Ghosts in the Walls

Is it okay to think about Halloween already? The weather has been kind of gloomy, in a good way (but then again I love gloomy weather), so of course I am thinking about Halloween. I spend the year preparing for the coming Halloween, I love the holiday that much. I am always on the lookout for something spooky. So during our visit to the Tower of London last February, I found in their souvenirs shop Ghosts in the Walls, which I purchased immediately. Subtitled "Spooky stories inspired by real history," I had no choice. I'm not sure when I will start reading it, but it's on my to be read list for the next few months.

The Keys in the Tower

 I took this picture in the Tower of London last week. What you see here is the ensign of The Keys, which is the pub for the staff living in the Tower, among them the Yeomen Warders, also known as the Beefeaters. Well, it's not technically a pub, as it is not open to the public (what a shame), in fact its true name is the Yeoman Warders Club, it is in all practicality a pub for the people living there. And I think it's kind of cool that there is a boozer in the Tower.

The Ravens of the Tower of London

 Last week, as it was half-term, we decided to go to the Tower of London to meet a childhood friend of my wife, her eldest son being the very first friend of Wolfie. It was my second visit there, and we all had a very pleasant time, in spite of the cold (or maybe even because of it). I'm not sure which one was my favourite part, but I do have to say I really enjoyed seeing the ravens of the Tower. Because I love ravens and because of the legend associated to them: they must remain in the Tower as if they fly away, the British Crown will fall and Britain will too. I don't think it's true, but it's just cool to have ravens as residents.

Lincoln Green

I recently learned something new recently, reading about Robin Hood. I think it does not come as something to your average Englishman, but hey, as anglophile as I have always been, I was not aware of this, or if I have been in the past, I had forgotten it. So yeah, anyway, the sort of green that wears Robin Hood and his Merry men is called Lincoln green. Please tell me you didn't know that, so I won't be too embarrassed. It is actually an authentic medieval colour, created in the Middle Ages, originating from Lincoln. Because yes, they had discovered colours back then and and they dyed their clothes when they could. It has always irritated me when Robin Hood doesn't wear green in some adaptations. You probably now the ones I'm referring to. Anyway, so Lincoln green is the word of the day.

York vu de haut

 Photo prise à York, du haut de la Clifford's Tower. On peut voir York Minster au loin. Je n'ai pas assez partagé des photos de notre dernier voyage à York, l'une de mes grandes villes préférées dans celles que j'ai visitées. J'ai tendance à souffrir parfois d'un léger vertige, surtout lorsque je suis en hauteur à l'extérieur, sur un balcon ou une plateforme quelconque. Paradoxalement, j'aime vraiment voir une ville de haut. Et le médiéviste de formation que je suis aime bien entendu visiter les constructions médiévales, alors j'étais servi.

Mélusine

J'ai une confession à faire: même si je suis médiéviste de formation, je connais très peu de choses sur la fée Mélusine, à part son nom et quelques grandes lignes de sa légende. Elle est une créature associée à l'eau et qu'elle a des pieds en queue de serpent quand elle prend son bain, grosso modo. Et j'y pensais récemment et je me suis dit qu'il fallait remédier à ça: je compte donc y remédier prochainement. Pas seulement en googlant son nom et en cherchant sur YouTube, ce serait trop facile. Je compte chercher des bouquins sur le sujet. Si vous en avez à me conseiller, faites-moi vos suggestions dans les commentaires.

Medieval Blunt Weapons

I found this meme recently, on a Facebook page I follow, and it made me laugh. I have to say, I never thought about what my medieval blunt weapon is, althouh I am partial to the quarterstaff. It is simple, elegant, reliable, discreet, and not only useful as a weapon. Anyway, that's mine, what about yours?

"Brocéliande et ses légendes"

Je suis (re)tombé sur un bouquin il y a quelques minutes Brocéliande et ses légendes. Un ouvrage de vulgarisation sur la forêt de Brocéliande, plus touristique qu'autre chose. Il n'y a sans doute rien dedans que je ne sais pas, étant médiéviste de formation, justement spécialisé dans la littérature arthurienne. Cela dit, je me suis rendu compte que je n'ai pas terminé de le lire. Je voulais le faire en 2016, peu après notre déménagement ici, question de renouer avec mes amours médiévales, mais la naissance de petit loup a chamboulé mon programme. J'essaierai de le faire cette année.

Je vivroie liement (Guillaume de Machaut)

Je suis tombé sur cette vidéo par hasard sur YouTube il y a quelques jours et ça m'a frappé: je n'ai pas blogué de musique médiévale depuis un bail. Et maintenant j'ai cette chanson de Guillaume de Machaut en tête, alors autant la partager ici. Je suis médiéviste de formation après tout...

Medieval Jousting

My wife found out that there will be Medieval Jousting at Stonor Park in a week or so. We are considering going there as we think Wolfie might like it. He said he would when we asked him anyway. I haven't been to these sorts of reenactments in a very long time. As a medievalist by profession, I will find it both interesting and amusing (because it might get quite inaccurate, these shows often are). And it will be nice to get Wolfie interested about something else than modern stuff. It could expand his horizons. Wolfie is already curious about "the old days" and he watched The Adventures of Robin Hood with me recently with a keen interest. But that is for another post. I'm just excited that next weekend, we might go (pseudo) medieval.

