Tuesday

Good morning, everyone.
It wasn't a very nice night.  Far too hot and uncomfortable and I'm feeling bleary eyed after tossing and turning most of the time - or so it felt anyway.  One more hot day (33C - eeek) and then it will cool off to just reasonable, they say.  Bring it on!

I more or less did what I'd planned yesterday, I think.  I stopped off at Hatfield Heath on the way home and spent a most enjoyable time wandering around.  Once home, I aired the place, picked and prepped runners (might freeze some now) and pulled off some tomatoes, rejoicing that the gardeners's delights are now ripening.

I dithered about when to go to the allotment and decided to go there and then despite the heat.  I'm glad I did because it was very humid later on.  I came home with two courgettes, some new potatoes, an apple (probably not ready yet but it had fallen), a tomato and a plum.  And gallons and gallons of sweat - sorry 'glow'.

I popped round to see Alex and came home with a bag of washing.  The first thing I need to do today is get some of that washing out on the line and pop in the next load.

Then I just crashed out and watched some telly.

Today I have an early morning tuition session but after that my diary is clear.  I was going to bus into town to look around the cathedral but I think maybe I will defer that until it is cooler - maybe tomorrow instead.  And then I have the most magnificent weed to deal with.

Isn't it a beauty?  It's in the lily of the valley pot that I meant to deal with a few weeks ago and didn't get round to.  Well, it's time is up now - I will tip out the whole pot and replant the bulbs, some around the front and some back in the pot.  The weed can go where all good weeds go - into the brown bin!

We're forecast some rain this evening so I am dithering about watering the allotment.  As I gave it a good doing yesterday, maybe I will skip today.  Decisions, decisions!

Well, time is moving on and sitting here won't get things done.  Coffee first, washing on line, bath and dress and then breakfast.
Have a good day and stay cool, whatever you do.

All Saints, Hatfield Heath

On the way home from staying the weekend with ,my parents, I stopped off in Hatfield Heath to take a look at their little church.  There's not a lot of info about it, indicating that it's not 'interesting' in terms of historical building and artefacts but it looks pretty so I though it worth a look.

It's not easy to photograph, surrounded by trees in full leaf, but I managed to get a few nice views that confirm that it's is attractive.  It's quite popular for small weddings although it isn't a listed building.

This is what I did find on t'internet.
It's a comparatively new build, consecrated in 1859.  It is built of flint with chestnut wood shingles although in 1881 a wooden side chapel was replaced with a stone build chapel that is now a war memorial with chairs dedicated to each of the war dead.

The outside really is very pretty and has an octagonal spire that adds interest.

  The graveyard is well cared for and still used and can be approached from the main road beside a small church hall and also from the other side via a rustic gate/entrance.

The notice says that the door the other side is open and so it was, to my surprise.

The way in

One of the gravestones

It took me while to get oriented inside as it was extremely gloomy after the bright sunlight.  A small church that wouldn't hold many more than fifty worshippers but it had a really nice, friendly 'feel' to it.

(terrible light, terrible photo)

The rederos (see, I'm starting to pick up the vocabulary!) was a gift from the Broke family as thanksgiving for the safe return from the Boer War of their son.  Sadly, a later memorial marks the death of his son in WW2.
(and yes, I wanted to straighten the table cover which makes the photo look all squiffy)

There were some attractive stained glass windows but nothing particularly outstanding or of 'importance'.

And other bits and bobs.

So, worth a visit when I was going past but I'd have been disappointed if I made the journey specifically.   A lovely little village church to serve an attractive Essex village.

I have discovered that it is in a partnership with another church, St Mary's, at Sheering, which might be worth a look at some point as it is mentioned both in my books and online.

Monday

Good morning!  It's been an very hot weekend but I've been in the right place - there's nothing like a bit of air conditioning to make one comfortable.  I'm still with Mum and Dad but will be heading for home in a while.  I gather today will also be hot but there are signs that this spell of weather is breaking up and it should be much more moderate by the end of the week.  Hope so.

