Rachel Griffin, the witch who captivates us all with her mystical powers and untamed spirit, is truly wild. From the moment you encounter her, it is impossible to ignore her aura of enchantment. With flowing midnight black hair and piercing emerald eyes, Rachel bewitches all those who dare to cross her path. Her unpredictable nature and fearless demeanor set her apart from the rest. One cannot help but be in awe of Rachel's abilities. She possesses a deep connection with nature, harnessing its elements to her advantage.
I’ve been (unfortunately far too slowly – sorry H) been working on a local house (probable 17th – early 19th house with earlier feature). And (again too slowly – sorry D) on preparing a workshop for a public history project that I co-direct. So I’ll hopefully be able to say a little more about those over the next few months.
Over the next few weeks months I intend to communicate some of the small discoveries that I ve made over the last year or so the first being from the prolonged holiday that I took last year of 4 nights extended to 5 when in situ rather than the usual one or two days off a year usually spent mostly in travelling dashing from site to site as teaching research prep. Given the general resemblance of the witch and child in the foreground to traditional representations of the Madonna and Child see, for example, The Met 30.
She possesses a deep connection with nature, harnessing its elements to her advantage. Whether it be summoning storms with a flick of her wrist or commanding animals to obey her every command, Rachel's magic is unparalleled. It is this untamed power that keeps us spellbound and yearning for more.
Beautiful Buildings and Back to (an adjusted) Life
Some of the wonderful buildings I overlook during writing!
It’s been a very long time since I’ve been able to teach or work on community projects, or get too involved in research – or indeed write here (or anywhere else).
But thanks to the often kind & helpful advice and support over the last few year of various local hospital consultants & rehabilitation clinics (different sort of rehab to that which Amy Winehouse sang about!), I’m now (I hope) in a position that I might try to return – very slowly & carefully – back to (a less intense) normal.
Unfortunately, if able to conduct tours at all, they’ll now be limited by what seems to be permanently reduced mobility, but I’m hopeful that with support, I’ll still be able to do occasional short house & garden tours, if not the multi-site quick-march romps around town & country that I used to do. And I’ll continue to develop digital tours, which informed by my own disabilities, I might work towards providing material accessible to a wider audience.
I have, however, not been completely idle (I couldn’t entirely keep away from my work – I love it too much!), and in having to contemplate & put into practice adjustments in everyday life, I’ve also been thinking on & trying out new approaches to teaching & research (expanding topics, as well as tweaking existing projects).
For example, I’ll be experimenting with some of the rather snazzy technology that I recently encountered, which I anticipate could be quite fun, as well as providing scope for disseminating informative content in different ways, through digital tours & other forms of engagement with the historic environment.
Over the next few weeks & months I intend to communicate some of the small discoveries that I’ve made over the last year or so – the first being from the ‘prolonged’ holiday that I took last year (of 4 nights – extended to 5 when in situ – rather than the usual one or two days off a year – usually spent mostly in travelling & dashing from site to site as teaching research/ prep). Unfortunately this provoked a further decline in health, rather than the improvement that I had hoped for, preventing me from revisiting my findings until very recently.
2018 Holiday Accommodation! (Projecting wing belonging to separate accommodation.)
I stayed in the most wonderful of places – a merchant’s hall not far from my favourite place away from home: King’s Lynn, Norfolk. The fine Early Modern building proved to be of great interest, enabling leisurely probings that might provide comparisons for the studies of housing & gardens I conduct as part of the LIP community archaeology project that I direct; and ritual protection inscriptions / incisions (‘witch-marks’ / ‘folk-magic’) for the ‘Malefic Midlands‘ project that I direct.
I’m now back in King’s Lynn – again in a fantastic building & location, staying in a mid-eighteenth century merchant’s town house this time (adjacent a late Medieval / early modern complex & numerous other superb historical buildings, as well as a churchyard & minster containing some interesting grave memorials). So I’ve again been able to feed my interests, ogling & photographing. Today I intend to take a look at the extant features of my interior surroundings, and as usual snap away at paint-chips & the like – the products of which I’ll add to my online photo-banks (e.g. here), posting some here too soon.
