I was home just after 1.00, did a couple of tasks off my list, had a badly timed meal (KFC delivered at 4pm), chatted with Julia and my sister, watched Strictly Come Dancing, napped in front of fire/TV and finally decided it was time to type. Julia and my sister have been to Narnia. Or, Newstead Abbey, if you want to be accurate, the home of Lord Byron. However, while they were there, they walked into a wardrobe . . .
I had the KFC with the Christmas trimmings, including the stuffing. I should stop watching their adverts.
A Woman with a lantern and a pair of Wardrobe doors. It’s neither CGI nor Rocket Science, but I’m told it’s very good.
Yes, it’s Christmas. They also walked round a sparsely attended craft fair and a closed Delicatessen. It shut at 3pm, which is a strange time for a shop that wants to make a living. Even we don’t shut until 3.30. Apart from today. We shut at 1.00 today so the other two could go to the Banknote Society meeting. However, we are a Collectors’ Shop and they always work short hours.
The White Witch
Mr Tumnus on Lantern Waste
Another lantern
Like so many writers of his generation, Lewis served on the Western Front, where he found considerable material for his battle scenes (as did Tolkien). He was wounded in 1918 when a British shell fell short of its target. After war service, Tolkien wrote great epics with huge battle scenes, Lewis also wrote of battle. A A Milne, who also served on the Western Front, made his contribution with some small books about a group of toys, including a bear of very little brain. It’s strange how people interpret things.
Both Tolkien and Milne were sent home after bouts of Trench Fever. The article on the link says Lewis had it too, but I’m not sure if this is the case. The major event in his military career was that he was nearly killed by a British shell. However, it does link back to Byron, who famously died of fever whilst fighting for Greek Independence.
It is easy to forget that in the days before antibiotics many casualties in wartime were actually caused by disease rather than battle. That’s one of the reasons that if I ever get a chance to have a shot at time travel I’m going to confine myself to trips that take place after the invention of antibiotics. When I was young and healthy I never sought to restrict my time travel ambitions. As I got older I started to define my time travel plans by considering the availability of anaesthetics. Now I’m old and unhealthy I will stick to the 1950s.
Mr and Mrs Beaver.
Byron, but I expect you knew that.
