When Bilbo Baggins left Hobbiton for the second time after his birthday party he left presents. One of the presents was a waste paper bin for his aunt who had written him reams of advice for decades. Advice in Tolkiens world is a dangerous thing not to be given or taken lightly. Frodo says “do …
Author Archives: Jack Russell
Jeff Waynes, War of the Worlds
During an assembly at school one of the teachers played the “Coming of the Martians” as we came in and I was hooked. I had never heard anything like it because my parents were not fans of music. I got a copy and listened to the whole thing that night with my bemused Grandmother. In …
A very different world
Art and music creation are two worlds that are closed to me. I am like one of Terry Pratchetts Disc world elves, I can appreciate music and art but I simply can not do it. I love listening to singing and as I wrote in my blog about the sublime it is one of the …
The Coventry Lock Down Model
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood: Religion, Art and Science
On Tuesday I attended a lecture provided by The Arts Society Coventry. It was a pleasure because the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) is one of my favourite topics. My degree was History and Victorian Studies where they featured as one of the many interesting topics of the period. The talk was provided by Dr Matt Wates …
Continue reading “The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood: Religion, Art and Science”
Sublime Experiences
When I was a little boy there was a playing field near the house next to a little church. It was there that I first experienced the sublime. For some reason on a spring day we were standing by the railing and I looked out onto the field and the grass seemed greener, the butterflies …
An Inspector Calls
Today I want to continue my little series on An Inspector Calls. I will be looking at Shiela Birling who is the daughter of Arthur Birling and engaged to be married to Gerald Croft. The relationship between Eva Smith and Shiela is a fascinating one. First their lives are similar in that they are dependent …
The Tolkien Toast
Today is the Tolkien Toast. Tolkien fans across the world will, at 9pm, raise a glass of their favourite tipple and proclaim “The Professor”. I think it is pretty obvious that I am a Tolkien fan. I am listening to Lord of the Rings whilst I write this. I am dyslexic and struggled as a …
Happy New Years Day
Happy New Years Day! In Scotland you can expect to do First Footing. The first person to come to your door receives a present such as a lovely piece of coal. In my family it is traditional to eat roast beef with Yorkshire puddings and lovely roast potatoes. Another tradition is to eat a nice …
Happy New Years Eve
I hope you are all having an exciting and Happy New Year. In a few hours we will be in January which is named for the two faced god Janus. Just like Janus we can look forwards with confidence and backwards without fear. But for some of us looking forwards can be a source of …