Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Thursday. It's a beautifully sunny start to the day which indicated that it's going to be hot later on (what a surprise!). BBC weather indicates up to 30C which is a bit warm for my liking.
Alex and I had a lovely time in town. We got a bus with a very friendly and helpful bus driver who seemed to know a lot of the passengers and had a cheery word for everyone. When a lady in a wheelchair got on, he did the honours and a few stops later, when another lady in a wheelchair needed the but and there wasn't quite enough room in the space, he pushed her to the bus behind and got her safely on and settled before coming back. He got a well deserved round of applause as he stepped on the bus again. It was such a friendly ride into town.
Once in town, we got off at a stop just outside M&S so that's another thing learned. We went through M&S to the bank where I paid in the sorted contents of my loose change jar (£30, would you believe - wow) before going back to M&S for lunch. Then Al got his socks and I got a cheap T shirt (can't go wrong at £3.50) and a bottle of their lavender eau do toilette which I like to use but had run out of.
Then we headed back to the bus and got one that took us a quicker way back than last time. I must remember this; the 54 goes all round the houses while the 56 is the one to get, if possible.
I am getting more accustomed to bussing but there are disadvantages. It was jolly hot yesterday and - er - how can I put this - one is a bit at the whim of the personal hygiene (or lack of) of one's fellow travellers!
And the chairs are bloomin' uncomfortable, especially on a bumpy road!
After Alex had gone, I settled down to writing my entry about Writtle church and got it posted (comments would be very welcome) before settling in my comfy chair for the evening. A very pleasant day.
Today I have determined to put in a few hours at the allotment. It needs watering again, of course, but the weeds are fighting back and need dealing with. Bindweed is as bad as ground elder! There will also be more courgettes to cut and mange tout to pick.
Last year we decided to start some asparagus off. I'm afraid we were not terribly successful. only managing to grow three of the ten plants we put in. However, nothing daunted, we will have another go and are glad that at least three have taken, given that we are total amateurs at this game! I'll start working over the soil in the next few weeks, ready to order and plant in the autumn.
What with washing and what goes with it and generally keeping the home reasonable, I have a full day so I'd better get on with it!
Thursday, 2 August 2018
Wednesday, 1 August 2018
Church of All Saints, Writtle (bit long, sorry)
Sited just off The Green in Writtle, All Saints Church as we see it today was, in the main, completed by around 1220 although with later additions, rebuilding and restoration after disasters including a collapse of the tower in 1800 and two more recent fires that cause quite a lot of interior damage. The records of vicars goes back to the 13th C; however, there is some evidence that there was already an active church there when the Normans invaded.
The exterior is mostly ragstone rubble with some flint and ironstone and some Roman brick. As I walked around the outside, there were plenty of interesting shapes, textures, doors and windows and now I've seen it all once, I need to go back to look more closely. According to the info I have, there's a lot of things I didn't notice.
It's not clear from the photo, but the bottom gravestone has what seems to be a skull and crossbones etched on it.
There's plenty of interesting things to see inside. Here's a few of them.
This is the old Parish Chest of 1605. It has three locks, one for each churchwarden and one for the vicar so all three had to be present in order to open it. Apologies for the quality; the light was not great.
There were some old, steep circular stone steps, mostly blocked off by a modern print picture, that now lead up to an opening in the wall but once led to the top of the rood screen. You can see why they are blocked off - I'm sure the children would love to risk life and limb running up and trying to jump down.
Just in front of this stairway is the font. It is extremely old, dating back to about 1170 although the base is from 1869. Quite something to be baptised in that. See that orange thing - that's what is blocking off the stairway - perhaps they could have found something that tones in better!
There's some interesting features in the ceilings. The chancel ceiling is 15th C (restored) as is the nave ceiling. There are some attractive bosses and wooden angels holding organs, a lute, a shield, etc.
There were some lovely brasses that took me back to the early 1970s when brass rubbings were quite a thing and you could by splendid posters for your student bedroom wall. You don't seem to see them so much now, I think. Anyway, these are quite famous, I gather.
