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Aethelfrith Anglo Saxon King of Northumbria
The Anglo-Saxons came to the Northeast of England 100 years after Hengest landed in the south and by force of arms forged one of the most powerful kingdoms in the land. The name of that kingdom was Northumbria and one of its kings was Æthelfrith.
Pickling, Pickled Eggs
The Romans imported food into Rome from many parts of their empire and much of it was pickled in brine, vinegar, and oil, to preserve it throughout the journey. In medieval times the cooks in England – possibly having learned the art from their former conquerors – pickled surplus produce. This was used to provide a valuable source of food and vitamins during the harsh winter months when very little fresh produce would have been available.
My foray into pickling came about because I had a
Crabby Crab
At the seaside, in a large rock pool that can only be reached when the tide is fully out, there live many small creatures. Beneath the surface, on one of the rocky walls, Willy Winkle and Walter Whelk are taking a stroll over to see their friend Hermit Crab. As they pass Craggy Crevasse, Walter calls out to the Anemone sisters, ‘Good morning Rosemary, good morning Scarlet, I hope you’re feeling well today?’
The Snowman
In the village of Trimble, at the end of the street opposite the village green, stands a dirty old house. Inside, Kronk the meanest gnome in the land, rubbed a hole in the ice that had formed on the inside of his window and peered out. The permanent scowl on face deepened making him look meaner and even more unfriendly than normal.
1006AD. Uchtred (The bold) - High-Reeve of Bamburgh
Uchtred (The Bold) was a High-Reeve of Bamburgh in Bernicia, a Anglo-Saxon kingdom in The North of England during the time that the Danes ruled Northumbria. Despite constant Danish raids into and though Bernicia, He and his line manage to hold onto the kingdom at a time when most of the country, was first in the hands of the Saxons and then in the hands of the invaders.
466AD. Hengest and Horsa (stallion and Horse) - Kent
466AD. Whether invited by the High King of The Britons, Vortigern, as some sources say or came of their own accord in search of land and bounty, as others describe, the Saxons came to Briton in 446 or thereabouts.
Bamburgh Castle Northumberland
Bamburgh Castle one of the most imposing castles in England sits atop a volcanic crag on the very edge of the wild and magnificent coast of Northumberland.
The Terrible Tale Of The Linton Worme
I count myself lucky to live in Northeast England one of the most beautiful and interesting parts of the UK. A region rich in history, a place of castles, countryside and coast, that is awash with the myths and legends of days gone by.
At A Loose End, Mackerel With Mustard Sauce
A couple of years ago my brother took early retirement and after he finished doing all the jobs around the house he had always meant to do, if he ever found the time. He started on the garden; his wife however wasn’t best pleased, since she considered the garden to be her domain. Nevertheless she put up with it, she also accepted that he would help with the shopping, but what she wasn’t prepared to allow was any interference in the running of the household.
Hereward Legendary Hero
All the countries of the world have their legendary heroes and the small group of islands that make up the United Kingdom have their fair share. One of those heroes was Hereward the Wake (wary) who led a group of resistance fighters against the forces of William the Conqueror who subjugated England in 1066.
Passport To Heaven
Sarah smiled to herself as she filled the plastic tubs with the thick paste; Mohamed will be pleased she thought, as she clicked the lids firmly into place and carried them over to the bed.
Peter's Honey Biscuits
In his neat little, white painted, house at one end of the village of Trimble, Peter the friendly elf was looking through his cupboards. He had run out of his favourite honey biscuits and he was checking to see if he had all of the ingredients to make some more. To make sure he had them all he had written them down on a list was crossing them out as he found them.
The Tickler
When Alice Weatherspoon fancied a bit of fish for her tea, she didn’t go to the fishmonger’s or the chip shop, she went down to the river to catch her own. Mind you if the river warden were to catch her fishing without a licence it would have cost her a pretty penny, the fines were ridiculous and could be as high as £2,500.
Easter Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns!
One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns
The crocuses have been out for a couple of weeks, the daffodils along the roadsides are blooming, Easter is early and it’s a long time since you could get one hot cross bun for a penny never mind two.
