#poldark funny

[ms-march]

He’s winning the idgaf war

[accidental-spice]

It's so fun to eat Ben and Jerry's ice cream, it feels like mining. Like, I just uncovered a seam of caramel, Wheal Phish Food is profitable once more!!

[stelly38]

Yes, it’s an old article, but this is the sort of taking-the-piss-out-of-it I LIVE for.  It gives me liiiiife, darling.  This is by Patrick Freyne, in the Irish Times, dated June 11, 2017.  Hilarious!  (and that’s not the photo that came with the article; I grabbed this one off the nets.)

Poldark: He’s so fertile, I may have got pregnant watching him

18th century mining mogul, stealth Irishman and professional hunksman Ross Poldark is very fertile. As someone who has studied 18th-century medicine (the points were low) I believe this may be due to all that cliff-top horse-riding he does and possibly regular leechings.

And so Ross's first love, Elizabeth, is pregnant with his child but married to his arch-enemy, the upwardly mobile rotter George Warleggan. This is the key dramatic driver of the new series. The elitist banker Warleggan is, once more, pitched against the tin-mining man-of-the-people Poldark, as if they're the protagonists of some sort of olden-days Brexit.

We know Warleggan (Jack Farthing) is a baddy because he enjoys the effete pastimes of the age – thwarting villagers and standing in a drawing room with his hands behind his back and a puss on him.

In contrast, whenever we cut to Ross (Aidan Turner) and his saintly wife Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) they are carrying bales of hay, or pumping water, or punching sheep, or wrestling horses. They are generally to be found breathing heavily and perspiring, with a lock of hair in their faces, something which has no effect on the general viewer whatsoever.

Poldark, all in black, his brow furrowed like an Olde Tyme goth, has much on his mind. Demelza wishes he didn’t always “rise before dawn” Fine-Gael-style as he walks by, once more, carrying a cow over his head or something. “Everyone has shadows,” he explains later. “The trick is to outrun them.”

This shows a basic and panicky misunderstanding of the science of shadows, but we’ll let it pass. It’s the 18th century.

Over in Warleggan’s place George is trying to wean the family off Ross’s earthy influence. There’s Ross’s Aunt Agatha, who hints darkly about disasters to come from the corner of the room, much like a newspaper columnist or Twink.

And then there's Elizabeth's son, Geoffrey Charles, who has never read any old English novels about what happens to the first children of remarried English aristocrats, and so is unwisely insolent towards George.

In a moment of rebellion, he runs off with Ross who shows him how to manfully batter the inside of a cave with a pickaxe, thus inculcating him with a transgressive love for manual labour and, possibly, shirtlessness.

Actually, Ross keeps his shirt on for this episode, leaving the more explicit hunking to two new characters, Demelza’s brothers, the wannabe preacher Sam and the Canadian hip-hop artiste Drake (editor’s note: um, I think that’s a different Drake, Patrick).

This tuneful duo arrives to bring news that Demelza’s father is dying, and we are promised, in a teaser for next week, that one of them will divest himself of his horrible chafing shirt. Shirts are so uncomfortable. I regularly take my shirt off, because, as you know, typing is manual labour (editor’s note: that reminds me, you’ve a meeting with HR today, Patrick).

There are minor subplots. Caroline Penvenen, a friend and local pug-farmer (well, she has a pug), is marrying noble military doctor Dwight Enys in defiance of her kindly, slowly-expiring guardian Bergerac (John Nettles). Geoffrey Charles also bonds with his new governess, his cousin Morwenna, who gazes lustfully at hunky Drake, no doubt contemplating his Hotline Bling.

Poldark is, as always, almost bizarrely gripping and entertaining. Possibly due to its roots in the novels of Winston Graham, it never undermines its historical strangeness with high-concept notions or overly prescient references to the internet or the millennium bug or Jeremy Corbyn. It looks amazing. Everything is sun-dappled or candle-lit.

The tense omnipresent soundtrack is, somehow, never intrusive. The striking-looking, charismatic actors never undermine the dark, morally problematic melodrama by winking to camera.

And then there's the beautiful, ocean-battered coastline of Cornwall along which Ross and Demelza ride when in emotional turmoil and which some liken to "another character on the show".

Sadly, it hasn't yet been given any lines ("Whatsa matter Mister-a-Poldark?" for example) but it is spectacular. It is, as you know, played by Timothy Spall.

It’s the 18th-century so life is hard. There are references to the war which will, I think, dominate later episodes. There are two deathbed scenes (for nice Ray Penvenen/Bergerac and Demelza’s brutish father) and a difficult childbirth scene which all occur under the eerie shadow of “a black moon”.

Elizabeth spends the episode trying get thrown from a horse or flinging herself down stairs in fear that George will listen to Aunt Agatha’s hints about the child’s parentage and figure out that Elizabeth is nine months and not eight months pregnant.

The latter action apparently causes her to go into labour. Ross spends a bit of time lurking outside the window spying at this point, which is pretty weird behaviour even for him (this show expects you to forgive a lot).

Anyway, it’s very important for Elizabeth that there’s no indication that she might be giving birth to Poldark’s child. The baby comes out shirtless, brooding, riding a small horse and wearing a tricorn hat.

“He favours you, I think,” says Elizabeth to George, chancing her arm.

“Yes,” says George, a little desperately, as the baby moodily gallops along a clifftop with a sheep under his arm. “I see the resemblance.”

Back at the Poldark residence Demelza tells Ross that she too is pregnant, and to be honest, after an hour watching I’m feeling a bit pregnant myself. “Curse my hunky fertile genes!” cries Ross Poldark shaking his fist at the heavens in anticipation of an excitingly tumultuous eight episodes to come.

Okay, he doesn’t say the last bit but you get the picture. That Poldark, what’s he like?

Link to original if you like:

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/poldark-he-s-so-fertile-i-may-have-got-pregnant-watching-him-1.3116115

[loz37]

Re watching Poldark. Forgot about this belter of a line. It needs to be shared.

[flipperbrain-awakes]

Dante Gabriel Rossetti ~ Desperate Romantics

John Mitchell ~ Being Human UK

Luke Garroway ~ The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Kili ~ The Hobbit Trilogy

Philip Lombard ~ And Then There Were None

Ross Poldark ~ Poldark

Russell Hank ~ Love is Blind

Joe O’Loughlin ~ The Suspect

Liam Riley ~ Paso Doble

Leonardo da Vinci ~ Leonardo

Barney ~ The Toast of Tinseltown

Declan O'Hara ~ Rivals This is not an exhaustive list but most of his characters. I'm sure I'm not the first to point this out but, isn't it funny how in most of Aidan's roles, his hair... head and/or facial hair... almost becomes a character in and of itself? It's so distinct. I can't think of another actor off the top of my head that I can say the same. Can you?

