RA Pocket Shrine 138/? – Scar(r)ed

/ August 8, 2017

Yesterday was a bank holiday in Ireland. While Mr Guylty and daughter went off on a hike in the beautiful Irish scenery, guess what I did? Yep, I pleaded “work” – and then settled in for a big shrining session. After all, the Birthday Auctions are coming up, soon. T -12! Amazing what you can get done when you are undistracted at home alone. A separate update (with some more sneaky peeks) to follow soon, because another contribution has arrived today…

I’m in a Raybo state of mind, though, and before I launch into today’s RAPS presentation, here’s a little reminder that Canadian film site Get Reel Movies is doing an interview with Richard tomorrow, and has asked for questions to be submitted.

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So if you have any clever Qs, tweet at them!

And now into the wilds…

The lush green of the Irish fields, and the rusty browns of the bracken through which Raybo has to fight his way… Here he comes:

This shrine contains a piece of Ireland – the shrubbery (*niii, niii, niii* 😂 – sorry, in-joke for Monty Python fans) which Raybo is purposefully striding through, is actually real moss which I collected in Connemara – right where Pilgrimage was filmed. Chances are, that Raymond trod through exactly those pieces of moss. Well, miniscule chances, but anyway.

I mentioned it elsewhere and maybe I am a freak, but I find scars fascinating – if not even sexy. Granted, Raybo has a rather scary specimen gracing his cheek. However, it proves again that even a hefty scar cannot disfigure the actor who lent his face to the Norman knight. And despite the scowl, there is a touch of vulnerability there in Raymond’s look… The coincidence of the screen-grab? Or the nuanced acting of Armitage?

In any case, a shrine for those who feel some sympathy for the traumatised knight – and for those who have scars of their own. I used to explain scars to my children as “marks of honour” – evidence of having *survived pain*. In that sense, I hope this shrine will boost not depress.

 

 

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57 thoughts on “RA Pocket Shrine 138/? – Scar(r)ed”

  2. I have two scars in my body – from past surgeries. I used to get depressed about them, thinking they made me look ugly. Now I see them as battle scars, proving I’m a survivor. Therefore, I’m glad you made this shrine because it’s good to know someone else gets it! Thanks for sharing. Say hello to your Standring for me. 😉

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  3. Lovely shrine that ought to raise tons of cash. I love the way the frilly outside contrasts with the macho inside. And the authentic Irish moss. Who can resist that?

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    • Oh, I never noticed it but you are right – the outside is a bit ornamental… only to create more contrast for the macho maleness *ahem*. Or to look less conspicuous in a female handbag…

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  4. Chicks dig scars.

    I have 6 scars – well one is really THREE from when my gall bladder removed. I used to let them bother me, but my son has 2 – one from his BT shunt, that use to go from sternum to spine, that is now up under his arm – and then the one down his sternum from both open heart surgeries. I love them because they were caused to give him life.

    Scars are proof we live. There ya go!

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    • LOL – yes, chicks dig scars. When I read that, I thought about it and I have come to the conclusion that I have never ever found a scar ‘ugly’ – not even the ones on my own body. I find them irresistible.
      I love how you describe your son’s scars as ’caused to give him life’

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      • They were. they were caused by 2 open heart surgeries. One to build a wall that wasn’t there and the second to replace a valve.

        He sees his new adult cardiologist next week. He’s rather nervous because we were told that valve they put in in 2004 would only lasts 10 to 15 years. It’s been 13 years and he’s not hip for another surgery.

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  5. I have several scars on my body. Some from surgery and others (small) from injuries. I used to be self-conscious about them but as I get older I kind of look at them as badges of honor and I am at peace with them. It’s a miracle the way the body has the ability to heal itself. Like you, I find scars rather fascinating. Each one is so unique and has its own story to tell. The imagination wanders to what story Raymond de Merville’s scar would reveal. The shrine is wonderful and I love that it includes some genuine Irish moss. Add to that a Raymond plushie and you’ve got a winning combo that will be hard to resist come auction time 😍🛡⚔

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    • Badges of honour – that’s it exactly. Means we have gone through something – and survived it. They tell a story – of pain, resilience, healing. It’s actually quite positive…
      Raymond’s scar… oh, surely he acquired under horrifying circumstances at the sacking of Constantinople. I can just imagine how his opponent’s sword sliced right up the side of his skull, in a big upswing… I also like to imagine that his wound was eventually taken care of by the soft hands of a healing women *ahem*…
      And yes, Raymond RAPS + Plushie combo is going to rock, hopefully…

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      • “The soft hands of a healing woman” ooh yes but my imagination also goes to kissing and making it better as well 😉
        Btw what is the jeweled item just beneath and left of the disco ball? Is it meant to be the reliquary Raymond covets?

