Friday Jaunt

Tags

Photography, The UK

Yesterday with the Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker, Hubby and I headed off for the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, in particular Luss.  Grabbing a picnic lunch we ate near the beach with a large group of ducks hopefully of some crumbs before heading for a walk along the beach.

Where we spotted this unusual fungi on a tree stump:

I have never come across anything like it before, beautiful.

It is hard to believe it is February, okay we both had scarfs on and when you got in the wind boy was it chilly, but still the sun was bright enough for me to get the sunglasses out and the sun and clouds played at making patterns on Ben Lomond.

Luss is a charming wee village that I used to visit often, but hadn’t been for a while, I hadn’t in fact realised that Hubby had never been at all, so I was looking forward to showing him Luss Parish church, unfortunately the church itself was shut so he had to manage on this occasion with a wander round the grave yard.  My ancestors have links with Luss, maybe that is why it always seems such a special place to me.

We wandered the quaint streets before Hubby refused a cup of tea – I know I was shocked too – and we headed back to the car.  We took the long way home arriving to the smell of beef stew awaiting us.  All in all a good day off.

 

Feeding Mission

Tags

Photography, Religion, The UK

On our last visit to Argyll we actually stopped at a sweet little beach which in the past I had always driven past.  It turned out that although the beach itself is small the shellfish which live around it would appear to be very large if the shells of their deceased counterparts are to be believed.

As it is hard to see size in photographs so we put the cottage keys beside these clam shells:

while this picture shows that even Hubby’s giant hands could hardly hold this oyster shell:

Why this particular beach should have such a large amount of very large shells of all kinds I have no idea there is no industry near-by that might have unwittingly leached something out into the sea and caused this growth, neither is it one of the many areas in Argyll were there is fish farming going on, giving these shellfish an abundance of extra readily available food.  Nor was it just the clams and oysters that were large, there where mussels, welks and limpets all of bigger than usual size.

I was reminded of this beach today when I was thinking about church growth.  Sometimes it can be very difficult to know why any particular church does grow or another church doesn’t grow having ticked all the same mission boxes.  Church growth doesn’t automatically come about by following some formula or another, it is more about faithfully being the people of God in a living community.  That is what helps members of any congregation to grow as individuals, that is what becomes attractive to those who make that first tentative steps inside any church, that is the firm foundations on which a church can grow without danger of collapse.  That isn’t a formula that who we are by our baptism into being part of the body of Christ.  One thing I am certain of is that nutrients are needed, like any other living thing, congregations need to be fed if they are to grow.  I think mission will have an uphill struggle when it is taken as being something separate from the ongoing life of a congregation, I think it falters when it is used as a sticking plaster, and I think it out-and-out fails if it is only about invitation and not about nurture, nurture of those finding faith for the first time and nurture for those who have held their faith for many years.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’  A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

John 21:15-17

What’s the Time?

Tags

Castles, Photography, The UK

While on holiday time took on a new meaning and it had nothing to do with what the hands of a clock or watch had to say.

We had time to spend doing things that took as long or as short as they took.  It didn’t even really matter that for the first three days I was too ill to do anything much, time moved on but it also stood still.

We enjoyed life at a snail’s pace getting there when we got there.

Enveloped in the peace and tranquility of staying in an apartment overlooking Walmer Castle with use of the gardens of an evening.

It would be a pure joy to open the door and return.

But we can’t return, well not immediately at least.  I am sure Hubby will be posting plenty pictures and tales of our travels over on his blog, as for me, well good old time will tell.

St Mungo

Tags

Photography, Saints, The UK

St Mungo

St Mungo is the patron saint of Glasgow, and appears on Glasgow’s coat of arms along with the bird that never flew, the fish that never swam, the bell that never rang and the tree that never grew.  These four items attributed to tales of Mungo.

Mungo was raised by St Serf who gave him the name Mungo meaning dear one, he is also known as Kentigern.  Serf had a pet robin which was killed by some of Mungo’s jealous classmates, Mungo is said to have brought it back to life, hence the bird.  The tree also has a connection with St Serf.  Mungo was supposed to be keeping the fire going in the monastery one night and fell asleep allowing the fire to go out.  It is said that Mungo put branches from a tree on the fire and it relit.  The bell represents one that Mungo brought to Glasgow from Rome and was rung at funerals to call together the mourners.  It is said that it couldn’t be found when Mungo died because God didn’t want the people of Glasgow to mourn Mungo’s death but rather to rejoice in his passage into heaven.  A bell, known as St Mungo’s bell, continued to be rung to mark deaths as late as 1578, however this one also appears to have dissapeared as the City Council commissioned a new St Mungo’s bell on 22nd October 1640 and it is this one that is still in Glasgow’s People’s Palace.

