Fortunate

On a day between Armistice Sunday yesterday and Armistice Day tomorrow, I have been thinking that my generation - people in their sixties born after 1945 and into the early 1950s - are some of the most fortunate.

By definition of our age, our parents survived World War Two, our brothers, unless very much older, didn't fight and weren't even called up for National Service, and our sons and daughters  have not had to go to war unless the services are their chosen profession.

My parents, both born pre World War One, had childhood memories of returning soldiers marching in victory parades.  My mother, youngest but one of a large family, lost two brothers - one in the trenches and one at sea.  21 years later, married with a young family, they endured the blitz on Bristol.  Before my father was called up he worked across Bristol making gas installations safe after bombing. Cycling home early each morning he saw sights that never left his memory.  He was luckier than some, in that a burst appendix kept him in Colchester barracks whilst his comrades in the 'Glorious Gloucesters' were shipped to Burma .  Many returned changed for life.  Both wars seemed very close in my childhood - a topic of conversation at gatherings of family and friends, some of whom had served in both.  As a teenager I knew a delightful man who had served in the very first tank regiment and still had the schrapnell in his head to prove it, another who had lost a leg in the trenches, and a third who was still living in an institution suffering from shell shock though well enough to come to parties and weddings of his nieces and nephews.  Everyone of my parents' friends had war experiences to share - some horrifying but some extremely funny too as people mitigated the horrors with 'looking on the bright side'.

The world we live in now is again unstable and any one of us could be involved in a violent act of terrorism at any time.  We go on day by day hoping for the best -it seems no more likely than falling under the proverbial bus.  On Armistice day we must remember the fallen - the courageous in battle, the ordinary who suddenly found they weren't ordinary at all as they committed an act of heroism and those just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  And we must remember our good fortune that we still live in a country where, whatever our original nationality, language, colour or creed, people have freedom to worship, vote and say what they like - even if their neighbour doesn't agree; where the beautiful countryside is not scarred with battles and long range bombing; and we are not at imminent risk of deadly and uncontrollable disease because of poverty and lack of education.  For that good fortune many other people once gave their lives and that should never ever be forgotten - especially for personal or political gain.

I have decided after much debate to stop writing this blog.  Whether I shall start another in time I can't say.   Thank you to all of you for reading and commenting, it has brought me new friends - both in the virtual world and living near and helped me through difficult times.  I shall continue to read and comment and share your worlds.  Take care.

Jane

Birthday Trip part 2

On our second day we went first to the shops at Dartington as we wanted to visit the gallery.  Many years ago in the late 1960's H bought some pottery made by John Leach (grandson of the famous Bernard Leach) in a small shop in Penarth - H was a student at the time so it could not have been costly.  It is all except one piece stamped Muchelney and John Leach still produces pottery there.
We were delighted to find John Leach's pottery featured in the Dartington Gallery and H bought some, along with a couple of other pieces by different potters. His taste is for the pieces with rough outer surface and glazed inner similar to this one.

We also have some striped pots and a rather nice small flask shaped piece. We must find an occasion to visit the Muchelney pottery and the St Ives pottery of Bernard Leach, recently restored as a vistor centre.  A local potter makes a variety of shapes in a blue matt glaze which we've bought occasionally when a piece has appealed to us so the window sill in H's music room is now quite crowded.  There was a lot of beautiful studio glass - sadly way out of our price range.

After a browse of the other shops and a coffee, we went to Dartington Hall itself. Unfortunately, we couldn't go into the great hall as the annual music school was in full swing - lots of tantalising sounds coming from various windows.  We then went to the pub which is in the main courtyard - the White Hart Inn, where we had a great meal before setting off to the coast at Bolberry Down.
I wish I could get at my photos for this as it was fantastic - perhaps I'll be able to get at them when the phone is fixed.  These are from the NT site

It was a lovely walk along the cliff top, though it was hotter than we thought and we were pleased that the car ad been parked in the shade! We then went to Kingsbridge where we had stayed with a friend in the early seventies and on to Salcombe.  The last time we visited here, Daughter had been playing the flute in a visiting German orchestra - they were a flute short and the conducter remembered her from a summer course.  She was still at school at the time and had to have special permission to be away for a week, but she had a great time.  They stayed in a Youth Hostel in Salcombe and performed in Plymouth.  As you can imagine, if you know Salcombe at all, it was heaving with people, and we gave up trying to park and headed back to Buckfast.  Unfortunately, just as it looked that we might just make it for Vespers, H took a wrong turn and landed up in Ashburton.  Trying to get back he took another and we did a short detour into Dartmoor, stopping at a pub for a drink and the loo.  It was a lovely evening, but a bit frustrating.  We decide not to hang on until Compline and went back to the hotel!

