She sells sea shells

She sells sea-shells on the sea-shore.
The shells she sells are sea-shells, I'm sure.
For if she sells sea-shells on the sea-shore
Then I'm sure she sells sea-shore shells.

An early visit to the market this morning as rain was forecast (correctly) for the afternoon. We stopped off at Beach beach on the way home. The tide was way out and the strange rock formations revealed. I rather liked this little cluster of shells. It made me think of the famous tongue twister - go on have a go. But did you know that this mini poem is meant to be about Mary Anning (1799-1847) who lived in Lyme Regis and was a renowned palaeontologist. She was only 12 when she discovered the first ever ichthyosaur and went on to make further fossily discoveries such as the plesiosaurs and pterosaurs. It was considered a wonder that a woman, and one of not a very good background, could have such an understanding of science.
". . . the extraordinary thing in this young woman is that she has made herself so thoroughly acquainted with the science that the moment she finds any bones she knows to what tribe they belong. She fixes the bones on a frame with cement and then makes drawings and has them engraved. . . It is certainly a wonderful instance of divine favour - that this poor, ignorant girl should be so blessed, for by reading and application she has arrived to that degree of knowledge as to be in the habit of writing and talking with professors and other clever men on the subject, and they all acknowledge that she understands more of the science than anyone else in this kingdom."
Lady Sivester put it all down to divine intervention! It wasn't until 2010 that the Royal Society put her on the list of the 10 British women who have most influenced science. Who knew there was a list!
Have a jolly bank holiday weekend.