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        • Hehe, you are taking the thoughts out of my head, Donna…
          The item underneath the disco ball is a heart – the arrow is heading straight for it… but it could easily be the relic…

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  6. I’ve always thought scars are sexy, and evidence of living. I was a taaaaaaaaaad bummed when it became apparent that my face wounds were going to result in permanent scarring, because it’s my *face*, but I’ve gotten used to it and now the scar is also my face.

    And you’re right: nothing can diminish his handsomeness.

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  8. Once again, beautiful! Raymond is another tortured soul, a victim of those awful times, family affairs and personal wishes. Another character we came to care for.
    I am in love with this one! ❤

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    • I am not sure whether I am in love with him as such – but I am certainly curious to find out what made him what he is. And I love the redemptive quality of such characters. You know, “the love of a good woman will heal him”… It’s BS, I know that, but that’s what fantasies are for…

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  9. Graaahhh, ist der nett, der Raybo-Schrein 😍 Kannst du den nicht verlosen? Bütteeee, dann habe ich zwar wahrscheinlich auch kein Glück, aber Hoffnung 😂
    Narben, interessantes Thema: habe nur eine (Knöchel meets Glasschüssel) und bin sonst eher ungezeichnet, rein äußerlich. Aber du hast recht, so ein leicht angenarbter Typ hat einen gewissen rustikalen Charme.

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    • Stimmt – der Ritter Rost hatte es dir ja angetan… Ach, da lässt sich sicher auch anderweitig nochmal was machen…
      Autsch, Glasschüssel und Knöchel. Ich hab was Ähnliches – Glasscherbe und Achillesferse…
      Rustikaler Charme 😂 – jou, echt gediegen. Wie eine Wohnzimmerschrankwand in Gelsenkirchener Barock, Eiche geritzt.

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  11. Mit dem Moos vom originalen Drehort, das womöglich, vielleicht… wahrscheinlich… bestimmt von RA selbst durchschritten wurde, ist das ja tatsächlich ein Schrein. Viel realitätsnäher waren/sind die aus dem Mittelalter auch nicht. Das ganze Konzept passt zu diesem Film wie der Deckel auf den Topf. Das geneigte Frauenzimmer kann sich den rustikalen Herren ein wenig sympathischer zurecht träumen.

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    • Oh mein Gott, so hatte ich das Ganze noch gar nicht gesehen. Du hast absolut Recht, Elanor. Das Moos als Reliquie, der Schrein als Reliquiar. Und RA als schmückendes Beiwerk, quasi das Juwel, das das Ganze veredelt. 😂 Und dann noch ein bisschen Legende übergestülpt, und schon glänzt das Juwel ordentlich… Ich sollte dich zur theoretischen Untermauerung fest anstellen!

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      • Sicher würde sich Servetus dazu gewinnen lassen, eine historisch fundierte Hintergrundbeschreibung dieses sehr besonderen Stückes zu verfassen, so dass dann auch in wissenschaftlicher Hinsicht der Verehrung nichts mehr im Wege steht (Dann brauchst du aber echt einen Beipackzettel… ich sage nur ekstatische Zustände, die bergen gesundheitliche Risiken).
        Ich stehe dir gern hilfreich zur Seite 😉

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        • hehehe… bin mir nicht sicher, ob sich Servetus angesichts des thematischen Umfelds (damit meine ich Pilgrimage im Besonderen – nicht RA im Allgemeinen) dazu ihre Zeit verwenden würde 😉.
          Ich finde ja, dass RA ganz generell eigentlich mit einer amtlichen Empfehlungsnotiz der BZgA ausgestattet werden sollte. So quasi der Warnaufdruck auf dem Anzugrevers… “Armitage kann süchtig machen!”

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          • Kein Wunder, dass er meist alleine unterwegs ist. Allzu große Nähe führt wahrscheinlich zu Nebenwirkungen, die die betroffene Person stark einschränken: Herzflattern, Schwindelgefühle, Realitätsverlust.. Kann man nicht mit in die Öffentlichkeit.
            Meist du, dass das durch das Berühren des kontaminierten Mooses auch schon ausgelöst werden könnte? Wie hast du persönlich das verkraftet???
            Obwohl, du bist abgehärtet durch verschiedene persönliche Begegnungen mit RA, die du augenscheinlich recht gut überstanden hast. Aber für eine unvorbereitete Seele könnte das schon schwierig werden 😉
            Ich sag ja schon lange, dass Warnhinweise nötig sind. Dann bist du rechtlich auf der sicheren Seite.

