PICKWICK TYMES

 

OLDE HUMPHREY'S OBSERVATIONS
MAY 1942

I SAT IN THE GARDEN OF THE OLD CHAPTER HOUSE AT HEREFORD CATHEDRAL ONE SUMMERS MORNING OBSERVING ALL ABOUT, BUTTERFLIES FLITTED AMONG THE ROSES, BEES SNUFFED AT LAVENDER, A ROBIN INVESTIGATED THE RIPENING SEEDS OF A LABURNUM TREE 'GOLDEN CHAIN' TREE THEY CALL IT DOWN HERE, TWO EVACUEE CHILDREN WANDERED INTO THE GARDEN, 'COO, LOOK AT THEM FLOWERS, SAY, MISTER, WHAT'D YOU CALL'S THEM YELLER FLOWERS?', THE ELDER GIRL ASKED ME. "THEY'RE ROSES", I TOLD HER, 'THOUGHT ROSES WUS ALL PINK, MY NAMES ROSE', SHE SAID 'AND YOUR SISTER?' I ASKED. 'VIOLET ER NAME, VIOLET, ANY VIOLETS ERE, MISTER'? 'NONE HERE', I TOLD HER, 'BUT LOTS OF THEM OUT IN THE FIELDS, P'HAPS SHE'S A WILD VIOLET?' I SUGGESTED. 'SHE'S WILD ALL RIGHT, MIND YERSELF OF THEM STONES; YOU'LL BREAK YER BLINKING NECK', SHE CALLED TO HER SISTER WHO WAS CLAMBERING AMONG THE RUINS 'WOT'S THEM BIG FLOWERS, MISTER?', 'HOLLYHOCKS', I TOLD HER 'OLLYOCKS?', 'THAT'S RIGHT', OLLYOCKS', VIOLET CAME OVER TO JOIN US, 'LOOK AT THEM OLLYOCKS, VIOLET, SAME COLOUR AS YOUR DRESS WAS'. OUR CONVERSATION WAS INTERRUPTED BY AN ELDERLY LADY AND A YOUNGER COMPANION WHO PASSED BY 'LOOK AT THAT LAVENDER', SAID THE YOUNGER OF THE TWO WITH ENTHUSIASM, 'I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE CARVINGS IN THE BISHOP'S CLOISTER', SAID THE ELDERLY ONE, 'ITS HEAVENLY', SIGHED THE YOUNGER, AS SHE WAS LED AWAY. ROSE AND VIOLET CAME BACK TO ME 'SEE WOT I GOT 'ERE', SAID ROSE, 'A RED BEETLE', 'ITS A LADYBIRD', I TOLD HER 'TISN'T A BIRD,' SHE SAID SCORNFULLY, 'ITS A BEETLE, JUST THEN THE LADYBIRD OPENED ITS WINGS AND FLEW AWAY, 'E'S RIGHT, IT IS A BIRD', SAID VIOLET, 'IT FLIES ALL THE WAY FROM FRANCE', SAID I, 'MY DAD WAS IN FRANCE', SAID ROSE, 'BUT 'E DIDN'T FLY, 'E COME BACK ON A SHIP, SAYS 'E VOMITED ALL THE WAY 'DIDN'T 'E, VI?'.

TWO GIRLS IN W.A.A.F. UNIFORM CAME IN THROUGH THE WEST DOOR, 'AREN'T THEY LOVELY', SAID ONE, THE OTHER BENDING DOWN SMELLING THE BLOSSOMS, A SMILE ENRAPTURING HER SOUL, A SOLDIER WITH HIS GIRL CAME IN AND SAT ON THE SEAT OPPOSITE ME 'PEACEFUL ISN'T IT?' SHE SAID, GLANCING AT EACH OTHER, 'I LOVE FLOWERS' SHE DREAMS, 'WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF EM ONE DAY', HE ANSWERED, 'LUPINES AND DELPHINIUMS?' SHE ASKED, 'SACKS OF EM'.

