There were several Shire ‘Discovering’ pocket pamphlets produced in the late 1960’s on themes ranging from battlefields of Britain, brass rubbing, windmills, and specific counties such as Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire.

The Inn Signs study is a fine excellent example of the general history and thematically headed approach, with chapters on royalty, religion, humorous signage, etc.

The book is inevitably dated given changes in pub ownership and many pub closures since publication. One section provides unintentional humour to modern readers in looking at ‘gay’ signs, which is actually just inn signs featuring happy, jolly people.

It is a very quick book to read through, and half dominated by its central section of black and white photos of various inn signs.

The booklet has a quaint old-fashioned feel, even with its original; retail price of four shillings and sixpence emblazoned on its cover. A neat touch is the back cover presenting the Shire publishing symbol of a tree in the form of an inn sign in its own right.

Today’s inn-sign aficionados are sadly few in numbers, so it is great to see that there were people willing to recognize their value even in the swinging sixties. 

Arthur Chappell

As a future Queen of England Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, definitely needs a Lady In Waiting. That’s somebody to handle all those everyday details a Royal person can’t possibly do for herself. Well, somebody’s got to have a Kleenex handy! In modern terms the best way to describe the job is - she’s a PA.

But hold everything – Pippa’s got her own job! She’s Rear of the Year, Beauty Butt, the Absolute Ass.

And she’s got her own A luster lifestyle. She’s already dumped the boyfriend, enjoyed private dinners with mysterious men – and partied off to Madrid with her ex.  

Pippa doesn’t need to Kate any more.

After their smash hit at the Royal Wedding Pippa and the Ass have moved onto bigger things. Just so long as the butt doesn’t move onto bigger sizes of course – but she’s a Pilate’s fan with the moves to hold that shape.

Before the wedding Pippa was dating Alex Loudon, an old Eton school chum of Prince William, Kate’s husband. See, she was already in there. The Middleton family didn’t spend fortunes on private education for their daughters so they could mix with ordinary people. No way – the sisters had private schooling that cost around $500,000 a year.

But the story is that Alex couldn’t handle the paps who trail Pippa’s ass 24/7. Hey, if you can’t keep up – move on Alex! So Pippa has taken to seeing another old flame.

This one is George Percy, son of the Duke of Northumberland, one of the richest men in England. Land. castles, mansions, hunting, shooting – the real deal. Aristocracy without the hassle of being a Royal. See, Pippa is smart as well as sexy.

So will she take the job of Lady in Waiting? Is she Lady in Waiting material?

More important – is she waiting for Prince Harry, Prince William’s brother to make his move?

He’s younger – and he’s the one who inherited hair – even if it is Red. Harry is the wild one, bit of a skirt chaser but Pippa can handle that.

After all - she is the Ass with Class! Watch this space – and that ass.

History can be a fascinating topic for children to study.  Whilst textbooks and the internet can both be invaluable resources for study that can offer a wealth of information, there is nothing that a child would enjoy more than the opportunity for a field trip regardless of whether they are being home schooled or studying in a mainstream school setting.  A field trip offers a whole new learning experience that can be a valuable tool in grabbing a child’s attention and motivating them to learn about a topic of historical interest. 

The first places to visit are those that are local to you.  Any historical castles or cathedrals in your area can be very interesting to children.  They hold architectural and cultural significance to the local area and the community in which you live. Castles also give the opportunity to discuss issues such as battles and war, whilst a study of a cathedral can provide the backdrop for a discussion about religion in relation to history and historical events.  Places such as these often offer activity sheets or workbooks to be completed on the way around, like an educational treasure hunt.  This will provide you with important resources to use in the teaching of your child.

A visit to ruins can be an interesting outdoor field trip.  It provides the setting not only to discuss the original building or monument, but also scientific topics such as weather erosion.  This is a fieldtrip that is best planned for a dry day. 

Stately homes can be an ideal visit dependant upon the period of history being studied.  Like cathedrals and castles, they offer significance in the area of architectural history as well as social structures throughout different periods. Many stately homes have landscaped gardens which opens the door to topics such as biology and wildlife.  There are also often artworks with historical significance and costume displays that make fascinating talking points.  Most stately homes have a professional who gives a detailed guided tour, so relevant, important and interesting information is being delivered to your child on your behalf.

Museums are another safe bet in terms of history field trips.  Museums come in all shapes and sizes.  You may have a general local museum, a maritime museum, an industrial museum or a toy museum, amongst other varieties.  Each of these has their own attributes that may hold significance dependant upon the topic of study and can lead to interest, discussion and activities that are relevant to other subject areas.

The library can also be a good place to visit as it will increase reference materials and resources that are available to you.  It will give children the opportunity to develop their research skills and to learn how to use the library system.  Each of these skills will have relevance in all other subject areas.  

