When grief hits

 I was tidying up in the Utility this morning, hanging up the Army jackets I'd taken to the boot sale yesterday.  I moved one of Keith's army jackets (going nowhere as it has so many memories attached) - it still had the sleeves rolled up as he always wore it, and there were hankies still in the pockets, and something hard - a Sheffield made penknife he had obviously bought at a Fair when we were out in the last year when he was still mobile.  It hit me SO hard - like a wallop with a baseball bat, and the tears overwhelmed me.  I took myself upstairs with Luna Lapin and a stitch ripper, and took the horrid thick material off her ears and found some of the prettiest cotton lawn in a delicate print, to replace it. (Sharon, the fabric used was very thick and had to come off, rather than be sewn over).  I have done both ears, sewn one back on and am going to do the other and the feet this evening.  I had to be distracted or I'd have been crying all day.  (Yes, and I know you will say that I need to).  Anyway, the distraction worked, especially as I will be tidying Luna up for Rosie.  I have found some fabric for her dress now too - plenty of fat quarters in my stash.  Photos to follow.  The big ugly stitching needs unpicking too, and I will replace it with some Feather Stitching I think.

Anyway, I took myself off to auction - SUCH a lovely drive at this time of year and worth going out for that alone.  Plus it is held in one of the wonderful black and white villages of Herefordshire.  I wanted pots/planters and ended up buying 3 5-pot lots, 15 in all, various sizes.  Not my first choice, but those were a) too heavy or b) too expensive - four new ones went for nearly what you would pay at the garden centre!

I also bid on, and won, two wonderful 1930s hand carved Indian marionette elephants.  They are a joy.

Cottage at Llandegley, where I stopped to view the church on the way home (or rather, way from the auction to Llandod for shopping).  

On the way back, I stopped at this lovely old church, so will share it with you later in the week. There was a thunderstorm wherever I was this afternoon - it even followed me home to Builth and chucked it down when I arrived, so I had to wait for it to leave off for a bit before I could unload the shopping.  Clear blue skies now.

I am glad I went out - the Hawthorn is amazing at the moment, and masses of deep pink Red Campion on the verges.  The roads were covered with bits of tree blossom and brown leaf covers, shaken off the trees.  It was raining Hawthorn petals at one point.  Tomorrow, a WALK.  Meanwhile, I am back to Luna Lapin restoration.

I won't be bothering again . . .

 Boot sale done.  Pretty much a waste of time as no dealers come round looking for stock any more (my sort of things anyway).  I bought several things, including a beautiful white Saxifrage to go on the steps.  The chap who always bought military uniforms wasn't there, so Keith's brand new desert jacket and a.n.other Army camouflage jacket came home.  Everyone wanted something for nothing.  Best buys - hardly used Le Creuset 22cm casserole dish £12 and a very pretty painted floral stand.  Oh, and for £2, Luna Lapin, already made so all I have to do is change the rather hideous yellow fabric used on ears and feet and quickly make her some clothes.

I shan't bother going again as the sellers go in at around 11.45 and public not allowed in till 1.15 or so, and any traders in there will go round and mop up anything worth buying before public get in there.  It's nearly in Hereford, so it's an hour's drive too.  Keith and I last did it a couple of years ago when we were able to sell surplus stock.  It was only worth me doing as I could go round and "shop" before the public came in.

Near Hay-on-Wye. (Heading towards Glasbury).

This not-very sharp photo shows the masses of Hawthorn "May" trees in bloom up on the hill.

I think that yellowy-green cottage must be covered in Virginia Creeper.

Isn't this gorgeous?  You can see the jug I bought too (modern take on Buckleys original design), and the black Le Creuset. I just need to put a little acrylic paint where the design has chipped top left.  It is weighted in the bottom to stop it falling over.

Regular followers may guess where I stopped for a very early lunch.  St Andrew's Church at Bredwardine for those who are scratching their heads.

  

The blocked-in doorway has an early 12th C lintel, and though within the air of the Herefordshire School of Romanesque Architecture it is not fully attributed to them.  There is a bird-headed man (left) and then something which sits legs akimbo rather like a sheela-na-gig - possibly the male version?!!!  Check out my old post (from 2015, happier times). Then you will see the interior.  I didn't go inside yesterday as some people had just arrived and the lady was rather infirm on her feet, and I didn't want to shove past and overtake them.

I looked across the orchard and wondered if we HAD been able to buy the old schoolhouse, whether I would have had to remarket it because of Keith's death.  Looking back on it, shopping was a fair way away - 8 miles to the Co-op (v. expensive) in Hay, or 17 miles the other way to busy Hereford.  That was definitely not in its favour, but as it was we were beaten to it by 6 weeks, and so Not Meant to Be There.  Tamzin loved it so.  It would have been more practical for Keith as his illness progressed, as it had a downstairs toilet and shower, and a room which could have been a downstairs bedroom close by.  Ah well.  We ended up here, and I love it.

Now my week of resting up has suddenly turned into a "you'll be lucky to rest" week.  Today - grocery shopping and possibly a localish auction this afternoon.  Thursday is Malvern Quilt Festival, Friday I'm babysitting, and then another auction on Saturday.  I shall sort out Luna Lapin tomorrow and try and get her a little frock made from the patterns in my Luna Lapin book.

St Mary's Church, Hay-on-Wye.

 This church is beside the motte and bailey of the original castle in Hay.  Despite having been to Hay SO many times, I had never visited the church, despite walking past it, and even getting water from the spring nearby, and parking in the bailey of the castle regularly.  Anyway, it was worth the visit.