A MIDDLE AGED MAN CAME AND SAT ON THE BENCH BESIDE ME, BEING SHABBILY DRESSED, HAVING A BEARD, I SUPPOSE I MYSELF HAVING A BEARD A MATURA TRUST WAS FORMED, 'QUEER WEATHER', SAID HE. I AGREED, 'FOR THE TIME O' YEAR I AGREEING ALSO. HE LISTENED TO THE RINGING OF THE BIRDS, AS HE CALLED IT, 'CHURCH YARD NICE', 'IF YOU WANT RELIGION TODAY, GO TO THE OSPITAL, ANGELS IN THEIR, NOT IN HEAVEN'. I AGREED THEIR VERY KIND, 'KIND' SAID HE, 'JUST BEEN THERE, 'WHERE WERE YOU I ASKED?' 'LONDON WESTMINSTER, NOT FOR FROM OUSES 'O PARLIMENT, A NEW ONE, OLDE OSPITAL BOMBED!, MERCHANT NAVY, ON CONVOY TOOK IN OIL, LOT BETTER NOT RIGHT YET THOU'. 'YES THEIR ANGELS THE NURSES MOVING FROM BED TO BED REASSURING, WALKING THE WARDS AT NIGHT', SAID HE WHISPERING, HE GOT UP SHOOK HANDS, LEAVING BY THE EAST GATE, BEFORE I WENT INTO THE CHURCH I REMEMBERED HOW WHEN MY FATHER WAS IN HOSPITAL IN LEMNOS IN A.D. 1915, AN AUSTRALIAN NURSE SAT BY HIS BED ALL NIGHT HOLDING HIS HAND, HIS DELIRIUM OR DREAM BEING OF WANDERING THE TRENCHES CEASELESSLY WHICH WERE ALWAYS EMPTY BUT ALWAYS RETURNING TO THE SAME EMPTY DUG OUT, BUT SHE PULLED HIM THROUGH, ALWAYS A SMILE WHEN OPENING HIS EYES.

INSIDE THE CHURCH THE REMAINS OF A BISHOP AND DEAN OF THE CATHEDRAL HAVE BEEN BURIED SIDE BY SIDE, BOTH HAVING BEING KILLED IN A..D. 1691 IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT, NEAR BY ANOTHER MEMORIAL IN THE FLOOR TELLS OF LESS TRAGEDY BUT HAPPINESS OF SIR RICHARD DELABERE A.D. 1514, APPEARS IN BRASS WITH HIS TWO WIVES AND TWENTY ONE CHILDREN, THE OTHER EXTREME OF MARRIED LIFE IS PORTRAYED IN STONE IN THE NORTH TRANSEPT, WHERE A KNIGHT AND HIS LADY ARE SHOWN WITH A DRAWN DAGGER BETWIXT THEM, AND A CAT AND DOG AT THEIR FEET.

MY EMOTIONS INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL WERE AS MIXED AS THE STYLES OF ARCHITECTURE OF WHICH IT IS COMPOSED, IF I WAS ELATED BY THE NOBILITY OF THE NORMAN ARCHES, AND THE SERENITY OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY ARCADING IN THE SOUTH TRANSEPT, I WAS DEPRESSED AS MANY ANOTHER BEFORE ME, BY THE RESTORATIONS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, IF I WAS CHARMED BY THE GRACIOUSNESS AND POETRY OF MY GUIDE, THE VERGER, I WAS DISTRESSED THAT, IN OUR TIME, A MEMORIAL OF BLARING WHITE MARBLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AFFIXED TO THE MELLOW SANDSTONE OF ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL PILLARS OF THE NAVE . IN THE EVENING I WENT BACK TO THE RIVER. THE WATER WAS DARK, THE TREES LINING THE RIVER WERE DARK, WHILE OVERHEAD A TURMOIL OF SLATE GREY CLOUDS BLEW ACROSS A WESTERN SKY OF IVORY WHITENESS, I LIT MY PIPE.

A KNIGHTS ERRAND

ORDERLY FREE ELECTIONS, WITH A VOTE FOR EVERYONE OVER AN AGE OF CONSENT, WAS A LONG TIME COMING, SINCE MAGNA CARTA, IN THE THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH CENTURIES, FORTY COUNTIES RETURNED TWO KNIGHTS, AND TOWNS TWO BURGESSES, THE SHERIFF HAD THE CASTING VOTE IN EACH COUNTY.

LANDOWNERS WERE USUALLY RETURNED TO PARLIAMENT BEING WEALTHY, ALSO WITH A REPUTATION TO LOOSE WERE LESS LIKELY TO BE CORRUPTED THAN THE TOWN BURGESSES, SOME TOWNS DID NOT BOTHER TO HAVE AN M.P. LIKE PLYMOUTH, WHICH FROM A.D. 1310 TO ABOUT A.D. 1440, NOR DID COVENTRY.

