Continuing Activities - Month Twelve
Apr. 25th, 2020 11:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitThis month I completed four courses. Normally, I will do two courses at a time, but I decided that since I clearly must have time to myself at the moment, I could do three. Actually, with ensuring I get plenty of exercise and allowing myself to read later, because I can get up later, I have less. And yet, still the shiny appeals.
The first course was The Book of Kells by Trinity College, Dublin. I enjoyed this. It was interesting learning about the creation of the book and the interpretation of some of the illustrations. We even got the opportunity to try illustrating a letter for ourselves. That was fun, and I got out the felt pens to decorate an 'S' - I would definitely need some more practice before I was let loose with the goldleaf - much more practice. I'm currently looking around for a suitable pattern from the Book of Kells to cross stitch as a bookmark.
Next came Walter Scott: The man behind the monument by the University of Aberdeen. I hadn't known much about Scott, or his writing, beforehand, and finished the course not much more enthusiastic about him. But it was interesting enough, and the course mentors engaged with the comments which is always a real bonus. It turns out Scott didn't read through his work and in the discussion about errors that authors make, I mentioned Conan Doyle when Mary calls Dr Watson 'James'. The mentor replied saying there's one passage in a book where every single character suddenly changes their name to Walter - she likes to imagine this was in response to Scott's wife shouting for him.
At the same time I was following Robert Burns by the University of Glasgow. Burns was much more disreputable, but sounds like a very engaging character, so I definitely preferred him to Scott.
Lastly, I took Archaelogy: From Dig to Lab and Beyond by the University of Reading. I signed up for the course because it was only two weeks long and fitted in the gap before my current courses began. The first week looked at the excavation of a site in the Vale of Pewsey, the second week at the deaths of those in their early teens in the medieval period. I've added to my general store of knowledge (I like learning things!) and the medieval section was more interesting for me.
My cross stitch continue to grow and should be definitely finished by the end of the summer. In normal times I wouldn't sew every day, but would do extra at times to make up for days when I wouldn't be sewing. Now I sew every day and I have a suspicion it's not growing as fast! Not that that matters because it's still progressing.
The first course was The Book of Kells by Trinity College, Dublin. I enjoyed this. It was interesting learning about the creation of the book and the interpretation of some of the illustrations. We even got the opportunity to try illustrating a letter for ourselves. That was fun, and I got out the felt pens to decorate an 'S' - I would definitely need some more practice before I was let loose with the goldleaf - much more practice. I'm currently looking around for a suitable pattern from the Book of Kells to cross stitch as a bookmark.
Next came Walter Scott: The man behind the monument by the University of Aberdeen. I hadn't known much about Scott, or his writing, beforehand, and finished the course not much more enthusiastic about him. But it was interesting enough, and the course mentors engaged with the comments which is always a real bonus. It turns out Scott didn't read through his work and in the discussion about errors that authors make, I mentioned Conan Doyle when Mary calls Dr Watson 'James'. The mentor replied saying there's one passage in a book where every single character suddenly changes their name to Walter - she likes to imagine this was in response to Scott's wife shouting for him.
At the same time I was following Robert Burns by the University of Glasgow. Burns was much more disreputable, but sounds like a very engaging character, so I definitely preferred him to Scott.
Lastly, I took Archaelogy: From Dig to Lab and Beyond by the University of Reading. I signed up for the course because it was only two weeks long and fitted in the gap before my current courses began. The first week looked at the excavation of a site in the Vale of Pewsey, the second week at the deaths of those in their early teens in the medieval period. I've added to my general store of knowledge (I like learning things!) and the medieval section was more interesting for me.
My cross stitch continue to grow and should be definitely finished by the end of the summer. In normal times I wouldn't sew every day, but would do extra at times to make up for days when I wouldn't be sewing. Now I sew every day and I have a suspicion it's not growing as fast! Not that that matters because it's still progressing.
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Date: 2020-04-25 11:17 am (UTC)I don't have the patience for taking courses. I did a gardening course by amil many years ago (30 or so) but that's it.
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Date: 2020-04-25 11:19 am (UTC)I just like learning new facts - some courses I concentrate on more than others.
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Date: 2020-04-25 02:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-25 02:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-25 08:04 pm (UTC)Your cross stitch is looking AMAZING! I can only imagine what you could do with a Book of Kells cross stitch!
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Date: 2020-04-25 08:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-26 05:22 am (UTC)I saw the Book of Kells Exhibition at Trinity College a couple of years ago, it was wonderful. The library itself was quite something as well. The course would be really interesting. And I think I'd like the Archaeology one too. Both something to look up and consider.
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Date: 2020-04-26 09:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-27 01:47 pm (UTC)I am impressed by how much knowledge you soak up, most of the courses do sound very engaging and fun. Admit I was amused by the following:
The mentor replied saying there's one passage in a book where every single character suddenly changes their name to Walter - she likes to imagine this was in response to Scott's wife shouting for him.
Proof of the value of beta readers, though this reminds me of the A03 tag: "no beta, we die like men". Doyle & Scott evidently subscribe to this :D
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Date: 2020-04-27 01:59 pm (UTC)Yes Doyle and Scott certainly worked by that rule ;)