Big shoes to fill but what a dream job!

The first written record of signing in English comes from an account of a wedding in 1576: the Deaf groom, “for the expression of his minde instead of words [...] first embraced her with his armes, and took her by the hande [...] and layde his hande upon her harte.” 💙

2/2

Start your day right!

Makes you think!

On 7 May 1934 (90 years ago today) during a game of ping pong at the Butler-Bowden family home, the only surviving ms of the Book of Margery Kempe was rediscovered. As a spiritual autobiography of a laywoman it is one of the most important documents of of its day. #TeamMargery

A 15thC bird getting ready for church at the Stained glass Museum, Ely. Carrying her rosary and looking smart, she'd better hurry!
#StainedGlassSunday

The resolution brought forward by Society of Authors members calling for a statement to be made in support of a ceasefire in Gaza, didn't pass.

That means the murder of 40,000+ Palestinians isn't enough to compel a majority vote among British writers. What a time.

Appreciating the value of cloth was taken for granted for much of the #c19th . This luminous floral brocade comes from a much earlier garment of the #c18th but was #refashioned into a different style sometime perhaps half a century later. John Bright Collection #fashionhistory

A sorry update from our wholesome family weekend.

Today's the feast of St Sitha, a very popular saint in medieval England. She's the patron of single laywomen and servants, and was invoked against lost keys. Here she is on the right on the screen at Barton Turf, Norfolk with St Apollonia on the right, another popular saint who…

This sounds great! And exciting!

I've put aside my personal animosity towards Andrew Scott for his part in School of Roars to watch Ripley, which is quite riveting. The cinematography is perfect. Surprised not to mind the increased ages; unsurprised to once again miss Philip Seymour Hoffman very very much.

Taking back every bad thought I'd ever had about 1830s fashion - this in the Met is just gorgeous. The print is to die for.

We'd pay any amount to see someone punished for existing in a way that inconveniences us. Cruel, narrow little country that we are.

This is crack to me. Any students who've been interested in my talking about embodiment - do have a look. Hugely valuable to fiction writers too.

The Virgin Mary punching the Devil in the face, painting from c. 1240.

I'm feeling quite bereft post-Arvon! It was a gorgeous week of teaching and learning.
It's got me wondering about teaching a few online daytime courses over the summer. A general historical fiction masterclass or a deep dive into more specific aspects of how we write the past?