Thursday was our day to come home and the weather was looking less reliable. We went to Knighthayes a Gothic revival mansion just outside Tiverton with William Burgess interiors.  Here H found two pianos to play!  The house and garden are lovely, but I must specially mention the cake in the conservatory tearoom - wonderful  Lemon Drizzle oozing lemon syrup and moist rich Chocolate Beetroot, yummy. 

We had intended to go back to Tyntesfield but the house was closed, so, nearer to home, we eventually found Newark Park - not easy to find but well worth the effort. 

 Gifted to the NT as a near wreck, a philanthropic American took a full repairing lease on the building and restored it to the house it is today.  we especially liked the fact that it wasn't full of no-go areas - a giude said 'sit down anywhere - unless a chair has a notice to say it's unsafe!'  The view is spectacular across a wooded valley.  It doesn't have a teashop or a gift shop, just a van selling drinks and a few cards etc in the shed that forms the reception, but it is very interesting both as a building and for its back story - the NT had come to the conclusion that they would have to take off the roof and make it a romantic ruin before its American saviour stepped in!

After Newark it was a fairly fast trip home.  We really enjoyed the break and felt it did us good - and we'd got our money's worth from our NT subscription for the first time in years!

It really feels as if Autumn is in the air today.  Flea Fair tommorrow at Three Counties and next week includes two furniture deliveries, a Grand-daughter day and three days of playing host to a visiting harpsichordist from Italy, Michele Benuzzi.  If anyone is interested, he will be performing at St Swithun's in Worcester on Friday 29th at 7.30p.m to end the St Swithun season, and it will be well worth the £10 entry fee to hear him. 

I'm now looking forward to September - always my favourite time of year, and then, all too soon, it will be October when we have a Wedding Anniversary, three days of having the house drains dug up and a trip to Norwich to look forward to.  And most important, Grand-daughter will be two - where has that time gone?

Enjoy the bank holiday.

A Birthday Trip pt I

When H asked what I might like to do for my birthday at the end of July, I jokingly said I wanted to go away somewhere, not imagining for a moment it would be possible.  After all the work of the St Swithun's festival and playing in a recital, H was fairly worn out so I think a few days away appealed to him too.  So, the Monday before my birthday we took ourselves off to Devon. We chose Torquay as a base almost as a joke - we rather like old-fashioned hotels and the Grand had that feel about it.  We had a room with a sea view and rather enjoyed the 1950's air to the place.  The staff were excellent and they served a really good breakfast so it was a good choice.
We have been to Devon on many occasions - including our honeymoon many moons ago, so we intended to visit some familiar places, give our National trust cards a good work out and eat nice things.
For once the weather was on our side.  Having stopped at Tyntesfield (pictures below) on the way down, and had a good cream tea on arrival, we took ouselves off to Brixham where a brass band was playing on the quay and just enjoyed the evening sunset.

Tyntesfield (just outside Bristol)

Our first stop the next morning was Darmouth - in glorious weather it really was like the Riviera but sadly since I've been back my phone has died so my photos aren't currently retrievable - all the photos in this post have been taken either from the National Trust sites or Tourist information, hence the disparity in size.

After a trip over and back on the river ferry, we went to Coleton Fishacre. A lovely NT house which was built by the D'Oyley Cartes of Savoy Hotel and Opera fame.  If you get the chance, please go.  The house is lovely, but the gardens are spectacular and go right down to the cliff edge.  H was also allowed to play the piano in the main salon and thoroughly enjoyed himself - drawing quite an appreciative audience. 

After lunch we went on to another small NT property, then to Totnes and Buckfast Abbey - a place we both know very well and have visited many times. The first time was in the early seventies when there was just the Abbey and a wooden shed selling rosaries etc.  It has now expanded to a real tourist attraction and, sadly, lost some of its early charm.  In those days a monk would greet visitors to the Abbey and others would be working in the grounds and the shop, but now all is done by guides and other employees. However, it still remains a geat achievement for the small band who founded and built the Abbey church itself and the community continues to thrive.  I once ran a conference based there, and we used to take student on the Medieval English course there on day trips when I worked at the University in Cardiff, so it was like seeing an old friend. Later in the day when most of the visitors have gone it is still a very peaceful place.  H would have like to stay for Vespers but we'd booked a table for a birthday dinner so we postponed that to the next day.  Dinner was excellent.
More to follow..

