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.
