I struck the board, and cried, "No more, I will abroad!"

[steepholm]

I gave a lecture in Tokyo this morning - or this afternoon, Japan time, since it was of course via Zoom and I still in Bristol. It was nice to see some familiar faces from the Japan children's literature side, and the lecture went well, but... "I awoke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill."

I couldn't settle to my normal work afterwards, and having had a full weekend of writing decided to take a break in Lacock. After all, I have been a member of the National Trust for a full year now, and only used my magic card once. I also suspected (correctly) that I might have the cloisters at Lacock Abbey to myself - or rather, have to share them with no one but the ghosts of Harry, Ron and Hermione.



I'm not going to put lots of pictures of Lacock here, because I'm sure I've done it in the past, but this time I took in perhaps the oldest bus shelter in the country, which apparently doubles as the town jail:



In my book Death of a Ghost (2006 - and still reading pretty well!) there's a minor character, a rich businessman whose sober appearance and lifestyle is leavened only by a love of extravagant topiary. I think he may have moved to Lacock.



I wonder what the villagers make of this rather voluptuous hedge? No one has attacked it yet, at least, though I feel that a Midsomer Murders plot can't be far behind.

I bought some bramble jam and glass earrings, made a deep spiritual connection with this meditative sheep, and returned refreshed. Now, on with my potted account of children's literature in Meiji Japan!



How was your Monday?

Comments

[sovay]

How was your Monday?

It did not involve bramble jam, meditative sheep, or extravagant topiary! I wish it had.

[cmcmck]

Not a place I know and obviously well worth knowing.

[steepholm]

It's an interesting place! You'll have seen it often if you watch historical dramas, as its streets are famously 'untouched' - so they often turn up in Jane Austen adaptations, Downton Abbey, Mrs Gaskell and the like. But I didn't photograph all that this time.

[ashkitty]

I also did not have bramble jab or abbeys! Otherwise I guess Monday was fine. ;) Looks like a rather nice day!

[steepholm]

It had been raining solidly for two days, and the sun came out, so everything was wet and bejewelled.