Egyptian Galleries - Ashmolean

After meaning to for ages, I took myself off to the revamped Egyptian Galleries at the Ashmolean.

I'm so lucky to have a world class museum just across the road from the office. I guess this little scribe is a model of one of my Egyptian predecessors. :-)

As you'd expect, there's lots of very impressive stuff, but you know me, I'm far more interested in odd little bits and pieces.I was taken with this nose...(remember Cleopatra's nose in Asterix?)...

...this lion (or is it the Cheshire Cat? The teeth are very similar.)...

...this roaring hippo...

....a supercilious crocodile god...

...a mad looking pony...

...fabulous shadows...

...a rather benign vulture...

...and some camels (thankfully not singing)...

Make sure you pop down if you're in Oxford.

La Luna Revisited Again

What is it about the moon? She is both mysterious, yet familiar.

Kindling...

My husband gave me a Kindle for my 40th birthday. As I anticipated it's made not having anything to read when I'm travelling, a thing of the past. It's changed my reading habits in two ways that I hadn't anticipated i) I'm reading lots of 'classics' (because they're often free to download) and ii) I'm reading a daily paper again.

When I was a student I was a complete news junkie, I'd read at least two or three broadsheets a day. Over the years that dwindled down to the occasional Sunday paper, and latterly not even that. I did read various papers online, but the screen format didn't work for me somehow. I'd graze a bit, but never read the whole paper.

For the last year I've been reading 'The Independent' on my journey into work, and find myself interested in politics once more. Moreover starting to think about how I can become involved. Not in party politics, but in social justice. How can I help my community?

Absolutely batty (I hooted with laughter)!

In a world where, as my Ma says, there aren't many of us normal people left, I am incredibly blessed to have so may friends on the same wavelength.

When I was in the States last year, visiting the Price Sisters, I admired a cup sleeve Annie was using, so much better than the cardboard one. Virginia ordered me one for Christmas with an owl on it, as I like owls. So far so good...


...but there was another one in the parcel. That looks a little strange you may be thinking...pointy ears...cord...cross....

...a bible on the end of his wing...?!?

Oooh look it's a monk bat!

Yes, I have my very own vampire monk cup sleeve (OK he's a Franciscan not a Dominican, but why be churlish?). Has to be one of the best Christmas presents EVER! I couldn't be happier :-). Can't wait to wrap him round a coffee (or chai latte)...