Other interesting things included some very old doors, an 18th C twelve branched candelabrum that is still used on special occasions and the very faded remains of a wall painting depicting the story of St George and the Dragon - the only remaining example of the paintings that once covered the walls.
More up to date, I liked this window that celebrates the life of Guglielmo Marconi and the elevation to the peerage of Baroness Platt who lived in Writtle, was one of the earliest women engineers in this country and a vary active local notable who I met a couple of times at openings of things. She was a very pleasant and dynamic person.
I think I made a good choice for my first visit. It smelt of 'old church' as a lot do but had a very friendly, community atmosphere with an area for the little children at the back, a library and a big collection point for food for one of the local food banks.
I'll definitely go back again as, on re-reading some downloads, there was a lot I missed and I need to look up what things mean - 'chamfered' for example. I'll prepare better for the next church visit . . .
. . . which will be Chelmsford cathedral, I think. It's hardly a village church but I think it's worth a visit as the second smallest cathedral in the country - and I can get there on the bus which stops just outside so no parking worries.
(and please excuse some of the photos)
Wednesday
Good morning, everyone. A pinch and a punch for the first of the month!
I know it is only August but I am noticing how the nights are setting in earlier and earlier again and, having woken at around five for the first time in a while, how the mornings are getting later. I don't mind, I love dusk and dawn - they are magical times, full of mystery and promise.
It was a lovely, warm, sunny day yesterday, not hot, just warm. Perfect. I hope today will be the same.
It took me a while to get going but once I had started I did a bit of shopping, went to the allotment and came back with a big bag of new potatoes, two mega courgettes and one big one (they obviously like the rain) and some rather sad looking mange tout which will probably be OK in a stew or curry. It's all been divvied up now.
After lunch I made a sudden decision not to go to Willingale but to go to Writtle church instead and I'm so glad I did because it was lovely. I'll do a proper post later on but just to say it was a great start to my ongoing venture.
It's quite hard to get a good view because of the many trees in the graveyard but I guess this is as good as it gets. Some of it is extremely old and some is much more modern while the tower is a right mixture.
Once home I uploaded all the photos I took and did a bit of editing before getting ready to meet 'the girls'. We had a lovely time and a lovely meal. I ended up choosing a small plate hunter's chicken and shared a dessert with Beth. We talked and laughed and it was great.
Today I have an early morning tuition session and then Al and I are off into town on my bus training, session two. It's quite handy because I do have bits and bobs to do and I want to look in H&M for a top that I saw advertised in a magazine although I bet they've all gone now. As for Alex, he needs those new socks we failed to get on Monday.
Once home, the rest of the day is clear. I do have a catch up tuition tomorrow but the planning is already done for that so I may potter in the garden a bit. It certainly needs it, if only to deal with a few thistles that have spring up thinking I wouldn't notice!
Should be a good day!
I know it is only August but I am noticing how the nights are setting in earlier and earlier again and, having woken at around five for the first time in a while, how the mornings are getting later. I don't mind, I love dusk and dawn - they are magical times, full of mystery and promise.
It was a lovely, warm, sunny day yesterday, not hot, just warm. Perfect. I hope today will be the same.
It took me a while to get going but once I had started I did a bit of shopping, went to the allotment and came back with a big bag of new potatoes, two mega courgettes and one big one (they obviously like the rain) and some rather sad looking mange tout which will probably be OK in a stew or curry. It's all been divvied up now.
After lunch I made a sudden decision not to go to Willingale but to go to Writtle church instead and I'm so glad I did because it was lovely. I'll do a proper post later on but just to say it was a great start to my ongoing venture.
Once home I uploaded all the photos I took and did a bit of editing before getting ready to meet 'the girls'. We had a lovely time and a lovely meal. I ended up choosing a small plate hunter's chicken and shared a dessert with Beth. We talked and laughed and it was great.
Today I have an early morning tuition session and then Al and I are off into town on my bus training, session two. It's quite handy because I do have bits and bobs to do and I want to look in H&M for a top that I saw advertised in a magazine although I bet they've all gone now. As for Alex, he needs those new socks we failed to get on Monday.
