I've been looking into my "servant man"/parish clerk, Isaac Hearne. He worked for Thomas Rant Esq (1691-1754) & was named alongside other man servants in his will. As a parish clerk, he witnessed lots of weddings over many years. Would love to know more about his day job/jobs.

I certainly do. I intend to ask my children and grandchildren to help me with the putative comedian/acrobat line of my family tree. Should be fun, along with celebrating three birthdays and actual Christmas! 😊 PS If we find no connection, well, at least we'll have clarity.

I had it once and found it delicious. Mind you, it had been cooked by the chef Jeremy Lee and contained no bones. Distinctly not sustainable these days, I believe. Eels must have been a very nutritious part of the English diet in the past. All those omega-3's and mentions in Domesday Book!

I interpret it the same way. Maybe there's some other evidence somewhere, to back up such an idea?

I was glancing at Chesterton online yesterday, as it happens, having previously been quite unaware of the place. I noticed that it's in your neck of the woods, Andrew. 😊

Amazing story of teamwork. A sadly different result for a relative of my Bolivian sister-in-law, who with a religious motivation, tended the sick near home in Peru, during the early days of Covid. He thought he'd be protected, but died. Did any of us believe a vaccine would be found so swiftly?!

I'm exploring how much this privileged world was separate and parallel to my Isaac's one as servant and parish clerk and how much a shared experience. My chap witnessed the Reverend's will and swore that he recognised the handwriting therein, so a trustworthy fellow, eh. 😊

Hurrah! You do indeed own them. 😊

One further thought: There was a time when people used to drink ale because it was more hygienic than the local water....

According to my mother (born 1922), she signed the pledge. She was bedridden & my great grandfather used to have the pub next door quietly pass a glass of beer through the side window into his back yard where he cooked up faggots for sale on market day (they had a small grocer's shop at the time).

My great grandma Florence apparently joined one in Newbury, but that must have been quite a bit later. Newbury Temperance Hall: www.royalberkshirearchives.org.uk/this-months-...

Glad to see you citing your sauces. 🍾🥂😁

Thanks for the repost! 😁

That was a good day's work, well done, you! I've been there and it was physical things that made the difference in the long term. Good luck with water and health and I hope you get to enjoy the season a little as you go.