Gretel aborts a launch into Egyptian Monasticism; and goes down a Sutton Hoo rabbit-hole

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Good evening and a very warm wishes to you this darkening Friday evening.  Thank you for your support despite episodes that fail in part; such is the consequence of a daily podcast which means it’s more of a ‘blurt’ or ‘stream of consciousness’ with the aid of little-reconnoitred material.  At some point do I move to one or two episodes a week, with each episode professionally presented, and prepared?  It’s a thought.  💭 

Now you may remember that I promised to read the whole of darling Under the Greenwood Tree by our friend Thomas Hardy to time with the Christmas period, so when to start so that the final episode is read on Christmas Day?  I could either read some out every day, once we’ve concluded those three scallywags in a boat; or we could try something new and read an entire episode one night a week, such as a Sunday.  What do you think, particularly my subscribers?  

Then from the 1st of January I’ve decided to follow Hardy with Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: a beautiful book.  One idea I had is to buy each of my paid subscribers their own copy as their Christmas present, and inscribe with a fond note from me, the 🦔 🐕 and 🐅.  What think ye? 

As for non-fiction, we must - I’m afraid - continue with the remainder of Bede’s works, but maybe instead of investigating early monasticism, I find something lighter for you.  I would like to do a little more poetry.  One evening could be Poetry Corner?

Bless you and good night.  💤 

Gretel x

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Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time.  She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture.  

Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time;  the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth.  Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.

Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes.  I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review and possibly 5 stars (for effort as I realise it’s not deserved for achievement)🥴

Previous guests include  historian Tom Holland; Actor Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela Tilby; Author Bijan Omrani; Journalist and Historian Sir Simon Jenkins; Dorset garden hedgehog family, the Venerable Bede and other guests.  

Future guests (all being well) are Tom Holland, John Simpson, Eleanor Parker, Philippa Langley and Katie Channon.  

Unpolished and unscripted but no ads and no requests for anything but your company.  Trying to make the world a gentler place with literature, history and nature.  Please don’t expect to find a...