Hey Blog! This post will be about a poetry event I attended in Shefield before my exam, but haven’t had the chance to tell you about till now.

I love poetry, and have done pretty much since I can remember. It’s such a lovely way of expressing feelings, thoughts, and ideas in a style that people can appreciate. From the experience I gained in my Arts Award, I know that poetry is a form of art, and thus tells a story. This story could be a message, telling people about an idea or expressing a poignant point; a literal story, relating happenings, be they fictional or true; or something else. I have read quite a bit of poetry, and a few years ago, when my lessons were less online and more in-person, I had a weekly feature where I read a poem, discussed it, and then made a response – either another poem; or a picture; a summary; a perfect, calligraphy copy, or something else. While this has now dropped off the schedule, I still appreciate the poetic style. I therefore was intrigued and ready to go when Mum discovered there was a poetry reading in Shefield coming up.

Brian Bilston is a hilarious poet who we became aware of a few years ago. He is popular online for extremely funny poems on every subject from politics to late trains to modern art. While he sometimes includes more serious poems, the majority are ones which you can laugh your socks off at. Since we included some of his poems when I studied a poem a week as I mentioned above, he was a good draw. Henry Normal, the other poet speaking, we had heard nothing about, but he too seemed like a very good poet, and that was enough to get us to book places and attend.

Since we have family in Shefield, we chose to go up in the evening, attend the poetry readings, and

then stay the night there so we had some time to spend with them the next day. So about 7:15 in the evening, after some very nice falafel tortillas at a local restaurant, we went in to prepare for what would inevitably be some excellent poetry and a good night out.

I had never been to a poetry recital before. It’s not a very common activity, yet I think it should be more encouraged as it is most entertaining. I wasn’t sure what to expect – just one poem after another? How many? Would the poets be speaking in turn or one after the other, would there be two voices at once or would the audience have to participate? It turned out to be poems interspersed with anecdotes, perspectives, and various thoughts, which made a beautiful mix of the serious and the silly, the pun-packed and the putting-life-into-perspective. I think both poets spoke well, with Henry Normal (who spoke first) having the edge on the performance and Brian Bilston, who spoke second, having the better poems. The only problem I had with it was it was too short – i.e. I would like to go to another similar poetry reading some time soon! Hopefully. You never know – some of my poems may even be in the mix one day!

Hey Blog! Over the past year, I have been studying for GCSE History. Now, with the exam over, I can tell you what I’ve been doing!

GCSE or iGCSE is the current level of academic learning roughly expected of 16 year olds in the UK (and international territories where iGCSEs are recognised). History is, well, history. One of my favourite subjects and one I have a lot of knowledge of. However, a History GCSE is more than just telling your examiner everything you know, which would be nice (depending on the period you ask me about, I can wax lyrical all day long) – it is trying to put down a small portion of your learning, in legible handwriting, in a very short period of time, in a structure some higher power of examinations decided was the norm. Not easy. The good news – I managed it. The bad news – I have to wait till August to get the results of how well I did, and I have done very little else – which is why until a week ago you have received no blogs since April, which I’m rather sad about. Let’s explore the exam further.

The exam board I studied was AQA, which requires two papers, four units, three long essays, eighteen questions, seven sources/interpretations, eighty-eight marks in total, and one, year-long headache (not literal but you get the idea) trying to learn, revise and deliver all this in time. I studied for the course with my tutor Jake of Humanatees, who I did an Environmental Management iGCSE with last year. This means while I did not pick the topics, which means I did not focus on some of my best fields of study, I learnt a broader picture with subjects I had never covered so had more to learn for. These were:

America, 1840-1895 – the spread west from the eastern colonies to covering the entire continent. As a Period study, it was all about the events of that period. The most preparation I had for this was reading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder some years ago. They pretty much cover half the course, albeit in less detail and do not give practice questions!

Conflict and Tension in Asia, 1950-1975 – covers the Korean War, which is not widely known, and the Vietnam War, which people are more aware of. A Wider World Depth study, it focuses on themes across the world which caused the more local events of Korea and Vietnam. Rather gruesome, and particularly immediate because it is within living memory – my parents were alive when it ended. I did not work particularly hard for this unit at the time it was taught, until I realised the exam was only a few weeks away, at which point we ordered the box set of 18 hours of DVDs recommended for more detail on the course and binge watched them. It seems like the people who designed the exam literally watched the series and then wrote the textbook based on it. I think they helped.

