Family Shenanigans

We visited the site of The Battle Of Shrewsbury with Grandma P on Monday. I found it extremely moving and unsettling being there. I wanted to share some of the history:

The Battle of Shrewsbury, fought on July 21st, 1403 between an army led by the Lancastrian King, Henry IV and a rebel army led by members of the Percy family from Northumberland, is principally remembered today by many as the climax of Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV part 1. (more)

Battlefield church is a rare surviving example of a common medieval response to mass death in war – it functions solely as a memorial chapel to the dead of the battle of Shrewsbury, its annual service devoted to the memory of those who fought and fell there. Shrewsbury was the first time longbowmen faced eachother in battle – and the result was carnage. Up to 20,000 men fell on the field and many thousands succumbed to their injuries over the ensuing weeks. Many of the bodies were gathered for decent burial by relatives or kinsmen but it is reputed that some 1500 bodies were buried in a mass grave on the site of the chapel.

It felt morbid in the extreme to be walking in that field. I’m glad we visited the pleasant visitor centre, farm shop and cafe beforehand, I don’t think I could’ve stomached it after.

Where’s The Cottage Smallholder gone?

Apols to anyone trying to follow my links there they seem – temporarily I hope – out of action.

More to the point, where am I going to while away the hours now?

Any news gratefully received…

Having got the Elderberry Rob and Blackberry and Apple Jelly under my belt, I thought I’d better do something with the two tubs of hawthorne berries that have been sitting in the fridge. My fave jam last year was Rosehip and Apple, so I was thinking I might try a Hawthorne & Apple with these.

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Quite chuffed with these:  I was planning on an apple n blackberry pie using the blackberries we picked plus a few windfalls and some leftover shortcrust but these turned out much more interesting as Miss R could get well and truly stuck in and they look brill! With a little sprinkle of icing sugar, it didn’t even matter that it wasn’t sweet pastry. I think the Queen Of Hearts would approve. Yum!

I snaffled these on my last trip to the city in H&M. I’ve come to terms with the fact that they don’t do the cute things in my size but what a shame they don’t do online shopping. Or probably a good job actually considering we’re trying to budget!