I was arrested by the English and taken into custody for wearing a leek for of course today is St David's day and the leek had been sent to me by my parents in a family tradition of pride.

I was later forced to eat the leek but this was no punishment because they're very tasty, but I wasn't allowed to wash the earth of it first.

Imagine the uproar if that happened today. The strident ones would be having a field day! I wonder if I should petition Parliament for a pardon!

small beer compared with today's events in Ukraine but pretty traumatic only six weeks after my 16th birthday I can assure you.

What a traumatic experience for you Laurie, specially as a teenager. Pity the leeks weren't cooked. Lovely greens. Take care, cheers Penny.

In my childhood, the years I was in England from 2 years old to nearly 9, a parcel of shamrock always arrived for March 17th, from my grandparents. When I again came to these shores age 11 to stay 'more or less', the custom was not continuing within the family, but I found a mail order system!

Didn't the Queen Mum used to present Shamrock sprigs to the Irish Guards each March the 17th?

laurie53 wrote:Didn't the Queen Mum used to present Shamrock sprigs to the Irish Guards each March the 17th?

She did and the lovely dog mascot always proudly wore a sprig too. In recent years, I think the Duchess of Cambridge (It niggles me the familiar way people refer to her as Kate) has been filling the role.