I think the ceremonial mace developed from a protective weapon; a weapon that drew blood could not be used on consecrated ground but a mace could, as it had no sharp edge.

Oh - I'd have been rather stunned if I'd got crackers and a soft drink as a meal on a cruise, too! It was the fact that the afternoon tea was organised as part of the food festival that made it a real disappointment - had it been in a small cafe or something we would have been disappointed anyway, but put it down to experience - we just thought, as part of the food festival, that it would be a really good event.