This was written in the first century AD, in Latin, by the wife of the commander of the Roman fort of Vindolanda in present day Northern England, near Hadrian's Wall.
It was written on a thin piece of wood, postcard-size, and disposed of in a bonfire when the fort was evacuated. In the anaerobic conditions it survived and was excavated nearly 2000 years later.
This small soggy piece of wood was voted Britain's top treasure by experts at the British museum and by a public poll.

Richard Holloway, writer, broadcaster, former bishop and early supporter of gay marriage, has been through a spectacular and public crisis of faith. He always regarded Bible stories as poetic guidance and it troubled him that some of his congregation took them as fact. He has become agnostic although he still preaches twice monthly.

Limericks are usually light-hearted, this one not so much.
The tradition of going to war playing morale-boosting bagpipes was forbidden in the British army during the 1914-18 war as it tended to attract enemy fire. On June 6th 1944 however, Bill Millin was ordered to play the pipes on Sword beach as the D-day landings were in full swing.
He escaped injury because the German gunners, deciding he was completely bonkers, did not fire on him.  He died aged 88 a couple of years ago.

Queen of England 1553 - 1558.  
Daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
The first woman to successfully claim the English throne.
Died probably from ovarian cysts or uterine cancer.
Succeeded by her half sister, Elizabeth I .

Go girls !  :)

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slightly changed re-post

Alfred Wainwright linked rights of way to create a continuous footpath from the west coast of England to the east coast. It is probably the most popular of the many long distance walks to be enjoyed here, passing through the Lake district, the Yorkshire dales and north Yorkshire moors.

This song's author is unknown, but it was written around the time of the Jacobite rebellions.  I love the archaic language and sing it to myself when nobody can hear. It has been recorded a few times, notably by Steeleye Span (it's on youtube).
Now the history lesson. In 1688 James II, a Catholic, was exiled to France and his Protestant daughters took the throne, first Mary, then Anne. When Anne died without heir, the throne passed to the house of Hanover.  George I became king, even though he was German and spoke no English. But he was, crucially, Protestant.  
The son of the exiled James II made a claim to the throne but he being a Catholic, was not accepted. His son also tried, Bonny Prince Charlie. These were the Jacobite rebellions.
Come ye o'er frae France is a song in support of the Jacobite movement,  and very much mocking George I.   My rough explanation of the archaic language is as follows.

Have you just arrived from France?
Did you come via London?
Did you see young Georgie and his pretty woman?
Were you at the place they call the ***** house
Did you see George his grace, ******* a ******?

Georgie, he's a man, there's no doubt about that
He has anyone he can, and who wouldn't?
Along came a dish, swanking like a dandy
And he did a deal
To share poor Georgie's candy

Although we got a bad deal, still we blithely haggled
If we get the dregs it makes little difference
We have dyed our cloth, bonnet belt and sword,
Our homes and lands are lost, but we have our George!

The **** (James) has gone to France with Montgomery's lady
There they'll hatch a plot, and when they're good and ready
They'll be back here soon, kitted up and raring to go
And may they succeed in their set-to with Georgie!

Come on Sandy Don, come on Cockolorum   [Jacobite supporters]
Come on Bobbing John and his Highland Possie
Many a sword and lance swings a Highland warrior
How they'll skip and dance over the *** of Georgie!

Legal eagles are getting their knickers in a twist over the exact words to use when cautioning a person who is being arrested.

memories
changing times

butchers hook = look,  china plates = mates,  plates 'o' meat = feet,  Jack the Rippers = slippers
Rosy Lea = tea,  ****** doo = clue,  Jimmy Nail = email,  cobbler's awls = *****,  
Adam & Eve = believe,  dog 'n' bone = phone,  apples & pears = stairs,  trouble & strife = wife,  
half-inch = pinch,  cat & mouse = house,  jam jar = car,  pork pies = eyes,  Todd Sloan = alone,  
**** van **** = bike,  Britney Spears = beers,  Brahms & List = ******,  raspberry **** = ****,  
bale 'o' hay = day.

I imagine for those who don't know about it, Cockney Rhyming Slang seems improbable. Originally conceived perhaps to confuse eavesdroppers, its heyday may have passed but it is still widely used in its heartland, the East End of London and beyond. Some words are used commonly all over the UK,  sometimes without the user realising the derivation, in fact I grew up saying "give us a butcher's"  and "boracic" (boracic lint = skint = no money) among others.    Also, as in Britney and Glorias (Gloria Gaynors = trainers) new ones are still being coined.  A bit of an oddball me old chinas, but I hope you enjoyed this little taste of chitty chitty  (bang bang = slang).

We've been to collect our new puppy !

(corrections welcome)
-Courage-
I am alone
I am with child
The wind tells me
Go home, you are not strong enough
I remain

The stars will be my friends
The sky my shelter
I will sleep with the stones
Washed by the rain

My memories, love
Are lost
I have no need of money
Tomorrow does not exist
Only silence
And a butterfly

The church of St Mary and All Saints in Chesterfield has a twisted spire.
It was originally thought that unseasoned timber used in its construction was the reason, but now the theory is that the lead used to clad the structure expands at a different rate on the sunny side from the cold side, thus pulling it out of true. The spire was constructed in 1362. It twists 45 degrees and is 9ft 6ins off the vertical, quite an eye-catching landmark and easily visible from the train.
Google Chesterfield spire.

Once widespread, the cuckoo is now a rare bird in my area.

This little poem has nowhere to go
But I want it to rhyme
And I want it to flow
It doesn't say much
Just a small hello
And a Happy Christmas
Afore ye go

The last Land Rover Defender rolled off the Solihull production line today.
Inspired by the Willys Jeep and first manufactured in 1948, it has been a huge success .  Now alas old fashioned manufacturing methods, pedestrian safety considerations and suchlike mean it's curtains for a much loved motoring icon.