Travel
- Pumpkin Pie
About a week or so after Thanksgiving I found one organic pie pumpkin at the grocery. Today I cut it, cooked it, and pureed it, and even toasted the pumpkin seeds. (I'm not fond of the seeds, but Jeannie toasted quite a few at Thanksgiving...
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In yesterday's post I mentioned having bought soy-free eggs, and Shadowmoss commented she had never heard of them. I found this info on the internet, and will repeat it here in case there are others who also wonder about it. "Soy has become...
- Walk With My Daughter And Other Topics
Jeannie is healing pretty well from her surgery. The doctor wants her to walk every day, starting out slower and gradually increasing the time, but no power walking. I went over to visit with her today as Don had the two girls with him at soccer practice...
- 5 Reasons Why Brussels Is The Ultimate Romantic Getaway
Elegant buildings, high quality cuisine, scenic walks, café culture and world-renowned chocolate. If ever there was a city that should be high on the list of romantic weekend break destinations it’s Brussels. That’s right, the same Brussels that...
- Why I Don't Need (or Want) A Cell Phone In Aruba
My 2 cents on cell phones in Aruba. None of us are going to convince each other to use or not use a cell phone while on vacation, just a matter of priorities for each person. But here is why I don't use one... 1. Hardly use the phone at home so won't...
Travel
In the Name of the Law. Funny Laws from UK
The UK is home to one of the oldest legal systems in the world. This means that over the centuries certain laws were introduced which may have made sense at the time but which seem pretty barmy by today’s standards. While lots of them have been repealed by Parliament, there are quite a few that are still technically in force today.
Here are just a few of the oddest and funniest ones which were once enforced:
• In his zeal to bring about a more puritan, and slimmer, England Oliver Cromwell banned the eating of mince pies on Christmas Day according to Kent Online – and it wasn’t just these tasty treats that were forbidden. Christmas puddings and any kind of festivity were also off the menu but, unfortunately for many people, it’s thought that brussels sprouts were permitted.
• There are a number of laws which relate specifically to the Houses of Parliament according to the BBC. For example not only is it against the law to wear armour there, it is also an offence to die within its walls. It is not known, however, what the punishment could be for the latter.
• Within the city limits of York it is permitted to kill any Scotsman caught carrying a bow and arrow, although not on a Sunday. There is also a national law compelling all males over 14 to have two hours’ longbow practice every day, including Sundays. According to Hertz’s guide visitors used to also have to pay a toll by law to enter one of the fortified gateways, although this is no longer the case today!
• Next time you’re thinking about going to a fancy dress party as Popeye, maybe you should choose a different costume. Ever since 1906 it’s been an offence to dress up as a sailor or a soldier.
• Ladies enjoying a chocolate bar on the tube or bus, or indeed any “public conveyance”, should probably wait till they get home as this has long been against the law.
• Another form of consumption that could land you in hot water is the way that you choose to eat boiled eggs. That’s because Edward the 6th decreed that anyone caught cracking the shell at the sharp end should be clamped in the stocks for 24 hours – and presumably be pelted with rotten eggs.
• Even today it’s important to avoid upsetting the monarchy. For example, sticking a postage stamp upside is classed as treason and it’s also illegal to deface or destroy any item bearing a picture of the reigning monarch.
While these do all seem to be archaic rules, modern law-makers have also been doing their bit to keep the tradition of oddly worded, or simply odd, laws alive. Some of the most notable examples including banning the importation of Polish potatoes and the handling of salmon “in suspicious circumstances”. What’s more, following the 1998 Prohibition and Inspections Act, you’ll find yourself in serious legal trouble if you cause a nuclear explosion!
- Pumpkin Pie
About a week or so after Thanksgiving I found one organic pie pumpkin at the grocery. Today I cut it, cooked it, and pureed it, and even toasted the pumpkin seeds. (I'm not fond of the seeds, but Jeannie toasted quite a few at Thanksgiving...
-
In yesterday's post I mentioned having bought soy-free eggs, and Shadowmoss commented she had never heard of them. I found this info on the internet, and will repeat it here in case there are others who also wonder about it. "Soy has become...
- Walk With My Daughter And Other Topics
Jeannie is healing pretty well from her surgery. The doctor wants her to walk every day, starting out slower and gradually increasing the time, but no power walking. I went over to visit with her today as Don had the two girls with him at soccer practice...
- 5 Reasons Why Brussels Is The Ultimate Romantic Getaway
Elegant buildings, high quality cuisine, scenic walks, café culture and world-renowned chocolate. If ever there was a city that should be high on the list of romantic weekend break destinations it’s Brussels. That’s right, the same Brussels that...
- Why I Don't Need (or Want) A Cell Phone In Aruba
My 2 cents on cell phones in Aruba. None of us are going to convince each other to use or not use a cell phone while on vacation, just a matter of priorities for each person. But here is why I don't use one... 1. Hardly use the phone at home so won't...