[wildwren]

ranking george warleggan's blood feuds

1. george vs. aunt agatha - absolutely iconic, nothing will ever top this, frankly this IS the high point of all 5 seasons of poldark. george said "i refuse to be out-cunted in my own house" and agatha was like "this is LITERALLY my house" and then they fought to the death. "that old woman will have no party" is THEE george warleggan quote of all time

2. george vs. ross - this is high on the list for george vs. ross because we all know how much of a ross hater i am, but actually im a george x ross truther, like they DO have chemistry, gay sex would nOT help, it DEFInITELY would make things worse, but i think they should try it anyway!!!! also remember that time george wept when ross' daughter died and told ross that some of the light had gone out of the world with her, and ross responded by telling george he would step over george's uncle if he saw him drowning in a puddle? because i think about that a lot. i might be paraphrasing

3. george vs. drake - i find george vs. drake tiresome sometimes because drake is simply *too* hapless, but at the same time, it's very funny that over the years, george has accused drake of: theft over forty shillings, intent to riot, grain stealing, trespassing, child grooming, bride-stealing, home invasion, and murder; has gotten drake kicked out of church, arrested, beaten and left in a ditch, imprisoned, nearly hanged; burned down his blacksmith shop not once but twice; had a pack of dogs sent after morwenna because she agreed to marry him, and probably other things i'm forgetting. meanwhile, in every sense of the idea, drake is just kicking a stone down the road.

4. george vs. geoffrey charles - i wish george vs. geoffrey charles was more fun but it's just sort of basic like oh no, george, do you hate your stepson who your beloved wife had with another man who you also hated??? how original that's incredibly creative of you!!! george almost marrying cecily was sort of an unhinged touch but by that point i did not really care. i'm a geoffrey charles hater though so maybe it's a personal problem :/

[ethereal-maia]

*girl who hasn’t watched an episode of poldark in four years up until now voice* I just started watching poldark again. I started in s3 because that’s where my blorbos live. I am 5 minutes in. I will say: the nostalgia is fantastic and this show is so fucking funny. So entertaining. Always recommending this show.

[threebooksoneplot]

Episode 33 - "Holes Holes Holes" (Show Notes)

listen along here

General New Moon content warning for ongoing discussions of suicide!

[00:02:54] Cassandra Claire’s “Very Secret Diaries” (yes, it's the same Cassandra Clare. She spelled it with an "I" back in her fandom days)

[00:03:49] The Cassandra Claire Plagiarism Saga

[00:04:10] Fanlore's definition of "crack/crackfic"

[00:05:29] Orlando Bloom in Gran Turismo

[00:07:20] The only valid two-party system

[00:08:20] The Poldark TV series and books

[00:13:58] This chapter be like

[00:15:35] What Ioco (and G) mean by “Disney wolves” (why yes G does regret her entire life after having to google “Disney female animals”)

[00:15:46] It's a vine by Lily Zella

[00:20:18] What G means by "Chekhov’s heart problem”

[00:21:03] Waiting Is Not Easy by Mo Willems

[00:23:52] Bella be like

[00:29:13] “Oh my God, he admit it”

[00:29:39] Bella defines “friend” in the New Moon movie

[00:30:43] Poor Angela

[00:31:27] Hank the Tank

[00:31:51] The Wild Animal Sanctuary (which actually IS where Hank the Tank was relocated! G highly recommends a visit next time you're in the Denver area—they also house a ton of the tigers/other animals rescued from the shitty roadside zoo in Tiger King)

[00:33:08] Cocaine Bear (and the true story)

[00:35:33] Shannon can’t go 10 minutes without talking about Gideon the Ninth/the Locked Tomb books (in which someone ends up with an actual hole in their chest. Eat your heart out, Bella)

[00:36:37] One of G’s favorite posts of all time

[00:39:37] 10 Things I Hate About You's “tumescent” scene

[00:40:07] Amber talked about reading New Moon before Twilight back in Episode 28

[00:41:01] G did her best to find the originator of this post and failed. Drop us a line if you know who made it!

[00:44:14] Human Pet Guy (cw: ableism, body horror, and general ickyness if you click)

[00:58:36] "Bella" running and sobbing in Twilight the Musical (the other thing G is reminded of is this Broad City gif: )

[01:03:22] The sick as hell "Victoria smearing James’ ashes on herself" moment

[01:06:15] "Fucking guy” as coined by Nandor from What We Do in the Shadows (TV)

[01:22:21] The Russian dude nickname that starts with T and is ‘quite funny’ to G’s American ears? “Tit.” (It seems to be mercifully uncommon.)

[01:22:32] The Shadow and Bone series' Tolya

[01:22:52] I Am Dragon is a sillyfun Russian fairytale movie we watched with Bella’s Book Movie Club in summer 2023, and features a minor character named Igor

[01:34:18] Follow Ioco @iocococo here on Tumblr!

[01:34:40] Bella's Book Club's December book info and events calendar

Thanks for show-noting along as always! See you in 2024 :D

[lumiereandcogsworth]

hiya! can I get your top recs for period films please? you have such good taste and I'm trying to watch more movies lol

hiya!!! first off i’m so honored you would come to me. i feel like i’ve really made it in the world now. and thank you wow?? i’m touched you think i have good taste 🥺🥺🥺 anyway i myself am always trying to watch more, but here’s a list of ones i enjoy!!

Pride and Prejudice (2005) - in my top 5 favorite movies, top 4 on letterboxd, even! (my letterboxd is “batb2017” hehe, feel free to follow if you’re there!) but yeah just a gorgeous piece of cinema. an absolute work of art your honor.

Rosaline (2022) - perfect for your url, this is a comedic take on romeo & juliet. it’s from the perspective of juliet’s cousin rosaline. honestly it’s so funny and has a great romance too. it is fully canon romeo & juliet in my mind now lol

Enola Holmes (2020) & Enola Holmes 2 (2022) - both GREAT movies, highly recommend. romance is a secondary factor for sure, but i think they’re both so wonderful and enola is an incredibly charming main character. (+ henry cavill is absolutely my new favorite sherlock holmes, and this is coming from someone who used to be obsessed with bbc sherlock haha)

Little Women (2019) - also just so stunning!!! i have nothing against the 1994 version, for the record, i simply have not seen it yet lol.

Belle (2013) - a wonderful story & romance, and based on a true story! definitely absolutely worth a watch.

