Goth meme.

Not entirely a shock. This woman could be one of my customers. I am, however, sitting here wearing a pair of tan cords and will probably be thrown out of Goths Anonymous for it.

You scored as Romantic Goth. You are a romantic goth, better known as a tradtional goth. You are probably quickly identified as a goth by outsiders. Black lace, bats, and moonlit cemetaries are just a few of your favorite things. </td> Romantic Goth 83% Ethereal Goth 63% Anything-Goes Goth 38% Death Rocker 38% Fantasy Goth 33% Perky Goff 29% Old-school Goth 25% Understanding Outsider 21% Industrial/Rivet-Head 21% Confused Outsider 21% Cyber-goth 8% What subcategory of Goth best fits you? created with QuizFarm.com

POK! Ow!

After a morning of headless-chicken-ness, we made it to the Town Hall in time for the handfasting couple's legal wedding. This was quick and efficient and then we joined them in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey for another family picnic, also lovely. The ruins are sombre and impressive, but we did not go up to say hello to 'Arthur' and 'Guinevere.' Everyone knows he's under a hill anyway, waiting (but I remember coming here for the first time when I was a child and it blew me away to see Arthur's grave, even though I knew it was a historical fake).

T cracked a hardboiled egg on my head, without warning (see title of post). Yes, he is actually 53, why do you ask??

Otherwise, some interesting (to me) academic news: for the last couple of years I've been doing this certificate in herbal medicine, which I have almost finished. I spoke to the course convener today and she told me that the course has been formally recognised as an access course onto the BSc in Herbal Medicine at UEL. East London is, bizarrely, one of the few unis that actually cover this subject and I wasn't sure about my eligibility because, although I have a doctorate, I don't have any science GCSEs. Apparently this is no longer necessary if one passes the certificate, which I should do based on my grades so far.

It's a 4 year course and qualifies one to become a herbalist, so it's a long term thing but it would, I think, be worth it.

Vespasian: the football years

We've spent the evening in Bristol, helping our herb supplier celebrate his birthday in fairly low-key fashion. The pub was full of football watchers, roaring and hooting. England vs Germany, I believe. We discussed Vespasian and also military fuck-ups (our herb supplier is a military buff and I am not, but my father fought in WWII and has plenty to say about military snafus). It's hard to talk about Roman history when all around you are losing theirs, to paraphrase Kipling more than somewhat.

Otherwise, I have been writing: more on PRECIOUS DRAGON, now up to 26K. I have finished one short story, a sort of Elizabethan alternative thing about temporal magic, which has spawned ideas for a further two stories because I like the world. Also started on another short piece, called WOLVES OF THE SPIRIT, which is set in the same world as DARKLAND.

A happy summer solstice to all. We may be up for dawn. Or we may not, it depends if it rains, which it is doing at the moment. Fair weather druids....