In 1886 the British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone was described as an ’old man in a hurry’ as he toiled without success to get his Irish Home Rule Bill through Parliament. Gladstone duly lost power but only finally retired in 1894, after another spell as Prime Minister and at the ripe age of 85.
While still some time off that milestone myself, recently I’ve been finding it increasingly easy to sympathise with Gladstone’s predicament. Two or three unfinished databases, a half-researched book project, a handful of looming review deadlines all daily stare at me accusingly as they jostle for attention. I’m forced to confront some decisions about the best use of my time if any of them are ever going to be completed.
In consequence I’ve decided to take a break and roll back on the regular blogging on this site. The blogs have now reached 287 in number, but I fear that they are getting a bit stale and uninspiring. So, drum roll off stage, the regular blogs that have appeared here metronomically since October 2019 will cease. Blogs will re-appear at some point but for the moment they will be unpredictable.
The existing blogs will obviously remain on the site as will the other resources. Any readers who drift through in an idle moment on the internet are very welcome to send me any questions or post comments on any of the material. Who knows, any of these could well pique my flagging enthusiasm and stimulate the occasional blog in response.
But for the next few months, this blog will be silent as I take a break to ponder and prioritise. That’s not to say the eerie and echoing silence may not be punctuated by the odd foray into the history of a surname triggered by a reader or an extract from one of my publications, brazenly designed to elicit some sales.
Have a good summer and thanks for your support.
Cornish studies resources 
Oh my goodness, that is very disappointing news for your readership, devoted in my case. I love seeing your blogs pop up and read them immediately. They are so diverse – that is the amazing bit, and so fascinating too, and beautifully written.
Good luck with your other tasks and hope you will re-emerge with a new book. I will definitely buy the Poldark one. In the meantime, hope you have a chance for happy wandering out of doors, too, and no work at all!!
Well done and with best wishes
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Thank you for your wide-ranging blog which is of interest to me as I start to research my family history.
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Thanks for the blog. I hope you manage to meet the multiple deadlines. I have enjoyed the daily posts but I can see that they involve time and effort.
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Thank you. Its been awesome 👌
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This is such a rich resource, Bernard, thank you for the time and effort you give it. A break and time to ponder are well-deserved. (And I’ll be buying the book when my own schedule permits me time to read it!)
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As with all such things you don’t really know what you have until it is gone and I will miss those notifications popping up in my email and whisking me off to another fascinating aspect of Cornish history. Before you disappear entirely I will try to formulate a question on migrants to Cornwall relating to my paternal surname (Basher) which you included in your book. As I will need to get the reference together I will comment under your relevant post. Gromercy dhywgh!
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I hope your pondering and prioritising is productive. I will miss your posts but have plenty to catch up in your archive. Thank you for your contributions.
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Merastahwi Bernard – your regular posts have been much appreciated and have been an oasis in the desert of mainstream media anglocentric fluff. Best wishes for a productive spell and hopefully we’ll see you on the other side.
Oll an gwella
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