Harry Kennedy, the quintessential boy next door that moved into town and stole my heart. okay, maybe I’m the one who moved into town since I didn’t discover him until long after he first appeared in 2006 but he had me at “hello”.
I’ve always been drawn to the boy next door type, the wholesome nice guy with the stand up character and playful personality– Harry fits that description to a T. he has a quiet demeanor, may even appear a little aloof, but is not lacking in confidence.
confident, creepster- it’s all relative
he’s laid back, casual, someone who is happy just going with the flow. he’s well read
make that fan-fiction and you’ve got yourself a deal!
enjoys taking walks and is friendly to pretty much everyone, girls and guys alike.
“…and Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man”
I liked Harry instantly, and that has never really waned. he’s not perfect but I don’t really want perfect.
but stop the interrupting, because that shit’s annoying!
We don’t really know much about Harry, other than he’s an accountant who works in the city and has decided to relocate to the country and commute. he must have a decent job to be able to afford that cottage but he seems like maybe he’s become disillusioned with city life.
what a surprise to actually receive a visit from a neighbor. I lived on the same street in London for 15 whole years and the bell never rang once.
Harry falls for Geraldine right away, as she does him, but he’s much more impulsive
while she talks herself out of it being real.
a cute story with a happy ending and a lot of endearing humor along the way.
Harry and his story may not be deep, it may not have a lot of action or soul-searching angst, but it touches a part of me that is very real.
that room is missing a cat…or four.
and on days when the world turns me upside down and pulls me in opposite directions, Harry brings me back down to earth and helps plant my feet on solid ground. Life is simple, it’s people who make it complicated.
38.) of the RA dvds that you own, which one could you not live without?
The Vicar of Dibley: the handsome stranger
I don’t think that came as a surprise to anyone, did it? I don’t own a lot of Richard’s films to begin with but if I could only keep one, it would have to be Harry.
that choice is not necessarily based on which film I think is the best or which film I think Richard was better in but rather which film makes me feel good. I often turn to The Handsome Stranger when I’m in need of a pick-me-up. it’s an easy program to watch, fun and light, no matter which point in the story you’re watching. sometimes I’ll watch certain scenes when I only have a few minutes to spare.
The Date is a favorite of mine–spot on comic delivery
The Walk makes me feel all warm and fuzzy
as does The Goodnight Kiss
I like the bit with Rosie too, when Harry gets all bashful
and The Proposal scene too, of course
I’m also fond of scenes that don’t have Harry in them: when Alice thinks she’s going to Narnia, or the book club meeting, or Jim’s Agony Aunt letters. it’s just an all around good time and I’d surely miss it if I could never see it again.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
music question: a song you couldn’t live without
there isn’t really one song that I couldn’t absolutely live without and really, if I never hear a certain song again, it will still live on inside my head. so I’m tweaking this question a bit to: the song that always seems to end up on my mp3 player, regardless of the tone I try to set with my choices. and that would be
I know, right? but this song is definitely a pick-me-up. I cannot listen to this song and not bob my head around to the music or sing out the lyrics. it lets me get my frustrations out and often leaves me with a sense of empowerment.
I’m so sick of it, Your attention deficit Never listen, never listen.
I’d like to think that any self-respecting Armitage fan knows exactly what my blog name refers to but I realize not everyone loves Harry Kennedy
so I will elaborate: In The Vicar of Dibley- The Handsome Stranger, Geraldine spots Harry strolling along on a leisurely walk through the village. she runs (and does some impressive acrobatics) to head him off at the pass and acts like she just happened to run into him. When she asks him where he’s going he replies, ” I was just going on a little stroll to…nowhere in particular” to which she answers, that was exactly where she was heading. And a blog name was born.
I planned to build my blog around the concept of wandering through the fandom and sharing my “fan path”, the particular order that I discovered things about Richard in. I have always loved paths: walking along them
viewing pictures of them
the idea that each experience is a journey that should be valued for the process and not the end result.
I really liked the thought of metaphorically meeting Richard and strolling along with him as we traversed the fandom together. my blog is random in the sense that I don’t often post about current events or focus on any one character or project but just kind of flit about where’er the wind takes me, whether that’s to new places or revisiting ones I’ve been before.
I didn’t come up with that concept right away though. when I decided to sit down and think of blog names, I was relying more on words or phrases that started with the letter “A” so that I could pair it with Armitage. things like Accentuation
Admiration
the jeans
Acclamation
loud and enthusiastic approval
I was fond of A la Mode as well, because of Richard’s whole “chocolate ice cream” remark
your recipe for life? chocolate ice cream. treat others as you would want to be treated. and lots of chocolate ice cream
but none of those titles made a connection with me, until I happened to be watching The Handsome Stranger again and the “Nowhere in Particular” line stood out to me.
on long long legs…
what are some Richard related names or phrases that you think would be good blog names?
