First - many, many thanks for all your support in 2011, your kind comments and words
of praise have been so much appreciated. I couldn't do what I do without all of my
audiences.
Enquiries are now beginning to come in after the whirlwind of Christmas, so if you
have a particular date in mind for an event, please get in touch to secure your
booking. Check out the events diary - as new dates come in, they are entered on this
page - and if I'm not giving a presentation in your area, why not petition your local
lunch club/ WI / textiles group/ history society/ library / heritage site or museum?
Booking prices from October 2011 are £220 per presentation, plus travel costs calculated at 35p per mile, and (where necessary) accommodation at £60 per night.
Details and photographs can be found on www.costumehistorian.co.uk
I hope to see you at one of the talks - come and say hello!
Gillian
Remember December?
It seems a long way off, doesn't it? But just a few weeks ago I was haring around the country like there was no tomorrow, taking 'Jane Austen's Christmas' on tour.
Combining fabulous food, boutique accommodation and a wonderful atmosphere. I stayed at The Wheatley Arms in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, and I can seriously recommend it!
The month began with a homecoming - I was back from two days of presentations for Individual Inns, a company with a number of inns across Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria.
Then to Selkirk in Scotland for 'Jane Austen's Wardrobe' at 'Scott's Selkirk' Festival. For those who don't know, Sir Walter Scott (the poet and author) lived at his house of Abbotsford near Selkirk in the early 19th century, and for one weekend in December each year, the whole town goes back to the Regency to celebrate his life and work. I delivered my presentation at the County Hotel, and received a warm and friendly welcome from all.
One of the most unusual venues and locations, as well as being utterly breathtaking, was in the main gallery at Verulamium Museum, St Albans. I'd enjoyed looking around this exquisite museum, walking in the park outside (which is the site of Roman Verulamium), and had a nice lunch at the cafe, and was now sitting on a bench in the largest gallery to admire the huge scallop shell mosaic, when two staff came in, carrying a wooden cover.
They placed it over the elaborate mosaic on the floor. Thinking that this perhaps signalled closing time, I asked if I should make myself scarce. 'Oh, no', was the reply,' we're building the stage for tonight's talk'!
I can honestly say that it's the first time I've ever performed poised a few inches above a priceless 2000 year old artifact, on tenterhooks in case anything terrible happened to it. As Fiona the booker said 'No pressure then'.
January Blues
One of the best ways to fight the deflated feeling that everyone gets between January and March, is to tuck yourself up with some good books. I've just bought (on eBay) a lovely chaise longue. It sits next to the living room radiator, and there is nothing better than curling there with a coffee and something great to read. Everybody should have one (if only to sink onto while swooning!)
There is of course a point to all this - my website will soon include a little bookshop, linked to Amazon. Here you'll find my favourite volumes, and the ones that inspire me, along with my comments and reviews on each one, plus DVDs and music.
Oh, and the other thing that gets me through winter is hyacinths, placed where I can sniff them as I walk by. Try it yourself, these scented miracles really lift the spirits.