Migration, Empires and the People, 790-the present day. By far the longest topic, covering more than a thousand years where the others cover less than 100. This is a Thematic study, which explores seven factors: Religion, Economy, Government, Technology, War, Big Ideas, and the Individual, and their importance for Migration, Empires, or the People. Contact cards, naming a person and then relating them to the factors, is a must for this. For a long time, I did not understand the function of these cards besides homework and a way of writing down something about the person. Then I sort of understood that it’s about linking the factors through individuals. I only realised this two days in advance of the exam. Thank goodness I did – it probably gained me another few of those 88 marks.

Norman England, 1066-1100. Not 1066 and All That, but more factual, and definitely one of my stronger subjects – until the questions they asked in the real exam were fiendish! For this unit, I relied on my visit to Normandy (see last year’s posts on this holiday) and my knowledge of the period from other reading. The essay for this topic was a case study on a particular place – this year, Durham Cathedral – which I told you about visiting last autumn. This question requires you to concentrate on aspects of the cathedral and explain why they were important as a particular design choice. I deliberately chose to do the questions out of order in the exam, so I had more time to work on this and finish it well. However, due to a difficult paper, I only just managed to put a full stop on one of the other questions before time was up.

Because I am home educated, I have to traipse all over the country to get to an exam centre – Birmingham is our one of choice.  However, because it was a morning exam, we couldn’t risk getting a late train and not arriving before it started. Premier Inn, here we come. While I wasn’t allowed to get a very Full English (for free, because I’m technically still under child rules though eat more than an adult) before the exam, the lighter breakfast was still fantastic. I can recommend the churros with dipping sauce for pudding the evening before, too. From there, it’s only a short walk to the exam centre, and thankfully I do not get nervous doubts or start questioning myself; I seem to be more relaxed about exams than my Mum or most other mums there for that matter. Maybe it’s a parent thing, to be more stressed about exams than their kids. Either way, once I’m in it’s just half an hour waiting for ID to be checked while you do mental exercises, watch the other candidates (though no one says anything – weird!), or try to dismiss the earworm stuck in your brain. Or just space out like I do. And then the exam.

I was lucky with the papers; everything I’d particularly studied had come up. Kind of as expected, but then, also good because while you are taught everything, including what comes up in the exam, and hopefully learn everything, again, including what comes up, you don’t always study what comes up. So that was good. I think I did ok, and I’m confident for a good mark when I get the results. Remember, I’m a year younger than the majority of children who take GCSEs, so I must be good if I’m going for them so quickly. The one, slight, unfortunate thing is next year I have five or more to do simultaneously. So I’m either going to be not sleeping for a few months while I study, or find a way to study in advance. Looks like I’ll need some more luck for next year!

Hey Blog! This post is about one of the most fantastic things I’ve gained through Scouting!

First of all, sorry for the long pause. I have had a history exam and it requires a lot of time to revise, and what with all the other things I partake in, HEIAS has got a little sidelined. I promise a bit more regularity in future!

Now, for the blog. You know about my involvement in Scouting, and how I help with the Archaeology team. I’ve also told you about how I represented the Archaeology team across the country after the Anglo-Saxon brooch was found at one of our digs, and how I’ve been on practically all the digs and activities, besides running sessions to help others gain their Archaeology badge, and generally supported the team. Now I’m going to tell you about the incredible recognition I was not expecting when I started!

We did go back to Willesley, where the brooch was found. None of the team, nor me, could resist it. We accidentally intentionally opened a trench slightly to the side of where we had planned; however that gave us the chance to have two trenches, and double what we could find! Over two weekends, we uncovered some of the inside of the hall, the base of the steps up to the front door, and rather deep foundations – deeper than we were expecting! We also found quite a few shards of green glaze pottery (13^th-16^th century), probably enough to make half a pot; a possible fireplace (not sure); a beautiful brick surface; and one rather interesting tooth. I helped as a Young Leader, showing the Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers how to wash pots, how to dig, identifying what they’d found, and assisting with their digging – besides digging a lot myself! The Youth Committee, of which I am a member, also came for a session, and as the highlight of that day, went to Ashby Museum to hand over the brooch for safekeeping and public display.

The brooch, I should recap, is an Anglo-Saxon one – made c. 520-575 AD/CE, and of the Great Square Headed type. It has stylised eagle heads on the top corners, and a diamond patten in the middle, further down. The diamond shape in the centre spreads to a cross-like outline, and the entire piece is made of copper alloy covered with silver. There is a hint of niello – a rare, high-status black alloy of silver, sulphur, and other elements, which would have made the silver ridges stand out and makes it an even more important find. It would have been worn upside down – which would make it look a bit like a market cross, at least to my eyes – and was probably for a child. This makes a beautiful circle – made for a child, fifteen hundred years ago, and found by two children, in the 21^st century!

