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Back to writing
Yesterday, rather unexpectedly, I sat down and started writing again. I was overcome with an urge to sest my thoughts down on paper (well, computer screen) as I read the first publication in a ballad flyting from 1540. I wrote down what I thought about it, how I interpreted it and the background to is…
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This week
Most of this week I have spent analysing the extant sixteenth century ballads. I have a big spreadsheet with the names of the ballads in one column and all sorts of topics and features listed across the top. I have comments in some of the boxes, and others are just ticked off. It’s a slow…
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This is an interesting blog post, and confirms something I had long suspected. There is another angle that the author hasn’t considered – the need for academics in some fields to travel for long periods to conduct primary research is hardly conducive to a ‘normal’ family life. I already have my children. In fact, if…
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The Four Seasons – Medieval and Earlier Manuscripts
On mornings when I wonder why I do this (and frankly, this was one of them), it’s things like this that remind me. Simply beautiful. The Four Seasons – Medieval and Earlier Manuscripts.
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A little gem
This morning’s nugget of advice from the sixteenth century: “If I in thee Suche faultes ones see, As no man ells doth knowe; To thee alone, And other none, These faults I ought to showe.” Haywood – A Ballad against Slander and Detraction
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Update
This could be a very long post! Things have been very stressful lately, not only because of the PhD work but a number of other domestic issues have been getting in the way of things. I hope that now they’ve all been sorted out and that I’ve heard the last of them… Anyway, recently I’ve…
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Temporary delays
“Be fast and firme to freinde, as thou wouldest him to be; Be shamefast ther wher shamfull dedes be offered vnto the. In place thy maners shewe, in right and comly wyse; From the let peace and quietnesse, and wars from others, ryse” Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I hope that normal service…
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London here I come!
I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the last couple of weeks planning my trip to London. I’ve made arrangements to go to the British Library, the Society of Antiquaries and the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, and although I’m a bit nervous (I’ve never done anything like this before), I’m also very excited. This…
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Turn of the Seasons
Hard to believe a whole year has gone round since I started this. This week, it has definitely turned to autumn. There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are turning and falling from the trees and for the first time ever, my children were able to go conkering on Thursday morning before school –…
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Musings on Supervision
It’s nice to be able to sit out in the garden blogging in October. I’m not even wearing a jumper! We now have an enormous number of birdfeeders, which my husband is busy cleaning while I sit here typing. As well as the usual array of tits, sparrows and golfinches, we have a siskin, a…