MMXXIV AD

Last week, I took Rosie to the Norfolk County Archives for a children's activity afternoon all about the Romans. Rosie has just studied this period in school so was very to keen to find out more. We began by being shown a table of genuine artefacts[do not touch these, children!] and replica pieces.[you can touch these things] Can anyone guess what this was used for? said the enthusiastic woman, waving a xylospongium at us. Rosie said it was a toilet brush for keeping your bum clean. The lady agreed, and said they all went to the loo together, and shared the same brush. The little blonde girl on the other side of me went very pale [obviously that topic hadn't been covered in her school]

Then we went into the big room, and two dozen children enjoyed making shields and helmets. Red, gold and black paint everywhere, and many determined young voices saying to accompanying adults "I've got this" "No, I don't need help" "I know what I am doing here" And the staff were relentlessly cheerful, and full of encouragement. It was a great afternoon, and all free. Rosie loved it, and I was pleased Liz had spotted the ad for the event online.

At the end, my little gladiator was asked to fill in an evaluation sheet. She wasn't sure what to put in the final box, so I suggested she could just write "Thank you, from Rosie" Which she did, and then, after some thought, added  aged VIII [eight] 

She explained, very seriously, that in roman numerals VIII = 8, but she'd put the word in brackets so that the woman would understand!

I told her that I would have to sign things Angela aged LXVIII

But as of today, I will be LXIX

As one old Roman said to the other, "it's that Annie Domino beginning to catch up with me"