End of 2023 Update and Thanks
Where do I start with 2023. It’s been full, but not of the nice things unfortunately. Sadly we have lost quite a few people dear to us, most importantly my mum’s brother-in-law, my Uncle Ian, just a couple of months ago. He was such a big part of our lives and was always supportive in everything any of us did. Me and my mum were very ill with Covid earlier in the year, which messed up our family holiday to Ludlow. That was only the first of our 3 holidays that has been ruined, so I’m over due for one I think! Then my mum has been diagnosed with polymyalgia (a rheumatic condition) this summer, which has meant we aren’t as able to do as much together this year as we had planned on.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, I then unfortunately had to change jobs a few months ago too due to financial issues affected my relief contract at the Record Office. I love that job and everyone connected with it, but it’s still open, so hopefully I can return at some point in 2024. Since mid-October, I have been working at Masson Mills, originally a Richard Arkwright mill is now part of the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site, which features multiple Georgian mills that were the first modern-style mass manufacturing system in the world, as a Visitor Centre Assistant. This has meant a slight return to my retail roots, and learning how to be a coffee barista, but hopefully can mean conducting history tours at some point.
With all of that going on, I’ve been thankful that I’ve still had consistency with this blog. It’s honestly helped to have something comforting to return to in all the turmoil. It has been the most successful year yet in terms of views since I started this blog five years ago. For that reason, I just want to take the time to thank each and every person who has read, shared, liked and followed the blog this year. It genuinely means a lot to me to see people enjoy the blog. The best post of all this year has been about the St Augustine Gospel, the oldest surviving medieval manuscript in Britain, which was used earlier this year at the coronation of King Charles III. That can be read here.
I had just one guest post this year on Nana Yaa Asantawaa, Queen Mother of Ghana and the Golden Stool by Tami Richards, a story of the Ashanti people standing up to imperialism. It can be viewed here. However, there were some firsts of my own this year. First of all, I did my first post reviewing a museum exhibition at Norwich Castle on the fate and discovery for the wreck of the Gloucester ship. Seeing the exhibition was a highlight and it was definitely a brilliant thing to see! The review can be seen here. Another first was attending my very first ever Regency ball in Buxton with my sister for my birthday weekend. I absolutely loved the whole experience and if you ever have the chance to attend a similar event, just do it! Here’s the post I did explaining what a Regency ball looks like.
Back in September, I returned for my third ever Jane Austen Festival in Bath. It was just as much fun as ever! Although this year, we were promenading in 32 degree heat, which was very hot here. A big thank you once again to my sister for sewing our beautiful dresses! It was another record breaking year there in terms of attendance. There were over 900 people on the promenade, nearly double last year! A first this year was an official picnic, which we attended and thoroughly enjoyed munching on things in front of the world famous Crescent.
Another good thing this year was I started offering paid talks, with my first one being in February. I offer a wide variety of topics, which reflects aspects of research I have enjoyed doing and think others would too. In the end, I did seven, on topics ranging from Napoleonic prisoners, Anthony Babington and Mary Queen of Scots, and Charles Dickens and the poor. This is something I will continue doing as it has been quite popular. I have another seven (some of those still to be finished organising) booked in for 2024.
The most exciting thing to be happening next year is that by debut history book, Anthony Woodville: Sophisticate or Schemer, is due for publication on 15th February in the UK. It’s already on pre-0rder from most good book places, so please do that if you are able. Again, I apologise that I don’t have any info yet on whether it will be available in America. I can’t quite believe that after nearly nine years of wishing and researching, that in just under two months time, it will be out there in the world. I have a few book signings/talks booked in for next year. I have THE worst handwriting, so that’s something I’ve got to practice.
All that is left now is to wish you all a healthy and wonderful 2024. Most importantly, thank you all once again for your support over the last year. Each and every view, like and share means a lot to me, so I pass on my hearty thanks and love to all of you. The first post of the new year will be an exciting guest post on Stuart era fashion by Megan Hopper, a recent graduate from the University of Leicester.
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