Grabbed by the balls?

 

This is what I couldn't resist.  Tam spotted it on a neighbouring stall and I did a bit of haggling - the lass was sad to let it go as she loved it too.  The original colour is around the edge, where the narrow (black) frame used to be.  I may try and replace with another similar if I can find one on-line.  It's grubby and has seen better days, but I love Swallows, even whimsical ones like these.

I cracked on with Family History yesterday and found some brilliant links, including many for my 3 x g. grandfather in Plymouth, Richard Adams.  Turns out that as well as being a skilled Carpenter by trade he was a (Special?) Constable.  There was an Act passed in 1831 which brought these into play.  Amazingly there were links to the people he apprehended.  One made me laugh - lodging house owner cross because someone staying there had made off with the counterpane and blanket off the bed.  Girl found, with pawnbrokers' tickets in her bag.  Oh, but she hadn't STOLEN anything officer, she had just borrowed money against it and so could repay any time.  Sure!

I liked the one where he apprehended a (drunken?) soldier running amok with a fixed bayonet, threatening anyone in his way and who ran onto a ship moored at the Quay and had to be manhandled off. The writing is a little illegible in places but I'm sure it was his coat which was seized rather than his . . . balls!! although that is what the word looks most like . . .  What think you?  Third line down, third word from the end (R).  "balls and Collar" . . .?

I am just so thrilled to know some of the details of Robert's life - following the rate books you can see him moving house to adjoining streets and paying rents for rooms in tenements, then finally purchasing his own house, and then others to rent out - we're talking the bottom end of the market here though.  He ended up though, in the purpose-built Shaftesbury Cottages (think Lord Shaftesbury and social reform here) - these were for needy poor people, but were a great improvement on the back-to-backs you paid 1 shilling and sixpence rent on.  These cost 4 shillings a week but each cottage had a room and a little back kitchen, a small yard and a privy.  Upstairs there were 3 small bedrooms.  Despite having thin walls and poor roofing, they were still a huge improvement on the one up one down back-to-back's  (e.g. kitchen/bedroom accommodation) that were slung up by folk like Thomas Gill who needed accommodation for his quarry workforce where overcrowding was rife.  (2 adults with 7 children; 4 separate cases of 2 adults and 5 children; 3 adults with 3 children etc.) all housed in rooms 12 ft 8" x 10ft. 

I ended up cooking for the freezer last night.  I defrosted a large tray of mince and asked Keith did he want a Cottage Pie?  No, he wanted pasties.  So here they are, with cheese pastry, and a mix of diced potato, peas and mince inside.  I started this late in the day for pastry really, but they're done now.  Same for tea for Keith tonight and 3 as meals in the freezer.  I had a Spag. Bol with my half.  I like meals I can make without thinking too much!

Well, kittens have had some fresh air outside already (Pippi still VERY much with her harness on).  Lulu hated the wind the other day and ran back to the house.  Pippi said, bring it on!!  They are SO different. Pippi has been in the paper recycling box and chased around a small box and removed it and is now kicking it around the Utility!  

Right, breakfast and then off to Llandod for a couple of bits and on a little further to the Garden Centre for more compost and perhaps a plant . . .