The Trumpet Major

Museum of London - Docklands

2012-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Last week, half-term, I took my daughter to the Museum of London - Docklands. What a treat! I must say it's one of the best museums I've been to. We each learnt lots. The layout and design is superb and the facilities first-class. On top of everything they have friendly, helpful staff and guides. Outside the museum, the area is amazing. I found it hard to believe how this area has been regenerated. The size of the buildings immense. And, it was all free as well. I shall be paying another visit soon.

History of Medicine

2012-02-10T03:14:00.000-08:00

Attended an introductory course on the History of Medicine at The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London which was held over three days and was a real treat. Not only did we have excellent lecturers in their field but the ambience created in the Great Hall added to a ricly rewarding experience. I would like to study for the Diploma exam but other commitments don't allow at present. I'm working on it.

Charles Dickens' London

2012-01-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

A treat from the Senate House Library Friends. Open to the public. A talk given by Emeritus Professor Andrew Sanders based on his book, 'Charles Dickens' London'. An added bonus was that Professor Michael Slater was also there. Two experts on Dickens. Consisting of slides depicting London from the 1790's. In 1820 London was a mish-mash. Only one interrupted main road from the city to the west end, streets just ended in a dead end. Buildings were hickledy pickledy. No planning permission required. These were the streets Dickens wandered through as a boy and young man. All that he saw was stored in his brain and became the storehouse from which he created his characters and novels. Reading Claire Tomalin's biography at the same time as Bleak House has given me a better understanding of the genius of this great man. A whole year of celebration ahead. Brilliant evening. Brilliant subject. More more.

John Henry Haynes

2011-12-14T07:58:00.000-08:00

Went to the Royal Asiatic Society on December 12 to witnes a talk given by Robert Ousterhout about a forgotten American archaeological photographer of the 19th century. John Henry Haynes' photographs were rediscovered when Mr Ousterhout commenced work at the University of Pennsylvania. Published by Cornucopia, I would definitely recommend this book. To see these sites before earthquakes and humans had taken their toll is truly fascinating.

Chekhov

2011-07-18T03:52:00.000-07:00

Went to see Rosamund Bartlett and a couple of others talk about Chekhov at the Olivier Theatre. Interesting as I'm a big fan of Ms Bartlett. Her biography of Chekhov is an excellent read whilst her latest book explores the life of Tolstoy. I was also impressed by the National Theatre and their apex offer of £12 seats. Will be off to see The Cherry Orchard shortly.

Public Libraries : some good news

2011-07-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

My hero of the day is the resident who lives on the Isle of Wight that has managed to claim legal aid to fight the closure of five public libraries there. Well done. I take my hat off to you.

Campaigners in the London Borough of Brent and Gloucestershire have also managed to halt any action their local authorities were taking. The Brent court case is next week. All the best.

The Samuel Johnson Prize was also deservedly won by the Dutch author of "Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devestating Catastrophe, 1958-62". Frank Dikotter also gave a very good speech. A very unassuming kind of guy and very clever.

Mary Shelley and Romantic Science

2011-06-23T02:18:00.000-07:00

Went to the British Library last night to see Richard Holmes deliver the above talk. It's hard to imagine that Mary Shelley was only 18 years old when she started writing Frankenstein. The story evolved from a nighmare she had and she used it in a tale she told round the fireplace with Shelley and Byron in the Villa Diodati on Lake Geneva when the weather was bad. Holmes confirmed that there were scientific experiments occuring from the beginning of the 19th century on disection of the body. Combined with other events the spark was there for Mary Shelley's imagination. It's a misnomer as well that the creature couldn't speak. He ended up being very articulate. Teaching himself to read at the same time.

Richard Holmes has an entertaining style and a very clever man. He gave the audience more than enough material to satisfy their curious minds. This talk was given as part of the British Library's Out Of This World exhibition http://www.bl.uk/whatson/ Well worth a vist.

CPD23

2011-06-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to CPD23 . Hope to update myself and learn new skills.