Hallo, all! The next few weeks might be a bit thin, I fear. I’m all at once working on a few small pieces about turn-of-the-century Irish nationalism; William Morris’s News From Nowhere and aesthetic Utopianism and Eutopianism more generally; research into history teaching methods, not to mention the fascinating Paterson family; my everpresent interest in romanticism, particularly the links between Schelling’s philosophy and the Daoist worldview; not to mention moving house, preliminary wedding planning and the need for regular naps, repasts, siestas and sit-downs.

It’s not all hectic busymaking news, though! For a start, my friend Cassandra is bringing her hair-extension and fashion business Wildilocks to Melbourne! This means both pretty things to buy and employment opportunities for hair-talented (hairy-thumbed?) people, so take a look! Cass is cool cool stuff: she blends jury-rigged beauty with responsible enviromnetal sensitivity in her art. There are evermore folks doing work like this - have a gander at these bicycling breeks in wool or hemp - and it’s exactly what the world needs more of.

On a hugely vain lighthearted note, I found a rather nice frock coat on eBay in my size - rather like finding a furious camel in an upmarket Manchester outlet, as you’ll know if you’ve ever tried. Why don’t they make coats to look like this anymore? It looks good! (That’s probably why.)