Once home, the rest of the day is clear. I do have a catch up tuition tomorrow but the planning is already done for that so I may potter in the garden a bit. It certainly needs it, if only to deal with a few thistles that have spring up thinking I wouldn't notice!
Should be a good day!
Tuesday, 31 July 2018
Writtle
I visited the church at Writtle today.
Writtle is a lovely village just west of Chelmsford. It has managed to remain a separate entity, unlike other villages such a Broomfield and Springfield which have now been gobbled up, as there's a very thin strip of (hopefully) protected land as a boundary.
There's been some sort of settlement at Writtle since the Stone age and in the Doomsday book it was a large place of over 1000 while Chelmsford boasted only 20. How things change.
There are a number of timber frames homes, mainly close to or around the large, triangular shaped green, These houses and the others round the green are extremely sought after and rarely remain on the market for more than a few days. There was a for sale sign outside one today. I bet next time I pass, it will be gone.
In recent times, Writtle’s claim to fame is that Marconi started the first regular radio broadcasts from a small hut in Writtle in 1922, with the call sign 2MT (two-emma-toc).
Anyway - today I visited the church but I also took a few photos of the green and here they are.
In one corner of the green there's a very well maintained pond with ducks, etc, that the children love to visit.
This reminded me very much of that lovely little poem in 'The Wind in the Willows' which I will reproduce at the end.
One of the loveliest houses on the green is an old timber framed home called Aubyns which is a grade 1 listed home on the corner of the lane that runs from the green to the church. It was built around 1500
I must spend another hour or so wandering round the oldest parts of Writtle because there is more to see.
(I'll do the church in another post after I've sorted out all the photos.)
From 'The WInd in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame
The Rat was sitting on the river bank, singing a little song. He had just composed it himself, so he was very taken up with it, and would not pay proper attention to Mole or anything else. Since early morning he had been swimming in the river, in company with his friends the ducks. And when the ducks stood on their heads suddenly, as ducks will, he would dive down and tickle their necks, just under where their chins would be if ducks had chins, till they were forced to come to the surface again in a hurry, spluttering and angry and shaking their feathers at him, for it is impossible to say quite ALL you feel when your head is under water. At last they implored him to go away and attend to his own affairs and leave them to mind theirs. So the Rat went away, and sat on the river bank in the sun, and made up a song about them, which he called
Writtle is a lovely village just west of Chelmsford. It has managed to remain a separate entity, unlike other villages such a Broomfield and Springfield which have now been gobbled up, as there's a very thin strip of (hopefully) protected land as a boundary.
There's been some sort of settlement at Writtle since the Stone age and in the Doomsday book it was a large place of over 1000 while Chelmsford boasted only 20. How things change.
There are a number of timber frames homes, mainly close to or around the large, triangular shaped green, These houses and the others round the green are extremely sought after and rarely remain on the market for more than a few days. There was a for sale sign outside one today. I bet next time I pass, it will be gone.
In recent times, Writtle’s claim to fame is that Marconi started the first regular radio broadcasts from a small hut in Writtle in 1922, with the call sign 2MT (two-emma-toc).
Anyway - today I visited the church but I also took a few photos of the green and here they are.
In one corner of the green there's a very well maintained pond with ducks, etc, that the children love to visit.
Up tails all!
One of the loveliest houses on the green is an old timber framed home called Aubyns which is a grade 1 listed home on the corner of the lane that runs from the green to the church. It was built around 1500
From the front.
From the green to the church
A blocked up side door
A cute little window that just caught my eye.
The old brick pathway that leads to the front door through a small and rather overgrown Elizabethan knot garden.
And finally - from the church to the green.
I must spend another hour or so wandering round the oldest parts of Writtle because there is more to see.
(I'll do the church in another post after I've sorted out all the photos.)
