A Book Curse In A Manuscript of Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde..

“He who this book tears or steals, God send him the black sickness of hell.”

These people did not mess around with the theft of a book all these years ago. I found this curse in a little book I picked up not long ago called: Book Curses by Eleanor Baker. I have to say though I do own a few books I feel this way about. I imagine my bookish friends do also.

This book is full of very disturbing quotes found in literature from over the years.

The blurb on the back states:

Have you ever wanted to protect your books from forgetful borrowers, merciless page-folders or outright thieves? Perhaps you have even wished harm on those that have damaged your books, but would you threaten them with hellfire, hanging or the plague?

This book contains a collection of some of the most ferocious and humorous book curses ever inscribed. Here you will find an engaging introduction to the history and development of the book curse and perhaps some inspiration to pen a few of your own.

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My book of the week.

I finished an interesting book that was recommended by a friend who enjoyed it. The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. This is a book I would probably not have picked up but it isn’t exceedingly long and the topic is a bit different to what I normally read. Clover lives in New York City and she is a death doula. A death doula (a term I was not familiar with) is someone who spends a dying person’s last days with them. Clover had difficulty getting over the death of her grandfather who raised her after a boating accident killed her parents when young. She was travelling in Cambodia when he died and she felt bad he had died alone. She sits with people who are alone and have no family or friends anymore.

One night she meets a young man named Sebastian at a death cafe. These cafes have popped up around the place, including one I heard about here in Hobart.

People gather over a coffee and discuss death. Sebastian’s beloved grandmother is dying. She had been a successful photographer in her past and there was an old love interest that also popped up. Clover begins visiting his grandmother as Sebastian’s family were a family that definitely wouldn’t discuss death and Sebastian felt the need to talk about it. Therefore the death cafe visits. Clover becomes friends with the woman and from there a mystery develops. More characters enter the picture and the story branches out from there in a few different directions. I really enjoyed this book. It sounds morbid but I did not find that at all. I really cared about the characters and think I will remember them for a long time. It has a lot of uplifting discussions as well as a few around dying.

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Another week of life here. This week was a very busy week. If you read my last post you will know about our friend and neighbours cat. Pickles, who we have, so far, agreed to adopt. For those who have not read last week’s post, our friend has gone into palliative care.

Over the course of Monday and Tuesday we went to the house and caught Pickles and set her up in a spare room. I had to get a big litter tray the dogs can’t get into and picked up some of her things from the house that had her scent on it. I also checked with my veterinarian friend and googled how to transfer an adult cat to two adult cats that we own. We don’t want fights and spraying all over the house.

Pickles has lived indoors as do ours and only ever known one person. She was quite terrified. The first few days did involve band aids.

The vet suggested using a Feliway diffuser that will calm her. It seems to work. After almost a week she is letting me pet her as long as I don’t make any sudden moves. She has a nice big boxed in bed she retreats to. The goal will be to get her out of it of her own accord. Baby steps.

Our vet friend has told us to keep her isolated in her own room for 3 weeks. Next week we will begin exchanging scents from our cats to her and vice versa. We will use Feliway spray on everyone. Humans can’t smell it but cats can. Our vet uses it in her kennels at the practice. The next step after that will be putting our 2 dogs and 2 cats in a separate room and let Pickles explore the house by herself. Hopefully we will continue to make progress. I don’t have a photo of her yet but hopefully soon.

In the meantime I have visited the hospital several times over the week to visit her owner and let her know Pickles is okay and to let her know we will give her a good home. It is all very sad as our friend doesn’t have much time left. She is also quite alone as family aren’t coming from the mainland.

Of all the times I could have read a book about a death doula. The Dalai Lama says when one needs to learn something a teacher will appear. I have always believed this as it has been true for me several times in my life.

But it is not all gloom and doom. On Thursday I spent a lovely lunch at a popular pub with 12 friends from my senior group. Then in the evening three of us saw the Jane Austen play Emma that was excellent. I also had coffee with a friend one morning and we talked about everything life related and then watching a couple of hilarious comedians on Instagram! I believe one needs to create a balance when sad events happen because laughter seems to blot out tears. I am journaling this week too. Thoughts in one journal and fun things in my junk journal.

That brings you up to date on another week so stay tuned. Keep that balance in your life too. Sometimes you need to work at it.

Stay sane🌻🌻🌻

Always look for the unique and beauty in the world.

photo PS Parks (travellinpenguin)