Mirinda met Sophie today in Amesbury. They met in the car park and wandered around for a bit before going to lunch in a lovely pub. Mind you, there was a close shave when Mirinda noticed a nice looking pub quite close to the car park. When she pointed it out to Sophie, she shook her head and pointed at the menu in the window. The food was way too cheap. When Mirinda told me it was the Bell Inn I told her she was indeed lucky because it was a Wetherspoon’s.
The pub they did eat in was a bit outside Amesbury in a small village and was a delight, Mirinda said. They are thinking of meeting up for lunch more often and Amesbury looks like a good, halfway option.
Interestingly, an early American colonist by the name of William Carpenter, came from Amesbury (probably). He settled in Rhode Island in the 17th century and did very well for himself. And his wife and kids. He owned a big plantation (presumably stolen from the natives) and became wealthy and influential.
Carpenter built a big old block house on his property because he (rightly) feared attacks by the original owners of the land. All the other settlers would run for Bill’s Block House at the first sign of danger.
They were gathered there during King Philip’s War (1675–1678) when quite a few settlers were killed, including Carpenter’s son, William junior. Incidentally, a native American who got on quite well with the original pilgrims, changed his name from Metacom to Philip, which is why the war is called King Philip’s. Mind you, I’m sure there’s quite a few descendents that call it Metacom’s War. Though, I’d be tempted to call it The War Against the Imperialist Bastards Who Stole Our Land.
I don’t know if William Carpenter has a blue plaque in Amesbury because Mirinda didn’t say and I’ve never been there.
Of course, with Mirinda being away, I had a day at home, alone. Well, apart from the girls. And the rain, which didn’t stop all day. We really have had one grey day after another but, unlike the leaden skies we had in Sweden, these ones leave everything wet and muddy.
Of course, one of us spent a lot of the time on one of the red dining chairs.
And, naturally, Emma spent most of her time on the library window sill, telling people to keep well away from the house. Or just saying hello, for all I know.