words. words. a bunch of words that no one is really reading. we’re all looking at cute gifs of Harry. so let’s just stop kidding ourselves. words. words. a bunch of words that no one is really reading. we’re all looking at cute gifs of Harry. so let’s just stop kidding ourselves. words. words. go on. you don’t have to read these. I’m just filling up space so the gifs look better. words. words. Found a peanut, found a peanut, Found a peanut just now, Just now I found a peanut, Found a peanut just now. Cracked it open, cracked it open, Cracked it open just now, Just now I cracked it open, Cracked it open just now. It was rotten, it was rotten, It was rotten just now, Just now it was rotten, It was rotten just now. Ate it anyway, ate it anyway, Ate it anyway just now, Just now I ate it anyway, Ate it anyway just now. Got a stomach ache, got a stomach ache, Got a stomach ache just now, Just now I got a stomach ache, Got a stomach ache just now. Called the doctor, called the doctor, Called the doctor just now, Just now I called the doctor, Called the doctor just now. Penicillin, Penicillin, Penicillin just now, Just now I took Penicillin, Penicillin just now. or Pepto Bismol. either or. Operation, operation, Operation just now, Just now an operation, An operation just now. Died anyway, died anyway, Died anyway just now, Just now I died anyway, Died anyway just now. Went to heaven, went to heaven, Went to heaven just now, Just now I went to heaven, Went to heaven just now. Wouldn’t take me, wouldn’t take me, Wouldn’t take me just now, Just now Heaven wouldn’t take me, Wouldn’t take me just now. Harry is Heavenly. continue. Went the other way, went the other way, Went the other way just now, Just now I went the other way, Went the other way just now. Shoveling coal, shoveling coal, shoveling coal just now. Just now I’m shoveling coal, shoveling coal, just now. Found a peanut, found a peanut, Found a peanut just now, Just now I found a peanut, Found a peanut just now. Harry probably sings that song in the shower. he’s adorkable enough to pull it off. There’s a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, There’s a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole. Then mend it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Then mend it, dear Henry, dear Henry, mend it. With what shall I mend it, dear Liza, dear Liza? With what shall I mend it, dear Liza, with what? With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with straw. The straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza, The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long, Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it. With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza? With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?With a knife, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With a knife, dear Henry, dear Henry, with an knife. The knife is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza, The knife is too dull, dear Liza, too dull. the knife’s not the only thing that’s dull. just sayin. Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it. On what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza? On what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, on what? On a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, On a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, a stone. The stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza, The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry. Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it. With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza? With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, with what? Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, water. In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza? In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, in what?In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, a bucket. There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole. Use your head, then! dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Use your head, then! dear Henry, dear Henry, use your head! I think there’s a hole in that too, Liza. There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold And she’s buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for. Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to heaven. There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure ‘Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings, Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven. yes spell check, misgiven is a word. because Robert Plant and Jimmy Page say so. who are you to question Robert Plant and Jimmy Page? Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it makes me wonder. There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west, And my spirit is crying for leaving. In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, And the voices of those who stand looking. Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it really makes me wonder. And it’s whispered that soon, if we all call the tune, Then the piper will lead us to reason. And a new day will dawn for those who stand long, like all those spring-breakers at Disney World right now. And the forests will echo with laughter. If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now, It’s just a spring clean for the May queen. is that a bustle in your hedgerow, or are you just happy to see me? Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run There’s still time to change the road you’re on. And it makes me wonder.Your head is humming and it won’t go, in case you don’t know, The piper’s calling you to join him, Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind? And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul. There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold. her name is Galadriel. And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last. but check the copyright first, just to be safe. When all are one and one is all To be a rock and not to roll. And she’s buying a stairway to heaven. Harry is sunshine on a cloudy day. In a cavern, In a canyon, Excavating for a mine, Dwelt a miner forty-niner, And his daughter Clementine.Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. Light she was and like a fairy, And her shoes were number nine; Herring boxes, without topses, don’t even start with me spell check. Sandals were for Clementine. Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. Harry and Kelly kissing in a tree. whoops, wrong song. Drove she ducklings to the water, Every morning just at nine; Hit her foot against a splinter, Fell into the foaming brine. Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. Ruby lips above the water, Blowing bubbles, soft and fine; But Alas! I was no swimmer, So I lost my Clementine. Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. When the miner forty-niner, Soon began to peak and pine, Thought he oughter join his daughter. Now he’s with his clementine. Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. In a corner of the churchyard, Where the myrtle boughs entwine, Grow the roses in their poses, Fertilized by Clementine. Hannibal would like that verse. Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. In my dreams she still doth haunt me, Robed in garments soaked in brine. Though in life I used to hug her, Now she’s dead, I’ll draw the line. boy am I glad my grandma left off these last few verses when she used to sing it to me. Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. How I missed her, how I missed her How I missed my Clementine. So I kissed her little sister, And forgot my Clementine. manwhore. Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine. You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine, You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry Clementine. sorry not sorry. Words. huh. yeah. what are they good for? absolutely nothing. say it again. writer’s block is real.
a bubble-gum sweet fanvid, to cleanse your palette:
Since Harry is my sunshine, I thought this video by Angela C. Ryan appropriate
maybe an overly sentimental song choice but I don’t care (I’d not heard this version before, it’s really nice) it was one of my favorite songs as a child and something I often sang to my kids when they were babies, so all good associations already; add Harry to the mix and that just makes it even better!
As for the video itself, I like it specifically for the ending: Harry’s proposal is heard over the song and then we get that sweet end hug between him and Geraldine. Richard needs to do a historic project about the Transcontinental Railroad next so that someone can make a vid using my favorite childhood song, I’ve Been Working on the Railroad. I’ll be Dinah…
Nowhere in Particular RA 