Titanic (1997) - i’m sure we’ve all seen this but hey, it deserves to be here. it’s not among my absolute favorites but it’s a great story.

Outlaw King (2018) - this film is definitely more about the scottish war against england (i’m paraphrasing bc i don’t remember the official name of this war) so if medieval war movies aren’t your thing that’s very valid. BUT!!! there is a sweet romance mixed in there that keeps me coming back for a rewatch <3

Emma (2020) - i didn’t LOVE this one but i did like it a good amount. it’s sweet and fun and certainly worth the watch.

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) - i just watched this like two days ago and it’s not a romance, it’s just about charles dickens and how he wrote a christmas carol. but i personally loved it and found it funny/relatable as a writer, so you may enjoy! and perfect for the season!!

AND! here is a list of movies that i have not seen, but are on my watchlist. so i can’t vouch for their quality, this is just to say they have intrigued me (or been recommended to me) and i will watch them some day haha.

Bright Star (2009)

Mr. Malcolm’s List (2022)

The Handmaiden (2016)

A Room With A View (1985)

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Ophelia (2018)

Chevalier (2023)

BONUS you didn’t ask for series but here’s a shortlist of my favorite period drama shows, just for kicks!

Poldark

Call the Midwife

The Crown

Bridgerton

Anne with an E

The Great

Downton Abbey

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Eleanor Tomlinson cuts a stylish figure in a backless brown leather dress as she arrives at the preview of The Couple Next Door thriller

By Lily Jobson For Mailonline

21:31 01 Nov 2023, updated 21:36 01 Nov 2023

Eleanor Tomlinson cut a stylish figure in a backless brown leather dress as she arrived at the preview of The Couple Next Door on Wednesday.

The actress, 31, who plays the main role in the thriller, oozed elegance in the stunning dress as she posed up a storm for cameras.

The auburn-haired beauty flashed her slender physique in the racy midi dress, teamed with black court heels.

Eleanor stars alongside Alfred Enoch, who rose to fame playing Wes in hit American drama How To Get Away With Murder.

The Poldark star joined actors Sam Heughan and Alfred for a sweet photo at the preview event.

Gowrgeous: Eleanor Tomlinson, 31, cut a stylish figure in a backless brown leather dress as she arrived at the preview of The Couple Next Door on Wednesday

Gorgeous: The actress, who plays the main role in the thriller, oozed elegance in the stunning dress as she posed up a storm for cameras

The six-part psychological thriller explores the claustrophobic feel of suburbia and the troubles of giving in to romantic desires - the date is yet to be announced.

Eleanor is in a happy relationship with her husband Will Owen, who first went public with their relationship when the British actress shared a loved-up snap on social media in February last year.

She sparked rumours of an engagement last November when she was seen leaving a supermarket in London wearing a diamond ring.

In July she shared photos of their wedding ceremony at Euridge Manor, near Bath. She wore an off-the-shoulder Pronovias gown with a huge princess-style skirt and Christian Louboutin heels.

Will, who plays for Clifton Rugby Club, has previously played for Leicester Tigers, Doncaster Knights and Nottingham Rugby Club.

Elsewhere, Eleanor has been hard at work filming the hotly-anticipated third series of The Outlaws, where she's starring opposite Darren Boyd.

Eleanor, who plays posh-girl influencer and socialite Gabby on the show, truly looked the part in her stunning costumes.

Season three of The Outlaws started filming in April in Bristol, which is show creator Stephen Merchant's hometown.

Alongside Eleanor, the show's stars include Oscar award winning legend Christopher Walken, Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd and Clare Perkins.

Stars: The Poldark star joined actors Sam Heughan (L) and Alfred Enoch (R) for a sweet photo at the preview event

Dapper: Sam looked handsome in a black tuxedo as he posed for a sweet snap with gorgeous Eleanor

Glamorous: The auburn-haired beauty flashed her slender physique in the racy midi dress, teamed with black court heels

Behind the magic: Eleanor and The Couple Next Door crew all pictured together

Beaming: Eleanor appeared to be in great spirits as she got chatting with the audience

The comedy thriller follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol.

In a past interview, she said of her character: 'Gabby is a social-media influencer with a drink and drug problem.

'She is wild and uncontrollable and, without being unkind, blissfully unaware of the lives of others around her, which makes her outrageously funny to play

The comedy thriller follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol.

In a past interview, she said of her character: 'Gabby is a social-media influencer with a drink and drug problem.

'She is wild and uncontrollable and, without being unkind, blissfully unaware of the lives of others around her, which makes her outrageously funny to play.'

Its second series ended with her character attending a support group to try get off drugs.

Meanwhile Stephen's character Greg impulsively quit his job and taking the plunge with a date, Frank, played by Christopher Walken, was asked to leave his family home by his daughter.

While series one was highly acclaimed, series two had more mixed reviews.

The Stephen Merchant-written production was formerly known as The Offenders however it was announced it would be known as The Outlaws in September 2021.

MAIL ONLINE

** The MailOnline TV & Showbiz UK article cited is about actress Eleanor Tomlinson, not about SH.

[nervousladytraveler]

Why would Poldark tv series writer DH have Ross say to Eliz S1Ep8 that Dem is the "love of his life" (not in WG books) when she is ill, then afterwards still have him pine and lust after Eliz constantly in series. Is it to show Ross as a duplicitous cad? Was it just to show his blind foolhardy idealization and obsession about Eliz because he was denied her. Don't get why she had Ross say that about Dem if it wasn't genuine and truly heartfelt. Why put it in? Doesn't make sense. What's your take?

Thanks for the ask, @anonymous. I’ve been giving this some thought (and will try to be succinct in my reply). Short answer: screen writers can have short memories. I remember feeling this frustration even as a kid watching something happen in one episode of a beloved show (Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries? Remington Steele?) that was conveniently left behind for plot purposes moving forward. And I’d shout at my TV, “Did they think we wouldn’t remember?!”

Or…perhaps it's not that simple. 

Maybe it was just easy for Ross to throw out the phrase “love of his life” because the situation was so dire. Nothing makes us love a person more than when we fear death, ours or theirs. (There’s a really lovely and sort of funny Mary Oliver poem on this very subject but I can’t remember the title). I don’t actually believe that he didn't really mean it, by the way, just offering it as an option.

Or maybe Debbie H. deliberately used that line to show us how complicated Ross and his feelings were. Sure he loved Elizabeth in one way but Demelza was the real deal. And it was really necessary in that moment in S1.8 for the audience to see a declaration of love for Demelza, so we could get through all the other horrible, painfully sad bits of that episode. It was the only saving grace, really.