Indigenous British people are an endangered species! I have traced my family tree back until 1770 (on my mothers side) and I am proud to say I’m 110% British. However what is it like to be British? Well that is a complex issue because no two people are the same regardless of your nationality. There are some stereotypical things written about British people I would like to address.

Britain isn’t covered in fog 24/7 and all the population do not live in London! There are many other cities. Britney Spears couldn’t name any other cities on her recent tour of Britain and every evening at the start of her show she said “Hello London!” and wondered why no one shouted back when she was in Manchester or Liverpool!

British people do not all have cockney accents! I do but that’s because I grew up there in London. British do not like to queue! it’s a lie, we just don’t push in front like many other  people do in other countries I have visited. British citizens do not talk about the British empire! Most people including me cant remember what countries were in the British Empire except it was a lot!

(29% of Britsh citizens cant speak English!)

Britain is part of the European Union but most people hate it! and think the EU bullies countries and it’s a French/German only club! That is why we refused to have the Euro as our currency and we never will. Most British people do have a soft spot for America we are taught to think of America as our big brother even in school. France is our nearest neighbour 22 miles away is all. A large proportion of British people do not like the French but hanker to live there and drink their wine by the gallon!

France is three times the size of Britain and yet Britain has three times the population of France go figure I cant? There are old rumours that British people are cold and useless in bed! I wouldn’t take that as gospel! Not if my experiences are anything to go by British men and women are hot! British men do not wear bowler hats and drive around in Rover cars and carry black umbrellas. We drive the same cars as the rest of the world.

British people do not constantly eat ‘Fish and Chips’ fish is too damn expensive now. The favourite and most eaten dish in British is curry. Britain will never give up the Falkland Isles or (Malvinas) even if we have no use for the islands and there 6,000 miles away! it’s the principle we don’t want Argentina to have them so there!

Britain isn’t full of Medieval Castles we have a few and some are spectacular and take your breath away but you wont bump into a castle at every street corner! Our policemen do not wear pointy hard hats anymore they wear flat caps. You will not find beat-bobbies in Britain the only time you will see a police officer is in a patrol car pulling up motorists for speeding.

When you visit Britain you will not see the Queen I have lived here all my life and have only seen her on TV. Of course my meanderings today are exaggerated to be humorous. The sad fact is the whole world is shrinking. Nations across the globe are losing their nationality and traditions and Britain is no different. We wear tee shirts made in China just like the rest of the world. We eat Argentine beef and there is a MacDonald’s in every town!

We watch American TV shows we drive cars made in Korea and India and Germany. Our car industry folded some time ago. I am not trying to be depressive far from it. I’m just pointing out that most ideas about Britain and other countries is through stereotypes which are hopelessly out dated now. I’m sure Germany is not full of blonde haired large breasted women (shame) and all the men are not drunk at beer festivals and secretly like Hitler!

Not all Americans can ride a horse or shoot a six-gun. There are more states in America than New York and Texas! I hope the stereotypes will change as our world continues to shrink and become more multi cultural.

Lord Banks

Ghostly figures, things moving mysteriously, strange attacks by invisible are witnessed by the world again & again over years. There are believers and non-believers. In spite of that such thoughts are part of society.  There are many haunting places. To mention a few the first one is Changi Beach at Singapore where spirits of thousands of Chinese killed in Second World War are believed to  be crying and screaming.

Ohio University in America has seen people disappearing mysteriously. People who visit the Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan , India  experience anxiety and restlessness. It is said that nobody returns from this place that stays there after dark.

The haunting of the Screaming Tunnel is one of Niagara Falls’ most famous legends.  Stories allege that if one stands in the middle of the dark tunnel at midnight and light a match, the flame  goes out and a girl’s screams  are  heard who was believed to be killed in the tunnel.

Ancient Ram Inn in England built on burial ground has witnessed child sacrifice and murder. Monte Cristo mansion in Australia has seen people experiencing strange ghostly voices, automatic turning on and off of lights. Britain’s number one ghost spot is Highgate Cemetry which looks like straight out of horror movie.

The Whaley House in California has experienced assassination in the house and is believed to be haunted.

The Tower of London is also said to be haunted. In Queen Mary in California , a ship turned into hotel strange sounds like knocking and banging on pipes have been heard by people.

They were very effective,  a lot castles had an enormous amount of food stored  in them
Some castles had farms in the grounds, to help keep the population fed in the case of a siege bigger Castles even had a well inside.