"Je meurs de soif auprès de la fontaine"

Au mariage de nos amis, en fin de semaine, il y avait une fontaine sur le site qui a beaucoup impressionné Wolfie. Je ne sais pas trop pourquoi, mais il a insisté pour que je la prenne en photo. Pas lui avec la fontaine, mais la fontaine elle-même. Et à chaque fois que je vois une fontaine, je pense au vers ouvrant la ballade du concours de Blois. Étant médiéviste de formation, ça me reste en tête, même si ce n'était pas ma spécialité. J'ai essayé de l'expliquer à petit loup, sans succès.

La Tour de Londres, vue de haut

Photo prise samedi à Sky Garden, de la Tour de Londres. J'ai envie de la revisiter.

Excalibeer

You may remember (or maybe not) that back in 2017,  Rebellion Beer brewed an ale called Excalibur for September. Well, this year they released it again, but for July (a more fitting month for a blonde, by the way). As I had enjoyed it the first time and because I'm a medievalist, I thought it was only fitting for me to buy it again. So I ordered some. It should really be called Excalibeer. That said, if you remember my first post about it, or if you know a bit about the Arthurian legend, you will find three mistakes on the label. I listed them again here:

1)When King Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, he was a child or a teenager, a very young man at the most, not a full grown adult.
2)Obviously he was no king yet when he pulled the sword from the stone, therefore hehad no crown on his head. (That one must be the easiest)
3)The sword in the stone, contrary to popular belief and years of Hollywood misinformation, was not Excalibur, which he obtained in different circumstances.

Be that as it may, I still enjoyed drinking it.

Une coupe en métal

Mon frère PJ a acheté cette coupe en métal à Berlin il y a presque dix ans. Je la partage ici aujourd'hui parce que je suis retombé dessus par hasard. Je n'ai jamais eu de coupe en métal jusqu'ici, mais j'ai toujours aimé de quoi elles ont l'air, surtout celles qui sont pseudo-médiévales comme celle-ci. Je trouve qu'elles ont de la gueule. Cela dit, je suis sceptique quand au goût de ce qu'on boit: me métal doit l'affecter au moins un peu et pas à son avantage.

Citons François Villon

Je n'ai pas cité François Villon depuis un bon bout de temps, alors j'ai pensé le faire aujourd'hui. En fait, je veux reprendre comme tradition sur ce blogue de citer des poètes ou des écrivains, sans commenter outre mesure, juste pour faire réfléchir un peu. Qui plus est,je suis médiéviste de formation (quoique je ne sois pas spécialiste de Villon). Ce serait bien de bloguer plus souvent sur l'époque médiévale. Alors donc, voici la citation: "En grande pauvreté ne gît pas grande loyauté." Je n'ai jamais eu le malheur de vivre en grande pauvreté (touchons du bois), mais ça peut s'appliquer à bie des situations, comme par exemple un travail que l'on déteste (ce qui n'est heureusement plus mon cas), ou n'importe quel environnement où l'on est malheureux.

To see Tintagel

As some of my readers may know, I am a medievalist by trade, which means I have a PhD in medieval literature. I am also a specialist of Arthurian literature. And I have a confession to make here (I have done it already, but it is always mebarrassing to say): while I have been living for about 20 years in the UK, I have never visited Cornwall or Tintagel Castle, where King Arthur was conceived (in morally questionable circumstances) and born. It gets even worse as English Heritage keeps taunting me on social media with adverts featuring the picture you see on the left. I was hoping to visit it this year as soon as we have some holidays, now I think it is going to have to wait until 2022, but it is on my to go list.

Un château de cartons

Wolfie a récemment développé une obsession: il veut que l'on construise un château des boîtes de carton. L'ennui, c'est qu'il a une idée précise de ce qu'il faut faire basé sur une émission pour enfants qu'il a vue, mais l'adaptation est difficile et ses instructions sont dures à exécuter. Alors jusqu'ici, ça ne ressemble pas du tout à un château. Mais comme sa grand-mère l'a dit, c'est le processus qui importe, pas le résultat. Tant qu'il s'amuse. Mais si jamais lui et moi réussissons à construire quelque chose s'approchant d'un château, je montrerai bien entendu le résultat sur Vraie Fiction.

Belsay Castle in the snow

This is a picture of Belsay Castle near Belsay Hall which I found on the Facebook page of English Heritage. And I took it for the blog. It has been snowing everywhere in England, even here, but only in the little hours in the morning. The snow did not last. So bottom line is: I have been missing all the snow this year and worse, it struck me that I have never been enjoying an authentic medieval castle in the snow. A shame, realy. I hope I can do it one day, although when it snows in this country it is often safer to stay at home and not travel anywhere. All the same, it must be quite a sight.

A castle for Christmas

Well, I don't mean living or buying a castle, or receiving one as a present, but I thought it would be cool one day to celebrate Christmas in a medieval castle. I found this picture at the Facebook page of English Heritage. It is Kenilworth Castle. I find the image very seasonal, as far as English winter and English Christmas go. The only thing missing is the snow. But nothing can be perfect. Otherwise, the red fruits give this image a very Christmassee look.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

'Tis the season to be reading and I might start this post with a confession: although I am a medievalist, specialized in Arthurian literature on top of that, I have never read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, although I know the story. Mostly because I specialized in XIIth century French literature, but I digress. I bought this version of it some 20 years ago, in the previous millenium, when I did my MA. I found it on my bookshelves at my parents' place and brought it back here with me. The cover is horrid, but this is a proper academic edition, with original Middle English and the modern translation side by side. This is next on my reading list. And it is very fitting that I start it now: not only do I consider old myths and folklore an essential element of any respectable Christmas, but this particular story starts during Christmastime.