I picked some wild cherry plums; bats overhead. Born to be a Redwall mouse, sadly I am trapped in the body of a human woman.

I have just received my copy of Issue 6 of @inscriptionjournal.bsky.social - surely the most material of all texts, look at these glorious THINGS! This issue contains my article on J. L. Carr's (yes, the 'Month in the Country' author, also publisher & artist) pocketbook of 'The Reeves Tale'.

Through no forethought on our part it was signet season and there were babies everywhere!

I went to Dorset and spied with my little eyes: holloways, ammonite fossils, excellent beach-side fish and chips, Little Toller books, Dorset apple cake and clotted cream for breakfast, a swannery, compass jellyfish, icecream, farm cats, and @robertculshaw.bsky.social.

I had not posted about it but as I am now earnestly grappling with it: I am writing another book for @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Bodleian Publishing, 'Tales of Horror from Medieval England'. Expect translated narratives of violence, sorcery, fearsome creatures, the undead, and the end times.

I painted the toad with the gold chain found within a beautiful double stone, as told in William of Newburgh's Historia rerum anglicarum. My skull is full of no useful thoughts in this heat. Just toads.

Alas, I am missing the @inscriptionjournal.bsky.social Issue 6: Cuts/Tears launch tonight, but my spirit is there as I celebrate a home! The latest issue has lots of ✂️cutting edge🔪 articles, and my piece 'Cut, Pasted and Pocketed: J.L. Carr’s Chaucer Pocketbook' inscriptionjournal.com/issue-6/

I have read three novels that feature medieval wallpaintings, anybody know of any more?

The student-led group Mearcstapan (united by their desire for inclusive, progressive medievalism) have published their first zine: The Wordhoard! It's beautifully produced and chocked full of creative-critical responses, articles, and even a 'which Old English poetry codex are you?' quiz.

Went to look at the medieval literature section in Blackwells today and what should I see but @rebeccamenmuir.bsky.social 's edited volume 'Authenticity in Medieval and Early Modern Literature' #impact #REF #commercialviability

Made a chocolate cherry clafoutis for Tuesday night pudding because I'm a grown up and nobody can stop me.

Very flattered to have been nominated for a 'Transformation in Education' award as part of the Oxford Lifelong Learning Inspiring Excellence Awards. All credit to the fantastic Astrophoria Foundation Year students, whose commitment and enthusiasm are a continual inspiration.

I've never considered myself a roses person (I tend not to like flowers I view as 'fleshy', like big roses, lilies, or tulips) but I am obsessed by my David Austin 'The Lady of the Lake' rose, which I bought in memory of a friend. A rose that I will water after a 32 degree day for.

I believe that, when making a coffee cake, the coffee butter icing should be nearly as thick as a cake layer.

Everybody wake up, we're doing olfactory medievalism. Someone get Dr Ally Louks on the line.

There's a new second-hand and antiquarian book seller in Oxford: Barker & Co. Booksellers, which is run by lovely people! Their compelling logo was designed by @aliceraw.bsky.social (had to buy a card of it, of course). It's a really lovely space filled with good books and prints.

Bonus sheela-na-gig for you, Laura.

I spent the day in the Shropshire Hills learning about slow-decaying medieval elm beams on a riverbed, famous sin-eaters, hurricanes that flattened barns upon sleepers, meadow saxifrage, magical cows, flooded mines, and stone chairs occupied by the devil when the cloud level drops.

Next Sunday I'll be giving an online lecture for The Last Tuesday Society on my @bodleian.ox.ac.uk book ✨Book Curses✨. I'll be talking about curses like that of John Wryghtson, which sits opposite some rather threatening illustrations of surgical instruments (Ox, St John's, MS 76, f. 5v).

I read Ted Hughes' 'Wodewo' last week. My favourite pieces were 'Thistles', 'The Rain Horse', 'The Wound', and 'Wodwo'.

Look upon my lemon and blueberry pavlova, ye Mighty, and despair!

Also my favourite character in Middlemarch was Farebrother, who would be played by Alex Jennings in my head-casting. Kind and noble but human, has a hobby, devoted to his weird rag-tag female family members, laissez-faire attitude to faith.

I did it. I read Middlemarch.

Hitchcopse by Cothill Fen - my favourite bluebell spot. There are also cuckoos there which I've heard very early in the morning

Sometimes you have to put your wellies on and go somewhere the emails can't get you but the snails can.

Garden centre folk horror.

Easter walk stuff. Clumps of luminescent primroses are one of my favourite things.