Welcome to February - let spring begin!
The snow in Berlin has begun to thaw although we are set to have another week - or more - of sub-zero temperatures. Predictions of some pretty heavy gales and more snow resulted in weather alerts I am always informed of by my Dad who lives more than 300 miles away in Cologne but who is always worried about his son not knowing about these sorts of things. 🥰
As mentioned elsewhere I am in the process of getting my move organised - booking a van, putting in an order to cordon off of a parking spot for that van in front of my house, boxing and wrapping material, getting rid of old stuff and get it to the tip/dump etc. Fun, fun, fun!
I am really looking forward to moving. It may not be the smartest move to do so during a worldwide pandemic but if we all used this unfortunate series of events as an excuse not to do these things we would not get anywhere; that is how I feel about my personal situation. I am well aware things are quite different to many other people not as fortunate as me in this regard.
I am behind on some of the pledges but I am working on getting these matters up to speed - my apologies!
All projects mentioned in the last couple of weeks are being worked on and with the latest Tolkien MeMe I have also started the Hobbit Stage Adaptations' series. Boy, there is so much material on this, the world over, it is just plain hilarious.
On the LotR musical in Berlin: I have found out that one of the actors actually did a book on the desaster this thing was. I am well aware that his description will be biased by his personal experience but I am looking forward to checking back on some of the basic info and have ordered it already. This is going to be so much fun. 😂
Thorsten Bonsch, the LEGO wiz, was so kind as to contact me so I will be working with him on an interview for thetolkienist.com (Opens in a new window).
My research on Tolkien's Desk has found its way into a biography of one of the most influential record company owners and band managers of the 70s, Tony Stratton Smith. It is now on pre-order (Opens in a new window).
You may remember Fingolfin's Findings XIII (Opens in a new window) in which photos of the auction in 1972 were made available by an Oxford database? Chris Groom, author of Strat! The Charismatic Life And Times Of Tony Stratton Smith, has informed me that he had the opportunity of adding some of those pictures at the last minute with his book when I told him about my research - so thank you, my patrons, for being part of this adventure without which this would not have happened! 😍
The Tolkienist on Patreon - so far
Tolkien & Pratchett: A Tale of Two Great Authors (Opens in a new window)
Revisited: Does Albus Dumbledore have anything to do with Tolkien? (Opens in a new window)
Patreon World Exclusive: News on Tolkien's favourite tree, the Pinus Nigra (Opens in a new window)
A quick note: Facts that aren't facts and "The One Ring Explained" - again (Opens in a new window)
The Travelling Tolkienist: Coming back from COVID-19 at the Lower Rhine Regulars' Table (Opens in a new window)
Did you know that one of the Most Favourite Fake Tolkien Quotes comes from a book the author of which tried to have all of its copies destroyed? (Opens in a new window)
Lord of the Rings? Lord of the Awards! (WIP) (Opens in a new window)
"Mr. Bakshi says ..." (Opens in a new window)
#Tolk(ien)tober is happening (Opens in a new window)
The TIME 100 Best Fantasy Books of all time (Opens in a new window)
Not a Tolkien quote: Thirteen Goodreads Fails (Opens in a new window)
"Shut up and take my money, Gandalf": Lord of the Merchandise (Opens in a new window)
Background information on the Tolkien Trust (Opens in a new window)
German AFOL Thorsten Bonsch takes you through "The Hobbit" (Opens in a new window)
Tolkien Memorial (Opens in a new window) Plaque & Sculpture installation at Pembroke
Mittilagart Messenger
Monthly #1 (Opens in a new window).
The Tolkienist's Library
Work in Progress (1) (Opens in a new window)
Work in Progress (2) (Opens in a new window)
Fingolfin's Findings
I (Opens in a new window) : II (Opens in a new window) : III (Opens in a new window) : IV (Opens in a new window) : V (Opens in a new window)
VI (Opens in a new window) : VII (Opens in a new window) : VIII (Opens in a new window) : IX (Opens in a new window) : X (Opens in a new window)
XI (Opens in a new window) : XII (Opens in a new window) : XIII (Opens in a new window) :
Tolkien Memes
Introduction (Opens in a new window)
#1. The Tolkien Project Week (Opens in a new window)
#3. "The Lord of the Rings" - our favourite cast of 1995 (Opens in a new window)
#5. My first ever talk at Oxonmoot in 2001 (Opens in a new window).
#6. "Der kleine Hobbit" at the Balver Höhle, 1996 (Opens in a new window).
Boromir's Bloggish Bebotherments
Introduction & poll (Opens in a new window)
Part 1 (Opens in a new window)
Part 2 (Opens in a new window)
Lost to the Ages
Middle-earth Furniture (UK) (Opens in a new window)
Looking back
A quick hi - and the projects I am working on. (Opens in a new window)
January 3rd - Tolkien Birthday Toast (Opens in a new window).
Welcome to December (Opens in a new window).
Welcome to November (Opens in a new window).
Welcome to #Tolktober (Opens in a new window).
Thank you ever so much! (Opens in a new window)
First month of many: A visit to Cecilienhof for a moment of quiet (Opens in a new window)
Let's start the second half of 2020 with a thank you! (Opens in a new window)
Welcome to August 2020! (Opens in a new window)
A quick hi (on the road again) (Opens in a new window)
Artists' Alley
001: Anke Eissmann (Opens in a new window)
Picture credits: all (c) Marcel Aubron-Bülles, taken at Alt-Tempelhof in Berlin, January 2021.
This post was originally published (Opens in a new window) on Feb 5, 2021.
Please not that the welcoming posts will not have Steady-corrected links but will still link to Patreon.
