Pete Clark

There's a self seeded ash in the corner of our garden which I have to cut back hard each year. The branches are straight and taper from a heavy butt to a point, very much like natural spears.

Elf-fair Lady Lyrics So many songs and tales they sayHow the Elf Queen steals some men awayTo her shining land beyond the seaBut all ‘til now have chosen to fleeOh they have faint hearts that fear theeNow I woul…

"Now I am old they point and peer / As every day I await you here / I know you will come and heal my pain / Soon with you I shall dance again". Just posted a new recording of a song I wrote nearly 30 years ago about a mortal in love with the Queen of Elfland. apoolofsong.wordpress.com/elf-fair-lady/

Thanks!

Elf-fair Lady Lyrics So many songs and tales they sayHow the Elf Queen steals some men awayTo her shining land beyond the seaBut all ‘til now have chosen to fleeOh they have faint hearts that fear theeNow I woul…

"Now I am old they point and peer / As every day I await you here / I know you will come and heal my pain / Soon with you I shall dance again". Just posted a new recording of a song I wrote nearly 30 years ago about a mortal in love with the Queen of Elfland. apoolofsong.wordpress.com/elf-fair-lady/

Very relatable.

YouTube video by Talis Kimberley - Topic The Orchard

A bit late this year but it's time to go prune the apple trees youtube.com/watch?v=hg2p...

Opportunities for learning are everywhere!

This song (with the later video) was *my* introduction to the Doubleclicks.

Congratulations!

Oxonmoot 2026 Oxonmoot is an annual event hosted by The Tolkien Society which brings together over 500 Tolkien fans, scholars, students and Society members from across the world. Oxonmoot 2026 is the 53rd, and…

Bookings for Oxonmoot 2026 are now open!

Taking place online and at St Anne's College, Oxford, UK, on 3-6 September 2026, Oxonmoot is our annual event which brings together #Tolkien fans, scholars, students and Society members from across the world. #LOTR

www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonm...

Thanks - I was re-listening to this show recently and did wonder about the sound!

I can only assume so!

My son assumed D.K.Broster was male yesterday. He explained that he was misled by the BRO in her name.

I guess he who breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom?

Or possibly: how the book is as much (or more) about sharing these various chunks of medieval learning, and recreating these perspectives, as it is about the characters and story.

Just re-reading it (or rather listening, I got the audio book). I'd forgotten there were so many weird rabbit holes it went down!

FAQ: The “Snake Fight” Portion of Your Thesis Defense Q: Do I have to kill the snake? A: University guidelines state that you have to “defeat” the snake. There are many ways to accomplish this. Lots o...

Bonne chance. J'espere de c'est un petit serpent. www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq...

The Nine Tailors is amazing writing. Anglicanism as a mysterious cult harnessing the terrifying power of bells.

I've just re-read Hexwood again in preparation, looking forward to the episode. (Feel free to make it a multi-parter if you have lots to say!!)

YouTube video by Reg Meuross Good Morning Mr Colston from the song cycle Stolen From God by Reg Meuross

There is this rather catchy song youtu.be/g3bkms1nICA?...

A cover of The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula Le Guin. The wizard Ged tries to open a locked door. A huge hollow eyed gaping mouthed stone face looks over him.

Fascinating. The cover I had as a child is attached. Of course this one, though atmospheric and full of action ... rather neglects the protagonist?

Congratulations!!

We're holding out until Candlemas. Tree still up, another batch of mince pies produced yesterday...

Makes sense. When hobbits got permission to settle the Shire "all that was demanded of them was that they should keep the Great Bridge in repair, and all other bridges and roads, speed the king's messengers, and acknowledge his lordship". (LotR prologue).

Sadly Bluesky only lets me like it once!

Sounds to me like Greenwitch by Susan Cooper.

Anyone who is recently arrived from the Frankish lands is rougher in character than those who have become acclimated and have frequented the company of Muslims. Here is an instance of their rough character (may God abominate them!): Whenever I went to visit the holy sites in Jerusalem, I would go in and make my way up to the al-Aqsa Mosque,beside which stood a small mosque that the Franks had converted into a church. When I went into the al-Aqsa Mosque – where the Templars, who are my friends, were ....

they would clear out that little mosque so that I could pray in it. One day, I went into the little mosque, recited the opening formula ‘God is great!’ and stood up in prayer. At this, one of the Franks rushed at me and grabbed me and turned my face towards the east, saying, ‘Pray like this!’ A group of Templars hurried towards him, took hold of the Frank and took him away from me. I then returned to my prayers. The Frank, that very same one, took advantage of their inattention and returned, rushing upon me and turning my face to the east, saying, ‘Pray like this!’

So the Templars came in again, grabbed him and threw him out. They apologized to me, saying, ‘This man is a stranger, just arrived from the Frankish lands sometime in the past few days. He has never before seen anyone who did not pray towards the east.’ ‘I think I’ve prayed quite enough,’ I said and left. I used to marvel at that devil, the change of his expression, the way he trembled and what he must have made of seeing someone praying towards Mecca.

I love the story of the newly arrived Frank and the templars - attached.

No arguments from this ibn Munqidh fan!

Sorry I should have checked my source first rather than posting like a ninnyhammer as I see from http:/acoup.blog that is already the plan.

@bretdevereaux.bsky.social gave an excellent talk at a recent moot about the ancient and modern parallels for Eowyn's desire for heroic death and eventual choice to live after the war. I don't know if there is a plan to make it more widely available some time e.g. on his blog (hint...)