Where I’m staying now (behind the numerous first floor windows)!
I’ve been (unfortunately far too slowly – sorry H) been working on a local house (probable 17th – early 19th house with earlier feature). And (again too slowly – sorry D) on preparing a workshop for a public history project that I co-direct. So I’ll hopefully be able to say a little more about those over the next few months.
I’ve also been gradually preparing an expanded range of talks & workshops – to be delivered variously between autumn this year and 2021 – for my principal commercial website – which reflects my extended research; I’ll say more about these here as I develop these further & are closer to being ready for delivery.
Due to limited time & constrained financial resources, from now on I’ll generally only be able to take group bookings, though sessions may be accessible to individuals & families if organisations such as museums take them up. I might also again provide occasional events at the ‘Antiquarian Academy‘. (In both cases I’ll give my mailing list priority notification as usual, if possible.)
So for now I’ll sign off, so that I might spend the remaining holiday (checking out tomorrow morning) further enjoying the lovely building & views of wonderful Lynn.
View from one of the rooms in which I’m writing!
Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth Century British Paintings. Sotheby's, London. July 9, 1980, pp. 108–10, no. 79, ill. (color), as the property of a gentleman; states that "its appearance . . . at Penkill Castle must have been at the instigation of David Scott, who was influenced by Fuseli and who was a close friend of the Boyd family".
But it is not only her magical prowess that defines Rachel's wildness. She is also an embodiment of rebellion and independence. She refuses to conform to societal norms and chooses her own path, guided by her inner instincts. This audaciousness fuels her determination and makes her a formidable force to be reckoned with. Rachel's wildness extends beyond her magical abilities and rebellious nature. It is reflected in her captivating personality, as she exudes an unbridled energy that draws people towards her. She is a free spirit, unafraid to take risks and explore uncharted territories. Rachel's vivaciousness is contagious, leaving an indelible mark on all those who have the fortune of encountering her. However, it is essential to note that Rachel's wildness does not equate to chaos. While she may be unpredictable and untamed, she possesses a deep understanding of the importance of balance. She recognizes the necessity of coexisting with the forces of nature and maintaining harmony within herself and her surroundings. It is this underlying wisdom that allows her wildness to thrive without becoming reckless. In conclusion, Rachel Griffin, the mesmerizing witch, embodies the essence of wildness. With her unmatched magical abilities, rebellious nature, and vivacious persona, she captivates all those who cross her path. Her connection with nature and her profound understanding of balance make her an enigma worth exploring. Rachel Griffin is a testament to the beauty and power of embracing one's wild side..
Reviews for "The Unpredictable Magic of Rachel Griffin: A Witch Unlike Any Other"
1. Samantha - 2/5
I was really excited to read "The Witch Known as Rachel Griffin is Wild" as I love fantasy books. However, I was sorely disappointed. The storyline felt chaotic and disconnected, making it difficult to follow. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. It felt like the author was trying to cram too many elements into one book, resulting in a cluttered and confusing narrative. Overall, this book just didn't meet my expectations and I struggled to enjoy it.
2. David - 2/5
"The Witch Known as Rachel Griffin is Wild" had so much potential, but it fell flat for me. While the premise was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest early on. The writing style was also not to my liking - it lacked depth and emotion, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. It's a shame because with better execution, this could have been a captivating read.
3. Sarah - 1/5
I regret picking up "The Witch Known as Rachel Griffin is Wild". It was a struggle for me to finish this book. The plot was confusing and convoluted, with elements that were introduced but never fully explored or explained. The characters were forgettable and lacked development. The writing style was overly verbose and self-indulgent, making it tedious to read. Overall, I found this book to be a complete waste of time and would not recommend it to others.