The world from my window

On a balmy summer night, we pootle down to Lyme Regis and manage to find a space in the car park near the Cobb. We don't want to be late because we understand a certain gentleman is due to arrive, along with a small band of supporters. We're here to see Monmouth , the Lyme Regis community play and we want to be in on the action, right at the start. You see it was here, in June 1685, that the Duke of Monmouth landed, intent on gathering a rebel army along the way to seize the throne from his unpopular uncle, James II. The Monmouth Rebellion, which I've written about before , led to the last battle on English soil, some thirty four years after the English Civil War.  It could have worked but, for many reasons, it didn't. It was a sad episode in our history. And the bloody aftermath was shocking, with the notorious Judge Jeffreys ordering men to be hanged, drawn and quartered, left, right and centre, their remains displayed around villages and towns to act as a war

It's Mr Grigg's birthday and I've splashed out and bought us joint membership to  The National Trust . It wasn't that expensive and we should have joined years ago. We're surrounded by beautiful stately homes and are regular visitors to this place, just up the road from us in Lush Places. It's the highest point in Dorset (one of my  friends  got deliciously lost here, which she recounts in this blog post  on Totally Dorset ). Lewesdon looks down on  The Enchanted Village  like a protective parent. But joining the Trust was always something we were going to do when we had more time. And, besides, it's what old people do, and we're not that old. Yet. And then my work changed (hey, if there is anyone who needs a writer, please get in touch!) and I suddenly had more time. And, after a conversation with my young stonemason nephew (who has worked on the glorious Tyntesfield , which I am saving up to visit on a metaphorical rainy day), I dec