BY HENRY VIII, ELIZABETH THE FIRST 484 M.P's REPRESENTED THE PEOPLE, CROMWELL ATTEMPTED MANY REFORMS, WITH THE RESTORATION OF THE MONARCHY, AND LATER SUCH ANOMALIES AS GATTON, WITH SIX VOTERS RETURNING TWO M.P's, WHILST MANCHESTER , LEEDS, BIRMINGHAM AND SHEFFIELD HAD NO M.P.

IN 1793 A.D. 100 M.P's WERE RETURNED BY 50 BOROUGHS, WITH A TOTAL ELECTORATE OF 1,400, CORRUPTION WAS RIFE, AND THESE BOROUGHS FULLY DESERVED THE TITLE "ROTTEN BOROUGHS", ALL THE LAWS PASSED TO PUNISH COLLUSION WERE NOT ENFORCED, NOT UNTIL A.D. 1830 WHEN REFORM WAS CALLED FOR BY THE PEOPLE, THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE NATION; WERE RESOLVED TO PUT MATTERS RIGHT. THE GREAT REFORM ACT OF A.D. 1832 REDISTRIBUTED SEATS ACCORDING TO POPULATION, FIFTY SIX ROTTEN BOROUGHS WERE ABOLISHED, ALSO ANYONE PAYING MORE THAT £10.00 RENT A YEAR, OR £50.00 A YEAR FOR A LEASE, BY THIS ONE ACT THE VOTING POPULATION INCREASED BY 600,000.

HOUSE OF COMMONS SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE, WITH M.P's, THE THEN NEWSPAPERS EXCLAIMED, "MUSICAL CHAIRS", ANOTHER REFORM ACT, SPONSORED BY THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT IN A.D. 1867, WIDENED THE FRANCHISE FURTHER.

NEXT CAME THE FRANCHISE ACT OF A.D. 1884 WHICH BROUGHT THE VOTING -POPULATION TO MORE THAN FIVE MILLION, BUT STILL WOMEN AD NO VOTE, THE OUTCOME WAS A MILITANT SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT, WOMEN DEMONSTRATED, OFTEN LEADING TO VIOLENCE, CHAINING THEMSELVES TO RAILINGS AT WESTMINSTER, ONE FLUNG HERSELF TO DEATH UNDER THE HOOFS OF A RACEHORSE. WITH THE ADVENT OF THE GREAT WAR, JOBS ONCE THE PROVINCE OF MEN i.e. THE ARMAMENTS INDUSTRY Etc, AT CONCLUSION OF THIS WAR, NO GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE REFUSED WOMEN THE VOTE. IN A.D. 1918 THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT GAVE THE VOTE TO WOMEN OF THIRTY AND OVER, TEN YEARS LATER THE AGE WAS REDUCED TO TWENTY-ONE, AND UNIVERSAL ADULT SUFFERANCE WAS A REALITY.

ANOTHER ELECTORAL REFORM IN A.D. 1948 REDISTRIBUTED SEATS AND ABOLISHED THE UNIVERSITY VOTE AND THE BUSINESS PREMISES VOTE, ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, HAD BROUGHT COMPLETE EQUALITY TO ALL ELECTOR'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.

RHYMES OF OLDE ENGLAND

YANKEE DOODLE CAME TO TOWN
RIDING ON A PONY,
THEY STRUCK A FEATHER IN HIS CAP
AND CALLED HIM MACARONI!

THE ABOVE TUNE WAS COMPOSED IN ENGLAND AROUND AD 1740, LONDON WHERE A 'MACARONI CLUB' WAS ESTABLISHED BY GENTLEMEN WHO HAD BEEN ON HE GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE, BRINGING WITH THEM THIS NEW FANGLED 'MACARONI' FOOD. THE MEMBERS WERE NOTED FOR THEIR EXTROVERT ATTIRE WITH MANNER TO MATCH, GAMBLING, DUELLING, INSOLENT TO NONE MEMBERS AND FOPPISH BEHAVIOUR.

IN THE ENGLISH COLONIES OF NORTH AMERICA IT WAS LATER TRANSPOSED AND ADOPTED BY THE BRITISH TROOPS, YANKEE DEVELOPED FROM THE WORD USED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS TRIBE TO DESCRIBE THE ENGLISH, OR "ANGLAIS", A DOODLE MEANT A TUNE PLAYED ON A FLUTE.

