Out Of Time

Our trip to see family at the weekend was fruitful in many ways, including the purchase of two very interesting books by this local author.  The first book entitled the "The Secret of The Swan" has been the focus of our read aloud and independent reading this time week.  Initially Benedict was not interested in the books but having read two chapters to him yesterday, he was enthralled by the story and the book was finished this morning, twenty chapters in all!

My first thought was to discuss a book report but having read the author's notes at the back of the book, we followed a series of rabbit trails instead:

~ The book mentioned St Cuthbert, so off we travelled to Lindisfarne(!) to study the Gospels.  He remembered last year's fiasco and I announced that I'm determined to revisit this year, it's on my list!

~ We visited the furness abbey home page as the book mentioned a Thomas Holcroft who was one of King Henry VIII's soldiers involved in the sacking of the Abbey.  He was richly rewarded for his endeavours and his name lives on in the town as a road is named after him, "Holcroft Hill."  I had know idea of its links to that particular piece of history.

~ We read about Henry VIII and his piece of work co-written with Thomas More "Assertio Septem Sacramentorum" attacking the writings of Martin Luther and for which he was granted by the Pope the title " Fidei Defensor" (Defender of the Faith) a title still held by the queen today and carried on British coinage FD. 

~ We learnt about the Cistercians and their traditions including the importance of manual labour in daily life.  Benedict coloured in a sheet depicting a monk working as a Blacksmith and then he wrote about daily life in this monastery.

All in all it has been an interesting day.