Hester

Well, I've registered for Queen Charlotte's Birthday Ball at Fort York, in just over a week's time: http://www.claviersbaroques.com/QueenCharl.../CBQCBB2007.htm Okay, so it's post-GAoP, and it's a naval-themed event rather than a piratey one. But there's a RUM tasting! Cheers, Hester

Today, I scored the 2007 PoTC DMC wall calender, 75% off. I'll hang it at my cottage this summer. Cheers, Hester

Heavy Horses by Jethro Tull ... part of my Plough Monday playlist. Cheers, Hester

Well, today is Plough Monday, the first Monday after Epiphany (January 6th), when the Xmas holidays officially ended, and farm workers had to go back to their usual labour, such as ploughing the fields. Of course, heading back to work after a holiday is never much fun, so the plough boys would ham it up a bit with some extended misrule that involved sword dancing, etc.: http://www.halikeld.f9.co.uk/traditions/st...tots/stots2.htm Now, while ploughing the fields may have been an onerous chore, it was still preferable to being impressed into the Navy! Here's a broadside ballad that dates back to 1797, in which a handsome plough boy is abducted by the Press Gang at the instigation of his young love's parents. His true love follows him aboard the ship and rescues him from this form of slavery on the high seas: http://www.contemplator.com/england/ploughboy.html Cheers, Hester

It's called a mantua. It's actually a dress that opens down the front but is worn looped back. There's an article on mantuas on my website too. Have a look. Great article on the mantua, Kass. I love how this piece of "bedroom wear" gradually became part of everyday fashion. I guess one modern equivalent might be the camisole, which was solely an undergarment when I was growing up, but is now considered acceptable street wear. (Global warming at work, perhaps?) Come to think of it, I have a pretty sky-blue satin housecoat that I wouldn't mind wearing out in public as a jacket. Cheers, Hester

Hi, Kass: Many thanks for your patient replies to my queries. In the sober light of day, I think perhaps sewing a set of stays is a bit beyond me ... but I will keep your website in mind if I ever get that ambitious. And I'll try to restrict my Victorian shawl to more recent epochs. Hmmm ... frockcoat and jeans ... now there's a look I'd like to try! Cheers, Hester

Well, Cap'n Jack is irresistable... ...but now, that Norrington, once he turns bad boy ... mmm hmm! Don't you just want to give him a bath and ... [Oh yeah, I already did that at the hot tub... much to Merrydeath's chagrin.] Right, on that note ... time I went to sleep! Cheers, Hester

Hi, Kass: I enjoyed your article and the subsequent discussions. I wonder: would one of the old-fashioned white cotton nightgowns that you often see for sale commercially these days [e.g. La Cache] work as a "shift" in a pinch? And what material would be best for stays? I love brocade -- would that be "authentic"? Turquoise and gold, I'm picturing. Also, where could one find a pattern to sew one's own stays? [And is that something a complete and utter novice could manage, or is it rather complicated?] And in the period pictures you provide, the women seem to have a garment on their top half that has sleeves. What is that? A jacket? And what about shawls. I loves shawls, me! Authentic, d'ye think? I've got an original late Victorian silk shawl in a floral pattern with some rot holes, but looks lovely if folded carefully. Could I back-date it a couple centuries? Cheers, Hester ... mildly drunk and having trouble typing ... g'night, love! And not sure where I'd wear all this anyway... except Hallowe'en... or maybe my fantasies

Mildly and pleasantly drunk ... Spent the evening watching contraband DVDs of the BBC's new Robin Hood series (thanks to a very kind "source"), while drinking a concoction of pear cider and cassis that I think I'll call "Kir William". Jenny, love, have you tried a hot buttered rum for that cold? [Hmmm... maybe I'll make myself a nightcap for medicinal reasons!] Cheers, Hester ... who, knock wood, seems to have fewer colds now that she eats lots of fresh fruit and uses hand sanitizer on the subway

I noticed in the extras of the 2 disc DVD of PotC DMC that there was a ship with Asian style sails on set. So ... I wouldn't be overly surprised to see Captain Jack in Asian armour "at de ends of de earth" after all. ... but the anticipation and the mystery is the fun of it all. Cheers, Hester

^The Roman Colosseum out of chocolate cake. [Oh yeah ... and Stonehenge out of rice krispie squares] < Roasting a chicken for supper V Did you receive any Xmas presents that you couldn't immediately identify or determine the purpose of? If so, what did they look like?

^My favourite piece of jewellery at the moment is a costume piece -- a stretchy cuff bracelet made up of large oval opaque petal-pink glass placques held together with strong elastics. Each placque is edged in silver-tone metal, and embedded in the glass is a real daisy. .Not the sort of thing you wear continuously, but I do wear it with many outfits. When the elastic finally breaks, I'll mourn its passing. It pairs very nicely with a rose-quartz rough bead necklace that I have < I love your idea of a pirate-themed Xmas tree, Jenny. Today being St. Distaff's Day, we're taking down our tree and Xmas decorations. What a chore! And I really don't like most of the ornaments on our tree anyway (stocking gifts chosen by other people). I'm starting to cull them. V Speaking of St. Distaff's day, what is the most unusual holiday that you celebrate?

^"And the first tree in the greenwood it was the Holly" -- bright, prickly, and unfazed by snow. < Just finished a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and strawberries, prepared by my very kind husband V Have you found any exciting bargains in the post-Yule sales?