The origins of a church on this site date back to the 12th C.  when the Hay area was first settled by the Normans.  However, the building was largely rebuilt in the 1830s, through necessity one assumes.  It sits across the dingle from the remains of the original motte and bailey castle.  The bailey is now a car park . . .  On the other side of the road, along a little path, there is a natural spring which gives lovely water still. This area was originally part of the parish of Llanigon, which is some two or three miles out of Hay.  There is an interesting church, but sadly it was locked when Keith and I visited it.  The new parish of Hay was established around 1135.

This tombstone made from the local stone, which was prone to flaking, and some of the stones were illegible.  I bought a little booklet about the Gravestones, Tombs and Monuments, which was interesting.

Now here is a wonderful piece of history which you can see in your mind's eye unfolding here:  Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury, gave a sermon here in March 1188 while on a tour around Wales to recruit for the third crusade. He was accompanied by Gerald of Wales, who recorded that, after the sermon in Hay, many young men ran to the Archbishop outside the castle to “take the Cross” (sign up for the crusade). Some of them were restrained by wives or friends, fearful of the dangers they would face overseas, who grabbed their cloaks – but the men slipped out of their cloaks and dashed forward.  SEE this link.

Maria Quatermain Tickell (there is a One-name group for this surname and it hails from Yorkshire).  I was interested in the Quatermain part of her name - only heard that in Allan Quatermain, hero of the novels by H Rider Haggard, which I enjoyed in my teens.

St Mary's was described as "ruinous" around 1700, a chapel dedicated to St John having been established closer to the "new" castle, where the main focus of the town now is, by the market place.  The chapel was subsequently reused as a schoolhouse, as St Mary's was rebuilt in the 1830s.  Only the 15th C tower remains of the earlier building.  The interior is very pleasant, with a gallery on the north and west sides.

A very interesting early memorial to the Gwynn family (known as the Gwynn stone) and was removed from its previous situation in the old choir vestry.

An early Christian stone with a Celtic type cross. Undated.

This stone effigy is by tradition supposed to be that of Maud Walbee - Mathilda de Braose (read Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine!!).  The booklet says that it is probably from the tomb of one of the early vicars.  I know which explanation I prefer!

This is the Watkins stone - William Watkins Gent Who this   dc . . . . rnc. . .h of the end prepare, , , I.. S.c.f.e.t   Life amen.  Uncertain ten . . . . God most Will likewise ??

COKRSTC??  Surrounding inscription Aged 75 and having issue       Heare L     Wat . . . of Tregoyd Gent.

Sculpted details on capitals.

The colonnade  had a series of heads at the joining of the arches, and beautiful sculpted details on the capitals at the tops of the columns.

The pulpit is octagonal and constructed of marble and alabaster, the bottom being arcaded and supported by polished marble pillars.  It bears the following inscription:  "Erected by Francis Robert Trumper, to the glory of God, in memory of his beloved wife Emma, who died Nov. 15th, 1865, and of her mother, Fortune Higgins, who died April 28rd, 1860." (Taken from the Wikipedia entry).

I believe this is "Abraham" by Arthur J.  Dix, c. 1906.The 3 coloured glass windows were at the behest of Trumper in memory of his wife.

There is a small side chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Capel-y-Ffin.  This link will explain the connection.  Capel-y-Ffin is my favourite little church near Llantony Priory, high up in the hills of Hay Bluff.

The rather splendiferous Bevington organ, dating from 1833 and with 2000 pipes.  It was formerly in several country houses, before being donated to St Mary's by Holmer Church, Hereford.

The first dog rose - flowering in the car park by the castle (now pay and display!  Drat!! It used to be my free parking place.

Norah Barlow Aquilegias in the early morning sun.

Final bit of baking, and first cakes I have drizzle iced in many years (can't be faffed usually).  Primroses courtesy of my garden.  Lemon Drizzle x 2. Looking at them now, I should have been more creative and made a little posy in the middle but I was trying to hide any dark bits the icing didn't cover . . .

Enjoy your weekend.  I am preparing to do a car boot sale tomorrow.  Glutton for punishment aren't I?

A trip to Hay again

 

Firstly, I shall take a bow over this Rhubarb and Custard cake which is going to be taken for a surprise dessert for the folk on the course, two doors down.  They have asked me down for a meal tonight (soup and salad I think, like Monday), so perhaps this may fill any corners which need filling.  It really rose and is fluffy, and the perfect brown and a good 4 inches deep.

I took a photo of the cheese counter on the Market today.  I bought some plain Monkland to try (that's a local cheese, on the way to Ludlow).  Now Gabby can't wait to have a trip to Hay market as she's a proper cheese hound!  She must take after my grandad on mum's side as mum used to say he liked his Gorgonzola so ripe it was trotting across the table!

I treated myself to an enormous Cumberland sausage roll for lunch and the other half for breakfast tomorrow - as I said it was a mighty one!  

I chatted with my usual friends, bought a pretty little Raku fired bud vase and bought a little Corinne Lapierre craft kit - Mrs Cat loves knitting - to make up for Rosie.  

It was pleasant browsing in the craft corner in Boothes bookshop.

I absolutely adored this material, but at £28 a metre, it stayed there.

Other fabrics on offer (didn't check the prices, but wouldn't be cheap).

Boothes window display, with a backdrop of a painting of Hay.  It's the Literary Festival coming up, so this will brighten it up for that.  

 

My friend Rob found this unusual item recently - probably from a Museum exhibition.  It will look great in the window of his shop, The Keepers Pocket, for Festival Week.

So, along with the purchase of a plant (which is actually the one thing I went for, apart from fly papers, as it's coming up to the fly season now), I had a lovely gentle spend putting money into the local economy.  I bought myself a lovely pink Salvia.

Then I went church bothering and explored Saint Mary's for the first time.  That post is for tomorrow.