A photo of the Porta Nigra, a massive Roman city gate in Trier. Constructed of sandstone blocks, featuring two large cylindrical towers with multiple arched windows and passageways. The weathered structure stands prominently in a modern urban setting, surrounded by buildings. Sunlight casts shadows on the stone facade, highlighting its intricate details and imposing presence.

The Porta Nigra in Trier is the best preserved Roman city gate North of the Alps. It was built around 170 AD and converted into a church in the Middle Ages.
The Porta Nigra was restored to its original state in 1804 at Napoleon's behest.

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That would be fantastic, thanks. Will do the same!

This is so grim. I've had this on my to do list for a while, and it's felt important and also overwhelming. Would be keen to know if you find an alternative you like!

Who gets to matter (or, problematic tropes in the stories we love) It's taken me an age to come to writing this. I've not even been sure why it's taken me so long until very recently. I've been reflecting on Caste by Isabelle Wilkerson and why I always found a whole range of media my white friends found extraordinary just didn't work for me. Most recently I found The Everlasting a deeply problematic book and came out of…

Who gets to matter (or, problematic tropes in the stories we love)

It's taken me an age to come to writing this. I've not even been sure why it's taken me so long until very recently. I've been reflecting on Caste by Isabelle Wilkerson and why I always found a whole range of media my white friends…

Love the touch of turquoise!

I can imagine! Black and white must be one of the most difficult combos for staying hair free, but I bet they're worth it

So fluffy!

Does it exist as a common phrase for British kids? It doesn't in Australian English but they gave us the original name in all its glorious complexity anyway.

So interesting the decision to change these kinds of things

Oh no! Did they change the lyrics to the song too? Thomas was more a love of my little brothers, but I still remember the tune for "Thomas the tank engine rolling along" followed by a whistle I could never do...

Get ready for your first urban sketching sesh! #urbansketchers #pleinair YouTube video by Emma Bolton

Get your materials ready because next week we're going to go outside and do your first urban sketching session together!

All you'll need is a pencil, a small sketchbook and (optional) a camping stool. Plus, you'll get to see a bit of my favourite park in Granada!

#urbansketchers #pleinair

They're super cute!

Get ready for your first urban sketching sesh! #urbansketchers #pleinair YouTube video by Emma Bolton

Get your materials ready because next week we're going to go outside and do your first urban sketching session together!

All you'll need is a pencil, a small sketchbook and (optional) a camping stool. Plus, you'll get to see a bit of my favourite park in Granada!

#urbansketchers #pleinair

Unexpected accidents that you then want to deliberately include in your next sketch are the best! Perspective is tough - keep practising and enjoying the process and you'll get there

That's super frustrating. Hope you get a response soon! (Fwiw your email still went to my inbox like normal)

I got this email too but thought it was a me-problem so redid my dns records and now it says the sending domain is active again.

A similar thing happened to me on 24 Jan, so there does seem to be a prob there. (I haven't tried to send an email yet though)

Yay, that's great news!

I think SoM musical is based on a memoir (but I haven't read it). The film was on TV a lot when I was a kid, but I always went to bed halfway through. It was only watching it years later that I realised there was a second part where they have to flee Austria. It ws a shock!

"...pictorial representations of urban spaces have repeatedly been launching points for our imagination, offering us captivating new vantage points both literal and spiritual" - Jessica Maier

This is about stunning maps, but it's interesting to think abt how it could apply to urban sketching too

Ooh now I'm very curious to learn what happens partway through! (That childhood movie for me was The Sound of Music. For years I thought it ended with their wedding).

Will report back on WH once I've read it and we can discuss 🥳

a blurry image of two men holding hands in front of a bookshelf Alt: Shane and Ilya from heated rivalry (or their actors) jumping up and down in a circle in front of a shelf of books

Ok, guys, I don't want to get anyone too excited but... it looks like my QUEER ROMANCE course might well be happening next year! It's been put on the timetable!!!!!

Yes to Queer Love, and I'd love to do Rise of the Gothic too!

That's fantastic! Can't wait!

Definitely!

Looking forward to reading this one!

Teenage me was also very grateful for Tamora Pierce's books!

My favourite thing about the Spanish news is the presenter casually ending the live with the correspondent with "un abrazo" (a hug) #langsky

My copy of The Queen of Spades just arrived today. So excited to get started on the reading!

That sounds great! I was definitely under the misapprehension that it was a romance novel when I tried to read it as a teenager. It sounds like it will be good to study

That's fair. You'll be missed in class. I really enjoyed your thoughtful takes on the romances we read last time

I just did Sam's course on the history of the romance novel, and I cannot tell you how fast I signed up for this new course.

Sam's a wonderful teacher, and I learned so much while having the best time. They're so good at teaching skills you can apply to your reading / writing in different contexts

We lose again: Windham-Campbell Prize manqué Was going to post this on Substack, but they don't let you indent blocks of text.     Today’s insanely long installmen...

Helen DeWitt on turning down a $175k Windham-Campbell Prize because she wasn't able to handle the prize's mandatory publicity requirements. Imo a moving, deeply relatable, and darkly funny story about money, obligation, mental health, & executive dysfunction
paperpools.blogspot.com/2026/04/we-l...

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