Its raining. Its only fine rain but it still wets you. Hard to see in the dark, but the our dog was wet when he came back in. He doesn't seem to mind the rain. He just comes in through the back door and with a couple of shakes he has removed the water from his coat and spread it around the kitchen.

"Thank you," I said to him.

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest

"I'm a bunkey," said the queer person. "Surely you have seen a bunkey before? I'm half monkey and half bunny. Can't you see the rabbit - ears?"

"Yes," said Noddy, staring. "Good gracious! I didn't know there was such a creature. Bunny-ears and monkey-face-well, well, well - a bunkey! Are you hurt?"

"Yes. Very hurt," said the bunkey. "It's my leg. I fell on it. You look very kind. Could you help me, do you think?"

"Would you like to get into my car and I'll drive after the circus and stop it, and help you back into your van again," said Noddy.

"No! They're very unkind to me at the circus," said Bunkey, big tears rolling down his cheeks, and his bunny-ears twitching to and fro. "I never have enough food. I have to do all the heavy work. They never even waited to pick me up when I feel out. Nobody seems to want me!"

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest

"What has ever got you precious father, then?" said Mrs cratchit. "And your brother, Tiny Tim? And Martha warn't as late last Christmas Day by half an hour!"

"Here's Martha, mother! said a girl, appearing as she spoke.

Here's Martha, mother!" cried the two you Cratchits. Hurrah! There's such a goose, Martha!"

"Why, bless your heart alive, me dear, how late you are!" said Mrs Cratchit, kissing her a dozen times, and taking off her shawl and bonnet for her with officious zeal.

"We'd a deal of work to finish up last night," replied the girl, "and had to clear away this morning, mother!"

"Well! Never mind so long as you are come." said Mrs Cratchit. "Sit ye down and before the fire, my dear, and have a warm, Lord bless ye!"

To be continued,

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest

Have a nice day and I should be around at lunchtime. Bye for now.

TARA !

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest

William Bosman said of the Gold Coast area that the "chief medicaments" were lime, melegueta pepper, cardamonn (an East Indian spice), several varieties of herb, and roots, branches, and gums of trees.

Besides the export of plants and foods from Africa, another long-term result of the Columbian discovery was the import of plants into Africa. From the New World came peanuts, papayas, guavas, avocados, maize, pineapples, and manioc (cassava). The Portuguese also planted lemon, lime and orange groves along the Atlantic coast. Resourceful captains then provisioned these citrus fruits ti inhibit scurvy among their human cargo. Besides oranges and limes, paw paws and groundnuts were introduced into the Gambia by the Portuguese. E. J. Alagoa believed that "cassava was apparently introduced to the Niger Delta by the Portuguese through Warri and Benin." According to him, the plant name was recorded at Warri by John Barbot in the late 1600's.

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest

She shook her head. "No, I couldn't. That little dog meant too much to me. I couldn't let another take its place."

"Well I know that's how you feel just now but I wish you'd think about it. I don't want to seem callous - I tell everybody this when they lose an animal and I know it's good advice."

"Mr Herriot, I'll never have another one." She shook her head again very decisively. "Rex was my faithful friend for may years and I just want to remember him. He's the last dog I'll ever have.

I often saw Mrs Donovan around the town after this and I was glad to see she was still as active as ever, though she looked strangely incomplete without the little dog on its lead. But it must have been a month before I had the chance to speak to her.

It was on the afternoon that Inspector Halliday of the RSPCA rang me.

"Mr Herriot," he said, "I'd like you to come and see an animal with me. A cruelty case?"

"Right, what is it?"

"A dog, and it's pretty grim. A dreadful case of neglect." He gave me the name of a row of old brick cottages down by the river and said he'd meet me there.

To be continued,

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest

Ireland August 1983 -  March 1884

I want to learn about magic," said the girl. The Magus looked at her. Faded jeans, T-shirt, the challenging look adopted by all shy people precisely when it's least needed.

"I must be twice her age," he thought and despite this, he knew that he had met his soulmate.

Brida felt irritated by the silence of the man walking beside her. He hadn't even deigned to respond to her last remark. The forest floor was wet and covered in fallen leaves; she too, noticed the shadows changing and the rapid approach of the night. It would be dark soon and they didn't even have a touch with them.

"Let's suppose that I do start teaching you what I've learned," he said, his eyes fixed on hers. "Let's suppose that I start to show you the parallel universe that surround us, the angels, the wisdom of nature, the mysteries of the tradition of the sun and the tradition of the moon. Then one day, you go into the town to buy some food and, in the middle of the street you meet the love of your life."

I wouldn't know how to recognise him," she thought, but decided to say nothing. This question was turning out to be more difficult than she's imagined.

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest

There is some football on soon. I think its Birmingham and some other team. I should be along at half-time with a bit of banter.

Talking of football. What would Owen want to go to Chelsea for. He would most likely only sit on the bench. He's better saying up North. Allus thought so. They are battlers up there. None of that poncy soft stuff. Much more likely: The Boys from the Black Stuff.

Anyway, tara for now.

TARRA !

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest

I will pop in again before the start of the next game with Sindbad the Sailor. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and bye for now.

TARA !

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest

Descending from the tree I hastily collected what remained of my provisions and set off as fast as I could go towards it. As I drew near it seemed to me to be a white ball of immense size and height, and when I could touch it, I found it marvellously smooth and soft. As it was impossible to climb it - for it presented no foothold - I walked round it seeking some opening, but there was non. I counted, however, that it was at least fifty paces round. By this time the sun was near setting, but suddenly it fell dark, something like huge black cloud came over me, and I saw with amazement that it was a bird of extraordinary size which was hovering near. Then I remembered that I had often heard sailors speak of a wonderful bird called roc, and it occurred to me that the white object which had so puzzled me must be its egg.

Sure enough the bird settled slow down upon it, and I cowered close beside the egg in such a position that one of the bird's feet, which was as large as the trunk of a tree, was just in front of me.

Taking off my turban I bound myself securely to the huge claw with the linen in the hope that the rocc, when it took flight next morning, would bear me away with it from the desolate island. And this was precisely what did happen. As soon as dawn appeared the bird rose into the air carrying my up till I could no longer see the earth, and then suddenly it descended so swiftly that I almost lost consciousness.

Maybe an "Eagle" ?

Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest