I seem to have found a new obsession to replace the hydrangeas...
If you're as old as me, you may remember the wonderful advertising campaign on TV in the 1950's/60's starring Tony Hancock and the slogan 'Go to work on an egg'. The slogan was allegedly created by Fay Weldon.
I am, this evening, completely gripped by the BBC's new series on the Norman Conquest. On BBC2 and BBC4, I have been watching for the last three and a half hours...
Starting with an outline of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and before that the emergence of William the Conqueror, the first programme was introduced by Robert Bartlett, Professor of Mediaeval History at the University of St Andrews. This was followed by a programme on Norman walks in the area and why the battle took place where it did. Next, a programme exploring the mediaeval mind, and ending with a fabulous insight into the building of our great Norman cathedrals.
All this together with mediaeval choral music and art - mesmerizing, quality TV - I wish there was more! Well, some of this is a short series, so there will be more.
I love the social history, such as the creation of the wonderful Bayeux Tapestry, the fact that we favour Norman names such as William over Anglo Saxon names such as Leofric. When we describe meat, we refer to the coarse, filthy animal by its Anglo Saxon name eg: pig; when we refer to the roasted meat with wine in its refined state, we use the Norman name eg: pork. Our crudest swear words are Anglo Saxon rather than Norman. Basically, a complete obliteration of Anglo Saxon culture!