Candes Saint-Martin, my favourite spot in La Touraine.

Sunday 28 August 2011

Royal Mail

On Friday, after doing my weekly chores – shopping, cleaning, washing, etc. – I snuggled up in my armchair and turned on the TV. As usual, there was nothing on it. Don’t you just hate it, having over 80 channels at your disposal and nothing worth watching? However, my digital TV subscription comes with a ‘rental’ option, where you can rent anything from children’s programs to X-rates movies.

The selection is updated on a daily or weekly bases – I’m not sure because I don’t rent films that often. Frustrated with the poor daily programs, I zapped to the ‘on demand’ section and more specifically the ‘most recent’ offer. And there I found the Oscar winning ‘The King’s Speech’ with the handsome and talented Colin Firth as the stammering King George VI. Although Bertie, the later King George VI, was the second son of George V, he became King after his brother, Edward VIII, had abdicated to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Just for the record: in 2007, I visited the Château de Candé near Tours in the Loire Valley where the controversial couple got married in 1937. You can read about that visit here

Renting the ‘King’s Speech’ cost 5.99 euro. So I punched in the required code, sat back with a cool beer and enjoyed … This film is absolutely brilliant! If you haven’t seen it yet, I can only say that you have to do so as soon as possible. No wonder it won so many Oscars. I’m not an expert on film making, but this one is perfect in every aspect.

And then today, while going through the photos of my recent vacation in Deal, I came across this one. I had completely forgotten about it.




This letter box dates from King George VI‘s reign (1936-1952). You can see the royal initials and crest on it. It was solidly fixed into the wall of Charing’s post office. Luckily Veronica and Sue pointed it out to me. I would never have noticed it myself. 

6 comments:

Craig said...

It's a great find that GR mail box Martine! I'm one of the few people who haven't seen The Kings Speech yet but I will soon, I promise!

Carolyn said...

Craig, I may just beat you to it. At this very moment it's on its way to us from Netflix. Glad to know you liked it, Martine, and now I'm really looking forward to it.

GaynorB said...

I agree with you about the King's Speech. Fantastic film ....

Bob said...

I saw the King's Speech when it first came out on DVD and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Brits are a tough bunch. I really like the letter box, would love to have it. Bye the way, like the "Looking out of my window" weather icon.

Mark said...

You should have dug that box out of the wall and brought it home with you as a souvenir!
Saw the movie and loved it.
m.

ladybird said...

Craig, You won't regret it. I promise. I watched it a second time on Saturday - for free because it was still in the 24 hour rental period - and liked it even better than the first time. There's so much detail in image and speech. Little things I didn't notice the first time, because I was too busy concentrating on the plot.

Carolyn, I suppose you've watched it by now. Curious to hear/read you verdict?! :)

Gaynor, It's simply brilliant !

Bob, All my favourite blogs were having a 'weather' gimmick. So I wanted one too. Except, I wanted it to be different from the others. It's not very accurate, but it gives you fair idea of what the weather is like around here.

Marc, LOL. Would you have come and help me carry it home? It's made of cast iron, and therefore must weigh a ton!