School prize

N's grandfather won this in the fifth form for Mathematics when he was thirteen. These pages are much more colourful and interesting than the title and content of the book - "The American Navy in the War with Spain" by John R Spears (author of The History of the United States Navy) published in 1898.  But perhaps the 100 small photographs and illustrations  of battleships and famous leaders peppering the pages would whet a young boy's enthusiasm.  In fact it could be quite interesting after all!  A period of history we Brits know little about.

L drove back to Devon this morning after having spent the night with us following R'S funeral yesterday. It was a very sad day but he certainly had a good send-off with nearly 200 people in the cold church.  The only heating apparent was the electric fire over the door; the new vicar said there was a heating system under the pews but it was made not to be turned off and on so the parishioners could not afford to run it!  Something had to be done about it and quickly!  Where did it all go wrong?