Talk: What Conditions Create Witch Hunts?

Tonight - another interesting talk in a series by The Garden Talks (TGT). This one was What Conditions Create Witch Hunts?

So, in the picture, the inset video is from TGT's host, based in Scotland - the larger video is of the guest speaker, an American academic who specialises in Scottish history, and has a particular interest in witch hunts and the like.

Started a few minutes late - which was just as well, as I was using my Chromebook, not always the speediest. Well, you'd know she was an academic - this was a very scholarly talk. Full of facts, but not always delivered in the most entertaining way - despite potentially incendiary subject matter! (Play on words intentional.)

Frankly, given the present tense of the title, I was expecting more reference to the present day! but no, this was all historical. And nothing wrong with that, except, as I say, I did find it a bit dry. I have to say, the talks are very well run though - lovely site design, the facility to react at any point, and a Q+A box to the side, where you could type questions to be dealt with at the end, and see - and vote for - others'. Those with the most votes were dealt with first - unless they happened to have been dealt with in the talk itself, as happened with one. And this was significant, as there were far too many to deal with in the 15 minutes or so allocated for questions! But hey, great idea, well staged - and free, although you do have to register.

Tomorrow - film beckons. And that blasted film list still isn't coming through properly until the Sunday of any given week, two days AFTER the films change - anyway, when it finally did, I was able to confirm that (apart from a couple of Indian films that I just couldn't spark an interest in) top of the list are two documentaries. The one I'm more interested in is Flee, the animated story of an Afghan refugee, reminiscing on his story years later, on the verge of getting married. Looks really good - the closest showing to me is in Hackney Picturehouse.

On Wednesday, back with TGT - this time, the talk is on Why Did WW1 Inspire So Many Utopian Experiments? As the organiser points out, not only wars, but also pandemics seem to inspire that kind of thinking, about what makes a better world - so, quite topical at the moment!

On Thursday, leaving drinks at my job - for me! I only wish I had another sorted. Better to have them on a Thursday, when there are free drinks in the office. To start us off. Then back to Ireland for the weekend - and unfortunately, I can't get to the cinema while I'm there this time - I have to run an errand for my mother.

Next Monday (Valentine's Day) - wouldn't you know it, the West End has gone all romantic! with a one-night-only performance of West End Musical Love Songs! Well now, that seems like a good way to spend the evening. Showing in the Lyric, cheapest from the venue. Mind you, considering that the very cheapest are right behind pillars - and remembering the horrendous experience I had in one of those seats before - I went up a price bracket, and am in the rear stalls. With a pillar "in my sightline", but not squeezing into my legroom. Which should be fine.

On the 15th, I'm at The Glow, in the Royal Court - nice, spooky sounding play about someone with a gift for the supernatural! As usual, not a place you can really get discounted tickets for - but slips tickets tend to be great value, as long as you're not too close to the stage and having to crane your neck.

On the 16th, I'm back with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex, for London By Night - an Illuminating Virtual Tour. Online, should be nice.

On the 17th, back with Crick Crack! which should hopefully happen this time. This is a double bill - The Thief's Tale and Future Imperfect, at Rich Mix, Daniel Morden one of the performers. And there are a couple of others from the London European Club coming, which is cool! Unfortunately, the Crick Crack show that was cancelled yesterday is livestreaming the same night from Oxford! which just can't be helped.

On the 18th, back with Civilised London for a play called The Ballad of Maria Marten, based on a real-life murder mystery, at Wilton's. Now, I'm rather tired of craning my neck here, so I went for a slightly more expensive seat, with a more direct view - albeit still in the balcony.

And on the 19th, I'm headed off with 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners again, for Laurence Summers' Elementary Sherlock Walking Tour.