So the account of the practice sounds legit, but the interpretation is more tricky. It's just vanishingly unlikely that pagan ritual practices survive in Ireland given how long it's been Christianised; it's wishful thinking

The difficulty here is the term 'blood sacrifice'; that could be what's going on, but other interpretations are possible. For instance, in some parts of the world it's normal to slaughter chickens in church at the offertory of the Mass - not as sacrifice but because people give animals, not money

It’s an easy spiral from here to asking what counts as ‘U’ and ‘non-U’, at least according to the Mitfords

I very much hope so, although it’s something I have no control over

Thank you!

The one I learnt is never buy a glass paperweight because solid glass looks like liquid under airport scanners

If you find a whistle there… we’ll, you know what not to do

I do not recommend this btw

I’ve only ever done a writing retreat once - I had to get through some very dense chapters on monastic life in the 12th and 13th centuries; so of course I went to stay at a monastery, and got up for Vigils at 2.30am

This has resurfaced the awful fever dream (tho it actually happened) of Opik considering running for President of Estonia

No simulation could ever manage to sound as stilted and awkward as my dad does on the phone

Oh no is it Martock? England's most Klingon village

Being able to carry off a big coat is the main qualification, tho

I am from southern England, if a stranger smiles at me unprompted my default assumption is that they are a serial killer