Fellowship



 Last night was the most Christmasy I have felt, thanks primarily to Storm Bella, a living room full of scented candles and the film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 
It’s a lovely film and is one that strangely resonates with our own lives under lockdown.

In the film the Characters are under curfew of the German occupation of Guernsey. 
Isolated from each other and from any cultural fellowship.
Isola Pribby is a lonely spinster waiting for her Heathcliffe to turn up in her life, Amelia Maugery a widow overwhelmed with grief, Eben Ramsey a grandfather and postmaster and Dawsey Adams an isolated pig farmer. 

All are hungry for the spark, a literary society meeting gives them, but more importantly it is the friendships that evolves from that shared experience that proves the most significant for each of them.
The experiences of these film characters, will resonate with many of us in blog land ,for we too are little islands in isolation from others.
All in need of connection, 
To feel a part of something

Blogging is our own Literary society meeting
I’d love to say that I’m a sort of Dawsey Adams , but in reality I’m a bit of an Even Ramsey crossed with a Miss Pribby



78 comments:

  1. I should take this sweet combo and light up a nice candle while watching all these Xmas movies I do 🙂👌🏻

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    1. The atmosphere was just conducive for this movie, the storm, low lights, Dorothy hiding under my legs

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  2. being part of the blogging community makes me feel special.

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    1. “ Being a part of things “ is important ...so important in these lonely times

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  3. Don't be so dramatic. You're definitely grubbier than a pig farmer. X

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  4. 'Fraid that when I saw 'Guernsey...Pie Society' at cinema 2.5 years ago [crikey!] it left me, if not quite cold, then decidedly under-cooked, rating it a 5/10. Maybe that says more about me than the film itself.

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    1. I think it was edited a bit too much agreed , but I loved the message

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  5. Never saw the film but did love the book.

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    1. I’m yet to read the book , even though I’ve had it an age, I suspect , as always happens when a book is changed into a movie , many characters have been chopped and others changed

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  6. Didn't see it, unfortunately. I've watched very little telly over Christmas..

    What makes it feel Christmassy here, as well as the decs, of course, is the faint smell of pine tree I smell as I walk up and down stairs.

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  7. I enjoyed the film, but the book has a charm all of its' own

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    1. I’ve found it out , I will start it tomorrow

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  8. I loved that film, and also the book, its not often I can say I enjoyed both.

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  9. Well, I will have to look for this. It sounds quite nice. We watched The Life Ahead with Sophia Loren. I thought it was a quietly nice film about the transformative power of caring for another. I was surprised that it fared so poorly in review. Side note: I lit my new lavender candle, and it was very nice twinkling in the dim, the woodfire making a glow on the hardwood floors, all very cozy watching our movie. My husband put out the candle. I said, "Why did you do that?" He said, "Scented candles bother my nose." I said, "You get me one every year for Christmas." He said, "Yes. Because you like them." They call US illogical?

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  10. We watched Waking Ned Devine on Christmas Eve. It was a good choice.

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  11. I loved the book, it’s one of my all time favourites.

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  12. Barbara Anne3:36 pm

    We watched Miracle on 34th Street (Edwin Gwenn/Maureen O'Hara) on Christmas Eve along with The Bishop's Wife (Clark Gable/Loretta Young) as we always do. I remember putting toys together for our little boys while these very movies were playing.
    I loved both the book and the movie of "The Guernsey ...Pie Society".

    Hugs!

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  13. Barbara Anne3:37 pm

    Oops! Make the Edmund Gwenn. :)

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  14. One of my favourite films, and as I watched it - I thought of you (because of Michiel Huisman) x

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  15. Yes, that was a good book and movie - I will have to see if I can find it on Netflix to watch again.
    The blogs I read have been my friends and companions during 2020. My days would be sadder without you!

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    1. That’s my point , not only with bloggers but with commentators too...
      To feel a part of something to have a fellowship of sorts has helped throughout lovkdown

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  16. Read the book, will need to watch the movie. Very interesting comparisons with today. Not a little irony (in my mind), but reading your blog and others is part of a daily routine for some of us who don't blog ourselves. It makes the world seem bigger and smaller at the same time, if that makes sense. Especially in 2020.

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    1. “ . It makes the world seem bigger and smaller at the same time, if that makes sense. Especially in 2020.“

      It does makes sense so very much

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  17. There is a aroma of wet dog here amongst other things whilst I take my ease listening to the radio after a sunlit muddy dog walk-and one cheekboy is humping my thatch whilst I'm typing this(always afternoons)luckily I've been gifted a lovely pomegranate reed defuser x

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    1. NB-my thatch is cheeky monkey I adopted from a dogs home who gave him his name because he looks like a cottage roof.The other cheeky boy is romanian x

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  18. I haven't seen the movie, but loved the book. And yes, I can see the parallels with our lockdown lives - thanks for bringing it to my attention.

