This wasn't easy!!!! I will also post this on my page so others can play
1) So, tell me your dinner party -- five from fiction, five from history, five others.
· The Enchantress of Florence in all her various guises from Salmon Rusdie’s recent book · Inspector Montalbano (crime series about Sicily by Andrea Camillieri) because he loves good food so. He might even bring a treat – or at least some excellent wine. · Francis Crawford, Comte de Sevigny and his bride (eventually) Philippa Somerville, from Dorothy Dunnett’s brilliantly researched historical series, The Lymond Chronicles · V.I. Warchawsky someone to talk business with the Inspector – of course I wouldn’t seat her beside him. That would be too obvious
· Simon de Montfort: He not only helped to establish the framework for parliamentary government in England, I would like to ask him about his father’s treatment of the Cathar’s · The real Duchess of Devonshire – not the trumped up creature from the movie. · Constantine the Great’s mother Helena · As from my comment, Blanche of Castile · Thomas Jefferson – he would not only enjoy all these powerful attractive women, he and de Montfort would have a good time comparing experiences
Then to shake up the mix: · Barack Obama · Ex-president Leonard Meri of Estonia. He was also a write, poet, translator and historian · Georgia O’Keefe another strong woman and a fabulous artist · Stphen Fry – why not? · Baroness Ashton – she could benefit from the experiences and advice of all these seasoned politikers – or maybe not.
2) Where else in Europe have you lived? In addition to Estonia, where I now reside: Greece, the island of Kreta, London, England, Helsinki, Finland, and very briefly – two months – Italy in Abruzzi.
3) When and why did you start writing? I wrote my first play, ‘The Penthouse Ghost’ when I was 9. It was about a woman, murdered by her husband so he could marry his lover. She returns as a ghost and drives the new wife crazy so she jumps off the balcony. The husband, driven by remorse and grief soon follows her over the edge.
It was performed in our garage by my playmates whom I had dragooned into appearing. Naturally I was the director. Why? Don-no ‘cause it was there.
4) What did you think of Ludlow Castle? I’ve never been there. But funnily enough it is on my list of to-do places. As part of my involvement with organic farming and tourism development here on the island of Saaremaa I am very interested in the way this sleepy town almost in the middle of nowhere reinvented itself as a serious foodie destination. Perhaps a grant for a discovery trip should be proposed…..
5) What are your favourite kinds of music? Mozart, baroque, generally followed by traditional local music, Greek rebetika, kritika; also North African, Yunisian. Moroccan – the kinds of things you hear coming out of doorways in parts of North East Paris.
Re: Resistance is futile
1) So, tell me your dinner party -- five from fiction, five from history, five others.
· The Enchantress of Florence in all her various guises from Salmon Rusdie’s recent book
· Inspector Montalbano (crime series about Sicily by Andrea Camillieri) because he loves good food so. He might even bring a treat – or at least some excellent wine.
· Francis Crawford, Comte de Sevigny and his bride (eventually) Philippa Somerville, from Dorothy Dunnett’s brilliantly researched historical series, The Lymond Chronicles
· V.I. Warchawsky someone to talk business with the Inspector – of course I wouldn’t seat her beside him. That would be too obvious
· Simon de Montfort: He not only helped to establish the framework for parliamentary government in England, I would like to ask him about his father’s treatment of the Cathar’s
· The real Duchess of Devonshire – not the trumped up creature from the movie.
· Constantine the Great’s mother Helena
· As from my comment, Blanche of Castile
· Thomas Jefferson – he would not only enjoy all these powerful attractive women, he and de Montfort would have a good time comparing experiences
Then to shake up the mix:
· Barack Obama
· Ex-president Leonard Meri of Estonia. He was also a write, poet, translator and historian
· Georgia O’Keefe another strong woman and a fabulous artist
· Stphen Fry – why not?
· Baroness Ashton – she could benefit from the experiences and advice of all these seasoned politikers – or maybe not.
2) Where else in Europe have you lived?
In addition to Estonia, where I now reside: Greece, the island of Kreta, London, England, Helsinki, Finland, and very briefly – two months – Italy in Abruzzi.
3) When and why did you start writing?
I wrote my first play, ‘The Penthouse Ghost’ when I was 9. It was about a woman, murdered by her husband so he could marry his lover. She returns as a ghost and drives the new wife crazy so she jumps off the balcony. The husband, driven by remorse and grief soon follows her over the edge.
It was performed in our garage by my playmates whom I had dragooned into appearing. Naturally I was the director. Why? Don-no ‘cause it was there.
4) What did you think of Ludlow Castle?
I’ve never been there. But funnily enough it is on my list of to-do places. As part of my involvement with organic farming and tourism development here on the island of Saaremaa I am very interested in the way this sleepy town almost in the middle of nowhere reinvented itself as a serious foodie destination. Perhaps a grant for a discovery trip should be proposed…..
5) What are your favourite kinds of music?
Mozart, baroque, generally followed by traditional local music, Greek rebetika, kritika; also North African, Yunisian. Moroccan – the kinds of things you hear coming out of doorways in parts of North East Paris.