Some castle had up to thousands of peasants living in them, a lot of castles were built on a Motte this was a mound of earth with a flat top and where the excavation of earth to make the motte was would leave a ditch around and was often fill with water, (A mote) this acted as a further defence against the invading forces. And after a time the motes became more and more elaborate and included a drawbridge and portcullis

If a siege didn’t work a castle could be destroyed by digging beneath a wall making a tunnel, then the tunnel would be destroyed and so walls damaging the wall, however the best way of destroying the castle wall was gunpowder and with the introduction of gunpowder, castles proved to be useless. Even the mightiest of castles was no match against the cannon. I have two castle near where I live in the south of England Arundel of which  you can see in the picture and another is Amberley Which is now a Luxury hotel, also within a short drive we have Bodiam and Lewes Castles , Pevensey, Hastings and Herstmonceux pronounced (hers mon sue)

     In Europe, barns are being used as hotels. Guests sleep on beds of fresh hay and are attended by employees in embroidered tunics. These barns can hold up to 60 persons. The more posh end of such establishments offer wine in bed and privacy curtains. Be sure to bring your own sleeping bag and towels, though, they do not provide much other than the hay! But, for the nightly price of 25 dollars you can expect to be spared some amenities.  So, does this sound like your cup of tea? Then check it out the next time you are in the area.

Image via Wikipedia

When everything falls into place, and your are right where you want to be, is that a dream you are living; or is it the hard work you have done over the years that have made this a living dream?

Many people want to live the dream; and yet for so many of us we have lost our dreams. We are so focused on the bills, the kids and the day-to-day hassle of work. You must separate yourself for a few minutes daily, and search your heart to find your dreams.

What is it you strive to achieve, what is it you seek, your searching for. Is your dream related to showing the world your talents, perhaps you would like to become someone of inspiration, whatever your dream what are you doing to achieve it? A singer doesn’t get recognition by singing in the shower; nor does a person make a difference in anyone’s life if they are hiding in the living room. Doing nothing is just as bad as not having a dream at all your actions will demand a response, and it is all up to you.

Many dream of visiting exotic locations, old castles, and museums; attending Operas but without a plan it won’t occur. It takes planning, savings and a true commitment to yourself to make the dream come true.

You need to find your dream and start living it; finding the path that will lead you to you ability to “live your dreams”.

Sometimes a dream may be small, just to teach you how to go get it! 

Losing weight and looking good can be a dream, but that would be somewhat unrealistic; but if you decide to start eating right, dressing more professional, and holding your head up right; looking good will be accomplished and you may be surprised by how making some small changes can truly help this type of dream come true.

Nothing is impossible,

only you can prevent yourself from

“Living a Dream”.

William the Conqueror studded his new kingdom with castles to subdue it.  One of the earliest was the White Tower built at the south west corner of London’s Roman walls.  It was constructed from Normandy stone and painted white.  

It was originally a royal residence and remained so for centuries and remained so for centuries.  The sovereign would often use it a place of refuge during times of unrest and it has even housed a zoo at one time.

 England’s major mint was housed there and it provided comfortable quarters for important state prisoners.  These included the wives and friends of Henry VIII, Lady Jane Grey, Sir Walter Raleigh, the Wizard Earl and many others.  It was used as a prison during the 20th Century.

Tourists can join the Yeoman Warder’s Tours and hear all the traditional tales of pain, passion, treachery and torture of the tower.  The Yeomen or Beefeaters will tell them to watch out for the ravens and tell of the legend that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, both it and the English Monarchy will fall.  They will be told of Colonel Blood’s intrepid attempt to steal the Crown Jewels.

England’s Crown Jewels and Regalia are on display in the Tower.  Each piece is able to reveal stories of the country’s rulers.  The world’s largest cut diamond, Cullinan 1, which weighs just over 530 carats, is in the monarch’s sceptre.

The Tower was mainly a fortress and still displays an impressive collection of historic weapons.  There are frequent displays from the Royal Armouries, including armours that were worn by Henry VIII and Charles I.

Opening times are 9am to 6pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays and 10am to 6pm on Sundays and Mondays, last admission at 5pm from March to October and 9am to 5pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays and 10am to 5pm on Sundays and Mondays, and  the last admission is at 4pm from November to February.  The internal buildings close 30 minutes after the last admission and visits are advised to allow at least two to three hours for their visit.  The Tower is open throughout the year with the exceptions of December 24/26 and New Year’s Day.

Visitors can obtain an extensive choice of meals and other refreshments in the New Armouries Café.  There is a wide range of gifts, including some exclusive products available at the various shops within the Tower.

Tourists can obtain more up to date information on 0870 756 6060.

Leap Castle was built in 1250 in County Offaly by the O’Bannon family. Just like many Irish castles Leap Castle is steeped in rich bloody history with it being at the centre of many battles and has even had its fare share of murders. One of these massacres took place in 1532 during a feud between the O’Carroll family, who lived in the castle at the time and another neighboring clan. This feud caused two brothers within the family to turn against each other. One of these brothers was a priest. One night the priest was hold mass for the family in the castle chapel. While he was praying his brother walked up the alter and plunged his sword into his brothers chest. the priest fell to the floor before dying in front of the his own family. It was not only family members who died in Leap Castle; many people were imprisoned and executed in the castle and within the castle grounds.