- PotC Dead Man's Chest DVD - 2 different cocktail recipe books - perfume - spa treats - cheque from the parents, which I'm having fun stretching a ridiculously long way in the Boxing month sales Cheers, Hester

^ I was the Wicked Witch of the West in my high school production of the Wizard of Oz < Head's finally clear today, but I certainly agree with Lily about migraines being a waste of time! V How cold would it have to be before you willingly donned a pair of earmuffs?

^ The Robin Hood Ballad Project (a work in progress, by a novice folksinger who only got brave enough to attempt singing at the age of 40): http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1420/audio.php [use the "HS" buttons under each song to play them, as the virtual player on the right is a bit whacky and plays some of the songs at increased speed, making me sound like one of the Chipmunks.] < Fighting off a migraine all day. Killed all my plans. What a drag! Couldn't even do my singing practice. V Other than pirate re-enacting, what is your most eccentric hobby?

Oh, and there is a 17th century ballad set in the port of Scarborough, Yorkshire, called "Robin Hood's Fishing", in which Robin Hood gives up his outlaw life in the forest to try his hand as a fisherman. He turns out to be useless at fishing, but with his skill as an archer, he saves the ship, the crew, and their valuable catch from attacking French pirates. Text: http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/teams/fishing.htm Analysis: http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/teams/fishint.htm I haven't yet tried to record a version of this song, but it would seem it goes with the tune known as "In Summertime", which I've also used for the ballad of Robin Hood and the Monk. [Although I don't personally read music, I do have the musical score for this tune, arranged for voice and piano, and if anyone is interested, I can scan and upload an image.] Cheers, Hester

Hi, Foxe: Thanks! I've sent Tall Paul a query about the UKPB songbook. And speaking of ballads, I'd like to take this opportunity to promote a current endeavour of mine, The Robin Hood Ballad project. There are about 40 Robin Hood ballads in the Child canon, most of which are from the 17th century or earlier, and they would have remained popular into the GAoP and beyond. About half of these ballads lack any known tune and have thus become "orphaned" as unsung songs. So, I've made an attempt to pair some of these venerable songs with workable trad. tunes (borrowed from other RH ballads and other sources). I'm quite a novice folksinger, but I've uploaded the results of my efforts at the following website: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1420/audio.php I'd be thrilled if any of the singers here at the pub would also take up this project to revive these songs by adding some of these (or other) Robin Hood ballads to their repertoire. The best source on the web for the texts of these ballads, along with annotations and academic analysis, is the Robin Hood Project at the University of Rochester: http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/rh/rhaumenu.htm Cheers, Hester

Hi, Captain Tightpants: Many thanks for your info on the history of English muffins and similar griddle breads. Which reminds me, it's been awhile since I made my favourite type, Singing Hinnies: http://www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk/recip...e=singinhinnies I first came across these in an adapted form in a recipe book for wilderness campers. They're very, very rich (great for hikers or canoeists burning off lots of calories). These cakes are "traditional" in Northumberland, but I don't know how far back the recipe actually dates. Cheers, Hester

Thanks for that, Iron Bess: I think there's a lovely irony in the young 'reporter' asking Johnny Depp if it's fun dressing up as a pirate. He's ostensibly wearing "street clothes" for the interview ... but he's, well ... still dressed up as a pirate! What I really love is that he's MY age and dresses like that. Cheers, Hester ... whose top resolution for the New Year is to "indulge my inner punk" and that includes shopping for clothes at the world-beat surf-punk shop across town.

Mmmm... Welsh Rarebit! I have a brass toasting fork with a Robin Hood finial that we could use to toast the bread over the fireplace. Cheers, Hester ... who prefers her rarebit on English muffins. Do they date to the GAoP?

Following Captain Jigme's advice that Gosling's Black Seal is too nice to be mixed, I got a bit curious and decided to swig a bit from the bottle to see how it tasted straight. Mmmm... delicious. Had to have a second swig... Okay, this could turn into a dangerously addictive habit! I'm stopping now. Cheers, Hester

Oh yes, and last fall, my b-i-l was pouring this for me during a family visit, over ice, with lots of lime and a splash of Coke: Haven't seen it in the local liquor stores, but I'm keeping a weather eye out for it! Cheers, Hester ... did I mention that he's my favourite b-i-l?

Ah, Gosling's! That's what I've been using in my Captain Kidd cocktails over the holidays. But don't worry, the mixers I use have their own kick: 1 part Gosling's, 1 part cognac, 2 parts dark creme de cacao -- shake with ice and strain. Heaven. And for my fruity rum cocktails, I can't really see the point of white rum -- no flavour at all. But Appleton Estate's V/X Jamaican rum has a lovely golden colour and flavour and works very nicely with fruit juices: Cheers, Hester

Turns out that we were out of English muffins, so instead, I had Stilton with leftover Xmas fruitcake for breakfast. But, that got me thinking ... wouldn't fruitcake be period-appropriate shipboard food too? -- Not for the general crew perhaps, but maybe as a personal luxury brought aboard by the officers. Fruitcake is certainly venerable enough, popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. And it's the ultimate durable foodstuff -- soak it in brandy, cover it in marzipan, and you've pretty much embalmed it for a century. Plus, it just tastes better the older it gets! So, is there any documentary evidence of fruitcake being taken on ship voyages during the GAoP? Cheers, Hester