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
12 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
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.
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