Oh, Cara, where's your sense of romance? Surely it was a case of true love! (Giggle time) - One of Andrew Denton's interview subjects was an rather senior 'working girl' (in Tassie, I think) who runs a Fantasy Phone Line manned by equally senior ladies. According to her, there are a lot of men who are attracted to 'older' women (and when the outgoings are in greater than the usual danger of exceeding the incoming pension, I do wonder if I would have the energy ... oh, the certificates I could buy with the proceeds!). Sadly, more likely that widowed Dorcas had a bit of security and James was capable of chopping the firewood for her. What I was intrigued with was the 'divers other herbs'. What other herbs did the Irish use to enhance the new matrimonial home? Old, old customs would have probably prevailed around 1810 - and, given the names of the couple, could old customs from Britain have won out over the Irish? I can see why some of the herbs might have been used to strew the path - Rue, the Herb of Grace, symbolizes virginity and was heavily associated with wedding ceremonies. The leaves, apart from relieving pain from bee stings and spider bites, was also regarded as an aphrodisiac. Rue, reputed to live for hundreds of years, was also the plant of endurance and patience. Nettles have a reputation for keeping evil out of a house, providing protection from bad spirits and nasty spells. Also had a reputation for inducing lust. Modern herbalists recommend nettle infusions for increasing energy, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, etc., and for countering incontinence (possibly quite useful in the circumstances). As Christianity replaced the ancient Celtic (and Druid) beliefs, box replaced mistletoe - but the attributes of the sacred mistletoe were more than likely bestowed on the box. And the attributes of mistletoe were many - keeping witches (and bad luck/disasters) away, preventing nightmares, creating fertility, and, of course, the associations with love. But what is bullock head? One hundredweight is only 50.8 kilos or 8 stone. Which hardly seems worth commenting on. Or was 'one hundred weight' measured differently, I wonder. Cheers Barbara