This week a lot of things have combined to force me into taking a hard look at where this website came from, and at where it’s going. I’ve been writing about myself and my achievements this week, as part of an application. Singing my own praises is something that always makes my skin crawl, of … More Weekend Reading: Sorry, Old Friend!

I hope you’ve all had a lovely Christmas break! Mine felt like it went by very fast, and I don’t think I’ve actually had a chance to sit still yet – but it was good to be able to focus on family things for a change. I confess that there was quite a lot of … More Weekend Reading: An Open Invitation

I love the current trend of feminist (or female-centred) myth retellings. I love walking into a bookshop and seeing the popular enthusiasm for novels featuring Medusa, Ariadne, Pandora, Circe and Elektra. I love the beautiful covers that take Greek vase motifs and make them sparkly (not that I’m superficial or anything…!). What I don’t love … More Review: ATALANTA by Jennifer Saint

It’s been an awfully long term, but we’ve made it! I’m marking the last of the late TMAs, my email out-of-office message is ready to go, and I’m wearing my Christmas Penguin jumper – and I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so excited to take a break! No more working till midnight, no more … More Merry Christmas!

Last weekend we held our first ever Saturnalia Fun Day at the Hadrian’s Wall Classical Association. We’ll be taking our show on the road next year, since we aim to cover a pretty wide geographical spread – but to begin with we’ve based ourselves in and around the Durham area. Our Saturnalia event was held … More Weekend Reading: Winter Fun

I’d love to say that I’ve made you all an advent calendar – but I’m afraid my powers of invention have failed me this time. The start of December is always stunningly hectic for me, with all the marking coming in at once – as anyone who’s sent me an email recently will know! – … More Weekend Reading: A Classical Advent

I hope you enjoyed last week’s Christmas Gift Guide! It was a lot of fun to put together. I think I did more window-shopping in a week than I did over the whole of the year! This week I have more seasonal fun to offer – at least, if you happen to be in the … More Weekend Reading: Saturnalia Fun

It’s finally here! The annual Classics Christmas Gift Guide, produced by me over the course of many arduous hours of online window-shopping (well, there may have been a few things that accidentally slipped into my shopping cart…!). You can browse the pages below: but for clickable links, feel free to download the PDF version. Please … More The 2022 Classics Christmas Gift Guide!

This weekend I actually have to go out for teaching, for the first time since Covid hit. It’s disconcerting. I may have to wear shoes. Once upon a time, I used to go out every week or so. I would run Saturday classes, and evening classes, and day schools and workshops, all over the region. … More Weekend Reading: On Leaving the House

We live in interesting times. I can never remember whether that’s supposed to be a blessing or a curse – but whatever the case, it’s certainly true at the moment. Sadly I’m unable to do much about the wider world: but at least I can control my small corner of it, to bring you all … More Weekend Reading: Looking Back, and Looking Forward