40 Humourous British Traditions – Julian Worker Travel – A few ideas for your next trip in every direction

Duck Quacking Festival in Cirencester

When hunting a duck it’s a real advantage to be able to sound like a duck rather than a human being carrying a gun. This advantage will allow you to get closer to the bird before giving it both barrels with your shotgun. This was the rationale behind the duck imitators of Cirencester, who heldContinue reading “Duck Quacking Festival in Cirencester”

40 Humourous British Traditions – Cat Chasing

This is an extract from my book 40 Humourous British Traditions Barton-in-the-Beans is a village in the county of Leicestershire in the heart of England. In the Middle Ages it was believed that there were more cats in the village than in any other village or town in the country. This could only mean oneContinue reading “40 Humourous British Traditions – Cat Chasing”

Seven-legged racing from Exeter

The festival of seven-legged racing takes place around the cathedral in Exeter on the third Thursday after the second full moon after Ash Wednesday. The seven-legged race comprises teams of six people who race around the cathedral close in an anti-clockwise direction. The prize is won by the first team to cross the finishing lineContinue reading “Seven-legged racing from Exeter”

Pea Shooting in Penistone

In the Middle Ages not everyone could afford a bow and arrow, so some poorer families became proficient with a pea shooter for self-defence. As Arnold de Boycott said in 1562, “appen peas are cheaper than arrows and are easier to returne – some arrows gette stucke in things don’t they ande breake, but themContinue reading “Pea Shooting in Penistone”

The Beltane Hound

The foxes are allowed to use public transport and bicycles, but not private motorized vehicles to try and outmanouevre the hound. Likewise, nobody is allowed to conceal the foxhound or help it in any way. This relatively new ruling dates from 1873 when one of Lord Laxey’s forefathers disguised that year’s Beltane hound as aContinue reading “The Beltane Hound”

The Goat Parva Murder Mystery

I entered the 1st chapter of my new novel into a competition and it won, so the 1st chapter is now available here: http://writersbillboard.net/firstchapter3.html. It will soon be available on Amazon and other websites along with my other books, 40 Humourous British Traditions, Julian’s Journeys, Ten Traveller’s Tales, and 40 World Sports