From 'The WInd in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame
The Rat was sitting on the river bank, singing a little song. He had just composed it himself, so he was very taken up with it, and would not pay proper attention to Mole or anything else. Since early morning he had been swimming in the river, in company with his friends the ducks. And when the ducks stood on their heads suddenly, as ducks will, he would dive down and tickle their necks, just under where their chins would be if ducks had chins, till they were forced to come to the surface again in a hurry, spluttering and angry and shaking their feathers at him, for it is impossible to say quite ALL you feel when your head is under water. At last they implored him to go away and attend to his own affairs and leave them to mind theirs. So the Rat went away, and sat on the river bank in the sun, and made up a song about them, which he called
`DUCKS' DITTY.'
All along the backwater,
Through the rushes tall,
Ducks are a-dabbling,
Up tails all!
All along the backwater,
Through the rushes tall,
Ducks are a-dabbling,
Up tails all!
Ducks' tails, drakes' tails,
Yellow feet a-quiver,
Yellow bills all out of sight
Busy in the river!
Yellow feet a-quiver,
Yellow bills all out of sight
Busy in the river!
Slushy green undergrowth
Where the roach swim--
Here we keep our larder,
Cool and full and dim.
Where the roach swim--
Here we keep our larder,
Cool and full and dim.
Everyone for what he likes!
WE like to be
Heads down, tails up,
Dabbling free!
WE like to be
Heads down, tails up,
Dabbling free!
High in the blue above
Swifts whirl and call--
WE are down a-dabbling
Up tails all!
Swifts whirl and call--
WE are down a-dabbling
Up tails all!
Tuesday
Good morning, everyone. We've had more rain overnight which is great. What is not so good is that it might be the last for some time to come as the forecast is for more hot weather. Ah well, take blessings as they come and at least the allotment will be fine for today!
Lots of lovely rain yesterday too although it did turn humid from time to time so I turned the fans on. Love my fans!
Alex and I never got to Matalan. I picked him up, we set off heading down into town and oh, the traffic. I wondered if there had been a problem on the A12 bypass (Chelmsford always then clogs up as traffic diverts right through town) but no. As I finally got onto Parkway (which is an inner 'ring road' round the town centre) it was clear that there had been a very nasty accident. The whole of one section of Parkway going the other way was cordoned off and everything was more or less gridlocked as traffic was diverted up through some very narrow roads.
I know that part of Chelmsford pretty well so was able to find a slow way out of the jam and, after an hour, we headed off towards the next place Al wanted to go to as there was absolutely no way I was heading in the direction of Matalan. So he ended up with no socks but it wasn't a completely wasted journey.
I looked it up (as you do) when I got home and it was nasty. A lorry had hit a pedestrian who had 'life threatening' injuries. She had been air ambulanced out to hospital by the time we drove past but it was crawling with police. I wondered what a pedestrian was doing there - not a good place to try and cross or even to be.
All very sad and I hope she will recover, although I guess things will never be the same for anyone involved, ever again.
Sorry to go on - I keep thinking of it.
Anyway, apart from that it was a pleasant day. I didn't have an awful lot else to do so started watching Pride and Prejudice on iPlayer. It really was a good adaptation, I think.
On to today.
I've overslept. I can't remember the last time I slept past seven!
I'm hoping to get out to visit the Willingale churches today if only for an outside view although they should be open. It's not that far away.
I will be going to the allotment to dig some potatoes for Beth and also to pull a few courgettes and pick some mange tout. I'm hoping the baby corn will be further on and maybe there will be some baby runner beans. Must remember to take my camera with me.
Then, this evening, we're having a girls' meal at the Hare, postponed from earlier in the month. We have a lot to catch up on, some happy and some sad. I shall choose from quite a good smaller plate selection; the full meals are way, way too much!
But now I must get my breakfast ready. Have a lovely day, everyone.
Lots of lovely rain yesterday too although it did turn humid from time to time so I turned the fans on. Love my fans!
Alex and I never got to Matalan. I picked him up, we set off heading down into town and oh, the traffic. I wondered if there had been a problem on the A12 bypass (Chelmsford always then clogs up as traffic diverts right through town) but no. As I finally got onto Parkway (which is an inner 'ring road' round the town centre) it was clear that there had been a very nasty accident. The whole of one section of Parkway going the other way was cordoned off and everything was more or less gridlocked as traffic was diverted up through some very narrow roads.
