We often think of Medieval peasants as living utterly terrible lives - and for the most part, they did. From what we know if their diets, however, they probably didn't eat as badly as we tend to think. When peasants are shown in modern media, they're often shown living off of a really meagre diet… Continue reading What Medieval Peasants Ate (With Recipes)
Month: August 2020
I Have A PA!
Yes, I thought you should be the first to know. I have a personal assistant*. After all, this writer life is very difficult. There are too many things to keep track of - and after I kept agreeing to new projects, I knew I needed to become more organised, because otherwise, I was going to… Continue reading I Have A PA!
The History of Kissing (In Europe)
Kissing's a strange thing. We tend to think it's innate, that it's natural for humans to do it - but it's not. There are still cultures today where kissing is not done at all. I know very little about non-Western kissing, other than that it appears in early Indian texts and seems to have been… Continue reading The History of Kissing (In Europe)
How We Buy Food (And How We Used To)
We've all been to one of those old-fashioned candy shops, haven't we? You walk up to a large, heavy wooden desk, chat to the shopkeeper and tell them what sweets you'd like, and how much of each. They (or their assistant) then take the sweets from their storage jars, weigh them out, bag them for… Continue reading How We Buy Food (And How We Used To)
What I Think About Emojis
If you've seen me online at all, you've probably guessed that I'm a fan of emojis. You are correct. I use them often, maybe too much, and some times in twos, threes or more. I'm sure some people roll their eyes at this. If they do, I wonder if they're missing something. Emojis are very… Continue reading What I Think About Emojis
Edward II And The Necromancer Who Tried To Kill Him
When I was at uni, I spent an awful lot of time digging through dusty old books. Our uni library was perfect for someone like me: the history section had loads of history journals and Victorian reprints of medieval documents, and the law section had a whole row dedicated to the records of the Court… Continue reading Edward II And The Necromancer Who Tried To Kill Him
Collectivism and Individualism in European Literature
When we look at European history through a modern lens, it seems apparent that Western culture has always placed great value on personal achievement. Recent discourse in some historical circles has pointed out the persistently individualistic nature of Western attitudes—many events tied into colonialism, for example, were rooted not only in a desire to better… Continue reading Collectivism and Individualism in European Literature
Cooking Corn Fritters And Frikadeller!
I've got the house to myself this week (the fam are on holiday), so I've taken the opportunity to try cooking some new foods! I've taken some recipes friends have given me and had a go at cooking them, without googling pictures beforehand to see what they should look like. A fun challenge! And I… Continue reading Cooking Corn Fritters And Frikadeller!
Assassin (NSFW)
Ruderian perched on the windowsill, legs dangling off the edge. He sighed happily, letting the cold night air tickle his bare chest. It was a welcome relief after the relentless heat of the day. No wonder the locals wore simple white gowns, if they wore anything at all. This land was not made for foreigners… Continue reading Assassin (NSFW)
Make Yourself a Coat of Arms
I've been trying to make a personal coat of arms (or achievement, as it's properly known) for a long time now. First thing's first: in the UK and many other countries, you can't just go ahead and design your own coat of arms. To officially acquire one, you have to have one presented to you… Continue reading Make Yourself a Coat of Arms
Dewi Hargreaves 