(no subject)

Today's teaching was less exotic than usual. I have a brand-new way of explaining the actual cost of manuscripts. We talked scribes and work and I made the usual comparisons, then I got out some reproductions pennies and handed them round. The class calculated how many of those it would take to buy a manuscript and how many drinks a farthing would buy (they insisted on drinks - I wanted to calculate food!). I so should have bought a lot more of those reproduction coins last year - I thought I was getting too many, but they're useful in so many ways.

Next week is our Big Excursion for the term. It's not that big, but it's going to be fun. We're going to see the national Library's current exhibitions. This is why I spent so much time on manuscripts, and it also gave me a chance to talk about Bede and calendars. I even got to say "I'm sorry, but he died" in answer to a question that possibly should not have been asked. This, of course, unleashed Evil Gillian. Not a good thing.

I'll stay at the library next week until about 7 pm, if a meeting eventuates in the evening. I can eat a late dinner, and this is an excellent opportunity to check some stuff. I'll have about 3 hours book-work, after a mere 5 hours of teaching. So if anyone wants to meet me for a cuppa that the National Library, I'll be there next Wednesday. Third time this month...