THE FEATHER IN HIS CAP, IS DERIVED FROM THE RED INDIAN CUSTOM OF ADDING A FEATHER TO HIS HEADGEAR FOR EVERY ENEMY SLAIN.

HALIDON HILL

IT WAS AT THIS MOMENT OF TIME - ON A SUMMER'S MORN IN 1333 - THAT A SCOTTISH ARMY EXPERIENCED WHAT THE FRENCH WERE TO ENDURE FOR THE NEXT THREE GENERATIONS - DISCIPLINED ARCHERS AND MEN-AT-ARMS UNDER THEIR YOUNG PLANTAGENET KING.

AS THE SCOTTISH PIKEMEN IN THEIR DENSE SCHILTROMS AND THE MOUNTED KNIGHTS MOVED FORWARD ACROSS THE MARSHY GROUND AT THE FOOT OF THE HILL, THEY SUDDENLY CAME INTO RANGE OF THE ENGLISH ARCHERS.
THOUGH HUNDREDS FELL AS THE SHOWER OF STEEL TIPPED ARROWS STRUCK HOME, RECALLING THEIR FATHERS TRIUMPHS (BANNOCKBURN) THEY PRESSED STUBBORNLY ON. LOWERING THEIR HEAD AGAINST THIS BLINDING HAIL AND CLOSING THEIR RANKS THEY INSTINCTIVELY EDGED AWAY FORM THE ENGLISH ARCHERS ON EITHER SIDE AND STARTED TO CLIMB THE HILL. PACKED TOGETHER 'TILL THEY WERE ALMOST SUFFOCATED, DRIVEN AND TORMENTED BY THE SHOOTING OF THE ENGLISH ARCHERS AND THE MASSED VOLLEYS FROM THE FORMATIONS THAT THE ARCHERS WITHDREW EVERY TIME THEY WERE ATTACKED. THE SCOTS STUMBLED UP THE HILL TO THE WAITING LINE OF ENGLISH ARMOUR AND THE ONE PLACE WHERE NO ARROWS FELL. WHEN, BREATHLESS FROM THE ASCENT, THE SURVIVORS REACHED THAT HEDGE OF LEVELLED LANCES, THE KNIGHTS AND MEN-AT-ARMS, FRESH AND EAGER FOR THE FRAY, STARTED TO HACK AT HEM WITH GREAT SWORDS AND BATTLEAXES, FORCING TEM DOWN THE SLOPE WERE THEY COME ONCE MORE INTO THAT TERRIBLE ENFILADING HAIL.

THE SCOTS COULD ENDURE NO MORE THE ENGLISH ARROWS AND BROKE, THE ENGLISH KNIGHTS PURSUED THEM ACROSS THE ROLLING BERWICKSHIRE HILLS UNTIL NIGHTFALL "FELLING THE WRETCHES" IN THE LANERCOST CHRONICLER'S WORDS, "WITH IRON SHOD MACES", THE REGENT HIMSELF WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED AND TAKEN PRISONER, AND SIX EARLS WERE LEFT DEAD ON THE FIELD.

ALTOGETHER SEVENTY SCOTS LORDS AND FIVE HUNDRED KNIGHTS AND SQUIRES FELL, AND ALMOST THE ENTIRE INFANTRY. THE ENGLISH LOST ONE KNIGHT, ONE MAN-AT-ARMS AND TWELVE ARCHERS. IN A SINGLE MORNING THE PATIENT WORK OF THIRTY YEARS HAD BEEN UNDONE AND THE BRUCE'S SPIDERS THREAD HAD BEEN SHOT THROUGH BY ENGLISH DISCIPLINE AND THE "GREY GOOSE FEATHER".

NO WARRING GUNS WERE THEN IN USE
THEY DREAMT OF NO SUCH THING!
OUR ENGLISHMEN IN FIGHT DID USE
THE GALLANT GREY GOOSE WING!

AND WITH THE GALLANT GREY GOOSE WING
THEY SHEW'D TO THEM SUCH PLAY
THAT MORE THEIR HORSES KICK AND FLING
AND DOWN THEIR RIDER LAY.
(LANERCOST CHRONICLES)

CHANTED BY THE ENGLISH ARCHERS AFTER THE BATTLE OF HALIDON HILL....
"AND WITH THE GREY GOOSE WING
"SUCH SPORT NOW SHOW AS YOU WOULD DO
"IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING!".