At the museum, we inspected the galleries before team lead Morgause introduced the team, then I, as senior Young Leader on the team, introduced the Youth Committee, upon which the brooch was introduced as our star find. Some new information about the brooch (including some I’ve said above) was also given. The brooch was handed to the museum staff, and everyone got the badge for attending the Willesley dig. And then – a complete surprise – Morgause and the District Lead Volunteer (formerly District Commissioner) presented the two girls who found the brooch, and then me, with Commendation Awards: them for finding it, and advocating for the team so well, and me for helping the team, representing us at events, and “leadership, initiative, and passion for both Scouting and archaeology”!

I am rather pleased with the award. I did not expect it, but it’s nice to get. It’s an award that applies in every section, and can be worn the entire Scouting career. That reminds me, I need to go and sew it on. But I will wear it with pride, and hopefully continue to represent Scouting – and archaeology – for a long time to come. What next?!

Hey Blog! I’m back to continue tree-ting you to a post about trees!

Birch is another broadleaf, with quite a soft wood. Compared to most trees, birches are quite young – an oak can live for a thousand years, a yew for two thousand or more, but a birch only lasts a little more than one hundred. They are quick colonisers to where trees have recently been allowed to grow, and have small, pointed green leaves. Two main species grow in Britain – Silver Birch and Downy Birch. Silver Birch is striking in a wood, with bright white bark that peels in sheets – excellent for fire lighting, a sort of ‘paper’ and (if you’re very clever) mugs can be made of it. The leaves of the Silver variety are smoother, hairless. Downy Birch has hairy leaves and the bark does not peel in the same way. Associated with femininity, Birch has ties to marriage, birth and fertility rites – apparently!

Elm is now quite rare. Dutch Elm Disease nearly wiped out most Elms in the country, but they are slowly recovering. Elm has crinkly leaves like hazel, with the defining feature being one side is longer than the other, so the leaf curves around at the base. Some Elms grow very straight, making them useful for tasks which require unknotted, uncurved straight stems.

Pine, or more specifically Scots Pine, is another conifer. It produces sticky, resinous sap which, over millennia, can form amber. With a slightly scaly bark, and small cones (which are brilliant missiles!), it grows very tall indeed and, as a softwood, is easily pliable for timber. Very easy to cut, carve and mark, but fast to grow, pine and similar conifers were widely planted by the Forestry Commission for timber.

Chestnut is not a wood I’ve worked with – yet. Horse and Sweet Chestnut are similar, though not closely related; while the shape they grow is broadly the same, their leaves are different, with Sweet having a single leaf and Horse having multiple large leaflets on a single stalk. Sweet Chestnut nuts can be eaten, and are a popular Christmas treat. The trunk of a Sweet Chestnut grows in a spiral, curling upwards, so when you’re near the tree they’re easier to spot. The name suggests it is used in box- and chest-making – yet when I looked it up, it appears it is actually a heavily corrupted form of the place they were first identified. But I still think a chestnut chest would look wonderful, and work well! The main use for the Horse Chestnut is in the game of conkers, where players try to destroy the other’s conker with their own.

Walnut is another nut tree – and the nuts are very tasty! A dye can be made of Walnut, which was reputedly used as a disguise by local gent. Anthony Babington when he tried to extract Mary Queen of Scots from a nearby manor. No one knows if it is true – but it is certainly a good story!

Plane is yet another broadleaf, which is common in cities for clearing the air, and has very flaky bark. I used the bark as a writing surface a few years ago, with a quill pen. The pen worked – the bark didn’t very well. I would like to try working with Plane, to see what it looks like and how I can use it.

Lime is another common tree in cities, like Plane trees. It has pale wood, and the bark peels off well. The bark was used in rope and net making before nylon, and lasts considerably longer than one might expect, if treated well. The leaves are broad, lime green, and rather sticky.

Blackthorn I know a bit better. The berries – sloes – can be made into sloe gin in the autumn, and according to my parents is the perfect thing for a snifter on a winter’s night after I’ve gone to bed! It is in some ways the counterpart of Hawthorn, which is known as Whitethorn; Blackthorn flowers before the leaves are out, as opposed to Hawthorn where the leaves come before the flowers. However, in other ways it is the same – they are both fairy trees, and good for deterring evil spirits! Like hawthorn, it is a twisty and often knotted wood, but I have not had much opportunity to practice with it.