If that’s the case, did DH have a memory lapse or a change of heart/direction moving forward? I mean she had to have known all the stuff Winston Graham mapped out for S2 when she wrote that line for S1. Does this make Ross a hypocrite or was she trying to show us how he lost sight of his true feelings for Demelza in S2 since we already knew she was the “love of his life” from S1?

Or were there some other lines written for S2 or even S3 that were edited out that would have helped us reconcile this inconsistency? I just read that the original scripts for S2.10 had Ross openly declaring his love for Demelza at the Trenwith riot in front of George and Elizabeth but that it was cut (not sure if it was filmed then edited out or edited out of the script before it was even filmed).

That said, considering the wildly inconsistent ride we had in S3, I can also see DH just playing around with lines, ignoring what had been established because she had somewhere else she wanted to go. And she did push Elizabeth to the center of the story far longer than WG did, so that pesky “love of my life” line she created must have proven very inconvenient for her!

Also, I have to admit, I hate the phrase “love of my life” as much as I don't dig the concept of "soulmate". I think they are really limiting and I think it is possible to love different people in different ways at different times as you grow and become a different person yourself. Sometimes you are lucky and can keep that one great love with you for years and years and sometimes you lose a great love. But I do think you can move on and find another, different, love. Ok--that's not the question you asked me.

Lastly, I wonder if the phrase is a bit anachronistic? I haven’t been able to find the origins of it but I’m not sure I’ve ever heard it used in 18th/19th c. dialogue.  Totally possible that I’m wrong and it's even some old expression that can be traced back to Roman Latin poetry. Or maybe it's a relatively modern take? Anyone with intel on that, I’m all ears.

Thanks for asking (and so much for being succinct).

[stelly38]

I've realized something during my re-watch of Poldark... it's not my favorite of AT's shows. While I love Poldark, and have yet to find another story that completely sweeps me away the way this one has, I think I actually like Desperate Romantics the best.

DR was 100% enjoyable, start to finish. It was funny, clever, surprising, entertaining, and just plain fun to watch. While many of the same things can be found in Poldark, this show never made me laugh, and I think that's what I value most when sitting down to watch something. (I should mention I don't care about historical accuracy in DR, or in most shows I watch for entertainment).

Below is a ranking of all of Aidan's shows/movies *that I've seen,* from my favorite to my least favorite.

Desperate Romantics

Poldark

And Then There Were None / Leonardo (tie)

Being Human

Love Is Blind

Hattie

The Suspect

Fifteen Love

Hitler Bigfoot

The Clinic / Alarm (tie)

It was a struggle for me to get into Being Human; it took several views because I just can't deal with the silly vampire/werewolf thing. But I gave it a shot because every episode features AT, and it's at least funny, and it was fun to watch.

I didn't really enjoy watching numbers 7 through 10. Best thing about those is getting to ogle Aidan. I haven't seen all of The Clinic, but the partial episodes I have seen bored me senseless. They were only interesting in that they featured baby Aidan Turner.

There's a bit of wiggle room in these, depending on what I'm using as my main reason for liking or disliking the shows. Overall, I'm rating them according to how enjoyable I found them.

Alarm is pretty bad, all around. There's not much that's likable about it, aside from Aidan Turner's fine ass.

How would you juggle the list for yourself?

[yel-ashaya]

Watching Andor and as a Brit I find it so funny that the cast is basically made up of people I recognise from…

Doctor Who

The Catherine Tate Show

An Inspector Calls

Poldark

Primeval

Coronation Street

All shows instrumental to my childhood! 😂❤️

[allpartofthejob]

So ... Here we go on after a little break... Part II. I start with rewatching the entrance scene

"So... this is the hobbit!"

*gulp*...

no wonder Bilbo runs the next day to catch up with the dwarf gang! I would.

...

(Btw. Bloody hell, are there no women at all in the story?? A little cross-gender casting or trousers role, please, next time!)

Oh no, flashback: an epic dwarf-orc-battle! (Did I mention? I don't care much for epic fantasy battles). Mr. Thornton, take care! I'm calling in the blue helmets.

Maybe the orcs have feelings, too? Oh, I see, they don't, there are two more and they are evil.

...

A lovely forest. Oh no! (I want the evil orcs back, I can cope with those better)! Ugh... I'll skip some minutes..

Do I need to skip some more? No, just some bloodthirsty orcs (are they? Can't tell them apart, will call them orcs)!

Yeah, Poldark to the rescue! And the others... (Oh they are trolls - sorry!).

They were rich trolls apparently! These swords may not have been made by men - but they have far too many spiderwebs on them for my taste...

And there we have the brown wizard again. Do I want to know what happened to him & the tiny hedgehog? No, not really, sorry guys. Yuck, ...

I THOUGHT THIS WAS BASED ON A CHILDREN'S STORY! Nerve-racking... let's speed up this part of the story.

Ah, corcs on wolfes now! (What happened to the ponies btw.?) RUN? Gandalf is funny! It's elves to the rescue this time -

Elves don't seem to be a good thing according to Thorin's look of disdain?! (Probably a dwarf tradition). Btw. is he wearing eyeliner? (There can never be enough eyeliner on a good looking man apparently. Lucifer, Guy of Gisborne,...).

...

Dear dwarfs, please do NOT follow an unknown passage into the mountain. My nerves can't take it! (Obviously my star sign is hobbit, not too much tension please).

Alright, nothing happened there, no monsters lurking ...But I need a rest now. Half of the movie is done!

...

Honestly?! A little too many dwarfs, battles and rescues so far. I would like to focus on the important bits. Thorin and Bilbo: when will they built a friendship (or anything alike)?

[anglophiletraveler]

Chapter 9

I Want To Hold Your Hand

After reading the lyrics to I Want To Hold Your Hand, I just knew that I had to use this song!!  It’s so obvious that Ross really wants to hold Demelza’s hand.  I have to admit that when typing the lyrics at the bottom, I realised that I’ve always sung some of the lyrics wrong.  I always thought that it was “I get high.  I get high.  I get high”  instead of  “I can’t hide.  I can’t hide.  I can’t hide.”   

“Hey Dwight how ya doing?”

“Ross, I was just thinking about you.   How did the lunch date go?”

“Very well, thank you very much.  So do you want to go with me to the symphony tonight?”

“Wow, the date went so bad that you’re asking me out now?  Sorry mate, but I prefer blondes.” 

“Haha you’re such a funny bugger.  Look, it went very well with Demelza.  In fact, I’m going to the symphony tonight to watch her play and she said that she can get the two of us tickets if you want to go along.”

“Well that sounds nice and all, but I’m really not into playing the third wheel.”

