Sunday 30 August 2009

Sunday 4

 


On our way home from Blythburgh yesterday we stopped off at Peasenhall and took the above photo. There isn't a name on the building but I think it was probably the old guildhall. To the right of the building there is a good teashop, where we had a pot of tea with scones. Very nice too.
Today we went to morning service. Ann was Deaconing, and I was choiring. Glad to report a new male choir member, a recently retired clergyman. He sings bass (first bass, I should think). That means we now have three male singers, one tenor, one base, and one basso profundo (meself); not enough, but a great improvement on just me, which it was for some years. Ann has gone off to Wisbech to stay over with her mother, and plans to come home tomorrow evening. Spent afternoon and evening in workshop. Got on quite well, completed a job on a grandfather clock that I'd not been looking forward to. It went better than I'd expected, as they often do when you've been putting them off. One more job I want to complete, then I'm off to bed, I think. Goodnight all.
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Sunday 3

 


Photo of the interior of the Church. It shows what I was saying yesterday about the oak pews, now with nice comfortable backs to them - what luxury!
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Sunday 3

 


Another of the bench ends. This one shows a handcuffed man sitting in the stocks. Not sure what he represents, possibly a warning as to what happens when you break the eleventh commandment :- Thou shalt not get caught. (?)
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Sunday 2

 


The main doorway into Blythburgh Church from the porch.
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Sunday 1

 


Continuing yesterda's series of photoes taken at Blythburgh this is a view over Blythburgh marshes,looking towards Southwold, with the tide three quarters in.
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Saturday 29 August 2009

Saturday 8

 


Last picture for today. Four of the pillars at the West end of the church have these large iron rings in them. There is a firm local belief that these rings were hammered into the collumns of the Church to tether the horses when Cromwell stabled them in the church in 1644; and the state of the brick floor around the base of these pillars rather bears out this belief.
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Saturday 7

 


Among the other delights in Blythburgh Church are a good many carved oak bench end - still attached to their original benches, although these have now been fitted with oak backs (sybaritic luxury indeed). Among the bench ends are representations of the seven deadly sins. This chap represents sloth.
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Saturday 6

 


This elderly gentleman-at-arms has been ringing bells in Blythburgh parish church for some centuries. First of all he rang the hours on the church clock, then when he lost the clock he was made to ring a bell for the start of church services, which I'm told he still does.
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Saturday 5

 


Angel roof of church.
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Saturday 4

 


Ann on South side of church.
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Saturday 3

 


Blythburgh Parish Church.
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Saturday 2

 


Flint flushwork at East end of Blythburgh Church.
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Saturday 1

 


Photo of stormcloud taken from the car, whilst coming home yesterday.
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Friday 28 August 2009

Friday.

 


Above is a photo of a pretty little pub a few miles from here that we passed today on our way home.

Set out at about 8.40 a.m. and motored to Southwold, where we called on friends Jonathan and Jo, partly to drink coffee, and partly to fix a recalcitrant long case clock. The thing about long case clocks, is that when you think you know the lot about them, one of them goes wrong in a totally new and unforeseen way. I won't bore you with the technical details, other than to say I put it right in a totally new and unforeseen way by performing kitchen table surgery ably assisted by a Professor of Pharmaceuticals (hope I've spelled that right). We then got down to the serious business of drinking coffee (in my case tea) before adjourning to Saint Felix School where we attended an Antique Fair. Spent a very happy hour or so looking at some lovely items, and meeting a good many old friends. We (that is Ann and I)didn't buy anything, although Jo found and eventually purchased a very fine piece of Edwardian enamel work. Then motored round to Walberswick where a table had been booked for lunch for us. We all had fish cakes in a leek sauce with chips. For pudding we had blackcurrant fool (I've already explained that one, Lori) with meringue. On our way home we stopped off at Blythburgh and took photoes of the Church (which is, I think, my very favourite Church) some of which I'll publish tomorrow, D.V. Goodnight all.
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Thursday 27 August 2009

Thursday.

Very swift blog, just to let family and friends know. Granddaughter Tuva (in Sweden) has fallen off a see-saw and broken her right humerus just below the shoulder. She is home, strapped up, in a good deal of discomfort, but is being very brave.
Good night all.

Wednesday 26 August 2009

Still Wednesday.

 


Here it is. I think it must be quite common, but I can't find it in my 'Observer's Book of Wild Flowers'.
Goodnight all.
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Wednesday.

 


Can anyone tell me what this plant is? Took the snaps this afternoon when we went for a walk along our river bank, where it grows freely. It is quite common along the rivers in this area. The flower form is similar to the snapdragon (antirhinum). It is also similar to an orchid, but is far too tall for that, up to six foot, and, I think, slightly scented. I'll try and put up a rather closer photo.
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Tuesday 25 August 2009

Tuesday.

 


Stormy sky beyond the trees at the end of our garden. The storm missed us, but I think the next village over is getting it in the neck.
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Tuesday.

