It does tick by doesn't it … I was giving a talk on King John 1167 – 1216 … and I seem to have totally got myself absorbed into that era …
King John on a stag hunt
Eight hundred years ago is such a mixed up era – before the English were English … and owned more land in France than on this little isle …
Lots of Isabellas, Henrys, Margarets, two Popes, Matildas, Joans … just trying to work out who was who has been 'quite interesting' …
Nine years ago I went to an exhibition celebrating the 800 years since Magna Carta was signed (1215) at the British Library and had found some booklets on that period … perfect for my history talk … the filing cabinet enlightened me!
Not the Library's exhibition
guide - I've sent for one
Thankfully I didn't need to muddy the waters by just listing dates, battles, castles, people – but through the guide I was able to distil the parts needed to bring the treacherous, obnoxious King John to life …
I enjoyed the cruel look in
his eyes ... well I didn't, but you
know what I mean!
Then I researched deeper … and am now totally captivated by the 1200s – hook line and sinker - totally engrossed … it's sad really!
The Plantagenet era has me spellbound … books, guides, novels are sprouting down here in Eastbourne …
Lots of interesting snippets
in here
Then disaster struck my printer gave up the ghost – no it was not eight hundred years old! … its owner at times might feel like that … but I needed a print-out of my talk.
Oh … ok … I could email it to myself onto my ipad … duly done – except the 'old girl' got faffed while doing it – something very stupid … and I put the right extension onto the list of slides, but did not do that for the 23 page talk (largish type) …
We had the headmaster to talk to us
about changes in our taxation system and
its effect on fee paying schools ...
I didn't realise until I was at the church, where we hold our history meetings – remember the blue moon was attempting to rise in July …
Now panic set in … but, thankfully on Monday's, the church office is manned by men … so they were enlisted to help – including their techie chap – bless them all! They blessed me!
Isobella of Angouleme
(2nd wife of John)
By fair means or foul he rescued me, definitely on the fair means side, and I had my talk, with the slide listings for Enid (our history buff) to refer to as she occasionally adds in to our talks, to clarify some aspects …
I'm still totally immersed in this period … so much so that I've been reading a novel … but another post to follow – it's an interesting one … I could see the characters of that period.
English lands in 1180 (red) ... but most lost
by 1223 after Magna Carta.
(French in blue; Yellow the Church; Green -
other fiefs held on behalf of the French crown)
From the discombobulated world of .......
Hilary Melton-Butcher at
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
27 comments:
I'm glad your difficulties were overcome.
My son is very interested in the Plantagenets and reads a lot about them. For me, it's the Tudors, for Barry WWI and for our son-in-law, WWII . . . and so it goes on . . .
Hi, Hilary - Congratulaitons on your talk. Your beautiful words took me right there to the stress of the momen.I actually felt myself holding my breath until it was resolved. How often we are saved by the kindness of others! <3
I love when that happens--when I am blown away by a period in history I knew little about. Enjoy!
Hari Om
Well it's keeping you out of mischief - and us entertained 🤗 YAM xx
I am so glad that your technological issues were resolved. Definitely a problem of our time (and one I often find well nigh insurmountable).
Happy delving.
Are you going to link to your talk for us? Please?
Careful, that time period is rather brutal, isn't it? Worse than even things on TV these days!
Whatever keeps you engaged. I am into cooking, fermenting, Spanish, and South American animals right now.
Dates are boring. Bringing the figures to life, that's what gets people interested. But, of course tech issues would rear their ugly head.
Good on you for pushing through with your talk under adverse circumstances. Woot. Woot.
@ Janice – yes thankfully got through … men required occasionally?! I'm now historically interested – pushed on by giving various talks. Yes – as you say … so it goes … I'm a vicarious, eclectic reader …
@ Donna – I was extremely lucky there were people who could help – otherwise I'd still have my tail between my legs and how right you are – we are saved so often by others …
@ Jacqui – thanks … I am learning so much and always very grateful when others interact and help …
@ Yam – yes – you could say that … but I'm not quite sure that's true … gentle mischief and I seem to be on the same tracks … but am happy if I'm keeping you entertained too …
@ EC – of course I'll make a plan to let you have a copy of the talk, and the slides … at the weekend it'll appear for you. Delighted you're interested: thank you. Technology is getting there … here at least!
@ Kay – the Plantagenet era, and previous eras – the Romans, the Saxons, Normans and I'm sure other peoples on other continents were as bad – well they were weren't they. Today too – let alone what people dream up to craft and put out in the world …
@ Diane – well I'm occupied and that's the main thing … for me a few decades ago – it'd have been cooking, gardening and learning new subjects …
@ Liz – yes I've gathered … bringing stories/talks to life is essential for us to remember aspects. I'm glad the tech issues were overcome …
@ Sandra – the talk was ready … I was desperate to give it!! I was lucky … it all worked out …
Cheers – thanks everyone – I'll be over soon - Hilary
Technology can be frustrating, so I’m glad that it was all fixed and you could carry on. This seems like a very interesting period in history and I’m glad that you have become immersed in it. What would life be without rabbit holes to explore? This is especially true for you, Hilary. Carry on, I say! Hugs - David
You are very wise immersing yourself in Plantagenet history.