“Well actually you’d be the fourth wheel.  One of Demelza’s flat mates is going as well.  Caroline.  You didn’t get a chance to meet her, but she is definitely blonde.  Does the symphony sound interesting now buddy?”

“You know, I was just thinking that I was in the mood for a little Beethoven in my life.”  Dwight and Ross both chuckled at that.

“I kind of thought you might change your tune on that.  Haha see what I did there tune, Beethoven, symphony, haha!!!”

“Yeah, yeah I got it, smooth Poldark.  Listen, text me with the details and I’m going to take a quick nap so that I don’t look like a zombie tonight.”

“Alright sounds good.  I’ll let Demelza know that you’re coming along.  Talk to you later.”

*****

Ross left work a little early so that he could get home and decide what he was going to wear.  Demelza had told him where to park so that it was closer to the stage door for her to meet him with her cello.  And since Caroline was going to be there, Ross and Dwight decided on driving separately in case they ended up going their separate ways after the concert.  The concert started at 7:30 so the agreement was that Dwight and Ross would meet Caroline at the box office at 6:45 to pick up the tickets that Demelza was going to have waiting for them.  

Now the only thing to decide on was what to wear.

Dwight and Ross had agreed on suits, but Ross wasn’t really feeling like wearing a tie for the rest of the night after wearing one all day at work.  In fact, he was whipping it off on his way home from work.

Seamus heard Ross pull in the driveway and went nuts to see him.  He knew what his BMW sounded like so he was jumping around when Ross came through the door.  “Hey boy, how ya doin?  Huh?   How was your day, baby? Hmmm?  Ok, Ok just let me sit down so I can give you some lovins!!”  Ross sat down on the couch so he could give Seamus some kisses.  “Oh boy I missed you today, but you know what?  Daddy had a lunch date today.  Yes, he did!”  Seamus was barking at him like he knew what he was talking about.  Ross started rough housing with him a little and that got him riled up even more so Ross decided he better let him outside so he could run off some energy.  Ross left the back door open so that Seamus could run in when he was done.  This was all part of his routine when he got home from work.  Open the back door so Seamus can do his thing, fill up his food and water dishes, take off his suit coat and hang it up in the downstairs closet - which is how he kept track of what suits he’d worn during the week, grabbed a Guinness from the fridge, and started unbuttoning his shirt.  

Only today his mind was also preoccupied with what was happening tonight and with what to wear.  He’d made up his mind that he wasn’t going to wear a tie, but now he just had to figure out what he was going to wear that was comfortable and looked dressy enough for the concert.  Seamus had meandered into the kitchen and was helping himself to dinner. “Hey bud!  If only I could get you to shut the door behind you.”  Ross smiled as he sat on the floor next to him.  “So you remember Demelza, don’t you?  You met her last week.  Red hair, beautiful smile, blue eyes that you could just fall in…  well we had a lunch date today.”  Seamus looked up at Ross and cocked his head at his master.  “Yeah, we did boy.  And I think it went really well.  We had a nice talk and got to know each other a little better.  She’s really smart and really talented and plays the cello.  So Uncle Dwight and I are going to her concert tonight!”  Seamus started licking his face, dog food breath and all.  “Okay, oaky I get that you’re happy for me!  Stop!  Enough already!!   I’ve gotta get my act together here and grab something to eat and get in the shower.” 

Ross got up, looked in his fridge and didn’t see much to fix other than salmon.  Ugh.  He was really getting tired of salmon.  He closed the door and let out a sigh and looked around the kitchen as he leaned against the counter drinking his beer.  He was definitely a creature of routine.  He didn’t mind living alone but lately he had begun to feel lonely, maybe even a little melancholy.

He was looking around the kitchen.  At times it almost looked sterile, like a hospital.  The kitchen was almost all white, stylish, like a magazine cover.  The countertops were beautifully veined marble, and the island  with an exquisite waterfall countertop.  The gas stove was a chef’s dream with six burners and a pot filler.  The refrigerator was extra wide to hold platters of food for entertaining.  When he bought his home he had an interior designer come in and help him decorate the place since he really had no idea what to do with the place.  He just wanted it to look nice, and maybe even feel like a home.  But did it feel like a home?  Why am I feeling like this today of all days?  I had a wonderful lunch date with Demelza and I’m going to see her tonight after the concert.   Come on Poldark, get your head out of your arse and get going.   

He headed up the stairs to get in the shower, food would have to wait.  Just as he stripped off his clothes, his phone rang.  Bloody hell I don’t have time for this!  He looked at his phone and realised it was …”Mum, hi!  How are you?”  He decided to look in his closet while he talked with his mum.

“Hello luv, I’m fine, how are you?”

“I’m fine mum.  Is there somethin that you need?  I don’t mean to sound rude, but I was just getting ready to jump in the shower.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, do you have plans tonight?  I just haven’t heard from you in a couple of days so I was wondering how you were?”

“Um yeah mom, I’m going to the symphony tonight.”

“The symphony?  Really? Excuse me, I must have dialled the wrong phone number.  I was trying to call my son Ross Poldark!”

“Haha, very cheeky mum.  Yes, I'm going to the symphony tonight.  I’m meeting Dwight there actually.”

“Oh I thought you were going to say that you were taking a woman.  I can only hope.”

“Well, actually, I’m meeting a woman there after the concert.  She plays cello in the BBC orchestra.  I was just trying to figure out what to wear.  I haven’t been to the symphony since…”

“Since you were with that awful woman that broke your heart.  Ross, just forget about her once and for all.  You deserve someone so much better than that bitch…”

“Mum, I can't believe your language! “  Ross laughed at his mum.  Her language usually turned blue when talking about Elizabeth.   “Look, I really have to get going or I’m going to be late.”

“Right.  You go and have a wonderful time!  And I want pictures!!  Luv you!”

Ross chuckled at his mum’s request for pictures, “Alright mum, I’ll do my best.  Gotta go, luv ya.”  He knew his mum meant well.  The phone conversation did trigger something for him.  He had told Demelza a small lie about classical music. He had told her about going to the LSO a couple of times, but he hadn’t mentioned going to the Truro Symphony with Elizabeth.  It was one of those things that she guilted him into doing.  She had played the harp for years and had always wanted to play professionally, but since she didn’t go to uni, she didn’t improve enough to pass the auditions that she went to.   

So now he understood why he was feeling restless.

