Yesterday was WhitSunday - I remember when Whit Monday was the May Bank Holiday.. and looked up when it changed and why.

According to Wikipedia it lasted a century....

Whit Monday was officially recognised as a bank holiday in 1871 but lost this status in 1971 when the Spring Bank Holiday was created.

I'd never been quite clear on the differences between Whitsun and Pentecost

Disgraceful

Serious reprimand for Iain Duncan Smith from @ukstatsauthBackground guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/… guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/… w @jdportes

— Declan Gaffney (@djmgaffneyw4) May 10, 2013

Came across an interesting mention in http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-721-1/dissemi...

The Manor of Connerton and the hundred and liberties of Penwith were separate from the Duchy of Cornwall and gave the Lord of the Manor’s special rights and privileges, but also came with additional duties (listed as in the 15th century: to do common suit to the court and mill of the manor; to act as reeve if so elected; to act as a conventionary tenant of the manor; to repair and maintain the property) ...

Another site http://www.newman-family-tree.net/The-Story-of-Francis-Paynter%20by%20Ia...

I know Nick's keen to track down a big cat so thought he might like this story from Meridian and WestCountry ITV this week..

Proof that 'big cats' existed

The rediscovery of a mystery animal in Bristol museum’s underground storeroom proves that a non-native ‘big cat’ prowled the British countryside at the turn of the last century.

9:01 am, Thu 25 Apr 2013
Meridian

Scientists prove that 'big cats' roamed the countryside

The Canadian Lynx was discovered in Bristol Museum's storeroom Credit: Southampton University

Last one for today; Sharp Tor, Linkinhorne. Prehistoric field boundaries are visible beneath the modern field system twitter.com/PRScredda/stat…

— Cornish Bygone Times (@PRScredda) March 13, 2013

Excellent letter via Letters: Coalition should zero in on the real issue of unfair work contracts 04 April 2013 00:05

Interesting In praise of... in the Guardian

Was caught by a paragraph in a New Scientist article on 'Fuel of the Future?' Methane hydrates [ Fuel of the future: How fiery ice could power Asia - environment - 07 March 2013 - New Scientist ]

Ancient history offers evidence to support this, says Euan Nisbet of Royal Holloway, University of London. A landslide off Norway 8000 years ago triggered a 4-metre-high tsunami that swamped Scotland. Geological data suggests it was accompanied by a massive methane release, possibly because warmer temperatures melted sea-floor hydrates (Nature, doi.org/ccf5rs).

I had thought Blair's Iraq posturings were the worst affront to democracy but the current Coalition is beating him hands down.

Both parties commissioned and agreed to the Coalition document to bind this parliament.

One of the things it says is 'No Top Down reorganisations of the NHS'

From Sir David Nicholson's testimony to the Health and Social Care Committee today -

Just heard the best political interview in years - James O'Brien knew his facts, refused to be browbeaten and kept politely and firmly insisting the Iain Duncan-Smith learns to listen to inconvenient facts... he wasn't successful of course but it was massively illuminating. 

Listen to the amazing exchange in full below

It's abundantly clar that Iain Duncan-Smith has no idea of what the Court of Appeal actually ruled nor about the fact that Caitlin Reilly was required to give up a more relevant piece of work experience (she did not 'volunteer' to for work experience entirely unsuited to getting her paid work).