Well assignment one is submitted, not without incident owing to the rat-induced wifilessness and with thoughts turning to assignment two I am immersing myself in tales of boat reconstructions. In a completely different context (I was looking for potential speakers about Cornish fishing) I happened across an exciting boat-building workshop in Falmouth. It was even free! There were only twelve places and I thought, no way will there be any vacancies but I applied and am super excited to announce that a boat restorer of my acquaintance and I will duly be getting up at very silly o’clock to spend a day in Falmouth. We had to provide names of next of kin on the booking form; should I be worried about this?
My fellow students and I decided we wanted a space to chat and moan and I stupidly suggested WhatsApp, as some weren’t keen on Facebook. Somehow this meant that I had ‘volunteered’ to set the group up. What I know about WhatsApp would fit on an extremely small postage stamp. I am the person with only seven contacts on my phone, two of whom I have never contacted. After a steep learning curve and with help from Martha, the group was established and there’s a lot of sharing of baking triumphs going on. As regular readers will know, I am genetically programmed to be a non-baker, so I can’t contribute to this, although it will soon be time for my once yearly baking foray as I make the Christmas cake.
We were also asked to pay the balance for our course. I think that worked but there is a great kerfuffle about the accompanying request for particular format pdf confirmation of previous qualifications, which none of us seem to be able to obtain. The alternative is ‘bring your certificates in in person’ (like that’s going to work), or to use a verification service that costs £40, which we are trying to avoid.
Having decided that growing, or even purchasing, hemp from which to make rope might be a bit dodgy and being right out of lime bast (no I didn’t know what that was either), I have been watching videos of using stinging nettles to make string. This does not seem to be without hazard but may be worth a go – easier than baking anyhow.
Now to seek out some sufficiently tall stinging nettles and wait with trepidation for the assignment feedback.
The History Interpreter - Janet Few 
Why not contact The Twine Works/museum at West Coker they might have ideas/information Always find your emails interesting Dinah
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I hadn’t heard of that – will investigate – if they are open maybe I can visit on the way back from talking to you at Yeovil next month
For what it’s worth I’ve read that plaited honeysuckle is what the ancients used for rope. It is tough when you pull it up (possibly a bit brittle laterally but maybe they soaked it???). Told they used to pull sledges and as rope to throttle people I may recollect that’s what they used on the Irish bog man ?).
Oooh that sounds a bit less hazardous than stinging nettles and I have plenty – will have to investigate.