Whenever something reminded him of Elizabeth, he felt this way.  “Fuck!!!” Ross screamed at himself.  “Ross, you need to stop doing this to yourself.  You’re an idiot!  You don’t love her anymore.”  Ross was so upset with himself.  He rarely thought of Elizabeth and his cousin and their happy little family.  But for some reason thoughts of her popped up at times like this where he was looking forward to possibly having some happiness outside of his professional career.  He allowed people to think that he was happy being a confirmed bachelor, with the sparkling career, and the sparkling BMW to go with it, but deep down he really wasn’t.  He allowed very few people to see that part of him, Dwight was one of them along with his cousin Verity.  

He stood there shaking his head.  Finally he took a look at his watch and saw that it was 5:45, and jumped in the shower to clean off the day’s dirt and hopefully clear his mind.  

*****

Seamus was laying in the middle of Ross’s bed watching him walk around in the room, talking to himself, while ABBA was playing on his phone.  The shower had helped to calm him down and he was feeling better about the night.  It was 6:15 and he was dressed, settling on black jeans, black shoes that hopefully weren’t too shiny, a black turtleneck jumper that he always thought looked pretty hot on him thank you very much, and then, a knee length, grey coat.  Cologne was on.   While Ross was checking out his hair in the mirror, he noticed the scar that’s been on his face for 12 years.  The scar had gone down the right side of his face, starting at the temple area, stopping a couple of inches down the cheek.  He didn’t notice it that much anymore, luckily it had faded some and didn’t have that angry redness to it that it once had.   Elizabeth hated the scar and tried many times to talk him into having plastic surgery to remove it.  But Ross never gave in.  He didn’t want to forget how he got the scar and how much pain was behind it.  But Elizabeth never tried to understand his viewpoint on it.  That should’ve been a sign for you right there you wanker.   Ross looked at his hair and huffed a big sigh.  He put a little product in it and decided to let the curls lay where they may.  He turned around and looked at Seamus, “So what do you think?  Too much black, or just the right amount?”  Seamus barked twice.  “Thanks buddy, that’s what I thought too!  Wish me luck!”  He gave Seamus a pat on the head, grabbed his wallet, keys and phone and headed for the door.

******

Ross had wanted to get to the Barbican before Dwight got there because Dwight didn’t know Caroline… yet.  But he knew he was going to be a little late and he knew Dwight would give him a hard time about it. 

Ross burst through the doors and spotted Dwight and Caroline right away.  Apparently they had figured out who the other one was, and started to get to know one another while waiting for Ross. Of course Caroline was dressed to perfection, and her beautiful blonde hair had obviously been straightened and didn’t have a hair out of place.  She certainly didn’t look like she’d been up early and had worked all day long.  Then he noticed that Dwight was wearing a suit and tie….

“Well, look who finally showed up AND isn’t wearing a suit and tie!!  Ross we agreed….”

“I know, I know.  But after I got home I just could not stand the thought of wearing a bloody tie for the rest of the night.”  He gave Caroline a hello kiss on the cheek.  “Hello Caroline how are you?  I’m sorry I’m late, I was detained by a phone call.  Have I missed anything?”

“No Ross you’re fine.  I’ve got the tickets, and it’s only 7:00 so we have a few minutes.  Besides, Dr. Enys and I were just getting to know one another, weren’t we Dr. Enys?”  She looked over at Dwight with blue eyes that could melt a snowman.  The red lipstick didn’t help matters either.  She backed up a step so that she could check out both men and what they were wearing.  “Well you both look delicious!  I’m a lucky girl to be escorted by two handsome, well dressed men.  I daresay that all of the women around will be jealous of me!  And Dwight I give you permission to remove your tie if you’d like, just fluff out the collar a bit.”

Dwight started taking off his tie as he and Ross both looked at each other feeling a bit awkward, as though they had just been undressed in Caroline’s mind.  

“Thank you Caroline.  I’m not a fan of wearing ties.  I’m more used to wearing scrubs all of the time.”  Dwight wasted no time pulling the tie off, and Caroline took it upon herself to make sure his collar was fashionably “fluffed”.

Ross took it upon himself to get all three of them bottles of water to take inside the auditorium.  “Here you go mates.  Should we make our way inside or is it too early.  Caroline you’re the pro at this.”

“Sure why not.  Let’s get comfy shall we.”  And with that she took Dwight’s arm on one side and Ross’s arm on the other and smiled as they walked in like she was the Queen of Sheba!!  

*****

Caroline made sure that Ross got the aisle seat so he would have a better view of Demelza, plus it helped him stretch out his long legs.  While Aidan was busy scanning the program for Demelza’s name and what music selections were going to be played, Caroline and Dwight were chit chatting back and forth when all of a sudden they heard a growling noise.  They both looked up at Ross…”What!  I told you I had a phone call and I didn’t have a chance to eat anything.”

Dwight gave Ross a questioning look, like he had a feeling who it was that probably called Ross, and gave him a big smile, “So who was calling you, mate?”

Caroline was starting to feel like the umpire at a tennis match with her head going back and forth between the two.

Ross gave a big sigh and rolled his eyes, “Never mind Dwight.”

Dwight started giggling, “Who was it?  Was it your mum?”

Caroline sat up at that remark and smiled, “Your mum called you tonight?”

Ross shook his head at Dwight like he was going to kill him. “Yes, it was my mum.  She called because we haven’t talked for a while.   Dwight you wanker, I swear…”  

Caroline looked at Ross with Bambi eyes now.  “Aw, that is the sweetest!  Are you close with her?”  

Just then the house lights lowered, “Saved by the lights,”  Ross was relieved.

Caroline noticed that Ross’s knee was shaking, so she leaned in and placed her hand on Ross’s arm, “Demelza said she really had a nice time at lunch!”

Ross’s knee stopped moving and snapped his head to Caroline and had a big grin on his face, “Did she?!!  Yeah, so did I!”

Caroline saw that his eyes were sparkling in the dark now, and watched him turn his gaze around to look for Demelza as the curtain opened.  He got this cute puppy dog look when he spotted her and was clapping even louder.  He was definitely smitten.  Demelza was situated on the outside chair of her row so Ross was able to see her very clearly as she played.  He noticed that her copper hair had been pulled back in a pony tail since he last saw her.  Of course all of the musicians had to be dressed mainly in black, but Ross was sure that Demelza was the best dressed of all of them.  Watching her play reminded Ross of seeing Demelza for the first time in the Museum of Modern Art in New York when she cast her spell on Ross.  He thought she was just as mesmerising tonight as she was back then.  Caroline thought it was adorable at how he just stared at Demelza as if there weren’t anyone else around.  

*****

The house lights came back up signalling that it was time for intermission, and they all three decided to go stretch their legs in the lobby.  

Dwight spotted sandwiches for sale and bought one for Ross.  “Here Ross.  Maybe this will keep your stomach from growling!”

