I am off to Leeds today for the International Medieval Congress (not to be confused with its American cousin, the International Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo). I’ll be giving a paper ‘Chaucer & the Art of the Grift’ as well as taking part in a roundtable on using Twitter as an academic. Doubtless much to share when I return and more London posts if I get a little time.

A number of people passed away over the weekend. Sad to say farewell to Wicker Man director Robin Hardy, but I was particularly gutted to hear about the brilliant Caroline Aherne, who was only 52. A true genius of comedy: she is much missed.

If you need some entertainment while I’m gone, you could do worse than order yourself a copy of Folk Horror Revival: Corpse Road which like its sister publication Folk Horror Revival: Field Studies, features works inspired by grim folk tales and legends. I have some photographs of Orkney in Corpse Road. It’s a huge tome and 100% of the proceeds go to the Wildlife Trusts.