're 'on call' if anyone wants to have a look-see. XXXX

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I just commented about the 1995 Pride and Prejudice limited series on Rebecca Holdens recent essay. What a coincidence.

Yes, Mr D’arcy wins the wet ruffled shirt contest.

You were ahead of your time with the online costume party. Who knew there would be office Xmas parties all over the world in 2021?

Those virtual friendships are special. ❤️🙏

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Dec 2, 2023·edited Dec 2, 2023Author

Hi CK,

I saw Rebecca's post and commented 'Bingo. You'll see.'

I wrote my post from the couch on Monday as I succumbed to a Covid 6-month booster reaction. Thank heaven I wrote and filed it because my brain has been in The Land of Fog until today.

What you say is true - who ever thought back in 2010, that digital technology and social media would be where it is now!

To which I might add that even when we are all in Homes for the Bewildered, it's nice to know we can still communicate and laugh, virtually.

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Homes for the Bewildered— brilliant.

What the devil is the 6 month booster reaction?

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Prue, I'm so sorry you've had a reaction to your latest Covid booster! Sending hugs! x

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XXXX

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Extraordinary. Yes, if we just jump, the universe catches us. But there was an awful lot of work behind the scenes to make it happen. You were amazing being happy to be the one who got involved in the wee hours of the morning! And your hubby of course. Congratulations. What a wild ride.

And I thoroughly enjoyed the clip at the end. Heath was such a treasure. So sad to lose him so early.

Hugs and best wishes dear Prue. Have a lovely weekend. 🤗🤗😘🌼🌻

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And like I said to Elizabeth, Beth, it directs us to our tribe, as well!

It was indeed a wild ride!

I agree re Heath - such a loss. Wonderful voice, great actor. So sad. A Knight's Tale is seriously one of my favourite movies and the dance scene? Perfection!

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Good lord. What a delightful account!

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Oh thank you, Alice!

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Okay, gosh.

First, you're the second of my Substack regular reads to invoke the pond scene from Pride and Prejudice this week. Not sure what message is hidden there for me, but going off recent events, it surely relates to the ability to communicate with clarity.

Second, YOU HAVE A LONGTIME FRIEND IN MARYLAND??! When are you coming for a visit?! I am just 90 minutes from Hyattsville.

Last, I have a tiny collection of Maurice Sendak books that I adore, and back in my art student days, I loved creating tiny etchings on tiny zinc plates and turning them into miniature triptychs.

The synchronicity just keeps unfolding. 😌

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I thought it was so funny that P and P appeared in another Substack this week. Maybe its that time of year - Love Actually, Nottinghill, P and P?

Rebecca is a Maryland gal! What a hoot! I wish I was younger, wealthier and intrepid and I would make the trip, Elizabeth.

As to the miniatures - that's how I met Pat and Rebecca. I was looking for a miniature book for a close friend's very special birthday and preferably one about silk. I came across Pat's most beautiful map book called The Silk Road. That's the other thing I neglected to mention - Pat is a brilliant mapmaker, globe maker, tellurions and orreries. All miniature. Pat introduced me to Rebecca whose bindery is just stunning. I have always had a thing about miniatures - mostly books, but now furniture, artifacts, dolls' houses. It's all so awesome - there was a marvellous British series called https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-great-big-tiny-design-challenge. Do seek it out if you can. We watched it on Britbox.

And so yes - synchronicity. But I think the Uinverse has a way of directing us to our tribes too. (Need a wink emoji here!) -

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Yes indeed to the gentle directing forces!

And...😉

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Tribes might have to be next week's post.

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Dec 2, 2023Liked by prue batten

Fabulous scene with Colin Firth, I loved it. The clip from a Knight's Tale made me smile, I'd forgotten that scene. Such fun to watch. Rufus Swell even when scowling is so easy on the eyes. Thanks Prue for brightening up my morning xx 😘❤💕 your Ball sounded like fun but I bet it was hard work x

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I love anything with Rufus Sewell - absolute class!

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Dec 2, 2023Liked by prue batten

oh yes,........ Be still my beating heart ;)

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And I promise not to tell Jeff.

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What a glorious adventure. Loving the friendship and the fabulously eccentric spirit of all this. Aspire time.

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Thank you! And I love the idea that you call it eccentric because it was filled with quirkiness and craziness but everyone got so much into the spirit.

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PRUE!!!!! This post was SUCH a treat - it felt it was meant just for me! What an incredible ride - and your participants in Pride & Prejudice prime (not crime!) sounded absolutely wonderful, too!

I've just got in from a rare evening out but couldn't let today become tomorrow without commenting. I'd read your post at breakfast time this morning but wasn't near a keyboard to be able to reply (I struggle on a phone keypad, and wait until I'm on the computer), but you'll be VERY PLEASED to know that on the strength of this glorious read this morning I put my P&P audiobook on hold (chapter 47 out of 61; Elizabeth and the Gardners are on a rescue mission) to watch episode 1 of Colin Firthjudice on BBC iPlayer while I tackled the ironing.

And golly gosh, it is FABULOUS! Thank you for inspiring me to dive in again - just like Mr Darcy! 🤣

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Hahahaha!

And I'm the same - can't possibly use a small keyboard and do everything, Substack included on my computer. Still trying to learn how to find emojis on a Macbook Air!

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Ooooh, we have the same computer! Control, command, space - all at the same time. Voilà: the emoji menu! 😁

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It worked!

But how do I then insert it in my writing?

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Yay! 🥳 To insert it, use your trackpad to put the cursor over the emoji you want and then click on the trackpad.

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Will practice.🙃

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Looks like you've cracked it already, Prue! 🤩

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What a wonderful event! So happy to read about it and spend a few moments in your enchanted ball! It is always amazing to look back on things we did when we were engrossed with like-minded people. I am so impressed with all your creativity and imagination!

Conversely, I am reluctant to admit I have never seen that version of P and P, even though like so many I will happily watch Colin Firth in anything! On my list now...And thanks for sharing the clip of wonderful Heath.

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Thanks so much, Sabrina.

Have to say though, I'm beginning to wonder if we have an imagination use-by-date beyond which we can't go. I hope not. I want to still tell imaginary tales but I find I need inspiration more than in the past.

Maybe it's just been a very full-on year...

And you simply must watch P and P with Firth. It's probably my favourite production of the novel.

That clip from Heath is divine, isn't it? He's actually not a bad dancer! Timing was perfect. I so love his voice and smile.

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I so love the way you write Prue!! x

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