Now, THAT'S what I CALL a view!

 

Our neighbour has some diseased fir trees and is also having solar panels installed, so the tree surgeons have been called in.  This is the view now the biggest tree has been taken down. (Last bits being sorted now, as I can still hear the chain saw in action.)   This is looking in the direction of the hills between Llandod and Newbridge.  We are thrilled to bits.

View of said tree through filthy bedroom window (next door are window cleaners, so we need to cross their palms with silver!)

Half way through.  It's taken them all day.  Glad we weren't paying!

Today I am grateful for:

This wonderful view.

Another new rose planted (a birthday one from Tam, Belle de Crecy) 

Speaking to two of our three children on the phone.

Sorting out my broadband/phone bill and negotiating a much cheaper package

Not having to cook at teatime as Keith had a late Optician's appt, so we had take-out fish and chips.

A stroll round Ledbury - and Titian's "The Last Supper"

 

As I was on my own, I stopped in Ledbury for a stroll around (and the purchase of a bottle each of excellent Dunkerton's cider and perry).  Here is the amazing Market House, dating from 1668. 

Looking up cobbled Church Lane towards the church of St Michael and All Saints.

Above and below - this house has been moved a couple of times, but it's good that its vernacular architecture was appreciated and saved.

The old Grammar School, now a local Heritage Centre.

Display cabinet contents inside the Grammar School.

The Parish church of St Michael and all Angels, Ledbury. Pevsner thought very highly of it, writing that it was the "premier parish church in Herefordshire."  Unusually, the bell tower stands entirely separately from the church. It dates from 1230, although the spire wasn't added until 1733. You could go in it, but the thought of climbing steps inside discouraged me!  The core of the church is 12th C, but it was extended and "refinished" in the12th and 16th C.

The memorial of the 3rd Baron Biddulph of Ledbury.  The Biddulphs were a banking family and very much associated with Ledbury.  They have an entire end of one aisle given over to their memorials and protected by railings.

Medieval carvings which were somehow saved. 

Glorious stained glass, but the sun wasn't behind it, sadly.

One of the fragments of the much earlier church. At first look I thought it was a Green Man, but note there is a baby dragon or beastie or angel? curled around his shoulders. Unless that is luscious foliage? Suggestions on an postcard please.

Not sure who this was meant to be but skilfully sculptured.

One of the two fonts. An earlier (17th C) font was found beneath this smashed to bits but then restored.  I will find it on my next visit.

I am, I must confess, not really a follower of modern stained glass.  There is some in Hereford Cathedral where they were spot on, but this did nothing for me.  In fact, it reminded me of illustrations in one of my Victorian horse books where they show the muscles of the horse! 

Finally, what the church has become very famed for in recent years, when their dark and discoloured painting of The Last Supper, was tested and examined and researched, and a signature by Titian was found and it was attributed to his workshop.  It had been gifted to the church in 1909.  The link will take you to a BBC piece about it.  You may have seen the programme on tv where they covered the investigation.  Keith is very keen to see it, so I will have to work out how I can drive close enough - well, I know that I can, but it's which route to take.  

I am currently reading Elly Griffith's The Midnight Hour, having just finished Ann Cleeves' The Long call, set in North Devon.  I am also currently trying to stay awake having been down since 5 a.m.!

Keith's blood tests all came back normal, including the thyroid levels one.  He is still fatigued but managed a longer walk yesterday without it knocking him for 6, AND he has regained much of the weight he had lost, which is encouraging.  We're now waiting for appointments for another MRI scan and a more urgent (2 yr waiting list apparently) appointment with the Neurology dept.

Enjoy the sunshine all.

Malvern

 Yesterday was the first Malvern I had been able to go to for months - the winter really doesn't encourage visits there!  No fun driving all that way in the pitch dark.  It takes an hour and 40 minutes from here.  Keith stayed at home as he was definitely not up to walking all that way - I clocked up 25,000 steps by the end of the day - that's nearly 10 miles!

I didn't buy much, didn't see any of the Carmarthen contingency, but there were a few dealers there we're friends with, not that I got time to chat to them all as some were busy with customers.  Although the car parks were soon full, it didn't seem that busy in the Fleamarket - mainly because there were so many stalls to divide people up.

Above and below - an interesting repurposing of old boxes (painted in oils, I overheard the stallholder tell someone) but at £200 a pop, I don't know how many he sold!  Nicely executed though.

A good sculpture of a bull - bet that was heavy to carry.

Behind it was this gorgeous Victorian garden seat.  I didn't dare ask the price.

At the end I took a stroll through the Avon Hall. I'd been wearing my mask most of the day, unless I was where they had put the vans a long way apart so the aisles were very wide and not very populated by customers.  Mask on to go in here though.  I got Keith some of his favourite dark chocolate coated preserved ginger in here.  I also brought him a Sothebys Arms and Armour catalogue for information.  You can never have too much knowledge.

Finally, the interesting stall we always go to.  You never know what they will have on here.  I will leave you to browse.

The mandatory view from the Upton turning as I was leaving.  Ledbury post to follow, and also the best font EVER at Castle Frome.

Meeting the Easter Bunny

 It was another lovely sunny Spring day here so I decided to get an early walk in and set out to town at 9 a.m.  I am very much a morning person - that's when I have most energy and that's when my asthma medication is highest, as I take the first dose after getting up.  I had decided to explore a bridleway which skirts Llanelwedd Quarry.

Looking back towards the town at the start of my walk and below, early Bluebells.

The path meandered through the woods, loud with birdsong.  I had the route to myself as it was early.

Another walk is planned to the top of Garth Hill, marked with a Trig Point.

This is the old quarry, now abandoned to wildlife.  There was a warning sign to keep out because of a very deep pool.  Another benefit for wildlife.

All the wild cherries are in flower now.  They are also known as Geans.  If you can beat the birds to them, the fruits are edible and used to be used to flavour drinks such as brandy and whisky.  This wild tree is the parent plant to cultivated cherry trees.

These were growing by the roundabout, where I crossed from one section of my walk to the next, back home along the disused railway line.

First Cowslips and below, first Comma butterfly (possibly over-wintered).  This is the time of year for "firsts" - I saw my first Swallow yesterday too, and that absolutely made my day.  They bring me much joy.

Fishermen enjoying their sport in the River Wye.  The season started last month.

Lords and Ladies - Wild Arum Lilies.

St Matthew's Church was basking in the sunshine.

Looking back towards the town across the water meadows.

Just as I was nearing Jewsons, this rabbit was happily sunbathing on the path.  I managed to get his photo before he noticed me.

It was about a 3 mile walk and very enjoyable.  I have been gardening since I got home, but after 4 hours my body was saying "enough".  The past couple of days I've been doing 3 hours a day clearing weeds on the Bank.  Today I was by the big tree stump near the pond, clearing that awful old membrane with its covering of grass/roots/weeds - it takes some removing.  Two roses going in over there soon.

Happy Easter everyone.