Knitted Clanger
@knittedclanger.bsky.social
Retired communications manager who once knew a lot about banking strategy. Now mostly having a cup of tea and reading a Victorian three-volume novel.
Email from local petting farm offering a VIP Highland Cow Christmas Experience. Tempted, as I’ve never met a VIP cow, be nice to ask them about their careers.
December 4, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Email from local petting farm offering a VIP Highland Cow Christmas Experience. Tempted, as I’ve never met a VIP cow, be nice to ask them about their careers.
A day on which there hasn’t been any real daylight seems apt for the nineteenth century’s greatest opening paragraph, as Book Club sets off for Bleak House.
December 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A day on which there hasn’t been any real daylight seems apt for the nineteenth century’s greatest opening paragraph, as Book Club sets off for Bleak House.
Meanwhile in Birmingham City Council Chamber, absolute scenes as scuffles break out about the bins, but not about the shark. Can only assume that Birmingham's extremely inland nature means we don't recognise sharks as our natural predators. But we're very cross about the bins.
December 2, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Meanwhile in Birmingham City Council Chamber, absolute scenes as scuffles break out about the bins, but not about the shark. Can only assume that Birmingham's extremely inland nature means we don't recognise sharks as our natural predators. But we're very cross about the bins.
Art history class tonight on Vermeer at Kenwood has reminded me of the theft of the Guitar Player, which was a big story when I was nine. Strap in, this goes places. 🧵(1/13)
December 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Art history class tonight on Vermeer at Kenwood has reminded me of the theft of the Guitar Player, which was a big story when I was nine. Strap in, this goes places. 🧵(1/13)
...And also a horror film.
November 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
...And also a horror film.
Persistent rain seems the ideal medium to spend 3+ hours indoors testing my theory that Fanny and Alexander is a Christmas film...
November 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Persistent rain seems the ideal medium to spend 3+ hours indoors testing my theory that Fanny and Alexander is a Christmas film...
I’ve been to the early bird show of The Fifth Step from NT Live with all the other old dears. Wasn’t sure I’d like this, as a family history of alcoholics makes me ill disposed to a comedy about AA, but it was very funny and perceptive, so a recommend if it shows up on Sky Arts.
November 27, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I’ve been to the early bird show of The Fifth Step from NT Live with all the other old dears. Wasn’t sure I’d like this, as a family history of alcoholics makes me ill disposed to a comedy about AA, but it was very funny and perceptive, so a recommend if it shows up on Sky Arts.
Enjoyed the second part of Ronald Hutton's Gresham College lecture series on 'Dodgy Deities'. Tonight: Hecate, who may have taken triple form to reflect the phases of the moon or (my theory) because she was busy looking after so many things, including gates, snakes, knives, lions and weasels.
November 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Enjoyed the second part of Ronald Hutton's Gresham College lecture series on 'Dodgy Deities'. Tonight: Hecate, who may have taken triple form to reflect the phases of the moon or (my theory) because she was busy looking after so many things, including gates, snakes, knives, lions and weasels.
Here’s the formula from Pliny, in case you were looking for a home-made Christmas gift. It is typical of Pliny that he tells you to use ‘these proportions’ without defining ‘these’. Also that he points out you can’t get any of this stuff anyway.
November 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Here’s the formula from Pliny, in case you were looking for a home-made Christmas gift. It is typical of Pliny that he tells you to use ‘these proportions’ without defining ‘these’. Also that he points out you can’t get any of this stuff anyway.
Delighted to learn about the Osmothèque in Versailles which archives and recreates historic perfumes. I always enjoy a reference to Pliny the Elder in the wild.
November 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Delighted to learn about the Osmothèque in Versailles which archives and recreates historic perfumes. I always enjoy a reference to Pliny the Elder in the wild.
Interesting adaptation of Hedda Gabler this evening, set in 1940s England with Hedda as an Anglo-Indian actress hiding the secret of her mixed heritage. Clearly referencing Merle Oberon, seen here wearing her special arguing negligée to express her disappointment with Leslie Howard.
November 25, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Interesting adaptation of Hedda Gabler this evening, set in 1940s England with Hedda as an Anglo-Indian actress hiding the secret of her mixed heritage. Clearly referencing Merle Oberon, seen here wearing her special arguing negligée to express her disappointment with Leslie Howard.
