Maybe overplaying the centrality of Ravenna to early medieval europe, but it is fascinating to read about the strange mix of Latin, Greek and Gothic and Catholic, Orthodox and Arian traditions that melded together in Ravenna and it does look a truly beautiful city - certainly some of the churches are astonishing. Maybe I'll get there one day on my cycle tour of europe. I'm trying to interest the family in a trip to Malmesbury Abbey to see where King Athelstan was buried, but it's not attracting much interest, To be fair, apparently there isn't even a tomb though, so it would be underwhelming as well as involving 4 hours in the car with the kids complaining. My Fiction Tsundoku pile has a few doorstops like Ducks, Newburyport, A Place of Greater Safety and Lonesome Dove which are staring at me. I'll have to tackle at least one soon, but it is going to affect my run rate. I heard yesterday that a friend from College has passed away. He was a great guy, funny, articulate and we joked that he only hung around with us until he found better, more suitable and glamourous friends. We always had such fun whenever we met up and should have got together far more often. We had lost touch since having kids and now the opportunity is gone. There's a lesson there. His poor wife and children.
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