Aspen is next. It resembles Birch with rounded leaves, and a rustling noise is often heard above you when walking near one. It is this tendency to blow in the wind that gives rise to the saying “quaking like an aspen leaf”. However, in the past, it was considered one of the trees that stood at the gate to the world of the dead, and was made into shields to give warriors courage. There is not much aspen near me, and I haven’t used any yet – maybe soon!

Hornbeam comes from horn, meaning hard, and beam, a Saxon word for tree. It is indeed the hardest wood in Europe – and that means it has plenty of applications, all for structural or high-strength purposes. The Romans used it for chariot building. I don’t know where to find one near me so I have to keep looking!

Maple is the second last. Famous on the Canadian flag and for the delicious syrup it produces (oh for maple syrup and pancakes!), there are many Maple species. Field Maple is the most common in the UK; it looks a bit like sycamore and a bit like oak, but is a different tree. There is one at the top of the hill – it should be coming into leaf about now!

Finally, Rowan, or Mountain Ash. This is a slender tree, which grows bright red berries in autumn, green leaves in the spring, and many have slightly silvery trunks. The leaves grow in a similar fashion to Ash, but are serrated on the edge; and they are quite tall – one I got as a seedling grew to almost as tall as I am in a year. A protective tree, they are also associated with the fairies, like Hawthorn, and guard the house.

The best website I’ve found for a tree guide is this: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/. Please don’t think I copied everything from them, even though there are a lot of crossovers – I only found the website after writing all this!

If you learn one lesson from this – DON’T CUT DOWN YOUR TREES!!! Keep them, and if you need to trim them, use the wood wisely – and always plant another one – or better two – every time you are forced to take one out for reasons of your house’s structural integrity. Trees and other plants provide the life on our planet, and they are an ecosystem in and of themselves. I am like the Lorax – I speak for the trees. And I say – love your trees!

Hey Blog! This post is about trees.

Trees – well, they’re tall, woody plants: excellent for use in building and crafting due to their strong wood; amazing for climbing and building treehouses in; and vital for all life because they absorb CO₂ and release O₂ as part of photosynthesis. They have been a part of people’s lives ever since our ancestors became primates, and before, so it is no wonder we have a deep affinity with them. I was inspired to write about them today for three reasons: I was helping in a woodland before the weekend, a tree I care for in our garden was coming into leaf, and we were watching a programme about restoring a woodland. However, enough about trees in general – what about specific (British, as I live there) trees?

Let’s start with the ‘King of Trees’ – the Oak. A tall broadleaf, it has lobed leaves and its nuts are called acorns. This name comes from Aik (Oak) Corn (nut). There are two types – Pedunculate and Sessile. The acorns of the former have long stalks, the leaves have short stalks – but for the latter, it’s the other way round! Prized throughout history for its hard wood, it has been used in almost every circumstance from tool handles to timbers for buildings and dugout boats. It is exceptionally hard, which makes it difficult to work with, but lives a very long time – “three hundred years to grow, three hundred years to live, and three hundred years to die” is a saying describing the life of an Oak, and if you trim it and work the wood cut from a growing tree, it can last for thousands of years and still be relatively strong.

Ash is very different to Oak, but at first glance the shape of the tree is similar. With a pliable, smooth-grained pale wood, it is commonly used in toolmaking, and provides a hard yet easily worked, finely finished surface. The buds are black; and the leaves are arranged in pairs along a stem, with a single leaf pointing out at the tip; they are smooth, and look quite like the generic ‘leaf’ shape. There is a saying “if the Ash is out before the Oak, then you shall expect a soak; if the Oak is out before the Ash, then you shall expect a splash” – referring to the rainfall level determined by which tree comes into leaf first. This year, it looks like we shall expect a splash!

Beech is a strong wood, with a straight grain and is very beautiful if well finished, but I don’t think it lasts well in water. The trees are mostly very tall, and the thick limbs are arranged in the perfect position for treehouses, if you can reach them. Beech leaves are normally green and shiny-smooth, turning brown/gold in autumn, though copper beeches are always a coppery red. The sound of walking under a beech wood in windy weather or autumn is wonderful, as the leaves blow in the branches or crunch on the floor.

Hazel grows well when coppiced – cut back to the ground after a few years of growth to encourage multiple shoots/trunks to grow. The straight stems are perfect for fences, hurdles, and children’s bows and arrows. I have a staff made from hazel, carved and painted when I was ten. Thought of as the tree of intelligence, it is said hazel nuts from the tree of intelligence were eaten by a fish, which was then inadvertently eaten by a boy who became a god of wisdom – or something like that. However, even if you don’t get to be the god of wisdom, the nuts are delicious! Hazel has fluffy leaves and sometimes slightly peeling bark, and lovely greeny-yellow catkins in spring.

