My Walk to Meeting..

While the rest of my family are 'cornerstones' of the local Church of England, my prefered venue on a Sunday morning is the Quaker Meeting House in town.  It's about 3 miles from my house but - with a little careful planning and some decent weather - I normally walk one way or the other.  (Mark either drops me off or collects me.)

The weather was wonderful here on Sunday morning so I decided to take my camera with me. 

I set off at about 9.30...

The first view is across open fields.  On a clear day you can see the Malvern Hills from this point.  On Sunday it was really hazy.

I walk next to the main road almost all the way - but sometimes it can be quite quiet for a few moments..

Shortly after I come to the edge of the Golf Course.  During WW2 this was a small airfield.  I think the fencing could date from that period...

Next there's the allotments.  People were already working hard on some of the plots...

Shortly after the walk starts to go through a more built up area.  This is where my sister lives (in the houses on the left).  Her house is just over 100 years old and they are only the second family to live in it.  They bought the house about 10 years ago from the daughter of the original builder!

I've always loved the detailed tiling in this bay window.  It's the only one in the terrace with this feature..

Then I walk past the entrance to Gheluvelt Park (named after a WW1 Battle that the Worcestershire Regiment were involved in and created as a memorial).

There are some large early 19th Century houses in the next stage of my walk.  Most of them have been converted into offices - but there are plenty of hints of their former glory..

Shortly after this I start to walk past small shops and the Grammar School..

When the suns shining, I can't resist peaking through doorways to take pictures of the blossom.

This is the entrance to some 19th Century Almshouses...

After the almshouses I turn down a side road and into an area known as 'The Aboretum'.  My sister used to live down this road when she first moved to Worcester.

This is the side of the Library, looking back up to the main road.  I love the way Worecster's red brick buildings glow in the sun..

...And here's the garden of the Meeting House - a tranquil little corner tucked away in the city...

..And finally my destination - the door to the meeting.

I hope that you enjoyed this little insight into my weekends.

Jx

Fabulous Free Functions....

I love the way digital photography and the internet make such fantastic partners.  Recently I have become a complete 'PicMonkey' addict.  I find it incredible how much I can do with the free on-line functions.   I've had hours of harmless fun creating retro-style posters with the 'Posterise' effect!  Here's the process that I used to create my latest header...

 

I started with a view of a stile, taken on a walk above Crickhowell (in the Brecon Beacons) last April.

 

 

This is the 'Posterised' version - plus text...

 

 

I then started to add other effects - to give a rather more vintage feel.

This version ended up looking suitably sepia, but way too over-exposed..

 

And this is the finished item - hopefully looking just like the front cover

of a Bartholomew Map from the 1920s or 30s..

 

I can confirm that cars 'posterise' nicely - but people end up looking a little demonic!

 

For some-one who used to spend a ridiculous amount of money on one hour development of 24 exposure films, I can't help delighting in all this wondeful FREE stuff!

 

Also -all my lovely Year 11s left today - Sob!!!

This is my 24th summer of saying goodbye and I still can't prevent a bit of a cry for the ones that went the extra mile and made me proud.

What a softie!!!!

Charity Events and Other Things...

In January 1995 my Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Within a couple of weeks of her diagnosis it was general knowledge that Linda McCartney also had breast cancer.  While Linda fought and lost her battle her battle in the public eye, my Mum quietly fought her battles and won.  She had surgery, more sugery, treatments and monitoring - and eventually gained the 'all clear'.

 

Despite her current 'trails and tribulations' with Huntington's Disease, we've always remembered the great support that she had from the NHS in Manchester and the local cancer charities during that difficult period.  Each year there's a major car event at Prescott Hill Climb to raise money for cancer charities in the West Midlands.  We've been regular attenders since the event started.

 

This year Mark took the silver Marcos up the hill a couple of times. 

 

 

Mum was so proud to be the first passenger on the hill with Mark yesterday morning....

 

 

Dad brought along his own 'sporty' red Nissan.  Here he is - lining up the cars with space for a picnic.  Unfortunately the weather turned really wet over lunchtime and it wasn't the sunny, leisurely event we've enjoyed on some previous occasions.

 

 

The event is very popular with the Marcos Club.  Here's Mark's car, lined up with some of her Marcos 'friends' in the paddock.

 

The event draws all sorts of cars out of their owner's garages.  I love the vintage style of these big old cars and the way that their drivers frequently 'dress the part' with tweeds, caps and headscarves.

 

 

Mark enjoyed the day a great deal.  He loves testing his cars on this track.  Sadly he had to come home and pack again last night.  He's working in Prague for three days this week. 

