Well, it is done and delivered - 'Monks Meals & What We Eat Now'. A successful partnership between Norfolk Adult Education and Norwich Cathedral Community Learning!
There is a principle of English law that says that 'no man [sic] shall be a judge in his own case', but from where I was, it felt like a really positive experience. The verbal feedback I received confirmed this impression. Without overdoing my extensive bank of terrible puns, one thing that came across from participants was a real appetite for this kind of experience. Glen and I are interested in exploring further our work together in this field, and I hope that we can do some more of this in the future. If anyone who was there reads this, Glen and I would like to say what a fantastic group you were to work with/alongside (I use the latter word advisedly!) - MANY THANKS!
I am not sure of how many attended at this point, but it must have been about thirty, which is great. The weather was a bit chilly at times, but at least it wasn't raining. When the new Hostelry building opens next year we'll have the option of ending in a nice warm room. On the other hand, I believe in the power of presence. The authenticity of the blocked door is powerful once imaginations are activated. Perhaps if we shivered a little as we considered the near absence of heating in the cathedral, we shiver alongside the memory of those who have passed/past before us.
I enjoyed working alongside Glen very much - not everyone is so easy to work alongside (Little & Large, as some wag commented afterwards ;-) ). I think that bringing the historical and the nutritional perspectives together in this way is very interesting.
Anyway, having talked about all that food I'm flippin' hungry. However, having reflected on the effects of obesity on the medieval monks, I am reminded of the words on the grave of a Norwich man, Joseph Jones, who died in the 1700s. Here's his epitaph;
Here lie the bones of Joseph Jones
Who ate whilst he was able
But once overfed he dropped down dead
And fell beneath the table.
3 comments:
I just wanted to explain the grimmace on my face in the picture at the top of the post. In the background is the lavatorium, where the medieval monks would wash their hands before going into the Refectory for their meals. However, as I was explaining as the shot was taken, so far as we know there was no bathhouse in the cathedral, and many experts speculate that the medieval monks rarely changed their underwear (see, for instance, Barbara Harvey, 'Living & Dying in Medieval England')
Wasn't that what perfume was invented for, to cover the smell of unwashed bodies and clothing?? Madeleine.
Could well be the case Madeleine - to be honest I don't know. Seems as good a reason as any though!
~ Colin
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