Jen Gunter Instagram – Photo drop from my UK tour. Didn’t expect to see the Tardis at the BBC! And being on Women’s Hour was such a thrill. My mother never thought much of what I did, meaning “why do they want to listen to you” was a common refrain. I never told her about my specialty (she thought it was awful to be a gynecologist) or my writing because it’s hard to get put down over and over again, and just easier to present an artificial landscape of one’s life. She was aghast that I was publishing a book called The Vagina Bible (this was back in 2019, shortly before she died). “That’s not nice.” She said. Apparently, I didn’t do anything “nice” for women’s health. But by God did that woman worship the BBC, especially BBC radio. As far as she was concerned, it went from God’s lips to the BBC radio. If she were alive to hear that I was on BBC radio, I don’t know how she would have coped! Would have truly rocked her world order! Also loved the National Portrait Gallery. We did a greatest hits tour, and hearing the experts talk about the exhibits never disappoints. The tour started in a room that was floor to ceiling gorgeous paintings, and we were told this was a typical “salon hang” (of the 1700/early 1800s I assume). It was important for artists to have their work displayed this way in salons, and they often had amazing self-portraits on display to show off their skills. It was liked to being the Instagram of the day! I loved the unrestored portrait of the three Brontë sisters. Apparently, it was found folded up and stashed away and there was a big discussion about restoring it, and I do like they left it as is. It seems much more Brontë-esque, if you know what I mean. And of course the Tudor room. It’s really stunning to see the original of a portrait that you have seen reproduced over and over again. And it always makes me think of those poor wives and how they were but pawns in the system. And the portrait of Shakespeare. Apparently, someone added extra hair and facial hair along the way. The gallery is 90% sure it’s old William, but not 100%. Which makes the mischievous glint captured by the artist all the better!