Friday 15 March 2024

Pictures of Frome

 I took some pictures of Frome in Somerset 

Thursday 14 March 2024

History of Menstruation

 I wrote a history of menstruation 

Red Letter Days

Why do we say red-letter days? In the Middle Ages, saint's days were marked in red in calendars. People did not work on some saint's days, which were also called holy days. Our word holiday is derived from a holy day.

Wednesday 13 March 2024

Diving Suit

 I found an interesting video about the world's oldest diving suit  

Uranus

 On 13 March 1781, William Herschel discovered the Planet Uranus, the first new planet discovered since Ancient Times. https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-the-outer-planets/

Tuesday 12 March 2024

Let The Cat Out of The Bag

 Why do we say let the cat out of the bag? This old saying is probably derived from the days when people who sold piglets in bags sometimes put a cat in the bag instead. If you let the cat out of the bag you exposed the trick. I have heard it said, on certain historical ships I could mention that it comes because a cat o'nine tails was kept in a bag. But the cat o'nine tails was not used by the English navy till the mid-17th century and the saying is certainly older than that.

Friday 1 March 2024