Sunday 1 December 2019

Sunday

Pinch and punch for the first of the month and festive greetings for the start of Advent.

Image result for advent

I can't see if it is frosty but certainly the pathways look very icy in the light from the street lamps so fingers crossed that it's festively frosty out there, sparkly white, perfect for December 1st. **

Yesterday was lovely.
In the morning I meandered around the market and visited the museum, both really interesting and the latter somewhat macabre at times.
Unfortunately, the cold air played merry hell with either sinus or teeth so it was more than a little uncomfortable at times.  I suspect sinus as in the warm the pain more or less disappeared and it wouldn't if it was a dental infection, I think.

I got pretty much side tracked in the Abbey gardens and met a very friendly robin who posed, posed again, and kept on posing until I stopped clicking, whereupon he flew away.  He really was a very friendly chappie and I was very pleased at the detail in the photos - what do you think?



After a good saunter around with a few coins changing hands, I headed off back to the hotel to warm up.  If the tooth/jaw ache hadn't gone, I'd have stayed in but it did ease off so in the afternoon I headed off towards the Cathedral.  It was absolutely stunning, made all the more so because the choir was rehearsing.  Such a beautiful sound.
I was such an idiot though.  I left both the camera and the phone in my room so wasn't able to take any photos.  Really sorry - I blame the sinuses!!!

Today, I am meeting a fellow blogger here.


I'm looking forward to a lovely chat and home made cakes sounds fab, doesn't it?

As it is December 1st, my Advent stuff starts and today it is threefold.
1.  I'm visiting Blackthorpe Barn on the way home where they have lots of Christmassy things going on.
2.  When I get home, I will light the Advent Candle and see the first bit of the online Jacquie Lawson calender.
3.  Here's the first of the Christmas music links and it has to be what, for me, is the absolute ultimate Advent carol, O come, O come, Emmanuel, sung by the incomparable choir of King's College, Cambridge.  I know Advent has begun when I hear this.


I shall start packing in a little while.  It won't take long and I want to be ready before I go down for breakfast.  I asked and I have free car parking all morning, whatever time I check out (which just means dropping the key card into a box) so that's good.

I should be home as it gets dark, to a home where the cleaners have worked their magic, to light a candle and hang as few new decorations on my bedroom tree.  I'm looking forward to it!

To finish, here's a few more photos I took yesterday morning.

 I walked through the Abbey Gardens on the way to the shops and, while there was very little to see in the way of plants, there were still interesting parts.

 Teardrop sculpture in the Holocaust garden.
 I won't say 'lovely' because it obviously isn't lovely at all in terms of what it commemorates, but it was a very peaceful little part of the Abbey Gardens.
 A mosaic map of the gardens.
And finally, blowing my own trumpet, this was in the museum.  I've made four sets of this nativity set now and - well, let's just say, in the time honoured words - 'they could have done better'.


xx


**  It isn't, it's wet and cloudy.  That's what was making the paths gleam, not ice.  Ah, well, never mind!

17 comments:

  1. And as the proud owner of one of your nativity sets I see what you mean. Happy Advent

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  2. There's nothing worse than sinus pain so you have my sympathy. I hope it clears up soon

    How lovely that you are meeting up with Sue and I hope that you both have s fantastic time.

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    1. I certainly had a lovely time and I hope Sue did too, thanks, Eileen. It was great to meet one of my blogging heroes!
      xx

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  3. Hope you and Sue have a great meet and natter! Lovely photos, the Robin is particularly cute all fluffed up to keep warm.

    Only just caught up with your recent postings so wanted to say that maybe your raised blood pressure was due to 'white coat syndrome' so just as well to monitor it in a controlled and relaxed environment to get a better overall reading.

    Talking of BP, I had a phone call from one of my Swiss cousins this morning, completely out of the blue, just after 8.00. I wasn't able to answer it straight away and then braced myself before I rang back because I just knew it was going to be bad news as his Mum is 98. Not a bit of it though, he just wanted to catch up in general, what a relief!! However, he mentioned that his Mum's BP tablets she has taken for a long time were no longer available and had to be changed and she was most put out and convinced that they were not right and didn't work. It took weeks for the family and her doctor to persuade her that they were just as good as the old ones. In the end they had to say that they were exactly the same as before and the only change was the name and the packaging. Luckily she has now accepted it and feels well again!

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    1. I'm so glad it wasn't bad news - his mum sounds a fantastic character.
      It could be the white coat thing but my GP is concerned enough to email me afterwards to say if it hasn't gone down in a few days, to get in touch anyway. This I will do and it's good to know I'm being looked after, isn't it?
      I loved that robin, he was such a wee character and Sue was really love4ly.
      xx

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  4. Fabulous robin pics. I love Bury.

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    1. It's a lovely place, isn't it? I definitely have to go again when the days are longer.
      xx

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  5. Love the robin pictures. As a Brit living in the USA I miss a lot of English things. The robins here are huge, not nearly as cute as the English ones. Your blog is where I first saw the knitted Nativity characters and I finally found tbe pattern book for then earlier this year. I have not got them all made yet as between Aptil and October we had our house on the market and we were working on improvements. I think I am doing an OK job on the characters. If you can find the time to pop over to my blog I would appreciate any advice on them. Ilikeknittingandsewing.blogspot.com. I enjoy reading your blog very much.

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    1. I'm sure you are doing a great job with the different figures. Personally, I think the secret is in the sewing up and taking the time to get each character looking 'right', if you know what I mean. It is a good pattern; I think all Jean Greenhowe's patterns are great, in fact.
      I will definitely pop over and take a look at your blog although I am sure you won't need any advice from me.
      xxs

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  6. What a great sense of the local history you showed with the commemoration from 1190. Nothing here is nearly as ancient.

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  7. Your little robin is gorgeous. A great capture. I'm a little late to comment but I hope you enjoyed your meet-up. X

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    1. Thanks, Jules. It was lovely and so was the robin. Both really made the weekend.
      xx

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