Annual festival of discovering I still have chestnuts from last Christmas and deciding they’ll probably be fine added to lentil soup. Must buy some more and hide them until next November. (‘Plant-based Simplicity’ sounds like she writes a beauty column for the Telegraph.)
November 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Annual festival of discovering I still have chestnuts from last Christmas and deciding they’ll probably be fine added to lentil soup. Must buy some more and hide them until next November. (‘Plant-based Simplicity’ sounds like she writes a beauty column for the Telegraph.)
Ooh, we’re getting a harpsichord as well as recorders. It’s Naples 1725 today at the CBSO.
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Ooh, we’re getting a harpsichord as well as recorders. It’s Naples 1725 today at the CBSO.
Lightly glazed with jam, as am I.
November 23, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Lightly glazed with jam, as am I.
*Attenborough voice* Here, we see the life-cycle of the fruit cake. #StirUpSunday
November 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
*Attenborough voice* Here, we see the life-cycle of the fruit cake. #StirUpSunday
This evening's opera will be Arabella by Richard Strauss. No, me neither so I've looked it up. Essentially, never make a sexy assignation in a darkened room with a woman you've been corresponding with, because she *will* turn out to be her sister who you previously believed to be her brother.
November 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
This evening's opera will be Arabella by Richard Strauss. No, me neither so I've looked it up. Essentially, never make a sexy assignation in a darkened room with a woman you've been corresponding with, because she *will* turn out to be her sister who you previously believed to be her brother.
Open Day for The Shakespeare Institute post-grad program in Stratford today. I'm worried retirement doesn't have enough essay crises, so I may have to pay a fee to acquire some next year. Not quite decided, that's a nice arch in their garden, though.
November 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Open Day for The Shakespeare Institute post-grad program in Stratford today. I'm worried retirement doesn't have enough essay crises, so I may have to pay a fee to acquire some next year. Not quite decided, that's a nice arch in their garden, though.
With a brief prayer to St Delia the pre-Christmas soak has begun (hides mid-morning glass of sherry).
November 20, 2025 at 11:13 AM
With a brief prayer to St Delia the pre-Christmas soak has begun (hides mid-morning glass of sherry).
Anna's worth a close-up for a better view of the points of pure colour that only coalesce into a more subtle image under our gaze.
November 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Anna's worth a close-up for a better view of the points of pure colour that only coalesce into a more subtle image under our gaze.
This is Anna Boch, painted by Theo van Rysselberghe. As well as being an artist (her painting, Evening, is on the right) she bought the only painting sold by Van Gogh in his lifetime. This show is based on the work of another female collector and Van Gogh fan, Helene Kröller-Müller.
November 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
This is Anna Boch, painted by Theo van Rysselberghe. As well as being an artist (her painting, Evening, is on the right) she bought the only painting sold by Van Gogh in his lifetime. This show is based on the work of another female collector and Van Gogh fan, Helene Kröller-Müller.
Neo-Impressionists at the National Gallery and this, by Maximilien Luce, is the one I'd steal. I liked this show more than I expected, having formed a view of pointillism based on Seurat, who I find rather lifeless. Luce was an Anarchist who painted scenes from working people's lives.
November 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Neo-Impressionists at the National Gallery and this, by Maximilien Luce, is the one I'd steal. I liked this show more than I expected, having formed a view of pointillism based on Seurat, who I find rather lifeless. Luce was an Anarchist who painted scenes from working people's lives.
William Blake saw angels on Peckham Rye: ‘A tree filled with angels, bright angelic wings bespangling every bough like stars.’ I saw them on Regent Street.
November 17, 2025 at 10:14 AM
William Blake saw angels on Peckham Rye: ‘A tree filled with angels, bright angelic wings bespangling every bough like stars.’ I saw them on Regent Street.
November's #AgathaChristieChallenge is Cat Among the Pigeons, which I'm surprised to discover is essentially The Belles of St Trinian's if, instead of abducting a racehorse, someone shot a games mistress. It even name checks Joyce Grenfell.
November 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM
November's #AgathaChristieChallenge is Cat Among the Pigeons, which I'm surprised to discover is essentially The Belles of St Trinian's if, instead of abducting a racehorse, someone shot a games mistress. It even name checks Joyce Grenfell.
So far, this is my favourite bit of Juliet of the Spirits, which is otherwise pretty unbearable.
November 14, 2025 at 11:02 PM
So far, this is my favourite bit of Juliet of the Spirits, which is otherwise pretty unbearable.