Thx to bccmee and http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/ we have 2 new Kruger pics...
Article explaining the background of a radio program 'Clarissa' which was narrated by Richard Armitage - followed by the link to a movie of the C18 Samuel Richardson novel, starring Sean Bean
Thorin Oakenshield’s golden Hobbit moment arrives about 65% into the novel. It occurs after barrels filled with the 13 dwarves have had a hazardous ride down the river to Lake-town. The boatmen leave the barrels until morning in order to enjoy their evening meal. Tolkien describes the scene:
“They would have been surprised, if they could have seen what happened down by the shore, after they had gone and the shades of night had fallen. First of all a barrel was cut loose by Bilbo and pushed to the shore and opened. Groans came from inside, and out crept a most unhappy dwarf. Wet straw was in his draggled beard; he was so sore and still, so bruised and buffeted he could hardly stand or stumble through the shallow water to lie groaning on the shore. He had a famished and a savage look like a dog than has been chained and forgotten in a kennel for a week. It was Thorin, but you could only have told it by his golden chain, and by the colour of his now dirty and tattered sky-blue hood with its tarnished silver tassel. It was some time before he would be even polite to the hobbit.
“Well, are you alive or are you dead?” asked Bilbo quite crossly…”Are you still in prison, or are you free? If you want food, and if you want to go on with this silly adventure..you had better slap your arms and rub your legs and try and help me get the others out while there is a chance!”
Thorin of course saw the sense of this, so after a few more groans he got up and helped the hobbit as well as he could. [He and Bilbo release the others from the barrels] “Well! Here we are!” said Thorin. “And I suppose we ought to thank our stars and Mr. Baggins. I am sure he has a right to expect it, though I wish he could have arranged a more comfortable journey. Still--all very much at your service once more, Mr Baggins. No doubt we shall feel properly grateful when we are fed and recovered. In the meanwhile what next?”
“I suggest Lake-town,” said Bilbo. “What else is there?”….so leaving the others Thorin and Fili and Kili and the hobbit went along the shore to the great bridge. There were guards at the head of it….it is not surprising that the guards were drinking and laughing by a fire in their hut….Their astonishment was enormous when Thorin Oakenshield stepped in through the door.
“Who are you and what do you want?” they shouted leaping to their feet and groping for weapons.
“Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror King under the Mountain!” said the dwarf in a loud voice, and he looked it, in spite of his torn clothes and draggled hood. The gold gleamed on his neck and waist; his eyes were dark and deep. “I have come back. I wish to see the Master of your town!”
Then there was tremendous excitement. Some of the more foolish ran out of the hut as if they expected the Mountain to go golden in the night and all the waters of the lake turn yellow right away. The captain of the guard came forward.
“And who are these?” he asked pointing to Fili and Kili and Bilbo.
“The sons of my father’s daughter,” answered Thorin, “Fili and Kili of the race of Durin, and Mr Baggins who has traveled with us out of the West.”
“If you come in peace lay down your arms!” said the captain.
“We have none,” said Thorin….”We have no need of weapons, who return at last to our own as spoken of old. Nor could we fight against so many. Take us to your master!”
…From one great hall shone many lights and there came the sound of many voices. They passed its doors and stood blinking in the light looking at long tables filled with folk.
“I am Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror King under the Mountain! I return!” cried Thorin in a loud voice from the door, before the captain could say anything.
Sue pointed out that Royal Doulton designed a collection of figurines for LOTR
http://www.tolkiencollector.com/pages/record0317.html
Katrina Blair, on twitter, offered this page of Norse mythology as evidence Tolkien was very familiar with it...
Creepy, or should I say spooky--following from recent Spooks prop sale..labelled Ros' coffin:
THE TUDORS -- Are you now or have you watched the 4 series, or any part of, The Tudors? (it's currently playing on bbcA..Wed evenings) After becoming curious about the shooting locations, I realized we twice toured the area where most of it was filmed - County Wicklow, Ireland. In fact, we had lunch one day at Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry. Fondly remember our Irish tour coach driver squeezing the large vehicle through the centuries old stone archway within what looked like a couple inches to spare on either side. All the Americans onboard vigorously applauded his expertise. Pat took a bow and then reminded us to return to his coach by "tree-terty"...:) Apparently the 'th' sound was not a feature of the Gaelic language. A sweet, knowledgeable man he was, as he steered his vehicle down narrow roadways - the entire time entertaining us with the charming details of local history.
The beautiful, historic locations where The Tudors was filmed...
http://tudorswiki.sho.com/page/SET+Locations+of+the+Tudors
Our very own Musa(faboamanto) was again quoted in WiC's recap of tweets for ep7..
