Presently February 2021
February 2021 has come around too quickly, I think. As I reflect over the month of January, not a lot had happened. In fact, not a lot had happened in the last eleven months since we began adjusting to a new way of life. Yet, a lot has happened as well…vaccines are being rolled out and people are being vaccinated. There is Hope. Lockdown…it is what it is. I am an optimistic person so I’d say that it has not been too bad. Yes, I miss travel. The excitement of planning and packing for an adventure that awaits is indescribable. As well, I miss the outdoors immensely but time has afforded me opportunities to catch up on activities that I would not otherwise do, and in that respect, January has been a good month.
What went on in January…
Following a slow Christmas and New Year as we were still under lockdown, I ‘cruised’ into January :), catching up on television series. I had been wanting to watch the TV series, ‘A Discovery of Witches’ and was able to do this in January. I enjoyed it so much, I watched both seasons back-to-back. Vampires, witches, time-travel and Elizabethan England – what else can I ask for, right! The handsome Matthew Goode as Matthew Clairmont plays a scientist vampire and Teresa Palmer as Diana Bishop is a historian and a reluctant witch. They time travel in search of the ‘Book of Life’ – a fantasy television series based on the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness.
If you prefer to read the trilogy, these come into stock at Amazon UK on 8 February 2021. For USA Readers, you can purchase the boxed set from Amazon using this link
Download the complete set on Kindle Store
If you are into fantasy, you might like it also. I look forward to the third season.
As well, watching television also meant watching events unfold on January 6 at the Capitol. It was like watching a movie, unbelievable and sadly it was reality of what happened. Every so often I shake my head, wondering of this great nation and the future of this world. There were also many moments of hope. The eve of the inauguration was a beautiful dedication to those lost to the pandemic. I tuned in to the inauguration and watched the whole process. I was moved with the great reminder of ‘This land is your land’ by Jennifer Lopez but the one who stole the show is Amanda Gorman and her touching poetry, ‘The hill we climb’ Then, there was the swearing in of the 46th President of USA, Joseph R Biden and he placed his hand on a 127 year old Bible – what a remarkable history and ancestry. There is Hope.
Much time was spent on reading and downtime on social media. As anyone who knows me well will also know that besides travel, food, and red wine, I love history. I love the complexities of the past and the intriguing tales that draws me in. It makes me seek further and sometimes question the truthfulness of events, for some are truly beyond comprehension! How could any-one do such a thing? I had been reading on the many sources available now on the enduring queen Anne Boleyn whose voice now speaks after half a millennial. I was much saddened to read about some of the ‘forgotten royal prisoners’ in British history along with the rise and fall of one of the most powerful families in British aristocracies. The history of Britain during the Tudors, the Elizabethan and the Victorian era are truly remarkable, and of course it all began a thousand years ago with William the Conqueror and the Tower of London.
My original article on Tower of London was published in September 2019 as part of my retracing my footsteps series but reading about the history of Britain during the Tudor era inspired me to write more on and about the Tower. There is much to share with all of you on certain aspects of history that relates to the Tower. There were five articles published in January – The Bloody Tower on Sir Walter Raleigh and the missing princes as well as a great selection of books and Kindle download to support readers who wish to delve deeper into the mysteries that surrounds the missing princes at the Bloody Tower. Some selections can be downloaded for free on Audible. I also wrote on the Magnificent Crown Jewels at the Tower, bringing you beautiful pictures of the most treasure Jewels of the British Monarch on display and the history behind them-an easy read to inspire you to visit the Tower, if you haven’t already. I followed up with two more articles. One on the Beauchamp Tower, a place for high ranking prisoners in a building nestled away across the green from the main buildings of the Tower of London. In here you will find graffiti left behind by some of the prisoners so they will not be forgotten. At the end of January, I simply had to share a little background to Bonfire Night that is widely celebrated on 5 November. Sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as, if not more as I had enjoyed writing them.
What to expect in February
In February, stay tuned for more on what went on behind the fortress during the Tudor era as well as articles on my previous travels to Morocco, Dubai , Italy and Scotland which I hope, time allows me to write. I intend to continue reading on British history and will share with you in future articles.
I remain hopeful – more so now than in December that travel will be possible and at some point soon, perhaps as early as Autumn, we will take to the skies again albeit adhering to precautions in place.
I have published a page on remarkable places to stay around the globe, a comprehensive page bringing you choices on hotels in cities around the globe – I am still updating the list on each city and hope to bring more on this in March column.
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Feeling
There’s a part of me that is really excited over the ray of hope on taking to the skies again by fall but I am also too afraid to plan ahead for it. In the absence of travelling abroad, I have taken to exploring local – my travel to Scotland was beautiful and there’s much to see still. I am likely to return to the land of the magical myths as soon as travel becomes normal again within our borders.
If you haven’t yet…
I was in a super mood to write in January and here are the links if you had missed them:
You may want to read the recently updated Tower of London article.
I hope to bring you more on the history of Britain as an Easy Sunday Read, travel offers on Tuesday News and Thursday Travel Inspiration – subject to time permitting.
That’s my roundup of news in our first monthly column, Presently February 2021 at mytimelessfootsteps. What has presently been going on with you?
Georgina xx
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Thank you so much, Ade. So sorry to hear that things are so difficult in Kenya – I can only imagine and sincerely hope things will get better soon over there. I hope to write on Morocco as soon as time permits.
Different times Sona different time of blog but none the less interesting. I have been on the phone (well WhatsApp) all morning with our schools in Kenya. It really brings home that no matter how bad here there things are difficult in different ways but so so so hard.
Vampires have always been my wife’s no no. A bit like the darleks for some for her vampires remain so frightening. We can’t even watch Buffy together.
I am so looking forward to your blogs on Morocco. It has been a country that has stolen on heart more on each visit and we still have never been to Marrakesh or Fez. We await our third photo and cultural exploration trip there. The culture and sites are fascinating. Look forward to reading more.