I knew very little British history before the Stewarts and Georgians, so some things had to be taken as given and not sensibly explained. Finally (34 years later) I am becoming much more familiar with Tudor history and with their religious values.
Glad they came to your rescue and saved your speech.
That's wonderful that you have a history group you attend. Glad they got the technology straight. :)
Not sad at all to get so engrossed in a historical period! Glad you found a suitable techie to help you through your difficulties. I live in dread of that sort of thing happening when I’m doing a talk.
It wasn't that long ogo that today's technology didn't exist. I often think life was simpler then. That aside, I'm pleased to hear your talk went well, I'm sure your audience left wiser than they were before listening to you - I know I would have been!
Good to hear your technical difficulties got sorted in time for a successful presentation! History is always fascinating and absorbing. So many proverbial rabbit holes! Enjoy the journey. ☺
@ David - well things got sorted ... flexible brain adjustments and men to rely on!! There's an awful lot to the Plantagenets ... and yes, I suspect this will keep us very occupied for a couple of years ... a learning time ahead. It is one of the things that keeps me going ... so onwards I will go - thank you ...
@ Hels - our history is very interesting ... and so transformative over each era.
@ Alex - yes I was very pleased to see the office open with people willing to help ...
@ Rosey - our history group is run by an ex history teacher - a very knowledgeable, lady, Enid. We have members who offer to give talks ... so we all learn - it's interesting to put it mildly.
@ Anabel - no ... just a saying ... sad as it preoccupies me a lot! Yes I get anxious - I just wasn't expecting this sort of problem - thankfully resolved, before the talk.
@ Keith - I know to think how much change there's been ... it's extraordinary ... I bless it! Enid, our group leader, said well you should have seen the audiences' faces ... apparently I brought John to life - nasty as he was, yet went on to inadvertently give us Magna Carta ...
@ Debbie - thanks for the rabbit holes - lots and lots of them as far as history goes ...
Cheers to you all - thanks for visiting - I really appreciate your comments and interest - Hilary
How wonderful to get immersed in a period of history! I love when that happens. Sorry to hear about your tech/printer troubles- but glad it all worked out in the end. Hope you have a lovely week!
Now we know who to come to if we need research material on this particular period. Hope you are doing well. Cheers,
Thank goodness you got it all sorted, Hilary. I agree...those 1200s are a fascinating period.. I'll look forward to reading your next post as well as why King John was so evil! I used to read a lot of medieval history novels, but I haven't done so in years. Perhaps I should start again.
Wow - I am faffed by the word "faffed". That's now my new thing and I shall give you full credit. Meanwhile, all this history has me overwhelmed and there's so much I vaguely know as a stupid American who does actually read. I question these days how much I remember. You are awesome and amazing with your research and deep dives. I shall follow you anywhere.... thanks and cheers, my friend.
Tech. The greatest horror story of them all! :D I see nothing wrong with getting absorbing in fascinating things from the past. I love history.
So, have you gotten a new printer yet?:)
@ Jess – yes I am more sunk in the Plantagenet era than I care to realise – well I do now … days later the next post comes along! I still have to sort out the techie aspects … it will work out in the end …
@ Sandra – thanks for your thoughts – yes probably … I'll definitely be better informed – as we've a lot of subjects to cover …
@ Val – thankfully the talk was sorted out – and I'm more engrossed than ever … I've just read a few books, a couple of childrens' … and a couple much more involving – ie had to finish them both: time consuming … I'll do King John next …
@ Joanne – faffed's a good word isn't it … yes – there's a lot we know here … yet we can be short on European history – albeit much of ours stemmed from across the Channel … I really appreciate your comment and thoughts: thank you …
@ Rebecca – yes techie aspects can be a challenge and I'm about to upgrade the computer another 'brain – get into gear' scenario!
@ Sandra … see my comment to Rebecca above - the printer got put on hold, as I thought the new Mac (well not new … but newer than this one!) was arriving at the end of last week … but I'll need to sort the printer out this week – and the computer will arrive when it does (soon I'm sure) …
Cheers to you all – thanks so much for visiting – I am being pretty hopeless at the moment … but things are looking up – so I'll be around … take care and good luck this coming week … Hilary
I'm glad everything worked out.
Hi Dan - at least I was able to give my talk ... now I've got my new (old) machine and can actually get my techie world slightly up to date - cheers Hilary
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