Ah, no. Blushes becomingly
..
Rather than London pen shops, might I suggest Bath Ye Olde Antique Mappe Shoppes?
I have left wonderful London, and have travelled to the south west to visit dear old friends who live in Bristol for some serious R&R.
Duvets, blankets, much sleep, kind souls putting hot water bottles in my bed (in a late Georgian house in Bristol), offering tea (and yes, French press pots of coffee), drives to civilised places such as Bath, Wells (ever heard Evensong in Wells Cathedral? - well, no, neither had I until yesterday)
.
Okay. I love ancient maps. (And modern maps, too). Love them. I love to study and examine how the world is ordered on paper (and parchment) and what that reveals about the state of knowledge, and more telling still, the attitudes that underpin the depiction of cartographic representations of countries, continents, and cities
..
I bought a map of the British Isles by the wonderful (German) cartographer Johann Homann, whose maps are works of art; and another (which I had not intended to buy when I entered the shop), also of the British Isles, this one by the (somewhat rather well known) Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius. The shop in question is in the wonderful old town of Bath, and actually does go by the name of "The Antique Map Shop Bath"
.
If only. However, were I to be equipped with such a piece of equipment, - if budgets allowed the bureaucracy for which I work to fund such wonders
..I
would not be found wanting
..and nor, would I,
.hesitate
..to use it
..appropriately...
Sorry to hear Shrink has been under the weather.
I have been shopping
..and yes, sleeping
a lot
.and coughing..and sneezing
and reading, and resting, and generally doing R&R, and busily avoiding my computer almost entirely (and not even replying to emails) except to check (briefly) for unfortunately absolutely necessary current affairs stuff
...
Join the club. I'm still spluttering. (Yes, I know the reason - this is my first 'proper' holiday - as opposed to a brief break - in three years and I am very tired).
Let us cough, resonantly, hoarsely, and deeply, in unison
..
Hope you recover soon
and take very good care of yourself
..
Well, okay, I don't do dudes talking about their grinders
..and comparing their crema
.
However, I can discuss exquisite fountain pens (in tedious detail along with a few strange anecdotes concerning same), and can describe antique maps in the sort of worshipful tone which only those equally afflicted will ever understand
...