I know that part of Chelmsford pretty well so was able to find a slow way out of the jam and, after an hour, we headed off towards the next place Al wanted to go to as there was absolutely no way I was heading in the direction of Matalan. So he ended up with no socks but it wasn't a completely wasted journey.
I looked it up (as you do) when I got home and it was nasty. A lorry had hit a pedestrian who had 'life threatening' injuries. She had been air ambulanced out to hospital by the time we drove past but it was crawling with police. I wondered what a pedestrian was doing there - not a good place to try and cross or even to be.
All very sad and I hope she will recover, although I guess things will never be the same for anyone involved, ever again.
Sorry to go on - I keep thinking of it.
Anyway, apart from that it was a pleasant day. I didn't have an awful lot else to do so started watching Pride and Prejudice on iPlayer. It really was a good adaptation, I think.
On to today.
I've overslept. I can't remember the last time I slept past seven!
I'm hoping to get out to visit the Willingale churches today if only for an outside view although they should be open. It's not that far away.
I will be going to the allotment to dig some potatoes for Beth and also to pull a few courgettes and pick some mange tout. I'm hoping the baby corn will be further on and maybe there will be some baby runner beans. Must remember to take my camera with me.
Then, this evening, we're having a girls' meal at the Hare, postponed from earlier in the month. We have a lot to catch up on, some happy and some sad. I shall choose from quite a good smaller plate selection; the full meals are way, way too much!
But now I must get my breakfast ready. Have a lovely day, everyone.
Monday, 30 July 2018
Monday
Good morning, everyone. We've had more rain overnight and there's rain in the air as I type. Just light drizzle really but so very refreshing. More is needed to really replenish the moisture in the soil but I'm grateful for what we've already had anyway.
Yesterday was fairly quiet. I finished all Beth's ironing and, as she came over in the afternoon, it's all gone now and I made her promise she would put it all away/hang it up properly immediately when she got home. I did a bit of clearing and tidying and had a good relax with my Kindle. To be honest, that was about it really. There's a busy week ahead so a day of rest was appreciated.
Today I have a holiday tuition session first thing. Then I need to make sure the house is tidy for my lovely cleaner. After that, Alex and I are going to Matalan so he can buy a pile of new socks, his old ones being in a disgraceful state! What an exciting life I live!
Then the day's my own do I will probably sort out some washing, make dinner early (chick pea curry so good for reheating) and deal with some weeds.
Finally, I have eaten two tomatoes, one a maybe-sungold and one an authentic sungold. Both were delicious and I could detect no difference in flavour so I was right to use the self seeded baby plants. Several other tomatoes are now changing colour so it won't be long before I am inundated with them I love it when we get to that point.
Ah - the sun seems to be coming out! I need to have my bath and get ready to face the day so I'll stop waffling. Have a splendid day, whatever you intend to do.
Yesterday was fairly quiet. I finished all Beth's ironing and, as she came over in the afternoon, it's all gone now and I made her promise she would put it all away/hang it up properly immediately when she got home. I did a bit of clearing and tidying and had a good relax with my Kindle. To be honest, that was about it really. There's a busy week ahead so a day of rest was appreciated.
Today I have a holiday tuition session first thing. Then I need to make sure the house is tidy for my lovely cleaner. After that, Alex and I are going to Matalan so he can buy a pile of new socks, his old ones being in a disgraceful state! What an exciting life I live!
Then the day's my own do I will probably sort out some washing, make dinner early (chick pea curry so good for reheating) and deal with some weeds.
Finally, I have eaten two tomatoes, one a maybe-sungold and one an authentic sungold. Both were delicious and I could detect no difference in flavour so I was right to use the self seeded baby plants. Several other tomatoes are now changing colour so it won't be long before I am inundated with them I love it when we get to that point.
Ah - the sun seems to be coming out! I need to have my bath and get ready to face the day so I'll stop waffling. Have a splendid day, whatever you intend to do.
Sunday, 29 July 2018
Sunday
Good morning, everyone.
