Just a meme at twilight (though it's actually been dark for hours!)

[tree_and_leaf]

oursin gave me five questions (a while ago - apologies!); comment if you'd like me to ask you five.

1. If you could pick a superpower, what would it be?

Definitely flying. It would be fun!

2. Favourite theologian?

Julian of Norwich. Both creative and sensible, not a common combination, and very hopeful. (I am also very fond of Thomas Aquinas, particularly his suggestion for dealing with low mood - a warm bath and a glass of wine). In third place, Eckhart, for being consistently challenging.

3. Assuming all immunisations in order in advance, what period of history would you like to visit?

Tricky, but I'm going to go for the fourteenth century, which is where I did most of my academic work. It would be very interesting to see what it was actually like, and talk to some theologians. Fortunately most of my favourites were either women or members of mendicant orders, who were used to talking to women.

4. Role in a film you would really like to have seen Bogart play (the fact that he was no longer alive or too old is immaterial)?

This is a slightly silly suggestion, but Aragorn in Lord of the Rings - not sure how he'd have done being kingly, but it would have been interesting, and he could certainly do the 'seeming foul and feeling fair.'

5. Which Swallows and Amazons character would you rather be shipwrecked with?

If close enough to civilisation that there's a possibility of building a raft and sailing there, John. If there are likely to be hostile people about, Nancy. If we're going to be stuck there for a bit, definitely Susan.

Comments

[angelofthenorth]

yes please

[tree_and_leaf]

1. What's your favourite Welsh word, and why? (Can be favourite for any reason at all - meaning, nuance, how it sounds....)

2. If you had to cook one recipe once a week for the rest of your life, what would it be?

3. What's the most thought-provoking book you've read this year?

4. Where would you most like to go, if money and time were no problem?

5. Who's your favourite theologian?

[sartorias]

Interesting questions and very interesting answers!

Swallows and Amazons, shipwreck

[legionseagle]

Dorothea. The conversation will be great and she thinks outside the box. Also, John would be overwhelmed with guilt at getting shipwrecked, Nancy would be blaming everyone but herself at being shipwrecked, and Susan would be worrying about the other vessel and its crew. Dorothea and Dick have been shipwrecked (if you count a sailing sledge and I bloody well do) and managed to find shelter very competently. Also, if there were hostile people about, five minutes exposure to Dorothea and they won't be hostile - who in the entire canon has got an apology out of the GA?

Re: Swallows and Amazons, shipwreck

[tree_and_leaf]

I confess I took 'Swallows and Amazons' mean just that (no Ds, no Coots) - but you make an extremely compelling case!

Would you like some questions?

[oursin]

No worries - all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well!

[little_brisk]

JULIAN JULIAN JULIAN. Your answer made me instinctively reach for my copy---which is, like almost all of my books, in storage. Like a terrible itch I can't scratch.

But also... which fourteenth century? Even (maybe especially) with comprehensive immunity, the back half would be devastating...

I would happily take some questions to help get me started again, but no pressure!

[tree_and_leaf]

Oh, the early half, where there's a maximum concentration of Theologians I Find Interesting and before everything falls apart. No interest at all in being around for the Black Death, that sounds deeply sad and a good way to end up with raging PTSD and massive survivor's guilt.*

* Though I wonder if time travellers would be subject to something like survivor's guilt anyway, at least if they stuck around for more than five minutes?

I will try to post some questions later - just now I have to run off to work.....

[little_brisk]

Other advantages to the first half of the century: never having to prove to anyone you're not a Lollard. (Downside: do not get to drink beer and trade tips on heresy accusation rebuttals with Margery Kempe.) Anyway I would be very interested to hear about your favorite early C14 theologians!

[mrs_redboots]

And apparently the weather was splendid before the Little Ice Age started abruptly bringing crop failures, etc, which arguably contributed to the spread of the Black Death.

[sally_maria]

If you have the time, I'd love some questions.

[tree_and_leaf]

Ok, this is shamefully late, for which I apologise!

1) What's the best thing about where you currently live?

2) What's your favourite children's book? And is your answer different to what you would have said aged 10?

3) If someone gave you £500, on condition you didn't put it in a savings account but had to spend it, what would you do with it?

4) What's the most interesting thing you have learned recently? (However apparently insignificant, as long as you find it interesting!)

5) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

[sally_maria]

I think Christmas is a pretty good excuse for anybody, particularly someone in your line of business. :-)

[mrs_redboots]

May I have some questions, please?

[barefootcricket]

Julian of Norwich is haunting me, I swear. She comes up everywhere. Have you heard the song "All will be well" by Meg Barnhouse?