Lazy summer days ..

H has gone to London for a course that started at 11.00 a.m so I had to drop him at the station for the 6.45 train.  It was a stunning early morning and I came back and spent some time in the garden before it got hot - a drop in the ocean compared to what needs doing I'm afraid.  After I'd had breakfast, tidied up a bit and even did the ironing, I went to the DIY place for paint - M's old room is being painted next week - stopped for coffee and a snack in Ledbury, and dealt with some overdue correspondence.  Which means I am at last in front of the computer with time to blog! (Brief pause as I suddenly remember I haven't paid H's credit card bill as specifically requested before he left -oops).  The weather's gone rather sultry now so I'm glad I gardened early.

It seems ages since Marion and I went to Winchester, but there hasn't been a moment to blog about it.   It's an area I know rather well as we've lived in and around Salisbury and in Hampshire several times whilst H was teaching, but Marion hadn't been except to the coast. We had lovely weather on the Wednesday morning and made good time, even though we stopped in Marlborough for coffee.
We stopped next at Mottisfont Abbey.
                                            
                                                  

It was the pefect time for the spectacular rose garden and the scent was wonderful.  We spent a happy couple of hours pottering about, eating lunch and even eating ice cream before heading off to Winchester, where I'd booked a hotel right by the Cathedral that H and I had used before.

Once we'd sorted out a room, we went out into the town for coffee and the walked around to the Great Hall  to look at the Round Table and back through the back lanes to the house where Jane Austen died

It was very quiet here so we stopped to sit on a wall and rest our feet until a bevy of tourists arrived, then we followed the paths down to the water meadows and back up into the town centre.  Feeling rather warm and weary, we elected to eat in the hotel bar which meant we had a clear view of the Cathedral.  We were the only people in the bar so we had a pleasant, inexpensive meal with a great view and no noise.  

The next morning we went into the Cathedral early.  It's now £7.50 to get in though you can return for free.  I'm always in two minds about Cathedral entry charges: I know the upkeep cost are colossal but it never feels quite right to have to pay.  It varies across the country with some charging, some not charging but hoping for donations, and some set up with a charging desk who say it's not compulsory.  When we lived in Salisbury, and had cause to go into the Cathedral frequently, I usually didn't pay every time but made a donation. In Worcester, H contributes lots of time and effort and financially  (in the form of printing a newsletter at his expense) to the musical endeavours, so, whilst I always add to the collection after a service or recital, I don't make a donation every visit - especially as we frequently go through the Cathedral to get to daughter's house which is next to the gate. (Progress here can be slow as grand-daughter always has to stop to admire the carved lions at the bottom of the stairs to the nave pulpit).   Anyway, we paid to enter Winchester and wandered round in the early morning shafts of sun coming through the windows so that Marion could see Jane Austen's memorial which I always find rather touching.

I hope this is just about readable. More information, on this and the other memorials in the Cathedral here

After we'd had coffee, and found Marion a dress for a posh occasion, in Debenhams, we checked out of the hotel and came home via lunch in Oxford.   H had a friend to stay while I was away so he was well occupied and we all felt we'd had a good change of scene if not a rest.

After another hectic couple of weeks with lots of babysitting and H rushing back and forth to various musical pursuits, I managed last week to go to Essex to see my sister-in-law and finalize my brother's estate.  Again I had lovely weather and managed to fit in a visit to a school friend - who kindly delayed the start of her holiday so we could have coffee and a catch-up (only 40+ years so it didn't take long really). I hope she and her husband will visit us sometime, though like us they have grandchildren and elderly parents to take their time.

