I got off lightly with the babysitting duties yesterday as after being very fractious on Thursday, she was a happy little soul yesterday, despite her snotty nose, and just wanted to be out in the garden or having a walk around the close with me. She amused me as she seems to have invented her own little language - to which we are not party to the meaning! - and you can hear her making a statement and asking questions. by the inflection in her voice. Bless her, she brings such joy. Jon and I had a walk up the village with her in her baby carrier, and she went to sleep on the way back and was out for the count so he was able to put her to bed where she slept for 3 hours. Her sleeping pattern in the day is gradually changing to one longer nap instead of two shorter ones. Anyway, I left around 1 p.m. - just as well as she didn't wake until 3.30! When I went into Morrisons to get some sandwiches, I couldn't resist buying her a colourful little floral sweatshirt, for cooler summer days. If they'd done it in my size, I'd have bought one for myself!
I went into Charlies, and bought a metal archway to go in the side garden, between two pieces of fencing, and which will be smothered in Clematis, as I have two growing strongly, one on either fence. One is a montana rubens which has really taken off this year.
Of course, having watered round mightily when I got back, it then rained in the evening which I am sure gave the plants a good soaking which they needed after it being hot and dry for weeks on end. I just hope that it isn't pouring down on Monday when I head off to Malvern, or indeed on Sunday when Tam and Rosie are coming over and we are going to one (possibly two) Open Gardens locally.
Back to Tewkesbury Abbey now. I don't think I have ever seen a coloured ceiling like this one above the High Altar. Wonderful. This is called net vaulting, and the Edward IV's emblem, the Sun in Splendour, can be seen in worked in gold in the top red area.
I wonder that all this glory survived the Reformation, but I believe the parishioners said it was their parish church, and purchased it for the price of the lead on the roof and the bells, which were melted down leaving the building ruinous.
This looks rather like an Angel with Bagpipes! 14th C apparently - found that much on-line. I wish I'd zoomed in on the wordage. I must go back and check all the things I missed this time.
This is the cadaver effigy of John Wakeman who was the last Abbot of Tewkesbury. However he is not buried here but following the Dissolution (of the Monasteries) chose to be buried at the nearby village of Forthampton.
A model of the Abbey beneath the tomb.
This is St Edmund being killed by arrows.
I don't want to put the dampers on, but I'm praying for rain for the garden.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if, when these ancient craftspeople were creating, they thought their work would still be around and admired many centuries later?
We do need it. I have to rob the pond of water to fill the watering cans for my runner and flat beans which are in the bottom triangle. It's getting quite low, especially because of all the leaves on the bottom.
DeleteI am sure that the craftsmen took great pleasure in their skill but probably never dreamed that their work would survive 100s of years later.
More beautiful photos - Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWet here this morning - that will help the gardens
Apparently Monday is just showers at Malvern. I can cope with that. It's a long way to drive to find out that it's rained off and just 1/4 of the outside folk turned up.
DeleteThank you for the pictures. It looks like a really interesting place to visit. I could spend hours in there!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for Malvern. My husband was due to do a big local carboot on Monday, but the weather is supposed to be quite wet. He is hoping to do one tomorrow, but isn't feeling too well at the moment, so that may well be off the cards too.
I am looking forward to returning, but think I may go to Worcester Cathedral first. That's even nearer to Malvern. Hope it's not wet for your husband, as the Bank Holiday car boots are always busy and thronging with buyers - as are indeed Fleamarkets.
DeleteI was interested to see An Angel With Bagpipes. Last year when in Edinburgh I went to a fantastic restaurant in the Royal Mile which was named Angel With Bagpipes and I just assumed they’d invented the name as well as the sculpture. Thanks to you I see they copied the sculpture at “your abbey”. Thanks so much. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteMargaret from New Zealand
Oh wow - what a great link. That has certainly travelled! And even further with your knowledge of it.
DeleteWe’ve had a lot of rain lately. Torrential downpours and thunder and lightning on Wednesday which struck an old cottage in the village and the 80 year old resident had to be rescued by firemen and ladders as her roof caught fire. The nearest I’ve ever got to a lightning bolt thankfully.
