Offham

This is a quintain, supposedly the last one left in the country. Back in the day, before the advent of the motor car or television, youths would make their own entertainment. This piece of kit was a way in which they could test their agility and train for mounted warfare. The beam across the top can swing around, at one end the beam forms a broad paddle shape and at the other end is a free-swinging weight. Our brave youth would ride towards the equipment and strike the paddle end of the beam, this causes the beam to swing around and our hero is brained by the weight - unless he is agile. Not a mobile telephone in sight, out in the fresh air living their best life and only risking a minor concussion or a fractured skull. Doesn't that sound like the kind of thing that would go well as a reality show on a Saturday evening?

I was in Offham for lunch with a daughter and her daughter. We were due to go to Woodstock but when I got there it was packed and there was a queue for tables. I texted Ro (she was running late because her daughter had hidden the car keys) and we agreed on The Kings Arms because the last time we were there the food was great. It was great again today.

I've put a fingerpost in the extras, it points to a place with a name that gets mangled by those who don't know the area.