Revealing Anne Lister (2010)

New BBC period drama includes The Secret Diary of Anne Lister, led me to this documentary about Anne Lister. She was a gentlewoman that was a rich landowner, industrialist, and "married" to a woman. She was all these things in the Regency Era of Jane Austen. She led a life so impossible to have been borne in her era.

Liked it. A captivating look at a remarkable and mercurial woman; a fearless human being. Interesting how class can make the huge difference in one's life. Now if I had been born a trust-fund baby, my life too would have vastly differed.  Learned two new words I like - mercurial and unassailable.

Presenter disliked her snobbishness as well as her predatory personality. Lister's snobbish didn't bother me. Perhaps being an American, her ruthlessness in getting what she wants - lover, money, rank is admirable. She's a force of nature, with a competitive streak. A Frank Sinatra who, no doubt, did it her way.

Favorite part - Anne Lister and her "wife" Ann Walker held for themselves, a private "wedding" ceremony in an Anglican church. Quite possibly the first known same sex-marriage in England, ever. Whether the clergy knew what they were doing, no one knows. Both the wealth and class position of both women made them unassailable against being ostracized from society, church, what ever.

French Food At Home

(photo:foodanddrinkfest)

Laura Calder hosts a French cooking show. I've been watching all the episodes that my DVR was able to tape, as the usual suspects in the house is all too happy to delete episodes when it gets in the way of their telly viewing. Not in DVD form yet, but this is going on my wish list.

Episode I just watched was called "Free Spirit". Recipes includes a rolly-polly cake, and chicken in a creamy paprika sauce.

I liked this episode, because the recipes all seemed pretty easy and delicious. She takes a little field-trip to see free range chickens. It's one of two cooking shows I DVR. It's visually pleasing. Love the large kitchen. As a host, she's growing on me.

Best part of this episode, was when she announceed that's it's her tenth year anniversary of running away. Before that, she had an office job, boyfriend, apartment, and an impeccable educational background behind her. Then she realized, she hated it. So, she ran away to cooking school, and made it to France for a number of years. I want to say something similar someday.