Holly is an evergreen – the first on the list – and has dark green leaves all year round. The leaves are very spiky, so don’t blunder into them – you can get scratched! However, far from being an evil tree that scratches you, Holly is seen as a tree of protection, from dark magic and also lightning. Amazingly, it’s true – the spines on the leaves act as tiny electrical conductors, so having a Holly near your house may just help against lightning strikes. The wood of this tree is very pale, almost white, and quite easy to carve.

Yew is another evergreen, this time a conifer – a tree with needles rather than flat leaves. It has a reddish bark, and shadows seem to cling under the tree sometimes. Very common in churchyards, it is sometimes seen as quite a dark tree, full of evil – it is after all highly poisonous and pretty much all of it is deadly, so DO NOT EAT – but it is also a healing tree, as some medicines can be made out of it. The most famous use for Yew is longbows, and the most powerful non-composite bows are still made from this wood. This is because of the remarkable difference in properties between Yew’s heartwood and sapwood – the former resists stretching, and the latter resists compression, so together they form the fierce spring backwards which propels the arrow forwards. It is also a beautiful wood for turning on a lathe – it cuts so smoothly, and sands so prettily, it’s probably my favourite wood to turn!

Elder is more of a shrub than a tree, sometimes – but when it grows into a tree, it is recognisable by deeply grooved, almost cracked-looking bark, and its smooth green leaves which grow in a similar fashion to Ash. The branches are normally hollow, with a pithy inside rather than a woody core, which makes it less useful for substantial working but very useful for breathing tubes if you want to stay hidden underwater (never tried it, but that’s the theory) and musical instruments such as whistles and recorders – even though I never managed to make one sound. Associated with protection and neutral magic, it’s said you must ask the tree three times if you may take a branch before cutting one!

Alder, just to confuse you, is a completely different tree to Elder. Alder grows near water, often with the roots literally in the stream, and has small cones. I’ve never actually used alder wood, but I’ll have to find some to test soon – it reportedly becomes stone hard if submerged in water, which is understandable if it grows around streams!

Willow is another tree that grows near water. There are several species of willow, including Crack Willow, Pussy Willow, and Weeping Willow. Scientifically, there are over 350 different varieties! All willows have long, thin leaves, and some are quite brittle. The best-known application of Willow is in cricket bats, which are traditionally handmade of English willow. Willow bark is also a painkiller, as it contains a similar chemical to aspirin. Willow bark was used for this long before modern painkillers were developed.

Hawthorn is also known as the May Tree. It is a small tree, but has very large thorns, making it hard to push through. They are very knotted trees, but when carved they look beautiful. They are believed to be a fairy tree, under fairy protection, and it is unlucky to cut one down. It’s apparently unlucky to cut them at all, unless you do it on May Day, which is why they’re known as the May Tree. The berries, however, are freely gatherable, and make a delicious hawthorn jelly/jam. Don’t take too many, though – they’re a vital winter food source for birds and other animals!

Apple is a fruit tree, but also has a nice wood. Along with Oak, it is a tree which grows mistletoe, though some others do too. Apple is widely cultivated for its fruit, which are extremely tasty! “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” might not be foolproof, but is a good reminder of how good fruit is for you, and if you eat fruit early in life you might not need to go to the doctor so much later in life.

Cherry, like Apple, is a fruit tree – but the wood is very different. It is a reddish wood, like the fruits; and when polished produces a wonderful, coloured effect. There is no “a cherry a day keeps the doctor away” – but maybe just eating fruit in general will help!

Sycamore is a relatively new tree to Britain, and some particularly zealous conservationists believe it a non-native weed wood. However, it is not invasive, and has become part of the ecosystem to some extent. The wood is frequently spalted – has a fungus in which produces amazing speckly patterns – and is a wood of choice for bowl carvers and spoon carvers – many of my mice have also come from this wood. It is a broadleaf tree, which grows leaves with five pointed lobes, very like maple; and is recognisable by its quite smooth trunk of grey bark and green leaves which turn brown with black spots in autumn.

Here ends part one – look out for part two next post!

Hey Blog! On Saturday, I went to Hampton Court Palace!

Henry VIII – remember him? The rather large bloke in the posh embroidered robes who got through six wives in his lifetime and is most likely the reason why all the rest of English history is so convoluted – first, because he made England a protestant country, so we went to war with the rest of Europe; then, because we never won completely, we wreaked havoc on the rest of the world by building a massive empire. He started all that. Coincidentally, he also looks a lot like a family member, so we may be related – I don’t know quite how to feel about that. However, whichever way you look at him, he is always very impressive.

