Gratuitous advertisement time, Canberra

This isn't a "how to avoid Gillian" post, truly. I hope some people enrol, because I'm missing the Middle Ages and want an excuse to teach them.

For writers: There will be a goodly amount of writing technique and some research technique in the family history course. The other three would all work well as background history for writers using the Middle Ages or - in the case of Our Edible Past - anything from Ancient Rome to the Blitz (though you'll only get an hour or two on each period of food history) - they're full of telling detail and understandings. The reason there are no worldbuilding or other writing classes from me at the ANU this semester is because I thought I was teaching them elsewhere - I'll see if I can sneak something in next semester, but I can't promise.

If you're in Canberra and not running and hiding, then please feel free to book early and book often.

Writing your family ’s history
6–8pm on 8 Tuesdays from 18 February
All families have great histories: the problem is finding out what they are and preserving them.
This course gets you started, with the basic skills you will need to research and to write.

Living in London in the Middle Ages
6-8pm on 5 Tuesdays from 23 February
Life in London from the 11th to 14th centuries. Occupations, food, clothing, street hazards, gossip…

Medieval women
5.30–7.30pm on 7 Tuesdays from 6 April
Women in the Middle Ages get a very mixed press. During this course you will meet some very interesting women and find out exactly what made them tick and how they led their lives.

Our edible past: food in history
5.30–7.30pm on 8 Thursdays from 22 April
The best and worst of historical food, from Ancient Rome to the 20th century.
Discover the joy that was Medieval pastries and things you really didn’t want to know about early margarine. Learn about famous chefs and their recipes. Maybe even sample some historical cooking (if the class is willing).


You can find out more from the university's website and you can book directly on the phone (ring 6125 2892).

If you are an addict of advertisements and this isn't enough, I'm sure I can find more.

(no subject)

I ought to admit that the reason I was thinking about Bluestockings the other days is because I keep getting reminders about the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The Jane Austen Festival in April is booking out fast. I'm talking about food, of course.

I'm missing not doing a Conflux banquet this year. And there may not be much testing for next year's. So it's just as well I'm talking about food to Jane Austen fans, in April.