MoaT’s Top Posts of 2019

For Memoir’s of a Teapot’s first post of 2020 I thought I’d reminisce a little and look back at the posts of 2019. Memoirs of a Teapot (MoaT) is a history blog after all so it’s only right to dwell on the year past and reflect! So, this post counts down the Top 10 Posts of 2019 according to which were read the most by you, my readers. I hope you enjoy reminiscing with me and have the opportunity to catch up on posts that you missed during the hubbub of the year.

Top Posts of 2019 from Ten to One

Number 10 – Roman Domus 3D Animation Lesson Ideas

Are you a high school history teacher teaching ancient Rome? This post is for you! It includes links to two virtual reconstructions of ancient Roman houses and ideas for using them to teach this historical content and source criticism. This post has been brewing in my drafts folder for well over a year and at the end of 2019 I decided that it was high time to finish it! I hope it has been useful for all those that read it into the Top 10 posts.

Number 9 – Songs of Home I

Songs of Home was a fantastic exhibition about Australian music held at the Museum of Sydney in August-November 2019. Its draw card was the visitors’ opportunity to listen to music while inspecting the objects on display and reading about the historical context of the musical tracks. I play the piano and have listened to a lot of classical music in the past so I just loved this exhibition. I think it’s easy for us to forget that the past was as noisy and music filled as it is today. For me, the auditory aspect of this exhibition brought the past to life in a new way.

Number 8 – Memoirs of a History Blogger I

This blog post is the first in a ‘behind the blog’ series. I have written three to date and I really enjoy putting them together. In this post I chatted about some difficulties involved in blogging, listening to history podcasts, and some new things I’d learnt about the Arthurian legend and thieving medieval bakers. I’m so glad this post had a good reception and I will continue to write a new edition every couple of months.

Number 7 – Camden Park House

Camden Park House is a stunning piece of Australian history with a past and a present. John and Elizabeth Macarthur were its first owners and their descendants still live there today. Visiting Camden Park House is also one of my personal 2019 highlights as I’ve been dreaming of visiting for several years now. I’ve finally been and the house and gardens doesn’t disappoint. I highly recommend visiting it yourself!

Number 6 – St Anne’s Church Ryde

I attended a wedding last year at St Anne’s Church Ryde and was happily surprised to find one of the earliest colonial churches still extant. Convicts have been buried in it’s churchyard and even the ‘discoverer’ of the Granny Smith Apple. If you’re interested in convict history or early colonial settlements then this is a great site to visit.

Number 5 – History Podcasts I’m Loving

In 2019 I started listening to podcasts. A lot. I can’t quite believe that I haven’t looked into the world of podcasts before now! To date I have subscribed to a variety of them and listen to a good handful every week. I love to learn and there are just so many great podcasts out there. This post includes five history based podcasts that I recommend. I will probably do another post like this in 2020, since I’ve found several more since I published this blog post! You can also check out my Memoirs of a History Blogger series; in each one I recommend a history podcast that I like.

Number 4 – Memoirs of a History Blogger II

Number 4 is the second instalment in my new Behind the Blog series ‘Memoirs of a History Blogger’. In Part II, I shared about my trip to Melbourne, some books I’ve been reading, and of course, I recommended a history podcast. You can also check out Part III if you haven’t read it yet!

Number 3 – Highlights from Camden Park House

In this post I wrote about my favourite things about Camden Park House; the objects, rooms, gardens, and the Open Weekend atmosphere. So if you never manage to get there, you’ll still be able to share in the visit! I am hoping to visit more Australian historic houses in 2020 and am looking forward to sharing them with you.

Number 2 – B is for Brooch Part II

B is for Brooch Part II is the latest instalment in my Historical Objects A-Z series. I haven’t posted another since but I promise I haven’t forgotten about it. I know at least one reader who is curious as to exactly how I’m going to find an object for each letter of the alphabet. I’m not sure I will be able to but I am determined to try! The next instalment in the series will arrive early in 2020. B is for Brooch Part II showcases two lovely brooches once worn by an older family member of mine.

Number 1 – Elizabeth Macarthur: Life at the Edge of the World

I’m glad that there has been so much interest shown in this book. I really recommend it for insight into a fascinating and pioneering woman of the 18th-19th century. I’m also fairly certain this post is one of my first book reviews on Memoirs of a Teapot. I have always loved reading, but in the last few years I haven’t found the time to read as much as I used to. But from 2019 onward, I intend to use my blog to encourage myself to read. I also plan to post more reviews on historical fiction and non-fiction books in 2020.

So that’s it for 2019! I’ve looked back at Memoirs of a Teapot’s top posts of 2019 and now I can plan content for 2020. I hope you’ve enjoyed remembering past posts with me and have been able to catch up on the ones you missed. Please feel free to leave me ideas for future posts in the comments and let me know your favourite 2019 post!