A Potted History of Henry VIII

This mighty monarch became king after the passing of his father, Henry VII – who had established the Tudor dynasty at the Battle of Bosworth. He was a charismatic individual, with a passion for jousting and tennis, and was mostly on good relations with everybody. People hoped he would be a lively, free-living king, unlike his father who seemed a bit of a miser. Happily married to his brother Arthur’s widow, Catherine of Aragon (Spain), the early part of his reign was rather pleasant. However, after a couple of decades, he turned away from Catherine seeking a male heir. This meant blatantly disregarding the Pope and changing the whole country from Catholic to Protestant – setting the scene for the next few centuries. Anne Bolyn, his next wife, was no more successful than Catherine, and after a short marriage, he changed his mind and had her beheaded. Jane Seymour, his third wife, provided him with a son – and then died. After three more wives – Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr, he finally settled down and died, second of the Tudors, leaving behind a young King, and two daughters, who would cause a great deal of havoc and leave the throne to a Scot by the name of James VI and I. Thus goes the Tudor Dynasty.

Before the period when he broke with Rome, he went through a cabinet reshuffle and attempted to remove one of his ministers. This minister, Thomas Wolsley, was busy building himself a nice house along the Thames at the time – well, the inclinations of the rich and famous haven’t changed in 500 years – and to try and get back into Henry’s good books, gave him the house, Hampton Court. Henry then embelished it, employing hundreds of workers to renovate the house, and it became perhaps the third most famous palace in the country, after Buckingham and Windsor.

Unlike those two, however, Hampton Court is no longer the home of the royal family; George II was the last to live there. Instead, it is a museum, which covers Tudor, Jaccobite and Hannovarian history. And it looks AMAZING! I would not mind a great hall like the one at Hampton Court – though it might be just a tad on the large side to fit in my shed. It took us about six hours to visit, including lunch, and yet there were still things we didn’t get to do – I wish we had had time to attempt the maze, said to be the oldest in the world; and there were dozens of closed off rooms which would have been interesting to explore. To think you have walked the same halls as several monarchs, people from the past who we actually know what they did, is a bit of a cool feeling! I probabaly need to revisit the site at some point. Might have to go at night, as it’s said to be haunted – fancy meeting King Henry, anyone?!

Hey Blog! This week is another book review – of a history book, which is not quite like other history books. It also has a very good name, which describes me quite well – this is HEIAS’s review of Unruly.

Unruly was a birthday present, and evidently the person who sent it knows me very well – I love it! It is the perfect blend of history and hilarity, with fantastic annecdotes and analagies and it actually tells you the history of the period too. Spanning from the Dark Ages after the Roman retreat to the end of the Elizabethen era and the start of the Stuart period, it covers some of the biggest changes in British history: the Anglo-Danish-Norman transition, Battle of Hastings, Wars of the Roses, Hundred Years’ War, and closes on Shakespeare. This is the period where power changed from an Empire, to an anarchy, kingdom, absolute monarchy, and finally to a monarchy tied down by a ruling class – if only there was a sequel, it would cover the fall of the absolute monarchy, imperial power, and finally rise of the constitutional democracy with a monarchy alongside. Gosh, what a lot of changes we’ve seen in a thousand years and a bit more, now you look back on it.

It’s convenient too – two of the units in my GCSE history cover the ‘long second millennium’ and the Norman period, the latter of which is within the timescale covered by this book. While I might not need information such as the fact that two out of the three lions that represent England actually represent parts of France (the Duchies of Normandy and Aquitaine); or the method of murder of Edward II (don’t ask…); they are more likely to stick in your head if you associate them with a funny quip or comparison to a modern occurrence.

The closest thing to it I have read is 1066 And All That – but that is a deliberate spoof, with the focus being the comedy factor not the history factor. This is more subtle – it uses hilarious modern comparisons and amazingly funny details to convey the actual perception of the historical narrative. I was almost incapacitated by laughter at several points! Yet all the way through, it continually tells the (hi)story – and it is always the story which sticks! Perhaps because it focuses on a short time period – relatively speaking – it has the chance to be more in-depth than broad, general histories, which succeed in linking great events but don’t tell you all the fascinating facts. That’s why I love this book!

To conclude, I think the style of the book is impressively clever with the comedic and historical elements. I hope there is a sequel, as I’d definitely get it. Or perhaps I should write one myself… maybe?

Hey Blog! A few weeks ago, I helped out at my group’s annual Beaver sleepover, so I’ll tell you about that this week!

