ANTI SLIP BATHROOM FLOOR TILES

The Lygon Arms, situated in the beautiful Cotswold village of Broadway, is well known throughout the world as one of the oldest and most celebrated inns in England. The history of The Lygon Arms can be traced back through hundreds of years, from before the time of King Henry VIII to the present-day Queen Elizabeth II, and through such great events as the Gunpowder Plot, the Civil War and the Restoration.

The first recorded date in the history of The Lygon Arms (then the White Hart Inn) is in 1532, when the Broadway Parish Register noted its owner as Mr Thomas White, a local wool merchant. However, there are clear indications that it is much older than this. In one of the bedrooms, for example, there is a stone fireplace, built into one of the four-feet thick walls, which appears to be of 14th century craftsmanship. Other parts of the original building remain, though careful additions and improvements have been made over the years. The fine front doorway dates from the 16th century and the four gabled frontage is thought to have been built by landlord John Trevis and his wife Ursula, who carved their names into it in 1620 - the year the Mayflower sailed for the New World.

The wool trade played an important part in the economy of the Cotswolds in the 15th and 16th centuries, which in turn created a rapidly expanding need for resting places, such as the White Hart Inn, for the merchants who frequently travelled between the prosperous wool towns of Broadway and Chipping Campden.

Oliver Cromwell, who became Lord Protector of England in 1653, stayed at The Inn on 2nd September 1651, the night before the Battle of Worcester, the final and decisive battle of the great Civil War, fought between King Charles I and his "Cavaliers" and Parliament's "Roundheads". The first-floor room where he slept, and which is named after him, has an Elizabethan fireplace, richly decorated early 17th century plasterwork on the ceiling and frieze, and splendid antique furniture.

Charles I met his Cavalier supporters after the great Battle in one of the Inn's first floor rooms, now named the Charles I Sitting Room. Here, there are still remains of the original 17th century oak panelling and the ancient staircase used by the King. (But since the King was executed in 1649, the meeting referred to could not not have taken place after the battle of Worcester).

What is this despondent looking creature, you ask? This, my friends, is my pitiful little cat Ivory, aka 'El Stupido', aka 'Mr. Le Chat'. Back in December, the little dude and his pardner in crime, Ebony (code name: 'Ebonezer Scrooge') spied an enemy assailant near their territory - the local neighbourhood tabby. Being vigilant protectors of their homeland, my little intellectuals turned to each other in a bout of 'redirected aggression' and the fur/claws started flying. I am sad to report that the little albino hero of our story was the victim of a torn claw amidst the bloodshed.

Fast forward three months, and we've got a case of Severely Infected Claw. Four trips to the veterinarian later, mon petit chou has battled two rounds of antibiotics, one lampshade on his noggin, and social rejection/verbal harassment by the ever condescending Ms. Scrooge. The little soldier went under the knife today and has just returned home suffering post-traumatic stress syndrome. (Don't tell the authorities, but I think somebody drugged him!) Today we begin a new round of antibiotics, a new round of anti-inflammatory medication, a new round of lampshade-on-the-head-and-banging-into-doorways-and-furniture, and a new round of social rejection/verbal harassment by Ms. Scrooge. The dejected little man is newly bandaged, and swings the paw in question with a limp envied by amputees everywhere. That is, of course, when he can bring himself to stop writhing on the floor in his dopey, moping fashion. A very large sum of money later, the jury's still out on whether he will require a toe amputation! Here's hoping that my little convalescent will emerge triumphant from his ordeal.