"OBSERVATION" ON THE CRACKING OF BONES

BY GEORGE SEBASTIAN JOLLY
FROM THE EPHEMEREDES OF A.D. 1648

A YOUNG WOMAN, BETWIXT EIGHTEEN AND NINETEEN YEARS OLD, IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS ENJOYING A GOOD STATE OF HEALTH, COULD NOT WALK OR PERFORM THE LEAST MOTION OF HER FEET, WITHOUT HEARING, TO HER GREAT ASTONISHMENT AND WITH A SORT OF TERROR, A NOISE OF CRACKING BY HER KNEES, AS IF THE HEADS OF THE BONES STRUCK RUDELY AND NAKED UPON ONE ANOTHER. THIS KNOCKING NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD WITH DISTINCTION BY OTHERS, WHO MAKE COMMENT! THE SAID WOMAN WAS IN NO DISTRESS (PAIN), SHE ACQUITTED HERSELF WELL OF ALL HER FUNCTIONS; THIS SCORBUTIC AILMENT IMPRISONS THE SAID PERSON, SOME HAVE BEEN OBSERVED LYING DOWN AND THEIR VERTEBRAE CLICKING WHEN THEY HAVE MOTION; THE PATIENTS AFFECTED ARE MUCH TO THEIR DISDAIN AFEARED TO MOTION.

WE MAY REASON THE SAID CAUSE OF THIS ALARMING CONDITION OR SYMPTOM IS LOSS OF LUBRICATION OF SAID BONES, THE MEMBRANOUS AND LIGAMENTOUS PARTS OF ARTICULATION ARE THUS DESTROYED BY FRICTION; IT IS OBSERVED THAT THIS CONDITION IS NOT IN EVIDENCE IN THIN PEOPLE; THE DRYNESS OF BONES AND CONDITION OF MARROW NOT BEING REPLENISHED BY BLOOD FLOW TO INVIGORATE SAID TISSUES, THE MINUTE PORES BE RESTRICTED BY A VICE IN THE BLOOD, WHICH BEING DEFICIENT IN THIS ELEMENT OF MEDUALLY LIQUOR DO CAUSE BONES TO CRACK AS HAPPENS TO COACH AND WAGON WHEELS IN WONT OF GREASE.

WE SHOULD NOW TRY TO ACCOUNT AND ENDEAVOUR THE ANTECEDENT CAUSE, THAT OCCASIONS THE DEFECT OF THIS UNCTUOUS HUMOUR TO AFFLICT BONES IN MOTION; WITH SOME APPEARANCE OF REASON, ATTRIBUTE IT TO A VILE IN THE BLOOD, WHICH DEPRIVED OF ITS SULPHUROUS AND SALINE PARTS, CANNOT SUPPLY THE SAID BONES AND TISSUE WITH SUBSTANCE.

THE BLOOD WE SUPPOSE IS NEVER DIVERTED OF ITS SULPHUR AND SALT CONTENT; IT IS OBSERVED THE MOST LABORIOUS CASES OF BONES CRACKING ARE ENDURED BY PEOPLE OF A "FAT HABIT OF BODY".

IT IS THEREFORE REASONED MOST PROBABLE THAT THE SMALL PORES AND INTERSTICES MAY BE OBSTRUCTED, BY A TARTAROUS OR SLIMY MATTER CARRIED HITHER BY THE BLOOD (SATURATED FAT). THUS THE BALSAMIC LIQUOR DESTINED TO LUBRICATE AND CLEANSE THE SAID JOINTS AND BONES CAN GAIN NO ADMITTANCE TO MAKE SUPPLE MOTION.

AS TO THE YOUNG WOMAN SO AFFLICTED IN THESE NOTES, HER WHOLE BODY WAS OF GOODLY CONDITION, AND MAKING NO COMPLAINT AS SUCH, IT IS SUPPOSED THAT THE NERVOUS JUICES WERE ARRESTED TO OTHER PARTS OF HER BODY AND CONSUMED, WITH GENTLE EXERCISE AND SUPPLE DIET (VEGETABLES) SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO LESS NOXIOUS BONES BY ENJOYING THE PASTIME OF ARCHERY, THAT ANCIENT CRAFT OF LONGBOW AND ARROW; WHICH DOTH CONSUME BY STRINGENT EXERCISE THE VILE IN BLOOD AND REGENERATE TISSUE; WHILST NOT ENDORSING A VULGAR SWEAT TO ONE'S DOMAIN.

