“Hell” is other people’s “heaven”…and an update
How we three view our garden just now, respectively
aka Hieronymus Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights, 1490X1500
Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado: https://tinyurl.com/bjjwk83h
We hope that you are having a super summer and enjoying the current weather.
As many of you know, here at Wrightington Towers, “weather” is a controversial matter, to say the least.
One of us is in his element, one of us is in her element until she gets too hot whereupon she mopes around not knowing whether to sit stand or lay, and the other is headachey, bug-bitten, frizzy-haired, grumpy, and parking next to the fan whenever possible. Bet you can't guess which of us is which…
…OK. That was far too easy. Robert and I are a reverse version of those Bavarian weather clocks or, if you will, a meteorological version of Mr & Mrs Spratt, and Duffy is a vehement sun-seeker, until she gets too hot, when she retreats to the relative cool of the house with me.
This brings me to the first - and perhaps most shocking - item of news from Wrightington Towers.
Ladies, gentlemen, and all Denizens of Wright History, however you may identify, brace yourselves… THE BOW TIE IS OFF!!
OK, this is bow-tie removal on another occasion, but you get the gist…
Photo: Tux & Tales
No really.
I do hope that you were sitting down when you read that.
Disclaimer. Neither Wright History nor any agent or representative thereof is to be held liable for any injury resulting from the reading of this blog post.*
* [more of this sort of thing later…]
Poor Robert… I’m more than aware that I am more fortunate than he is: the weather in which I’m happy and he’s very not-happy is more prevalent in Bishopthorpe than vice versa. He has many many wonderful qualities, but alas, having a realistic expectation of imagined delights to come is not one of them.
Lest you should think I’m simply an uncaring harridan, I am in fact very sympathetic to his need for warmth and light when it is less clement. I do all that I can to make home as warm and cosy as possible. And yet (to use one of Robert’s regular phrases)…
But enough of our domestic life. On to more news…
Robert. In Real Life. With In Real Life people!
Full disclosure: This is not from last Saturday - the usual photographer was on Duffywatch - but you get the idea..
I’m delighted to report that Robert has now run a day school - wait for it… - in an actual room with actual people!
No really.
Last Saturday saw his first In Real Life course since Lockdown One - Byzantium, at Bishopthorpe. It took him a little while to remember where all of the necessary tech had been stashed, but he managed in the end, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing real live people - not least those of the regular Bishopthorpe gang who had not wanted to zoom during Lockdown - and is looking forward to catching up with others on the IRL courses in September.
But don’t worry - even now that IRL is possible, we’re not turning our back on online courses which are available to our new friends who are further afield and old friends who have found that they prefer online courses. Au contraire! Having discovered the joys and possibilities of online courses, we are developing this as our primary focus in the future, and very much hope that you will approve of what we’re planning.
Coming soon, to a screen near you… (aka Ripon Cathedral)
On which note… a teaser for a new online course next term…
We’re delighted to have been invited to run another short course for PLACE. Holy Places of Anglo-Saxon Yorkshire will take place on Friday afternoons in November. Further details will be posted here and on PLACE’s website and newsletter nearer the time.
NB. Booking is not open yet and PLACE cannot take advance bookings - we simply wanted to give you as much notice as possible. If you’d like to see more about PLACE in the meantime, including their upcoming summer events, or indeed become a member, follow this link.
The Cruel Heat of Outside
aka Hieronymus Bosch (follower of), An angel leading a soul into hell, C16
Wellcome Collection: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/dum4xgme/items
And of course, should you be missing your doses of Wright History, or should you - like me - seek entertainment and distraction from the Cruel Heat of Outside just now, there’s still space on the upcoming online version of the Byzantium day school, running on the mornings of this Saturday and next (24th and 31st). If the weather continues, Robert may even forego his bow tie! But I wouldn’t lay money on it…
James Gillray, The heroic Charlotte la Cordé, upon her trial, at the bar of the revolutionary tribunal of Paris, July 17, 1793 (July 29, 1793)
London, British Museum, Asset number 46627001
Image from: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/46627001
In other news, we’ve been working on all sorts of things behind the scenes since the end of term, and shall continue to do so over the summer, so you may notice some tweaks to the website. Most immediately, I have finally had time to research Things Legal, and our website is now, I believe, fully GDPR-compliant and gives all the necessary terms, conditions, caveats, and disclaimers. As one whose training and expertise lies in teaching and twelfth-century historical literature, it took me far longer than it should have (see also website design, accounting, spreadsheets, databases, etc…), and I hope that none of you will have even considered that we might do anything dodgy, but in case you would like to know the legal stuff, there are links from the About section above. And a much shorter version, which should convey the gist, is here.
Satan vs Oberon
On a lighter note, there’s a new entry in Cultures of Histories here, and another instalment of Duffywatch will be posted very soon…
Image via: https://www.hrsolutions-uk.com/how-to-manage-staff-when-its-too-hot-to-work/
Phew! I think that that’s it for now, but we’ll keep you posted as and when there are any further news, bits, or pieces.
We hope that you continue to stay safe and sun-drenched or safe and cool, depending on your proclivities. I shall now sign off and go in search of something cooling…