 


Right hand end of row in previous photo. Pretty corner, isn't it?
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Tuesday.

 


Nice row of houses almost opposite Priory Gateway.
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Tuesday.

 


Photoes taken in Sudbury yesterday. This house is Priory gateway; the main archway was the gateway into a Priory that was founded in Sudbury in 1273.
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Monday 24 August 2009

Monday.

 


Drove home today through the lanes, some of which we'd not explored before. Took the above photo through the car window, in one of the lanes. The handrail to the left is beside a series of timber baulks set into the bank forming steps in a green pathway, and leading up to the wicket gate. Through the wicket gate and at the top of the bank is a small, thatched white cottage. Fairy tale looking, but primitive and inconvenient. There appears to be nowhere to park a car. Must knock off and do some work now. Goodnight all.
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Monday.

 


This is my cellar (though I'm told by the experts that it's an undercroft) where I work. It dates from circa 1450, although the end wall, built of flint cobbles and small brick stringing, is considerably earlier. The main part of the house (above this) dates from cica 1540 to 1580.
This morning drove into town and resumed work on the French clock I mentioned on Saturday. This time took it to pieces, and did various rearrangements. Oiled pivots and pallets, let down the two mainsprings (being French had going barrels to both trains- both overwound) and put it all back together again. I think we've cured it for the time being. Owner was pleased and gave us beans, apples, and figs, all from his garden. He also didn't kick at the fee I asked- which he seemed to think very reasonable. Took about an hour and a half today. Good morning's work.
In afternoon went to Sudbury. I needed two pots of ink for this machine (one black, one coloured). Ann needed to shop for groceries. I took one or two snapshots of bits of Sudbury (to be shown here over the next few days), then we met up with friends Terry and Diana at the Secret Garden and had tea. Terry has been in hospital with diverticulitis- lost a good deal of weight. Had this meself some years ago, so could sympathise. Told him he must discover what foods to avoid (the hard way). In fact, the only thing that can cause a slight recurrence in me is nuts, though I do have to avoid offal (which I love) as this triggers gout. Some bits of growing a little older are not much fun. Supper is calling. Or rather Ann is calling, on supper's behalf, to announce its imminent arrival. More blog later, perhaps.
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Saturday 22 August 2009

Saturday.

 


Photograph of granddaughter Lucy taking a photograph of her grandfather taking a photograph of his grand.........etc. etc.

This morning went into town to look at a very fine french clock of eighteenth century date that is playing up (again). Two problems :- the strike; which is complicated. It strikes the hour on a 'dongy' bell then repeats it at the half hour on a higher pitched 'dingy' bell. Having had previous dealings with this clock was able to fix the strike problem in a matter of minutes. The second problem is that it refuses, although very fully wound, to go for more than a few minutes. Have arranged to go in on Monday morning, and spend a couple of hours or so wrestling with it. Think it may need surgery, hopefully of the kitchen table variety. We'll see. Clock's owner gave us some of his apples and brown Turkey figs. Then to home of friend of ours, a 'retired' priest, to lend him a sword and helmet. He is standing in for our Dean tomorrow, and proposes to preach on the text of 'put on the whole armour of God'.
This afternoon took neighbour Doris (who is approaching ninety and a matter of a few weeks ago fell and broke her pelvis) in the car to scrabble club. She didn't play on my table - just as well - she is a viciously good player- but from the shrieks of glee from the next table I think she was playing pretty successfully. At our table we (Margaret, Kevin, and I) fitted FOUR games into a little over two hours. Kevin won the first two games, and I the second. All well faught games. Took Doris back to her home afterwards. She's a brave old thing and is mending rapidly, although still on two sticks. A few weeks ago she told Ann that this coming birthday is her ninetieth, but said not to tell her friends as she has been pretending to be sixty-ish for the last thirty years, and thinks she can keep it up for a few years yet. Had dinner at seven - roast beef, yorkshire pudding, etc. Had more yorkshire pudding with stewed apples for pudding. Been pottering in workshop (cleaning shoes, etc.) since supper. Bedtime approaches. Goodnight all.
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Friday 21 August 2009

Friday.

 


Photo is of Ann, Lucy and Sarah.

This evening we went to the Cinema club. We sat with Eileen and Hilary. The film showing was called 'Black Ball' and was about the game of bowls, and was set in Torquay on the south coast. It could have been quite amusing, except that the language was foul. The first half ended with the comment "He's a f-----ing wanker." This seemed to me to be a contradiction in terms, apart from being thoroughly offensive. Hilary treated us all to a choc ice, and we sat and discussed whether we should stay for the second half. We all four decided against staying and walked out, as did a good many others. It's called voting with our feet, and I hope that the committee who selects the films takes note.
Goodnight all.
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Friday.

 


Sarah and Ruby on Wednesday afternoon. Ruby was shorn the following morning and looked (and obviously felt) the better for it.
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