My step nieces and nephews were again very kind and I had a lovely afternoon admiring one's horses and dogs, followed by a wonderful roast dinner at another's.  My sister-in-law has taken a voluntary job in a local charity shop, and is coping well.  I was amazed at how much the little Essex town I spent my teenage years in had both changed and stayed the same.  Stanstead (only 4 miles away) has obviously had a big effect and it seems brighter and cleaner with lots of coffee shops and restaurants, but there are still some shops I recognise from childhood - we moved there when I was 9yrs old - and I was amused to buy a toy for Miss F in the shop where I used to spend my pocket money, and see the family jeweller, whose daughter was my best friend in primary school, is totally in the 21st century when it comes to current stock (and current prices).  Sister-in-law took me for a trip around the local villages and many houses I remembered as near wrecks are now converted (some replastered with the local pargetting and rethatched) and probably worth many hundred's of thousands.  It's a very pretty area - not to be confused with the Essex of outer London but bordering Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.  The road systems are so much better than I remembered so I expect it's a favoured commuter area but it still has a sleepy feel once you're off the main routes.  Sister-in-law lives in a group of houses which face a large green and it's very peaceful even though the farm land behind has all gone to housing.

So, now we're into another kind of busy.  Daughter is gearing up for the end of term in her job and H is going quite frantic preparing for the St Swithun's festival next week - details here 
Anyone who would like to join in will be very welcome - it's not often you can hear someone reading in Anglo-Saxon, various musical concerts and recitals and  see an art exhibition all in the same week.  By the end, H will either be elated, or dead on his feet.  I'm just concerned with getting things to the right place, making sure he eats and fitting in the usual babysitting.  On Saturday we're going to an annual lunch for a local organ association then rushing to Tenbury Wells where H is playing in a concert of local amateur organists - not something he would normally get inolved in but he couldn't say no.  If we all survive till Sunday, I'll tell you all about it.  I'm making noises about us both going away for my birthday at the end of the month - we shall see!

Hope it's cool enough downstairs to try some knitting later - need to keep myself awake until I fetch H from the station.  Still have things to blog about from when we went to Norwich!  It's Art in Action next week which I think I'll have to miss this year and wondering if I can make the Festival of Quilts in August......

Still here

Thank you to everyone of you who have emailed to ask if I'm alright - yes, I am but everything has been a bit manic.  I can't actually say that any one thing has happened to take all my time, though this person takes a lot of it:-

Isn't it lovely to be not quite two and have your first bucket and spade? Especially when your other grandparents are sensible enough to actually live at the seaside.

  

H and I went to Norwich for three days in May (holiday, you ask? No, we took the Virginals (see this post) to be regulated by its maker)  Actually, we loved Norwich and wished we'd had more time there, especially as it's a trek of a journey from here.

 Lovely to find independent shops like this department store - great teacakes in the cafe!


H's field of study is the medieval period and he specialized in the Medieval Mystics as part of his first degree, so it was a treat to go to the church (sadly flattened in WW2 by bombing, but now rebuilt) where Julian of Norwich was an anchorite.  I'll try and find time to write a longer post on her, and some of the lovely musical things we found in the cathedral soon. This is just a pop-in to say I haven't disappeared.  On Weds I'm off to Winchester for two days with a friend. Hopefully, the weather will be tolerable and we can sit around drinking coffee and watch the world go by which is just what we both need.

To quote the best know line from Julian's writing 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well'  It gets on some people's nerves I know but it would be nice to believe it might be true. Take care all.

MARCH

It's been a rather sad time here as my beloved brother died on March 23rd.  He had recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and I can only feel relieved that an infection cropped up and took him very quickly, so sparing him from months of intrusive and unpleasant treatment.  I wasn't with him when he died - the motorway system defeated me - but it is a tribute to his gentle kindness that, as well as his wife, of course, all five of his step-children and their partners were there for him. Having only known his ready-made family as teenagers, I was impressed by their concern and the way they immediately enveloped me and made me feel cared for.  I said to my sister-in-law what nice people they had become, and she said my brother had been a large part of that - he having taken on a family of five aged between 4 and 18 whose own father had died very suddenly. I don't think anyone could have a better memorial.  I wrote about my own relationship with him here.

ooo-ooo

H wanted to go to Cirencester on Saturday last for a morning recital and it was the first chance in the month that we could go out together.   The town was packed and when we wandered around after the concert we found that lots of people were wearing 'rabbit's ears' .  We then realised by seeing banners hanging above the roads that this was the Cirencester March Hare festival.

When we went back on Monday for another concert in the church (part of the same series on Italian music) we were surprised to meet these chaps - one inside the church and one in the porch.

After the concert we stopped for lunch and this fellow was sitting in the pub porch as we went out!

He certainly cheered us up - though a  lovely concert and a very good lunch helped too!