BONES ARE:-

1. RESISTANT TO PRESSURE AND TRACTION
2. MADE UP MAINLY OF CALCIUM PHOSPHATE AND CALCIUM CARBONATE.
3. IS A LIVING AND PLASTIC SUBSTANCE, MOULDED BY THE STRESSES AND STRAINS EXERTED ON IT.
4. 67% INORGANIC (MINERAL SALTS) - 33% ORGANIC i.e. CELLS, BLOOD VESSELS AND CARTILAGINOUS
SUBSTANCE.
5. VISCERAL - INNER EAR - TWO FORMS OF BONES, SPONGY AND COMPACT, SPONGY BONE IS
POROUS AND FOUND ON THE INSIDE, AND END OF BONES. COMPACT BONE IS FOUND ON THE
OUTSIDE.
6. RECEIVES ITS BLOOD SUPPLY VIA THE HAVESIRN CANALS, TO NOURISH BONE AND NERVE
THE PERISTEUM WHICH SUPPLIES THE ARTERY WHICH ENTERS THE SHAFT OF THE BONE AND
TRAVELS TO THE CENTRAL CAVITY.
7. OSTEOCYTES CELLS ARE PERFORATED BY THE HAVERSIRN CANALS.
8. IS A STORE FOR CALCIUM AND CONTAINS THE MARROW WHICH FORMS BLOOD CELLS.
9. GROWTH IS COMPLEX, SMALL BONES SUCH AS THE FEMUR, ARE INITIALLY FORMED IN
CARTILAGE, BEING GRADUALLY REPLACE BY BONE.
10. CLAVICLE - DEVELOP IN A SIMPLE CONNECTING TISSUE MEMBRANE, GROWTH OCCURS AT
THE END OF BONES.

SUBLIMINAL NOTES

ORGANIC MATTER CAN BE REMOVED BY SOAKING BONE IN ACID (DECALCIFICATION) TAKES PLACE - THE SHAPE IS KEPT BUT THE RESULT IS A TOUGH FLEXIBLE ELASTIC SUBSTANCE - WHICH CAN BE TIED INTO A KNOT.

WHEN ORGANIC MATERIAL IS REMOVED BY HEAT IT BECOMES BRITTLE.

THE PERIOSITEUM FORMS NEW BONE TISSUE WHEN NEEDED.

THE LAMELIAG OF THE INTER CELLULAR SUBSTANCE LIE LACUNAE, WHICH THUS CONTAIN BONE CELLS - THESE ARE CONNECTED TO THE HAVERSIAN CANALS - BLOOD.

NOT A BAD OBSERVATION BY GEORGE S. JOLLY A.D. 1648. HE DESERVES OUR MERIT

CESTUS

BOXING WAS A POPULAR SPORT IN ANCIENT GREECE, THE CONTESTANT WORE A BOXING GLOVE CALLED A CESTUS, IT CONSISTED OF LEATHER THRONGS BOUND ROUND THE BOXER'S FISTS AND PART OF IS FOREARMS.

THE PRACTICE OF SWINGING BLOWS, SIMILAR TO A WINDMILLS ACTION, THAN STRAIGHT BLOWS AS USED TODAY, WAS IN USAGE IT IS BELIEVED, THIS SAVED FRACTURES OF HAND AND FOREARM, LATER THE ROMANS FOR THE ARENA WEIGHTED THE CESTUS WITH LEAD WHICH WAS THEN A LETHAL WEAPON.

'SUMER IS ICUMEN IN'

IS THE TITLE OF A FAMOUS THIRTEENTH CENTURY ENGLISH 'CANON, OR ROUND. IT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF MUSIC, FOR IT IS NOT ONLY THE OLDEST KNOWN CANON, BUT ALSO THE OLDEST KNOWN HARMONIZED MUSIC WHICH IS STILL PERFORMED TODAY.

THE NAME OF THE COMPOSER IS UNCERTAIN, BUT THE MANUSCRIPT WAS WRITTEN BY JOHN OF FORNSETE, MONK OF READING ABBEY, IN ABOUT THE YEAR A.D. 1240, SUMMER IS ICUMEN IN (SUMMER HAS COME IN) IS WRITTEN IN A WESSEX DIALECT.