ReplyDeleteIsn’t Tewkesbury marvellous,, such richness and treasures, you would never tire of it and always find something new to see. I feel this way about Chichester Cathedral too, 950 years old this year. I remember the triptych in St Edmund’s chapel (featured in your post the other day) and created not long ago I think by a woman artist (did they credit her name in the information box?) using egg tempura on wood. So skilful and beautiful. I remember at around the time K and I saw this work at Tewkesbury (2014) i was a regular visitor to Watts Gallery in Compton just outside Guildford and Mary Watts the much younger wife of George Watts the famous Victorian sculptor and artist (he painted the iconic painting “Hope” and sculpted magnificent larger than life size horses which I am sure you know about) also worked in the medium of egg on wood to make small iconic paintings. Mary also potted in terracotta clay (her surviving pots are extremely collectible and valuable) and built the amazing brick and terracotta chapel. Anyway I meant to say that my daughter K and I took part in an egg on wood painting workshop at Watts Gallery and it’s a really tricky difficult medium to work in and made us both realise the exceptional skill needed to create the St Edmund chapel triptych.
S is now in Intermediate Care in Bognor and doing so well I am hoping and praying he will be allowed home soon. I now know the reason behind S’s devastating collapses (not falls but sudden and frequent collapses like falling off a cliff) and the confusion, paranoia and hallucinations were caused by a slow brewing and undetected chest infection. It wasn’t even discovered in hospital until day 12 and when I saw the scan of his chest and lungs it was obvious and then confirmed by the consultant that this was an infection that had been slowly growing asymptomatically for months and was the reason behind the gradual decline in S’s motor skills throughout this year.
Meanwhile S is learning to walk again and is making strong progress every day. All the equipment and aids we might need have been delivered here this week and I am confident when he is allowed home we are going to be good to go. This month without S at home has made me realise how precious just being at home with someone you truly deeply love is …
My love to anyone affected by Parkinson’s (I know Rustic Pumpkin is having an impossibly difficult time tight now) or any other condition which defies the experts and for which there is no currently no cure. And of course to everyone who has loved and lost.
BB, you are always an inspiration to me and I hope you have a wonderful time at Malvern - looking forward to seeing what catches your eye and what you buy. Sarah x
It has been hot, dry, sunny here since April. Things (me included!) have been struggling and I could have done without all the watering round. Being on our own private water supply, I am always very careful during hot spells, and never have deep baths anyway, but they are proper Wartime ones at the moment. All the washing up water gets recycled too, for watering stuff in pots and planters, which get so dry. Not having peat compost any more seems to make a difference in moisture content with the replacement sorts and I have quite a few ceramic or terracotta planters and pots which of course dry out more quickly.
DeleteI think they used an egg tempura mix in St Mary's church (Kempley) restoration - amazing Romanesque frescoes , using a dry lime mortar base. However, the frescos in the nave, uncovered in 1872, haven't fared so well with the conservation work carried out then.
I know of George Watts but not a great deal about him or his wife. The course you and K did sounds fascinating.
I am glad that S is making such good progress and he is now in Intermediate Care. I hope that his medications start to work properly again now the infection is dealt with. Parkinsons is a cruel disease, and I just wish I lived nearer RP so I could help her with some of the jobs she needs doing.
I don't know about being an inspiration - I just carry on as best I can and do things which bring me pleasure and help to control my grief. Keith would have told me to carry on, so that is what I try and do.
No sooner than we were home yesterday than I was out watering the garden, only one Lupin was looking sorry for itself after being neglected for almost a week. An hour after I had finished the heavens opened and it rained for most of the night. Ah well, better too much than not enough at the moment. Aren't baby and toddler clothes just adorable these days, no wonder you wanted a sweatshirt for yourself too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a lovely weekend. xx
I am always amazed at the intricacy of detail in these ancient places, and how wonderful that much has survived.
ReplyDelete