Memorandum Monday
Waving to Sian and all the other Mondayers on this slightly overcast Monday morning.
This photo was taken yesterday on my 'first' ever sightseeing trip to Stratford Upon Avon. I've been there once before on a school trip to see a performance of The Merchant of Venice, but yesterday was my 'first' ever look around the town.
I opted to do the hop on - hop off tourist bus with the audio guide through which I learnt some 'new-to-me' facts, both to do with beds! Beds used to be constructed by lacing ropes across the wooden frame and then the mattress was placed on top of the tightened ropes. In time the ropes loosened and had to be re-tightened, hence the saying 'good night, sleep tight'. The second fact was to do with the sleeping arrangements in the house - the master and mistress slept in the second best bed (the best bed reserved for visitors), the boys of the family slept on the floor with the servants but the girls of the family slept on straw mattresses on a sleeping loft, which was a wide shelf around the room. The girls slept on this shelf until they were married, hence the saying 'left on the shelf' referring to the daughters of marrying age who remained unwed.
On the home front the 'new' kitchen/dining room floor has been installed but the decorator let me down so photos will have to wait.
I hope you all have a fun filled week.
Ah, now that's interesting, because isn't there some argument over Shakespeare's will and the fact that he left his wife the second best bed? Am I remembering that right? Makes sense now. Those hop on/off buses are brilliant. I'm still talking about doing the local one here.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a good week
Love the figures on the lamp post. It's great to hear how sayings have originated. We used to go to Stratford quite a lot for theatre trips when I was at school but I am afraid to say I haven't been since.
ReplyDeletelove that image and such interesting facts about common phrases - hope you are having a good week
ReplyDeleteFun snapshot and I enjoyed learning a bit of background about those sayings.
ReplyDelete