PORTLAND BILL i.e. (ANN)

THE WATCHFUL FROWNING DORSET HEADLAND PORTLAND BILL HAS BEEN WITNESS TO MANY A SIGHT, ROMANS, SAXONS, VIKINGS, THE ARMADA AND MODERN NAVIES IN CONSTANT THROES OF IMPENDING DISASTER BE IT NATURAL OR MAN MADE.

THE PORTLAND RACE IS HELD HERE WHERE THE SEA IS ALWAYS ROUGH OR STORMY, SAILORS BEING APPREHENSIVE OF THIS HEADLAND, WHO STRIVE TO GIVE IT A WIDE BERTH, EVEN MORE SO SMALL VESSELS; WHICH CAN BE DASHED TO PIECES IN SECONDS, IT WAS HERE, IN A SHRIEKING SOUTH WESTERLY GALE THAT THE 70ft YACHT 'RELIANCE' MET HER END, THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE ABOARD, MAN AND WIFE, FRANK AND ANN DAVIDSON, FRANK WAS DROWNED, BUT ANN MANAGED TO FIND REFUGE AND GET ASHORE.

WITH THIS ORDEAL IN MEMORY, WHILST DETERMINED TO KEEP SAILING; WHICH WAS HER JOY!, SHE RESOLVED TO A NEW CHALLENGE, BY SAILING TO NORTH AMERICA SINGLE HANDED IN A 23ft SLOOP 'THE FELICITY ANN', THIS BEING ONLY THREE YEARS LATER AFTER THE SAID TRAUMA OF LOSING HER HUSBAND FRANK. A NUMBER OF MEN HAD MADE THIS VOYAGE, BUT NOT IN SUCH A SMALL CRAFT!. NO WOMAN HAD EVER SUCCEEDED.

ADVICE TO CONTRARY WAS FORTHCOMING ABOUT THE NAIVETY OF THIS CHALLENGE - AND EVEN ANN HAD SERIOUS DOUBTS, NOT OF HER BODILY STRENGTH BUT ALSO SPIRIT TO ENDURE THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS WHICH WOULD BE ENDOWED BY THE SEA, ANN SET OUT FROM PLYMOUTH IN MAY A.D. 1952, WITH SECRET RELISH, ALSO WITH THE BLOOD OF A SEA FARING RACE. SHE WROTE ABOUT HER EXPLOITS IN HER BOOK CALLED 'MY SHIP IS SO SMALL', THE BRITISH LIBRARY CAN SUPPLY DETAILS etc.

AS IF A CORK THE 'FELICITY ANN' WAS TORMENTED BY HUGE WAVES AND PRIMEVAL STORMS, WITH ANN CAT-KNAPPING IN BETWIXT THESE EXERTIONS, SHE WAS DUTIFULLY TAKING NOTES WHEN A ROARING WAVE STARTLED HER FROM ASTERN ENGULFING THE 'FELICITY ANN' IN A TUMULTUOUS CRESCENDO, SURPRISINGLY THEY SURVIVED, ANN SAILING SOUTH TO LAS PALMAS IN THE CANARIES AND THEN EMPLOYING THE TRADE WINDS MADE HER WAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, SEVERAL TIMES SHE WAS BECALMED ONLY ACCOMPANIED BY SHARKS SWIMMING ROUND THE BOAT, AS IF TEASING HER, OTHER TIMES SPEEDING ALONG BY THE WIND AS AN ALBATROSS, SEVERAL TIMES LOSING RADIO CONTACT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS FEARING THE WORST.

SHE ARRIVED IN THE END TOUCHING LAND AT MIAMI - FLORIDA ONE HUNDRED MILES IN FRONT OF A HURRICANE, TIRED, DE-HYDRATED BUT NOT BEATEN, ANN DAVIDSON - THE FIRST WOMAN TO SAIL THE ATLANTIC SINGLE HANDED.

WE APPLAUD HER COURAGEOUS ENDEAVOUR.

TORTOISE
ROMAN SOLDIERS USED THE TESTUDO FORMATION IN SIEGE WARFARE, A PARTY OF LEGIONNAIRES WOULD ADVANCE, HOLDING THEIR SHIELDS ABOVE THEIR HEADS, WITH SHIELDS OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER, THUS AN IMPENETRABLE BARRIER WAS PRESENTED, IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS APPROACHING THE WALLS BESIEGED TO USE SCALING LADDERS, OR TO REPOSES A COMRADE OR OBJECT = TESTUDO IS THE LATIN WORD FOR TORTOISE.

SUMMER 2008