“Oh thanks mate.  Always looking out for me.”

Caroline was thinking how sweet the comaredie was between the two men.  She had a feeling that they really do look out for each other.  

“Caroline, I think I spotted your other flatmates in the orchestra as well.”

Ross had scarfed down his sandwich in no time.  “They are?  I guess I didn’t see them.”

Caroline smiled and chuckled at Ross, “Well I’m not surprised since you’ve had your eyes glued on Demelza the whole time.  You know there is a whole orchestra on the stage besides Demelza?”

“Sorry.  She looks so beautiful tonight doesn’t she!”

“She’s in black Ross, they are all required to dress in black, although they can have a little white in their attire.  Demelza usually wears black pants to accommodate her cello, but she does try to jazz up her top a little.  I think she received a talking to one time for wearing a blouse that was deemed too revealing.”

Ross wasn’t giving up.  “Really?  Well, I’m sure she looked beautiful just like she does tonight.  And I’m pretty sure she’s the most talented cellist up there.”   

Caroline and Dwight gave each other knowing smiles after Ross’s comment.  They started to return to their seats when the lights in the lobby blinked.  Ross was murmuring something about making sure he looks for Caroline’s other flatmates that play in the orchestra.  Dwight was expressing his relief that the music selections in the second half of the program was going to have music in it that he had actually heard before, and Caroline was beginning to think that she was sitting in between two little boys trying to sit still in church!

*****

Dwight, Caroline and Ross were standing in the lobby after the concert waiting for Demelza, while the rest of the audience was fili out of the doors.  

Dwight and Ross were looking at their phones trying to find a place to go for drinks.  

Dwight grimaced while looking at his phone, “There aren’t a lot of places around here that are open past 11 pm. “

“Yes, we discovered that a long time ago.  I guess they figure everyone goes home after the concerts during the week instead of staying up late.  There is a place closer to our flat that stays open until Midnight.  I could ride with you Dwight, I’m sure Demelza will be riding with Ross.”

Ross looked up from his phone, “Yes, she had me park close to the stage entrance because she’s bringing her cello home.  Should I just go back to the car now and meet her.”

“Yes, tell Demeza that we will meet you at The Railway Tavern.  Dwight shall we go on and get a table?”

Dwight held his arm for Caroline to grab it and smiled, “Sounds like a plan to me.  See you there Ross!”

Ross shook his head, “Right.  I texted Demelza that I’ll meet her at my car and we’ll meet you there.”

*****

Ross was leaning against his car waiting for Demelza while watching other musicians come out of the stage door.   He was getting looks from some of the women, and some of the men, wondering who the handsome stranger was, leaning up against a BMW!  Demelza was wondering what everyone was buzzing about when she first stepped out of the door, and then she spotted him.  She was pretty sure her heart skipped a beat.  He was gorgeous there leaning up against his car.  He spotted her and got that beautiful smile on his face and walked over to help her with the cello.  

“Hello.”

Demelza smiled back, “Hello.”

“May I take your cello.”

Demelza’s eyes sparkled, “You may.  Thank you.”

Ross took her cello in his right hand, and tilted his head at her, and held out his left hand to hold hands with her.  Demelza took his hand in her hand and Ross let out a tiny gasp, and got this dreamy look in his eyes.  Demelza locked eyes with him as they walked over to his car.

“Um, I don’t think it will fit in the boot, so I’m going to slide it into the backseat.”

Demelza laughed.  “I don’t think much will fit in that boot Ross!!”

Ross smiled at her as he slid the cello into the back seat, and then opened the door for her, “You’re probably right.  Shall we?”

“We shall.”  Ross watched as she slid into the seat like a purring kitten.

Ross got into the car, “So I guess we are meeting Dwight and Caroline at a place called The Railway Tavern.  Can you direct me or should I put it into my GPS?”  

“Yeah, just head towards my place.”

Ross started the car and pulled out of the car lot.  “You know Ross, this is quite the car.  I wasn’t sure what was going on until I got out the door and saw you, looking like a movie star,  leaning against it.”

That got Ross to laugh one of his big, beautiful laughs.  “A movie star?  I hardly think so, but thank you.  I do love this car.  It’s one of the first things I splurged on when I got my job.  Would you like me to pull over so that you can drive it?”

“Oh hell no!”  Demelza screamed out and then her cheeks turned red.  Ross thought it was pretty funny the way she shouted it out.

“It’s just a car. It won’t bite.  I trust you.”  He started to pull over.

Demelza grabbed Ross’s arm, “No you don’t understand, I … I don’t.  I don’t know how to drive.”  Ross could tell that Demelza was embarrassed by her statement, so he didn’t make fun of her.

“It’s okay, I just thought I’d offer to let you drive it.”  Ross lifted her face to look at him with his finger.  “I could teach you sometime.  If you’d like.” 

Demelza smiled at his sincerity.  “Maybe sometime.  Now let’s get going, I’m starved!”

Ross laughed at that statement, “I am too.  I haven’t eaten since our lunch date today.  My stomach kept growling during the concert!”  Then Ross thought out loud, “Wow, twice in one day I get to see you.  I could get used to this.”  Then Demelza leaned over a little, and Ross met her the rest of the way, placed his hand gently on her face and kissed her.  Demelza eventually pulled back and was staring at his lips, “So could I Ross.”  Ross leaned in for another kiss, and slipped in his tongue to meet hers.  They were both enjoying the intensity of the kiss when Demelza’s phone buzzed.  They both pulled away catching their breath.  Demelza finally answered her phone.  Of course it was Caroline.  “Hey, this place is crowded, are you two on your way yet?”

“Um yeah, we’re on our way.  Hey, go ahead and order me a cheeseburger with chips… “  She saw Ross signalling her to order him one as well.  “Ross said to order him as well.”

Ross was chuckling, “Right.   Guess we best get on.  I’m sure Dwight’s going to tease me about being late as it is.”

“You two are very close aren’t you.”

“Yeah, we’ve been best mates for years.  He’s more like a brother.  We’ve gotten each other through some tough times ya know.  I just wish that he would slow down a bit.  He works a lot of hours at hospital.  He’s very good at what he does.  You and Caroline are very close as well, yeah.”

“Yes we are.  It’s the same with us, like sisters.  Tough times and all that.  I love her Uncle Ray, he’s such a hoot.  So how were Dwight and Caro getting along tonight?  I noticed that she sat between the two of you.”

“Oh you could see us!  Haha, that's brilliant.  And yes, they were getting on very well, so fingers crossed that it continues.  By the way, you look beautiful tonight.”