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            • Ganz recht, Richard ist versicherungstechnisch auf Soloauftritte festgenagelt worden, nachdem es sich erwiesen hatte, dass bereits die digitale Nähe zu seiner Person gravierende gesundheitliche Folgen nach sich ziehen kann. (Siehe Internet). Ich verweise außerdem auf die Vorkommnisse bei einem persönlichen Auftritt Richard Armitages im Jahr 2013 in LA, wo es zu epidemie-ähnlichen Ausfällen kam. (Liest du hier, unter dem *ooof*: https://meandrichard.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/ooof-ladykiller/)
              Ich selbst kann mich diesem Phänomen nur hinter dem Schutzschild meiner vorgehaltenen Riesenkamera nähern. Alles andere wäre devastating!

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  12. Pingback: Teasers #CelebRAtionWithPurpose | Guylty Pleasure

  13. I feel so shallow, not commenting on the worthiness of scars… but I love the beard and the burly figure enhanced by the armour. No skinny Richard here!
    Great shrine… love the authentic moss!

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    • Hehe, not shallow at all. After all the bearditage as well as the scowlitage and the manlitage feature much more prominently 😉. All set of by that real moss. A piece of Ireland – in a shrine.

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  14. Oh, I’m seriously loving Sir Raymond! Very sexy scar ❤️

    I love the greenery too (I used to study lichens… weird, I know 😉). It works perfectly. Striding out of the rushes… mmm, yes! It’s not just the contents that are delectable, either. I love the design on the lid, which looks subtly Celtic. If this is going up for auction I may be in trouble 😉

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    • I remember you looking at the lichens when we were driving through Connemara! It’s possible that it was exactly then that I got the idea of collecting some, to include in a shrine…

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  16. OMG, I love this shrine, too!!! The content, the colours grey-green, le chevalier normand with the irish moss….*sigh* Does or did not exist an after shave with that name?
    Re scars. My scars are not visible and my husband has a great scar from a heart operation, so he looks like a pirate after a battle

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    • Le chevalier normand – I can just about imagine RA saying those words *melts in a puddle*… (The after shave – yes, a German brand called Irisch Moos. LOL. NOt sure if I really want that association, given that my grandfather used to use it…)
      And your husband’s scar sounds actually quite impressive!!!

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  17. I love the scars explanations and i too think they make a body look ‘lived in’ and they make interesting personal stories. I loo like the outside vs inside, makes you think of coats of arms and the like, makes me wonder if the Normans were using fleur de lis or that came much much later… Suspect it is a rather old symbol actually and since he is a Norman knight and all that, perfect. I love the idea of the location related moss, that’s wonderful inspiration for any shrine – our little relics 😉
    I do think medieval looks and swords and such and dirt suit him, he makes for an interesting knight, at least physically. I still haven’t managed to work up the guts to watch the DVD i confess. I need some really sunny weather and bright mood for it 🙂

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    • Well spotted, Hariclea – the fleur de lis was deliberate, although I am not sure whether it was used by the Normans. (It’s an old heraldic symbol, though)
      You are so right – RA is convincing when placed in period contexts. A little bit of dirt seems to make him even more attractive… or maybe that is just to enhance the fantasy of having to scrub him up…
      As for watching the piece – don’t worry too much about the gore. You can sort of guess whenever one such scene is imminent, and close your eyes to avoid it. That’s how I dealt with it in the cinema – and escaped all graphic violence…

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      • Finally got through it, he’s always a looker, striking how his eyes shone through even in first scene and from a distance. I think he was well cast and carried it off with panache and appropriately disgusting cruelty. Sadly not one i will be able to re-watch i think.

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        • Fully agree with you – he filled the role within the given scope to its fullest potential. Suitably cruel and villainous – he does that so well, it is almost scary…
          Re-watch – *um*, not even if I had a fangirl cut…

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          • on the positive side effects otoh Daniel M is growing in my esteem in comparison every day LOL 😀 how come there has not yet been adequate and extended swooning about the newly uncovered and revealed or unveiled grey temples!! so cool, so gorgeous!! hit me right in the feelllssss

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              • true that i do hope we’ll get more of it soon though and that he will decide to let it through , i think it suits him wonderfully and it doesn’t make him look one jot older! I just makes his incredible eyes stand out more 🙂

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                • I recently read this quote by him: “If I wasn’t doing this job looks wouldn’t matter to me. But acting makes me much more conscious of ageing.” So I think the grey temples won’t become a regular fixture…

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                  • Oh i hadn’t read that! But i totally see where he is coming from and image is all these days, or rather a lot more than it used to be which is sad. However if the roles keep coming he may decide to keep them i hope 🙂 I do understand though if not for a while yet as he still looks way younger than his age and may want to keep those types of roles going. Urgh he’s so gorgeous and interesting looking, surely people see that?! On the upside and cynically, he’s not a woman so age is much much less of an issue role wise…

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