 

Thomas and I are 'home alone' again...  The 'plus' side of this is that I get the chance to select what we watch on TV and I can 'make like a star fish' in bed....!  The 'down' side is that it's really quite wierd being here on my own.  I'm not great at being a 'single cat parent'!

 

Into the 'Silly Season'...

Things have been 'challenging' recently.  In the last 24 hours alone my sister has declared a full 'Post Viral Chronic Fatigue' relapse AND my classroom has been broken into at work.  Nothing that can't be handled really.. but the relaxing Bank Holiday weekend seems a bit of a distant memory!

 

We spent the weekend at Donnington Park race circuit.  I found this lovely Bed and Breakfast in Kegworth - maybe 10 minutes drive from the circuit.

 

 

The lovely owners put us in the ground floor room.  Mark was in heaven... he could lie in bed with teddy bear and car (AND wife!!!) at reasonable reach!

 

 

It was a great chance to catch up with some of our Marcos owning friends...

 



 

..AND we got the chance to play on the circuit during the lunch break.  This is my view from the passenger seat at about 100 mph.  Apparently Race Control were 'amused' by the exploits of the silver Marcos on the club laps...

This is a race-prepared Marcos doing qualifying laps on the Sunday morning.  It was lovely to see a 50 year old race car being driven so well.

 

Another of our Marcos acquaintances was helping his nephew in the Classic GP2 races.  His nephew is driving the yellow car and went on to win this race convincingly.

Each afternoon there was a fly past by a Lancaster bomber, accompanied by a Spitfire and a Hurricane.  There something really special about seeing the old vehicles on the track and these beautiful vintage planes in the air at the same time.

 

On Monday we managed to be a bit more chilled - and even had lunch out in the garden.  I love eating a salad and cold meat lunch under the umbrella on the decking.  Sadly the weather doesn't look so great for next weekend...

 

Work in... very slow... progress!

I started this granny square project at the end of February.  The idea was to produce a piece of crochet that made me feel 'spring-like' - hence all the greens, yellows and browns.  Normally I do heaps of crochet during our shared commute round the M42.  Unfortunately the Easter holidays and lots of days when I've had to drive myself because Mark has been away, have really slowed down the final stages.  Nevertheless, it's starting to look like a proper throw....

 

Here's Tom inspecting the details...

 

 

"I like this corner Mum... can I play with those threads..."

Once Tom got bored and moved on, I took another photo.  Basically I've tried to make a floral pattern in each of the 36 squares.  I then popped a double crochet border (in yellow or orange) on each one and stitched it together with a raised single crochet seam.  I've now started a granny stripe border.  I'm working one side at a time and rotating the work every six rows or so.  This has created a nice detail at the corners.

 

My plan is to use it as a throw over one of our garden chairs - during that long hot summer we're going to have (Ha ha!!!!).  Alternatively I can always huddle up under it if we have the usual chilly summer!

 

I've found the granny stripe border seriously addictive and already have plans for another garden throw where the stripe are more of a feature.  The problem is that I also have 'unfinished business' with a lot of blue wool and a 'wave stripe' blanket...

 

Hmmm.  So much crochet and so little time.  Maybe 'Mr Ofsted' and 'Mr Btec Verifier' are just going to have to wait for their paperwork!!!

 

Jx

Angels With Rainbow Wings

On the last day of my Swiss trip my friend took me to Lausanne.

This is the tower of the fabulous gothic cathedral, dominating the skyline of the old town.

 

 

The inside is characterised by clean lines and this pale grey stone...

 

 

Until - suddenly - you walk through the door to the south porch

and find these wonderful carvings from the Middle Ages. 

The entire roof space and all the columns feature key biblical themes and stories. 

700 years ago these statues would have been a riot of colour.

Now - if you look carefully - you can spot little hints of how the whole space

might have looked.  I was completely taken with the idea that angels could have

rainbow wings....

 



 

Here's my friend and her girls studying the ceiling..

 

When we came back into the cathedral there was an impressive view of the organ loft...

My friend's husband is one of those epically clever people who seem to be talented in many

different fields.  As well as being a great Scientist and Engineer, he can also play the organ

brilliantly.  He has played this organ in a concert.  I wish I'd been there to hear him!

 

I'm 'home alone' again for a few days this week - as Mark is working in Paris again.

In a couple of weeks time he even has to go to Prague to inspect some parts of a new conveyor system.  I'm doing the 'tolerant and supportive wife' - but I hope that his European travel slows down soon because it makes him really tired and I can't help worrying...

 

I hope that you are all having a good week and enjoying the improving weather!

Jx