There are 23 hares dotted around the town (each sponsored by a different organisation) and a trail to follow to find them.  They're each 5 foot high and very appealing!  If you want to see them, the festival runs all through the summer until 14th September.  For anyone who doesn't know the area, Cirencester is a lovely market town with many Cotswold stone buildings.  The church is particularly nice both inside and out, and there are independent shops and places to eat.  A great place for a holiday visit, or day out.

We finished the day with a quick stop at the church in Compton Abdale where H's great, great grandparents were married and his great grandfather christened.  We'd been before and it's always icy cold and incredibly quiet, but it has an atmosphere of peace.

It's a lovely village too. 

Tomorrow I'm having lunch with a friend, then back to Essex next week.  Hope this rather nicer weather keeps up.  Hope to show you the new bathroom soon but work has been delayed .......

Photos of Cirencester are from Wikipedia and the Compton Abdale ones from St Oswald's church site.

February

I've never like February much, it's the month of endless bills and appointments.  This year it's been really busy and life has been made more complicated by flooding - not here on the hills, of course, but all the ways to the other places one might want to go, colds and other minor ailments, and, more pleasantly, the builder suddenly appearing to start the work we want done on the house. We now have a nicely tiled hall - so much easier to keep clean after pram wheels or the influx of 10 members of the U3A.

When M died we said we would refit her old bathroom - scene of many a battle and covered in holes where hand rails had fitted - especially because the shower has leaked onto the hall ceiling.  After the builder had done the hall,  he  estimated about 3 weeks to a month until he could start.  I'd found fixtures and fittings but not ordered  as I was waiting to get H's opinion and he's also been rather busy and beset by the problems of changing computer.   Last week I thought I'd got lots of time to do some more on M's estate paperwork, have coffee with a couple of friends - both met through blogging, and start ordering bathrooms. On the face of it there was only just one day of babysitting.  Of course, plans like that are fated, and although I did get to meet up with both friends, everything else was put on hold whilst I raced up to rural Essex to see my brother who hasn't been well.  On my return, Grandpa having manfully had a babysitting morning on his own, I was met with the news that the bathroom is happening next week, leaving me 10 days to order everything and arrange a skip! February was coming to a rather hectic end

So, now we're in March. Everything is now on order and fingers crossed it'll all arrive as promised.  Compromise came into play - couldn't get the bath we wanted with a hinged, not fixed screen and finding a basin to fit the existing tailor-made unit was a big headache.  We've gone plain white for the wall tiles as we couldn't agree on a colour but the room is very dark and that will look clean and bright.  It will be lovely to have two bathrooms again and as the bedroom isn't in use it should all be quite non-invasive - unlike the hall where we were marooned either in the kitchen or the sittingroom.  Having to stay in all week for deliveries means I might get a good go at the paperwork and that would be one less thing hanging over us.

Meanwhile, thank goodness for drier weather and some sun - Judith and I sat outside in her garden on Saturday morning and my trip to Essex and back was pleasanter for dry roads.  Waiting now for daughter to come and collect her cat who's been here on 'holiday' while they went to in-laws, so nothing will get done once Grand-daughter arrives.  Grandpa has gone to 'blow' an organ for a famous organist so he'll come back exhausted.

Taking advantage of H's absence, I was inspired to change the loose covers on the sofas and armchair in the sitting room.  I hate doing it, it's such a battle, especially the armchair.  I'm pleased to have my nice pale blue covers back and the pink ones are revolving in the washing machine.  I hope they will shrink a little as they'd gone a bit saggy.  I'm now working up the energy to change sheets and disembowel a cupboard that needs to be emptied to access the plumbing for the new bathroom.

 I fear when the new tiles arrive (hopefully later today) they won't be put straight into the garage but left on a pallet at the kerb and will all have to be moved.  This new clause in so many delivery terms stating that delivery men may not enter premises because of  insurance regulations is a new one to me.  The large fragile items have been ordered as 'two men white glove service' (which brings visions of country house footmen) and they should deliver to the room of our choice and unpack and check the condition of everything - an extra cost of course.

Hopefully, by the time I get to do another post, the bathroom will be in progress.  I'm off to scavenge in the fridge for some lunch - shopping has been a bit haphazard the last week or so, but there are always eggs...

EDIT :  I have maligned the poor tile delivery men!   They came on time and put all the tiles in the garage.  'We don't take any notice of the daft insurance nonsense ' they said.   Horrah for common say I.