Things that make life more pleasurable:
A well stocked drinks cabinet An immaculate wardrobe Cabinets of curiosities Joseph Cornell Entertaining evenings An efficient kitchen Afternoon tea Food reform Archaeology Historical Research Robert Donat Stewart Granger Long walks & repairing to local hostelries
Sartorially elegant ladies and chaps everywhere; especially those of a vegan persuasion. Should you wish to send a message along with any friend request, well, that would be most pleasant.
Just a few that come to mind for the moment...
A Matter of Life and Death The Wicked Lady The 39 Steps Marked Woman The Big Sleep Make Mine Mink La Grande Vadrouille Captive Heart A Canterbury Tale Night Mail Gainsborough pictures & the occasional Ealing Comedy....
Radio, rather...
the BBC CRI
Oh! the joy of lying in bed with a morning coffee and a good book or, during periods of inclement weather, idling in front of a roaring fire with a peaty malt and a similarly good book. Favourite authors for these occasions:
Wilkie Collins Jane Austen Charles Dickens Mrs. Radcliffe Sarah Grand (though, it must be said, rather mawkish) Edgar Allen Poe Arthur Conan Doyle Nancy Mitford André Gide Gustave Flaubert
particularly good reads:
Moll Flanders - Daniel Dafoe Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert the memoirs of Hariette Wilson Le Grand Meaulnes - Alain-Fournier The Aran Islands - John Millington Synge
and essential reference books:
Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management Lady Troubridge's Book of Etiquette
and journals:
The Female Tatler - sadly only published from 1709 until 1710 The Chap