For the Dutch magazine China Nu, I wrote a short piece about 'Asian' elements in #KingAlfred fanfiction. Illustrated with my fantasy art, inspired by the characters in the fanfictions. 😊

Via Academia in low-res: https://www.academia.edu/105244622/Fans_van_en_uit_China

Very honoured that Prof Dr David Stifter MRIA will present my paper at the XVIIth International Congress of Celtic Studies.

#iccs23 #celticstudies #kingalfred #fanfiction #celtic #ogham #medievalisms

Here's a #postcard showing the University of Winchester. Founded in 1840 as the Winchester Diocesan College, from 1928 to 2004 it was King Alfred's College

I'm currently reading the Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, in which said Alfred has a central role. Hence today's share!

#HigherEducationPostcard
#HigherEducation
#KingAlfred

This morning I noticed that Valerie Frankel's "Jewish Fantasy Worldwide: Trends in Speculative Stories from Australia to Chile" is on Google Books - including my chapter my chapter "Ancient Jewish Elements in Twenty-First-Century Alfredian Fanfiction"!🥳

Check it out, the whole collection is a fascinating read:

https://books.google.nl/books?id=dn-2EAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA121&ots=TJEYWUw48B&lr&pg=PA121&fbclid=IwAR0Qn5PZwQ4p41cVZI_oIpFHqEYtU__TizK-KmLToLUaxHi-Cf2Cx1xBW7s#v=onepage&q&f=true

#jewish #fantasy #KingAlfred #fanfiction #Alfredism #medievalism

#AngloSaxon #SaintOfTheWeek

Today we are going to be talking about the enigmatic St Wite (aka Candida/Gwen/Blanche) of #Dorset (feast day of 1st June)

This #saint is venerated in both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions under her latin name "St Candida", but within the Anglican communion she is known as St Wite -- patron saint of Dorset.

This seems to be a reoccurring theme when it comes to the saints I speak about: Although we don't know a lot about her, her story has been passed down through the centuries though oral traditions. This history has been recorded by the local people Whitchurch Canonicorum (The village is named after their local saint)

Local tradition says that she lived as a hermitess on the rocky cliffs and would light beacons to guide sailors safely home. She was martyred by Danish #Vikings while defending the people of Dorset and #KingAlfred himself.

The Viking cut off the saint's head which rolled down the hill. When the head came to a stop, a miraculous spring appeared.The waters were said to cure blindness; the well (St Wife's Well) is in Morcombelake.

King Alfred built the church of St Candida in honour of her. It has the distinction of being one of only two in England to still have it's original shrine and holy relics still intact after #Reformation

Inside the shrine is a lead box with the inscription of Hic Reqesct Relique Sce Wite (Here rest the relics of St Wite)

#history #histodons #folklore

@histodons @folklore

First. Jan. 19, 2023.

I think this first daffodil beats the prior record by a couple of weeks.
#yellow #kingalfred #plants

My favourite way to spend New Year's Day - riding with Friends of King Alfred Buses in and around Winchester. Here is ex King Alfred POU 494 in Owslebury. #Buses #KingAlfred #FoKAB #Winchester #Owslebury

My favourite way to spend New Year's Day - riding with Friends of King Alfred Buses in and around Winchester. Here is ex King Alfred 595 LCG at Oliver's Battery. #Buses #KingAlfred #FoKAB #Winchester #OliversBattery

My favourite way to spend New Year's Day - riding with Friends of King Alfred Buses in and around Winchester. Here is ex King Alfred HOR 592E and ex London Transport NLE 627 in Sutton Scotney. #Buses #KingAlfred #FoKAB #Winchester #SuttonScotney

My favourite way to spend New Year's Day - riding with Friends of King Alfred Buses in and around Winchester. Here is ex King Alfred 596 LCG in Otterbourne. #Buses #KingAlfred #FoKAB #Winchester #Otterbourne