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GIP -- my dead historical boyfriend! It's an actual photograph. I was suspicious at first given that Wellington died in 1852 and I thought that might be too early for photography, but it had been invented, so I am increasingly inclined to trust the caption that came with the picture.

I ::heart:: my dead historical boyfriend. His wife didn't understand him the way I do.

In other news, have survived my first week. Just barely. I feel as though I'm beginning to get the hang of things, a little, although that might be wishful thinking brought about by a day's distance.

Today, I spent a very restful and enjoyable time with the_oscar_cat and lazlet at the latter's house, watching a variety of pretty boys doing a variety of interesting things, including but not limited to: killing demons, riding bikes, getting head injuries and travelling back in time, and being smart. Fantastic.

Tomorrow, I am committed to giving the Frequently Lost British Historian's Walking Tour of London to a friend of mine from Canada who also got a teaching job in London. Lots of fun.

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A brief historical note:

Matches were invented in 1827 by John Walker, a pharmacist. He called them "sulphuretted peroxide strikeables" and his version of them were a yard long. Not quite as helpful as they could be. Fortunately, his invention was very quickly stolen by Samuel Jones of the Strand, who first sold it as a "Lucifer" in 1829.

Lucifer matches stuck around for a while. There was a British song through both World Wars that went:

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile.
While you've got a Lucifer to light your fag, smile, boys, that's the style.

Lucifer matches, however, contained poisonous phosphorus and a sugar preservative and several children died a year from sucking on them.

So now you know.