If you know me well or have read some of my past blogs, you likely know I help at a Beavers section in Scouting. This is part of the Young Leaders Scheme, where older sections can volunteer with younger ones for experience and practice working with children, and also works as the volunteering section for DofE. I help with the Beavers of the same group I joined Scouting through, so, though I didn’t participate in Beavers as I was too old when I joined, I have been part of every section of Scouting the unit offers.

As part of their programme, the Beavers do an annual sleepover in one of the cabins at the bottom of the campsite, and since I only joined after last year’s had taken place, this was my first chance to assist. They only go for one night, so I had plenty of experience, having gone with Scouting many times before. Therefore, my task was to help the Beavers learn, play and have fun – besides also having fun myself! Here follows a abbrieviated list of things we did:

• Postbox – this is a game for a very large group in an open space. A number of people (generally leaders) carry cards of different colours, stickers (representing stamps) of different colours, and a elaborately crafted cardboard postbox. The leaders each take a set of cards or stickers, and one carries the postbox. The players are divided into groups, and each group is assigned a colour of card. The aim is for players to race arround, collect a card of their colour, stick one of all colours of stamps on the card, and post the card in the postbox. But… to make it more fun and confusing, the leaders all switch round what they’re carrying, so no one knows who has what! Warning – if you are a leader, you will get out of breath very quickly due to the large group of children running relentlessly after you! It was most fun, however.
• Tracking – this requires substantial preparation and a large space. Some of the other leaders and I layed a trail of cut lengths of wool around the grounds, and then the Beavers followed the trail and colected the treasures hidden along it. Later, we did a variation where each team followed the clues on small packages which each led to another. This sent us all over the campsite, before coming back to the cabin to find the treasure chest in the leader’s bedroom!
• Baking – after dividing the Beavers into groups, they made a batch of cookies and then decorated them. Some chose to keep them for taking home, some ate them immediately! My role was to make sure no one mismeasured the recipe and put the sugar quantity far too high, and show them how to breadcrumb flour and butter. Hopefully, next time I go, one of them will have brought in a tray of cookies as a thank you…

[Ed. : I’ll be expecting a tin full of cookies to be left at home for me, too!]

• To save the best till last – Marshmallows on campfire! The king of all camp foods, smores are a must at any Scout camp, and it is a vital skill to pass on to those who will one day be teaching yet more young Beavers the joys of toasted marsmallow sandwiched between chocolate-coated digestive biscuits. Hot and gooey and probably not the thing to have straight before going to bed, but you’re on a camp, so you’re allowed, right?

I loved the sleepover, and am definitely going back next year! It’s so fun to help the Beavers and I love being a part of this team that passes on learning – it’s rewarding for all parties. Whatever happens, I intend to keep working as part of this fantastic opportunity.

Hey Blog! Back in February, I had one of the best archaeological opportunities ever and so of course I’ll tell you all about it!

No, it wasn’t to be the next presenter/specialist on one of my favourite archaeology TV programmes. It was to go to London to talk to people about what I’ve been doing with the Derbyshire Scouts Archaeology (DSA) team, Youth Committee, and digs. In particular, a find from Willersley that I couldn’t tell you about before, as it had not been identified – the most spectacular thing I’ve ever been present at the finding of. Two members of the Youth Committee were metal detecting when they uncovered an Anglo-Saxon brooch – a Great Square Headed brooch, to be precise, with some of its features indicating a local style of design. During the dig, no one was certain if it was genuine – but later analysis by the Portable Antiquities Scheme proved it was, and luckily the DSA team was able to keep it (the treasure laws are very complicated, but this brooch was not counted as something that needs to be given to the Crown).

Besides being a find of historical interest (perhaps not national importance but still exceptionally interesting and locally significant, if the “local group” similar brooch design theory is correct) and of immense pride for the DSA team, it is also very beautiful – I would wear it, if it wasn’t so delicate and the pin was missing. Remarkably, it has remained mostly untarnished in the ground – the ferrous pin hinge has mild corrosion, but the silver gilt copper alloy brooch part is still bright. Estimated to be made 520-575 AD/CE, it is around 1500 years old, and I am extremely envious – the brooch was found just a few metres away from where I was and I didn’t find it – but it’s a good way for more people to be interested, by a chance find.

Back to what I was doing at this opportunity. The Youth Committee has been funded by an organisation called Youth United – they fund ‘uniformed groups’ and the current project they have been doing is heritage-based – and this was the chance to tell the people from the organisation, as well as other groups funded similarly, what we’ve been doing and why they should continue to give us their support. The brooch, which we had the chance to take to show, was obviously the star attraction; I then had an idea for a timeline. My signature activity, it seems – I’ve done several now! – but this was a timeline of brooches. After borrowing a Roman Fibula brooch, raiding the family jewellery box for one of Nanny’s old brooches, and buying a Victorian/20^th century imitation of a Georgian Cameo brooch, and printing out four images of brooches from other time periods, I had an activity where people who came to my stall could guess the time period as a group. I then prepared a short slideshow presentation, and formulated several topics into a mini speech, which did get reordered with each telling, but worked to catch people’s attention.

