Hi Everyone,

I've just recently got back from a camping holiday to Devon and Stratford-Upon-Avon, where we visited many of the sites associated with Shakespeare, which both my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed, although at 6 and 12 my padawans aren't such fans but they were very patient and behaved themselves.
Whilst in Stratford we spent a day at Warwick Castle, which is absolutely fantastic and if you ever come to the UK and are in the area I recommend you pay it a visit. There are lots of things to see and do.
One of the things that the children did was to enrol at Knight school, where they were given archery lessons and got a chance to shoot some arrows using a longbow.
Isaac also learned what it would be like for him if he was the son of a Nobleman we were very proud as we watched his earnest little face as he was told he had passed and was now in the service of The Earl Of Warwick.
One of the things that the instructor said to him reminded me of a thought I'd had whilst watching TPM recently. The instructor explained that as the son of a wealthy Lord or Knight he would be given a sword and he would begin his combat training at the age of about 6 or 7, which is how old he was at the time. I can't imagine him being taken away from me to be taught how to fight with a sword; he could barely pick up the one they gave him.
Which gets me back to TPM and in particular Shmi Skywalker. It struck me as odd how ready she was to give up her only child to two men who turn up and tell her they are Jedi.
Particularly as, as she herself puts it 'the Republic doesn't exist out here'.
Qui-gon himself says that if Anakin had been born in the Republic he would have been recognized as a force user earlier. So we can take it that the Jedi don't often get to Tattoine in their search for new recruits, yet Shmi simply asks 'Will you take him with you?' as if this is a regular everyday occurrence. I don't believe she was expecting them, as there is no mention as far as I know that she is force sensitive? I don't know about you but I personally would be very reluctant to just give my only child away.
Would the universe have been a better place if she'd just said 'no, you're not taking him anywhere.'?

BTW I've added some pics to Isaac's Birthday blog if you're interested, and if you're not...well they are still there.

MTFBWY DB