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  19. No, you're a unique John Gray. Friendships are what have made this ghastly time tolerable. Hearing about your life and Trelawnyd goings on and joking replies definitely count as friendship. Thanks for all the times you and the dogs have made me smile!

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  20. I like how they fooled the Nazis.

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    1. As did Julie Andrew’s from the sound of music x

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  21. A great film. I saw it some time ago. Definitely feel-good viewing, just the thing for Christmas!

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  22. I agree! This is a literary society, of sorts, in Blogland!

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    1. Not so in depth but certainly just as important

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  23. I saw the film a couple of years ago. I know I enjoyed it but I can't really remember what the story was!

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    1. Well the theme of my post will be a bit lost on you

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  24. Second time I’ve watched this film John, and I just love it. My maternal Gran lived through two world wars and I take some comfort from the fact that she got through and am told that she was the most uncomplaining and placid person you could wish to meet. So I just plod on and think yes one day we will be through the other side. My strange connection is that in normal times I belong to a Book cafe at our local library and I am soooo!! missing it and the friends I meet there. Was watching Between the Covers on BBC 2 a few weeks back, guests discussing books and it touched a raw spot and I shed a good few tears. I am so very grateful for all my virtual friends in blog land. Anyway Onward and Upward, it’s all we can do. Enjoy some relax time John.Xx.

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    1. Thank you dog lover, a nice perspective x

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  25. I am grateful to you for being my friend John x

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    1. Ditto deArheart ....we’ve supported each other through a lot Chuck x

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  26. I too really enjoyed the movie and I also really enjoy everyone's take on it.
    Happy New Year!

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    1. Almost like a film review society eh?

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  27. Ooh, thanks for these suggestions! I've been wondering how you were doing in the storm. Weather maps have been confusing.

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    1. It was loud , loud enough to have Dorothy hiding underneath my legs

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  28. Loved the book but was nervous to watch film in case it was drastically changed. "Presumption of Death" by Jill Patton Walsh based on the wartime journals of Dorothy L. Sayers struck me as apt for these times. Set in the early days of WW2 the strong sense of uncertainty, of lives disrupted, loneliness and odd rules instigated by a government unsure of what to do, mirror current events. Glad you had a Christmasy day, we all need one.

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    1. I suspect it was changed but it was enjoyable in its own right

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  29. One of my favourites - fell in love with Dawsey :) I also loved the costumes, especially the knitting. One of my ideal films, and a rare beast that I've watched it twice :) x

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    1. I adored the houses too.....1940 chic

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  30. We recorded it and watched it this afternoon. Really enjoyed and it made me cry too but I was happy with the ending. Just lovely!

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  31. I love that movie too. We do all need to feel a part of something. I think that need along with the need for friendship is why I started blogging. The pandemic has taken away any group activities but thankfully it can't touch blogging.

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  32. In my top ten of all time. Arilx

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  33. I read your blog daily, but don't like to comment as it obliges you to reply! The Guernsey Lit & Potato ... was a wondrous film to watch last night, one of the highlights of Christmas! Merry Christmas, John, and to all your readers.

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    1. Wasn’t it, please always comment, I don’t always reply xx

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  34. I had forgotten how much I loved that film. Thanks for the reminder- I will have to watch it again.

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  35. I read the book before I saw the film; I wasn't disappointed, but sad ending.

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  36. Afraid I haven't seen that film, but I did used to watch 'Allo 'Allo! and Dad's Army on a local public television station here in Ohio. I'm sure those World War II-era sitcoms (Britcoms they're sometimes called here) were much different than the movie you describe, but they DO deal with characters in isolated situations, albeit in a humorous way.

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    1. Oh Kirk , reading your blog entries
      I just KNOW YOU WOULD LOVE THIS MOVIe

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  37. You're going to love the book!

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  38. We are all seeking connections. Blog connections are a godsend especially during these times of isolation.
    I loved the book but have not seen the film.

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  39. I've seen and appreciated that film, and this is the second reference that I've seen to it just lately.

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  40. John, I read the book and then saw the film years later. Just loved both. There are so many, many wonderful true stories based on WWII. I've always been a fan of them. What a time in life! What horrors people can face and come out the other side with their stories - incredible. From the base of the mini-mountain in Maine.

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  41. "Guernsey"is among my favorite books and I have read it many times. I hope I am able to see the film some time.

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