Once Upon A Time In Northeast England
When I was a young lad the world was different, in some ways it was a harder place, but to me it seem be a better and happier one too.
Carlin Sunday 2 Carlin Recipes
Do you remember Carlin Sunday? Carlins seem to have dropped out of favour nowadays. But when I was a lad in the northeast of England, we used to have Carlin peas also called Maple peas, Black peas or Pigeon peas once a year on the Sunday before Palm Sunday. It was a yearly tradition in much of the north and on Carlin Sunday even the local pubs and clubs would provide bowls of them free for their customers.
The Battle Of Stamford Bridge
In 1066 the battle of Hastings wasn’t the only battle that King Harold Godwinsson fought. Less than twenty days prior to that famous battle, he had no choice but to fight another battle in the north of England against an enemy that was as strong and equally as determined to wrest the throne of England from his grasp. That enemy was Haraldur (Hard Ruler) Sigurosson the king of Norway who claimed he had a right to the throne via a treaty between his nephew Magnus and King Knutur, the son of King Canute who had a claim on the throne of England.
Sunday Lunch, Sunday Tea, Recipe: Bacon and Egg Pie
A few weeks ago we had the family over for Sunday lunch, nine adults, four grandkids. My wife as usual turned out a cracking meal, Roast beef and lamb – The grandkids prefer lamb – roast potatoes, roast parsnip, cauliflower, small boiled potatoes, carrots and of course Yorkshire puddings with gravy and mint sauce for the lamb. All prepared and cooked by my long suffering wife
It Comes To Us All
I received an extra gift this Christmas. In addition to the usual jumper, multi pack of socks and underwear, I received a car washing kit. You know the kind of thing, wash- leather, sponge, shampoo and polish. I think someone was trying to tell me something. Never mind, it was a handy present and I put in one of the kitchen cupboards for safekeeping, I was sure to find it there.
Theban Pharaohs Take Back Their Country
For 100 years the Pharaohs had ruled the southern lands of Kemet from their base in Thebes, while having to pay taxes to hated Aamu (Asiatics or Hyksos) who ruled the middle and northern area of the land. During the reign of Seqenenre Tao II however, thing came to head when the overlord and leader of the Aamu, Apepi I, warned him against fermenting a rebellion.
The Famous Lambton Worm
I live in the Northeast of England in Washington (formerly in the county Durham, but now in Tyne and Wear) which is situated between the River Tyne and the river Wear. If you haven't been to the area before, you may be surprised to see a Greek temple dominating the skyline. The temple stands on Penshaw Hill and was built in 1844 by Thomas Pratt as a memorial to the first Earl Of Durham, John George Lambton.
Visit An Angel
If on holiday in the UK, head for the Northeast of England and visit a place full of historic castles, ancient cathedrals, Roman forts and the great Roman wall. A land that has miles upon miles of glorious sandy beaches and magnificent countryside, where the natives are friendly and the welcome is warm. Newcastle on the north bank of the Tyne is filled with hotels, shops, restaurants and bars.
I Want
Geordie was sitting in the club nursing a pint of Fed Special and staring moodily out of the window at the rain when his mate Dave arrived.
'Bloody rain,' said Dave as he shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the back of the chair.
'Aye, talk about summer; it's hardly stopped since May,' replied Geordie.
'That's the British weather for you.'
Tomatoes, Green Tomato Chutney
I’m not by any means a gardener, but I do love my grandchildren and when they clamoured to buy some seeds, I let them pick one packet each. Chloe the eldest picked a packet of mixed flowers, and I reckoned I could cope with them. But the youngest Bethany was going through one of those phases that children go through. She had taken to eating tomatoes, as if they were apples, she couldn’t get enough of them.
Ivarr The Boneless Ragnarsson
Ivar known in Old Norse as Ivarr “Beinlauss” possible meaning, bone-loose or bone-less. (Could it be that he suffered from brittle bone disease or was he simply double jointed or could he have been exceptionally tall and loose limbed). What ever his disability was, if it was indeed a disability, it certainly did not affect his mind.