We went down to London, spent a few hours in the British Museum looking at other examples of Great Square Headed Brooches from the Anglo-Saxon period, and then Tubed across London to the venue by the Thames. I then changed into Explorer Uniform and set up the table with the timeline, the brooches, and the laptop. Then, all I had to do was wait for the guests to arrive. They soon did – and mine seemed to be a popular stall. Perhaps being the only young person there actually running their own session about the project helped – as did the timeline activity. Everyone loved it. After all, holding a brooch over a millennium old doesn’t happen every day! People were relatively accurate dating the brooches, and I only had to correct a couple of them each time. I might have to steal that activity to run somewhere else, perhaps as an evening activity on the experimental archaeology camp later this year. I think my enthusiasm came across, and Youth United are very keen to help us in the future. In all this was an absolutely wonderful session, and I think taking part confirmed my choice – I definitely want archaeology to be part of my future.

Hey Blog! During February, I went to the British Museum to a home-ed activity day!

The British Museum is a national institution which runs many archaeological & heritage organisations and visitor open days. It is one of the museums London is famous for. When I was younger and fanatical about dinosaurs, I generally focused more on the Natural History Museum – I still do – but now I am perhaps more likely to go to the British Museum, as archaeology has taken the top spot. However, last month, the museum was offering an activity day for home-edders, so it seemed like an opportunity not to be missed!

Included in the activities on offer were:

• The Silk Roads exhibition
• A talk about the Parthenon
• Two workshops, one after the other, of which you could take your pick of Living History, What makes a good Archaeologist, Felt Making, etc.
• An excuse for a day out at the British Museum!

The Silk Roads exhibition was the biggest draw for us – we had not had a chance to see it before, and the silk road, the path/s from Western Europe to East Asia and back again, is to us one of the most fascinating places in the world. It starts in China (or Japan – but you need a boat to start on the ‘road’) and travels along many winding paths through the top of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, skirting the Middle East, traveling through Europe, reaching its furthest length in Spain or Britain (depending on the path travelled). However, it was not one road with tradesmen who travelled all the distance – merchants might operate along a short distance, before passing their wares on to another who might take them further along the path. Thus, a piece of silk in England that came from China might have passed through hundreds of owners, which is why silk was so expensive and exotic. The sheer amount of cultures the Silk Road interacted with is astonishing, and show that the diversity we think is a modern thing was thriving many centuries ago. The exhibition was so full, I could have spent another hour in there, as it featured the travel, historical events and developments, and some of the fascinating artefacts found along the way – all in so much detail and so many of them, making for an absolutely fascinating display!

Next up, the Parthenon talk. The Parthenon is the famous temple at the top of the Acropolis in Athens (Acro – high, Polis – city), the one in the traditional Greek style with Doric columns, a parade of steps up to the door, and a triangular roof of white marble – a temple to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war who reputedly gave the Athenians olives. However, it is more than “just a Greek temple” – it is probably one of the finest surviving examples in the world, and has inspired countless buildings – including the building the British Museum is housed in! There are also some very interesting stylistic and historical features of the Parthenon that were discussed, for instance the relief carvings around the top, which were brought to Britain in the 19^th century and now housed in the Museum; and how the columns are doric – representing strength; as opposed to ionic (what’s on the Museum) – representing knowledge and learning.

The first workshop I attended was about living history – like reenactment but instead of one event, a scene depicting the lifestyle at the time. It explored the need for time-accurate objects (and perhaps knowledge and behaviourisms) and how people who practice living history learn these things. It also gave us a chance to think about what items we would need to take on the role of a historical trade (needed for living history) and realise it’s hard to decide how much you do to get into the persona – just where do you draw the line at “historical accuracy” when a single sock takes an entire winter of evenings to finish?! It was very enlightening, and useful if I decide to try living history myself.

The second was about the history and archaeology and what was needed to become a good archaeologist. I knew a lot about this, as I am passionately into archaeology and have done it quite a lot! I had to restrain myself on some of the questions, to encourage the other attendees, but since I now know how it is run, I might steal some of the ideas to run with the Scouts.

It was a really enjoyable day, which included a lot of learning and was very inspiring, and I would love to revisit the British Museum again very soon!