Friday July 26th 2019

Image of a 2nd ed of the Scottish Tourist
from Richard Wells Antiquarian Bookshop

Days can be really exciting for me. I like it when a day evolves mysteriously from nothing.  Through my reading and research into Anne Lister, I recently stumbled across a blogsite, which while eclectic in its entries from Anne Listers diaries is currently focusing on Lister's tour of Scotland in 1828. On that tour, she was accompanied by her lover Sibella Mclean. I wrote about this a few days ago. Well today I was sent a link to the travel journal Anne reads and mentions in her diaries - The Scottish Tourist - first published in 1825. I mention this as later I received a lovely email from someone who has recently published a paper on certain aspects of this tour, after I'd written asking a question. As a result I've been scribbling down brief notes today as I'm at work. But the more I delve into the extraordinary world of Anne Lister, the more extraordinary it becomes, and the more I wish I could go back 200 years and over a mutton chop and some potatoes and a glass of Madeira, slippers on, have a good old chat.