“Oh thank you.  You know that I have to primarily wear black.  I get tired of wearing black all of the time so I try to spice it up sometimes with a dash of white.”

“Well you were the most beautiful musician up there.”

“Aw, that's so sweet.  Oh, turn left at the next light.  Did you enjoy the music?”

“Oh yes, yes I did.  Loved it.”  Demelza gave him a look that doubted what he was saying, and he caught it.   “Okay, okay, maybe I watched you the entire time, guilty as charged.  Caroline laughed at me when I said you were the best cellist on the stage.  And I completely forgot to look for your other flatmates in the orchestra as well.”  Ross was looking a little sheepish by this point, but Demelza just shook her head at him grinning.

“Okay now take the next right and you should be able to see it.”  Ross pulled into the car lot and parked.  After Ross turned the ignition off, Demelza leaned into him.  “Ross, I love it that you watched me the whole time and thought I was the best cellist on stage.”

“You do.”

“Mmmhmm.  I think it’s lovely.”

Ross ducked his head in that shy way that she loved.  He moved over to kiss her tenderly.  “I think you're lovely, Demelza.  And maybe I shouldn’t say this, but when I’m around you, I feel like a schoolboy again.”  Their noses were touching and they kissed again.  Ross’s stomach started growling again and they both laughed.  “Ross, maybe we should go inside and feed your stomach!!”

Ross got out of the car and floated over to Demelza’s side to open the door for her, and grabbed her hand as they walked to the door of the pub.  

Demelza stopped walking, “Ross, I don’t think I remember your hair being this curly.”

“Oh yes, I didn’t have time to do anything with it, or straighten it, so I just put some product in to tame it after my shower.  Why does it look bad?”

“No, I love it.  Why do you straighten your hair?”

“Oh because one of my old professors in Uni told me years ago that I would never be taken seriously in the business world with curly hair, and it’s always stuck with me.”

Demelza reached her hand to touch it and run her fingers through it.  “Don’t pay attention to that old bloke, I love it.  Besides, you have a great job so don’t worry about it.”

They heard a couple of people clearing their throats and they looked around them and realised that they were blocking the doorway for others to use, so they quickly went in.

They quickly found Dwight and Caroline and the server came with their food just as they sat down.  “Hiya.  Would you two like something to drink?”

“Ah yes, I’ll have Guinness, and Demelza, what would you like?”

“Um, I’ll have a large glass of water please, and I’ll have Guinness as well.”  The server walked away to get their drinks.  “Well looks like we got here right on time for the food.  How are you two doing tonight?  Dwight, did you enjoy the concert?”  Demelza gave Ross a side glance at this question as Ross was taking a huge bite of his burger.

“Oh yes, I loved it.”  Ross just about choked on his food with that response.  “What?  I did!”  Caroline was smiling through all of this.  Dwight looked at Demelza seriously, “I particularly enjoyed the music from the second half of the concert.  I thought it was very entertaining.”  Demelza looked at Caroline and Ross and they all three cracked up laughing at Dwight.

*****

The night was winding down and Ross and Demelza were in one car on the way back to her flat, while Dwight and Caroline were in another car heading back to her flat… their flat.  

“Ross, do you mind not taking me home right away.”

“No, not at all.  Is there someplace else you want to go?  Or did you need something from the shop?”  

“No, it’s just.  Well, if both cars arrive at our flat at the same time, it might be a bit awkward.  Ya know what I mean?”

Ross smiled, “Ah yes, I catch your drift.  Hmmm let’s see.  Well, I can just drive around for a few minutes.  I know.  I can drive you over and show you where I work.  It shouldn’t take long at this time of night.  How’s that sound?”

Demelza sighed, “Perfect.”

*****

They pulled into a parking space in front of Ross’s building.  It was a tall building with a modern architecture about it.  The top of it curved to one side to a point which made it almost look like a shark fin.  

“Wow Ross, this is impressive.”

“Yeah, it kind of is.  My firm has the 12th, 13th, and 14th floors.  I’m always amazed that the partners decided on leasing in such a modern looking building.  They tend to be kind of old school in some of their decisions.”

“What’s on the top floors where it curves?”

“You know, I don’t rightly know.  I’m not one for heights so I’ve never gone up there.”

They were enjoying the ease of the conversation in the quietness of the car after sitting in a pub, holding hands.

“Demelza, do you have concerts this weekend?”

“Um I don’t think so, but let me check my calendar.”  She pulled her calendar out of her purse, and looked at it.  “No, I’m free for the whole weekend.  We start rehearsals next week for the holiday season, so we have the weekend off.”

“Really.  I was wondering if you’d like to come over to my place and let me cook for you.  Saturday or Sunday, doesn’t matter to me.”

“I would love to…  either day, doesn’t matter to me.  Would you like me to bring something, pudding or wine?”

Ross smiled at the thought of her showing up on his doorstep.  “Pudding would be good.  I’m not very good at those.  I suppose I should take you home now.”

“Yes, it’s probably safe now.”

*****  

Ross pulled into their driveway.  No sign of Dwight’s car.  Ross got out and walked Demelza to the door, and then pulled the cello out of the backseat.

“I’ll text you and let you know about what time on Saturday.  I can come pick you up so that you don’t have to take the tube or a bus.”

“Oh you don’t have to do that, I don’t mind.”

“No, no I insist.  Besides, you’ll have pudding with you and I wouldn’t want that to get mangled in the door of the tube!”  Ross chuckled.

“No, we wouldn't want that.  Well I look forward to hearing from you.”

Ross pulled her in for a heated goodnight kiss.  Demelza ran her fingers through his hair at the base of his neck making Ross groan a little.  He gently pulled away and leaned his forehead against hers, both breathing a little faster than normal.

“Lord, Demelza.”

“I know.   I guess I better go in.”

Ross looked into her eyes.  “Goodnight Demelza.”

“Goodnight Ross.”

*****

If you want to take a look at The Railway Tavern, click on this link.  https://www.yelp.com/biz/railway-tavern-london

I Want to Hold Your Hand

Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Oh yea, I’ll tell you somethin’

I think you’ll understand

When I say that somethin’

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

Oh, please, say to me

You’ll let me be your man

And please, say to me

You’ll let me hold your hand

You’ll let me hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

And when I touch you

I feel happy inside

It’s such a feelin’ that my love

I can’t hide

I can’t hide

I can’t hide

Yeah, you got that somethin’

I think you’ll understand

When I say that somethin’

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

[tallmadgeandtea]

What are Ioan Gruffudd’s- aka Horatio Hornblower aka Jeremy Poldark aka Glee guest star- thoughts on the Funny Girl situation?