12/5/16, For all you TV Series addicts.

Hi Everyone,

I hope that all is well with you, and you’re enjoying getting ready for the holidays. Although I start shopping in August, putting aside things I see to give people as gifts, I always need a few more gifts for my children, so I’m still doing a little shopping. I wrapped gifts for my Godchildren this week, and I’d forgotten how much work it is crawling around on the floor, trying to figure out how to assemble toys, and then trying to wrap things in unwieldy shapes and sizes. I looked like I’d been mugged by the time I finished wrapping a big stuffed toy tiger lying down, a unicorn to ride on that’s the size of a small pony, and a dancing Minnie Mouse, who kept springing to life and jiggling around every time I tried to wrap her!! But I have to admit, it was a lot of fun. And true confessions, when I shop for others, I tend to spoil myself too and find things I want. As I said to you in a blog a while back, “life is short, buy the shoes!”. Spoil yourself when you can!!

I’ve had a lot of fun recently, watching 2 new series I really love. I still miss Downton Abbey, and watch an episode or two now and then. I wish that series hadn’t ended after 6 fabulous years. I think there are a bunch of new series, but it’s hard to believe I’ll ever find a series I love as much as Downton. But the British have come up with two wonderful new series. One is “The Crown” on Netflix, with 10 episodes about the current Queen Elizabeth, from her childhood to her marriage, her coronation (which was dazzling) in about 1952. The series continues into the l950’s, and gives you insights into her, her personal life, her seemingly not easy marriage to Prince Phillip (played by incredibly handsome young actor Matt Smith), it also shows her sister Margaret and their relationship. Princess Margaret was very glamourous and lively in her day, Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister. And it shows the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Duke had been King briefly and abdicated so he could marry a divorced American, which he could not have done if he stayed king, so he gave it all up for the woman he loved. The series is dramatic, true to life, and beautifully done. There is a wonderful portrayal of Winston Churchill, fascinating glimpses into Buckingham Palace, and terrific clothes of the 1950’s. I’ve had a ball watching it, and you might like it too.

The other series I’ve been watching has been a big hit in England too, “Victoria”, about Queen Victoria. Her reign began in the 1830’s, so it has an even more historical flavor than the Crown, but both are terrific shows. There are 8 episodes, that cover the early years of her reign. She became Queen at 18, married Prince Albert of Germany at 19, and they had 7 children. The show so far covers the beginning of her reign at 18 (with a scheming mother and the mother’s boyfriend trying to control her), a prime minister she was in love with when she became queen, and apparently she had a wonderful and happy marriage with Prince Albert. The first season goes as far as the birth of her first child, when she must have been about 20 or 21. And both shows have plenty of history and intrigue, upstairs and downstairs among the servants and employees, to provide material for many more seasons. For the next month or so, the show will be harder to view in the States. The whole season is available in DVD on Amazon.UK, but European DVD’s are not compatible with American DVD players. I was lucky, because I live in France part of the time, so I got it and played it in Paris. But the show will be aired in the United States in January, so watch for it, its wonderful historical drama at its best, with some terrific actors!!!

And if you haven’t read my new hardcover The Award, I hope you read it, and give it to lots of people as gifts, and my paperback “Blue” is on the bestseller lists too. I’m always grateful for your support.
As the countdown begins toward the holidays, I hope you’re in good spirits, enjoying this time of year, and have some holiday plans that make you happy!!! And I hope you enjoy the series I mentioned too!! Have a great week!!

love, Danielle