It's damp out there, not raining hard but there are drops in the air. It's cool, there's a good breeze going and it's just lovely! It took a while for the house to lose the heat - after all, homes are built to retain heat, not to lose it - but open windows helped and now it's lovely and fresh inside as well as out, so much so that I think it will be a jeans and cardigan day today.
We have a forecast of heavy rain for part of the day and light rain for most of the rest of the day and I'm glad. What we've had so far has only dampened the top few centimetres of soil; it is amazing how much more is needed to get back to how it was. The allotment won't need watering though, not if we get that heavy rain. Beth and I had planned to go down there later on but, for the first time in weeks, rain has stopped play.
There is a flip side and that is that the strong wind has broken down the two gladioli stems but never mind, I now know that they need support next year. Another is that those pesky weeds are already fighting back. Grrrrrrr.
As always, when severe weather breaks, it tends to break with more severe weather. We tend to not have too much of an issue round here (fingers crossed) but BBC news tells me that there have been floods and other damage and there's a severe weather warning out for today. So while I rejoice in the cooler conditions, it's not necessarily so great for others. I hope my readers are all OK.
I worked hard yesterday, washing, drying and ironing, and got loads done. It was a perfect drying day. By the time the next load had finished washing, the previous load was ready to come in for ironing. There's a bit more to do yet but not a lot; I'll get it done this morning, for sure. The results are all stacked in piles or on hangers, waiting to be collected. I'm glad I don't do it for a living!
I also have to sweep the carpet. Because of the strong winds yesterday, those pesky little birch seeds blew all over the place and, as the French windows were open, they blew right in and the carpet is covered.
So that's today planned. Finishing the washing/ironing, cleaning downstairs and, after dinner, Beth should be round to keep me company. I'm looking forward to that. She will take back her done washing - I'm looking forward to that too!
And finally, I saw that BBC iPlayer is showing the complete Pride and Prejudice again. I know it didn't always totally stick to the book (wet shirt? joint wedding?) but it was a good adaptation and I will thoroughly enjoy watching it again, especially now I have worked out how to connect the laptop to the telly.
Should be a good day!
It's damp out there, not raining hard but there are drops in the air. It's cool, there's a good breeze going and it's just lovely! It took a while for the house to lose the heat - after all, homes are built to retain heat, not to lose it - but open windows helped and now it's lovely and fresh inside as well as out, so much so that I think it will be a jeans and cardigan day today.
We have a forecast of heavy rain for part of the day and light rain for most of the rest of the day and I'm glad. What we've had so far has only dampened the top few centimetres of soil; it is amazing how much more is needed to get back to how it was. The allotment won't need watering though, not if we get that heavy rain. Beth and I had planned to go down there later on but, for the first time in weeks, rain has stopped play.
There is a flip side and that is that the strong wind has broken down the two gladioli stems but never mind, I now know that they need support next year. Another is that those pesky weeds are already fighting back. Grrrrrrr.
As always, when severe weather breaks, it tends to break with more severe weather. We tend to not have too much of an issue round here (fingers crossed) but BBC news tells me that there have been floods and other damage and there's a severe weather warning out for today. So while I rejoice in the cooler conditions, it's not necessarily so great for others. I hope my readers are all OK.
I worked hard yesterday, washing, drying and ironing, and got loads done. It was a perfect drying day. By the time the next load had finished washing, the previous load was ready to come in for ironing. There's a bit more to do yet but not a lot; I'll get it done this morning, for sure. The results are all stacked in piles or on hangers, waiting to be collected. I'm glad I don't do it for a living!
I also have to sweep the carpet. Because of the strong winds yesterday, those pesky little birch seeds blew all over the place and, as the French windows were open, they blew right in and the carpet is covered.
So that's today planned. Finishing the washing/ironing, cleaning downstairs and, after dinner, Beth should be round to keep me company. I'm looking forward to that. She will take back her done washing - I'm looking forward to that too!
And finally, I saw that BBC iPlayer is showing the complete Pride and Prejudice again. I know it didn't always totally stick to the book (wet shirt? joint wedding?) but it was a good adaptation and I will thoroughly enjoy watching it again, especially now I have worked out how to connect the laptop to the telly.
Should be a good day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)