Depending on how hot it is, I might possibly stop off at Hatfield Heath and take a look at the church that stands to one side of the village green.  It's a small place and there seems to be very little information about it, meaning, presumably, that it is of no particular interest unless it is your local church but I'll take a look, seeing as I drive right past it.  All I've been able to find is that it was built in 1859 (presumably on the site of a much older building) and has an octagonal spire.  It is a pretty building that is popular for weddings.

Anyway, I may or may not but when I get home the whole house will need freshening up after being shut up over a very hot weekend so the first thing I will do it throw open all the windows and get the air moving with the fans while I inspect the garden!  After that it's unpacking time and I'll get some washing on.

I must go along to the allotment and give it a good watering.  I bet those pesky weeds are showing their heads again!  I'd like to dig up a few more potatoes as well.

So that's today.  I hope you have a good one.

Friday

Good morning, everyone.  It was awful hot again yesterday; it really was baking in the afternoon and I was glad to be able to sit and chill - or try to - with a book.

However, I managed to get about three hours done at the allotment and now most of the weeds have been dealt with (for now - I have no doubt they will fight back) and everything had a good watering.
The left-over tomato plants that ended up down there are really doing very well and have started changing colour at last.  They are mostly for Beth and Alex as I have plenty at home.  The mange touts are behaving weirdly, producing peas rather than flat pods.  I shelled some yesterday and they were very nice, but not what we expected.  Perhaps it is this weather we are having or it might be the type!

There are baby runners on the plants but a lot of the flowers have dropped.  I blame the heat here too as they don't get nearly as much water as the plants in the back garden.  There are beans growing but there should be more.  Ah, well, at least we don't need to worry about blight!  There's always a silver lining.

I dug around one of the failed asparagus plants to see if anything at all had happened below ground but no, not a sign of anything so new plants/crowns have been ordered for autumn planting this time.  Better luck this time.

Today I need to take the mower down and give the weeds on the grass a surprise!  The grass itself has curled up and gone into hibernation in this dry weather but those pesky weeds would take advantage of anything!  A good mow and strim will sort them out for a week or so and it shouldn't take too long either.  I'll give everything another good watering while I'm at it.

Back in the garden, I'm picking runners and tomatoes now.  There's some to pick this morning.
The blueberry has more or less finished but won't be pruned until next Feb or March.  Fortunately, there are video clips online that give instructions.

The tayberry has also finished.  Not much this year but better than nothing and there's good growth for next year  That will need pruning in the next few weeks so that this years fruiting stems are cut right back to the ground to make space for the new growth.

The autumn fruiting raspberry canes have a pleasing number of baby berries with more flowers coming.  Really good for a first year.  They won't get too invasive as they're in a large pot.

Remember earlier in the year I spoke about the plants in pots either side of the arbour - cordylines?  One of them had died, presumably killed by the severe cold we had.  I bought a couple of lavenders to replace them but didn't get round to it then.  Well, I went to that corner to pull some weeds that had dared show and, lo and behold, in the dead plant pot there was a resurrection - some baby cordyline leaves starting to grow.
Well, I'm a sucker for a plant fighting back (unless its a weed) so I shall have to find somewhere else for the lavender plants and will give the cordelines another go.   My garden is full of plants that didn't give up!

I shall be able to make my own sage and onion stuffing from now on.

Sometimes Amazon is too efficient.  I ordered something yesterday and selected delivery for Tuesday or Wednesday next week because I don't really want it to come earlier.  I got a message later on saying that it was dispatched and should be with me tomorrow.  < sigh >

It's a busy morning so I had better get on.  I may not be posting tomorrow or Sunday but should be back on Monday.  Have a super weekend.

Thursday

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!

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.

When they rebuilt the tower, which collapsed after years of neglect and some careless underbuilding, they used the original materials but shored them up with modern (for the time) brickwork.
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!