Writing For Beginners
You have a story in your head and you would like to write it down. You want to get it out of your head and onto paper either for your own satisfaction, or for others to read and hopefully enjoy. Maybe you want to write some bedtime stories for your children, or grandchildren. It could be a hobby or local history that you are well versed in and want to write about, or even that great novel that everyone is said to have inside. You have the information, you want to write, but you don't know how to go about it.
Prada Red
Sarah turned from the shop window with a smile, satisfied with her reflection. The red Prada bag and matching shoes added the final touch to her designer clad figure, a bit of class with a blatant hint of tart. She paraded up Northumberland Street, preening at the admiring glances of the men and ignoring the jealous glares of the more dowdily dressed women. She revelled in the calculated looks of other designer clad bimbos who knew to a penny her perceived worth.
Shield Of The Sun. Part Four. Serialisation
Beyond the low ridge to the east, the night sky glowed red from the reflected light of ten thousand campfires, and the raucous sounds of the multitude disturbed the peace of the night, as the Aamu, danced, drunk and celebrated victory over the forces of the Sun God Tutimaios.
Was Robin Hood A Yorkshireman?
As a boy I was brought up on tales of Robin Hood and his merry men, as were my children and now, with a new series on the small screen, my children's children. We also lived for ten years in a small Yorkshire village near to Wentbridge called Little Smeaton, hence my interest in the Yorkshire connections to Robin Hood.
Do You Write Short Stories?
If you like me are a member of a writers group, you will probably end up with a lot of very short stories that after a few readings will sit and gather dust in a file. You know the kind of thing, one or two page short stories that are just the right length to be read and discussed in a fifteen-minute slot. Even if you are not a member of a group and write on your own, if you love to write, you will produce lots of work that will never be used in the book or anthology that you intend one day to p
Shield Of The Sun
Excerpt from a serialisation. Part One.
He stood on a low mound, the great golden orb, casting long shadows on the plain below as Ra began his daily journey across a deep blue sky. His name was Hanno, a royal prince of the blood and he stood at the right hand of his boyhood friend Tutimaios, God King of the land of Kemet.
The Crack Of Dawn Short Stories Should Have A Twist In The Tail
She came for him at the crack of dawn. He heard her cross the room and the small boy hoping to hide, slid deep beneath the bedding. But there was no escape that way. She ripped back the covers and dragged him sobbing from the bed. He begged and pleaded all the while looking up hopefully, but the look of grim determination on her pale face told him there was to be no mercy.
Poems For Children
I write a quite a bit of prose, mainly short stories. A lot of them, but not all aimed at children. But poetry is a different matter, while I have always liked to read and listen to all sorts of poetry. I had always avoided trying to write it, mainly because. One; I hadn't a clue how to go about it (still haven't). Two: While I was able to understand the formula for formal sonnets, I didn't think my heart or soul was romantic enough to carry them off. That left option three: Free verse, what cou
Alfred And The Cakes
For years the Danish Vikings had plagued the various Saxon kingdoms, creating havoc by pillaging and burning. They robbed the monasteries killing the monks and stealing the church gold. But in recent years things had changed, instead of simply raiding, the Danes had come to conquer and stay.
Tutimaios The Pharaoh Who Lost A Country
Tutimaios (Tutimaeus) (Timaus) (Dedumose1)
Tutimaios according to Manetho was the Pharaoh that lost his country to the foreign invaders known by many as the ‘Hyksos’, although the Egyptians themselves would have used the term ‘Aamu’ meaning in rough translation ‘Asiatics’. While we are on the subject of names in those far off days Egypt would not have been the name the locals called the country. The occupants of the rich fertile lands of the Nile Valley would have called it Kemet, Kem, or the Black Lands, (as opposed to the Red Lands of the desert).
London Bridge Is Falling Down
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
So goes the old nursery rhyme that most likely records the destruction of the bridge by Olaf the Norwegian Viking.
There is another rhyme says Ottar Svarte that goes:
London Bridge is broken down.
Gold is won, and bright renown
Shields resounding,
War horns sounding,
Hild is shouting in the din.
Arrows singing,
Mailcoats ringing.
Odin makes our Olaf win.
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