During a reconstruction of the castle grounds workers discovered an oubliette; a dungeon that was used to lock people away in order to forget about them. At the bottom of the shaft was a wall of spikes with such a large collection of human bones that it took three cartloads to carry out all of the bodies. But one of the most chilling things found amongst the bones at the bottom of the shaft was a pocket-watch dating to the 1840’s, which rose the question; was the oubliette in use right up until the 19th century?

Leap Castle is reported to be haunted by several ghosts and spirits.  Most of which were brought to light by the misuse of magic by some of the castle’s inhabitants. The most prominent of these ghosts is known as the Elemental. It appears as a small hunched creature and is followed by the stench of a decomposing corpse and the sickening scent of sulphur. The Elemental is a malevolent spirit and is often unpredictable and terrifying.

Charleville Forest Castle

Charleville Castle is a picturesque castle built in the 6th century and it grew further in the 18th century from designs created by the Earl of Charleville. In total it took fourteen years to create the beautiful gothic castle that stands today. Over the centuries the castle has been many battles and wars, most of which were in the protection of Dublin city.

Over the years the owners of the castle have succeeded in awakening the spirits within the castle. Some of these ghosts include invisible children; often heard playing together in what was once the nursery. But they are more than playful noises as they have locked living children into the cupboards of the nursery. People who have spent the night in the castle have been kept awake during the night by the voices of drunken English men who spoke in a form of English which is long lost. The ghost of the Blue Lady is one of the most beautiful yet tragic ghosts that are seen in the castle walls. Her real name was Harriet. She had gone upstairs wearing a blue dress and on the way back down she was playing with one of the children who dared her to slide down the castle banister but she failed and fell to her death. Many visitors to the castle have seen Harriet’s blue ghost sliding on the banister just like she did when she was alive.

Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle was built in the 13th century by the Earl of Ulster and continued to be passed through out generations for hundreds of years. It’s steep protective cliffs and rocks below even claimed one of the ships of the Spanish Armada, the Girona, after it wreaked upon the rocks near the castle. The inhabitants installed one of the cannons from the Girona in the gatehouse before selling the rest of the ships cargo. It was not until the kitchen of the castle collapsed into the sea during a storm that the wife of the owner refused to live there any longer and they left. According to legend only one kitchen servant survived the night which the kitchen collapsed into the sea and that was a small kitchen boy who was hiding in the only corner of the kitchen which did not fall into the ocean.

 The white lady is said to still wander the roofless halls and rooms of Dunluce castle. She is believed to be the daughter of the family that lived in the castle. She fell in love with a young man but her father refused to allow her to marry him so he locked her away in her room. But the couple still made plans to elope, so the girl made herself a wedding dress from her bed sheets, telling anyone who asked that she was making a funeral shroud. When the long awaited night finally came she climbed out of her bed room window but tripped on the hem of her wedding dress and fell to her death.

Another ghost is that of Peter Carey who was the constable of the castle before the job was returned to Sorely Boy by Sir John Perrot. To celebrate his return Sorely Boy hung the misfortunate Carey from the South East Tower.  Peter Carey’s ghost is still seen in the tower in a flowing purple cloak and long dark ponytail.  

Carrickfergus Castle

Carrickfergus Castle was founded in 1185 by Norman adventurers exploring Ireland. One of these adventurers was John de Courcy who had heard a prophecy the Ulster would be conquered by a white knight, riding a white horse and with two golden birds of prey upon his shield. De Courcy was convinced that the prophecy was speaking of him he banded together an army and led a bloody campaign to capture Ulster. Eventually the castle was taken over by King John who made it an English government building for several centuries.

The story of the unlucky ghost of Carrickfergus Castle is unusual. Robert Rainy was a soldier that was stationed at the castle in the 1700’s. he was a man with a wild and bad reputation until he fell in love with a woman called Betsy Baird. He vowed to her that he would give up in restless wild ways if she married him and she accepted his proposal. What Rainy did not know was that Betsy was involved with the brother of his commanding officer. When Rainy discovered that Betsy was unfaithful he flew into an uncontrollable rage and when he ran into his fiancées lover he ran him through with his sword. After the murder Rainy simply re-sheathed his weapon before returning to his quarters and washing the blood from his sword. Stationed at the same castle was a soldier called Timothy Lavery who looked almost identical to Robert Rainey. Before the soldier that Rainy murdered died he was able to tell his brother what happened but he insisted that Lavery, not Rainy was his attacker. Unlucky for Lavery he was tried and sentenced to death for the murder of the commander, despite his pleas of innocence. It is rumoured that as the noose was put around Lavery’s neck that he vowed to haunt the castle forever. Rainey confessed to the truth many years later but still Timothy Lavery’s ghost continues to hover around the old well inside the castle grounds.