More fascinating useless bits courtesy of the internet

[rikibeth]

Okay, so, I've got the flu, which means I'm mostly banished to my room, so I don't breathe germs on eternaleponine, but last night, she IMs up to me (what? of COURSE we IM from room to room. We will not discuss the occasions on which we IM although WE ARE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER) "The Doctor is going to meet Agatha Christie." When I ascertain that she means RIGHT NOW, and that she is willing to risk me coughing all over everywhere, I go downstairs to watch.

Leaving aside any petty criticisms of the episode, it reminded me that I had some Agatha Christies on the bookshelf, courtesy of goddessfarmer, and that was probably well suited to my focus level (fever brain, also probably oxygen-deficient from all the coughing), so I grabbed The Tuesday Club Murders and took it upstairs to read while I took a nice hot bath. With all of a LUSH Marathon bubble bar in it. Cinnamon. Warming. Good for flu, right? Also, unlikely to dump glitter all over the tub, and I was in no mood for glitter.

Well, in the first story (published 1928), "The Tuesday Night Club," it was mentioned that one character was "banting." From context, it was clear that she was dieting; however, I was a bit curious about the word itself.

You know what it is?

19th-century Atkins.

I AM NOT KIDDING.

Now the only mystery left is what on EARTH was that "bowl of cornflour" requested by the character with the upset stomach? I know "cornflour" is Britglish for "cornstarch," but it can't just have been a bowl of powder. Cornstarch-thickened milk pudding, maybe? It doesn't sound very digestion-soothing to me, but I know that custards were historically thought of as good food for invalids, so.

erastes, kay_taylor, or any other Brits on my list? Can you shed any light on the subject?

ETA: Okay, more choosy Googling suggests it really WAS just a cornstarch-and-water paste. The "banting" character must REALLY have been craving carbs like a maniac to be willing to drink THAT. Gross!

Comments

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Yes, Ten. And no, can't shout. Voice wrecked.

[fasteronfire525.livejournal.com]

Didn't know you were a fan.
<3

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

darlin', I'm OLD, I was coming home from school to watch TOM BAKER (Four) when PBS used to show the repeats (and old Monty Python). Somewhere in my parents' house there is a photo they took of me in London in 1986 at Madame Tussaud's where I'm standing next to the statue of Four.

I'm just catching up with the new series.

[fasteronfire525.livejournal.com]

I've never seen the old ones but my bf has one of the seasons (i think with Six?) on dvd. He lent me the new seasons 1, 2, and 3 over the summer and i watched them. I think Ten is marvelous, but i'm still not sure about Nine. He was a good enough actor, and a charismatic douchebag, but i cannot get used to his face at all, and the Nine/Rose thing makes him look like a pedofile. XD

Because i don't know how far through them you are, i won't spoil anything, but i will say that the Shakespeare episode was fairly grand, the end of Season 2 made me cry buckets for hours, and the Master is awesome and has wonderful taste in terrible music. ^_^

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

See, I'm used to the actor for Nine being crazy, because I first saw Christopher Eccleston in "Shallow Grave," where he was very, very crazy. And -- Rose was Billie Piper, yes? Who is a good bit older than 15 or 16? Was ROSE meant to be under 16? 'Cause, honestly, you're talking someone who's 900 years old, give or take a bit, and if Rose was old enough to pursue her own interests, I can't get too bent out of shape about it. I also think "Harold and Maude" is a terribly romantic movie.

I'm sort of casually dipping into the series. The truly hooked may come later.