The story of the fish is probably the most well-known.  Queen Languoreth of Strathclyde had given a ring that her husband gave her to her lover.  King Riderch had seen the ring on her lovers finger and taken it from him and thrown it into the river Clyde before going back to confront his wife.  Queen Languoreth was distraught knowing that she would face certain death if she couldn’t produce the ring, and her distress grew when she discovered what had happened to it, she went to Mungo to plead for his help.  What kind of help she went to plead for I do not know, but surely she didn’t expect what followed.  Mungo pulled a salmon out of the Clyde and in its mouth was the ring.

You can see Glasgow’s coat of arms here, the motto at the foot has been abbreviated, the full version is – Lord, let Glasgow flourish through the preaching of the word and the praising of your name.

Stoneleigh Abbey

Tags

Historical Buildings, Jane Austen, Photography, The UK

While on holiday recently we stumbled across Stoneleigh Abbey although the original Abbey is no longer around and some  parts of the building are in private hands and can not be viewed, you can take a tour around the lower floor of the Georgian part of the building and walk around the stunning grounds.

Stoneleigh Abbey

Little did we know when we found the building that we would be walking in the footsteps of Jane Austen.  I have long been a fan of Jane Austen but didn’t know of her links to Stoneleigh Abbey before we arrived.  However, once we toured the building and heard her own mother’s words about the impression the building and it’s inhabitants had on her (from letters she wrote during their stay), it was as if pages from Jane’s novels were jumping out at me.   For 400 years Stoneleigh Abbey was the country seat of Jane Austen’s relatives, the Leighs. In August 1806 Jane, with her mother and sister, travelled to Stoneleigh Abbey in the company of her mother’s cousin, Reverend Thomas Leigh, to secure his inheritance of the estate.

The grounds too could have easily been inspiration for Jane, looking across the Avon, whose course had been altered to make for a more pleasing view it was almost like looking up Box Hill.

Stoneleigh Abbey from Bridge over River Avon

Stoneleigh Abbey Gardens

The Gatehouse is an architectural reminder that this is much more than a Georgian house.

Stoneleigh Abbey Gate House

Far From Plain Planes

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Avro Vulcan B2, Fairey Gannet, Folland Gnat, The UK

Hubby over on his blog has posted about our trip to the Midlands Air Museum but he didn’t have pictures of one of the exhibits in particular that I do have so.  Go over to his blog to read about some of the planes and below you will see the Avro Vulcan B2 which as Hubby said was real treat to be able to go inside, plus a couple of other things he didn’t post.

Vulcan Indentification Plate

Rear Flight Deck Of Vulcan

Rear Flight Deck

Bomb Site on Rear Flight Deck

Flight Deck

Flight Deck

You could also peer in the bomb bay …

Bomb Bay

there was also a blue steel stand off bomb which would have been carried in the bomb bay, however the rear fin was too large to fit in with the doors closed so the underneath fan was folded back until the bomb doors opened.

Blue Steel Stand Off Bomb

One of the sweetest little planes in the world was hiding under the Vulcan’s wing.  The Vulcan was too cumbersome to defend itself so it could carry a gnat under the wing and then discharge it to chase any enemy planes.  No way for any pilot to get from the Vulcan to the Gnat so would probably have been a very scary ride for any pilot if it had ever actually happened.

Folland Gnat xk741 under Avro Vulcan B2 wing

The Royal Navy’s version of contra rotating tassels was also there the Fairey Gannet with its twin contra rotating blades.

Fairey Gannet T2 508 01

However I think Hubby had most fun playing in the Gloster Meteor Mk8 cockpit, then it actually got to press the buttons, flick the switches, push the peddles and wiggle the joystick.

Hubby Playing Pilot

Conwy Castle

Tags

Castles, Photography, The UK

Conway Castle is another of Edward I’s castles in Wales and the last one we visited, before heading out of Wales.  Its construction began in 1283 and it was one of the very few Edwards’ Welsh castles that were completed in an incredible 4 years, however, maybe short cuts were taken as the massive stone arches which are still standing where added later to strengthen the roof and stop it falling in.

Conwy Castle with Great Hall Arch

Built on a craggy out crop with water on three sides it has imposing walls…

Conwy Castle Walls

with three bridges to reach it, from left to right the road bridge, the orginional castle bridge and the rail bridge …

Bridges to Conwy

Around the landward side are the meandering town walls.

Conwy Town Walls

Like Beaumaris Castle, Conwy Castle’s Chapel was still obvious with a grand apse.

Conwy Castle Chapel

Again we didn’t have long at Conwy Castle, although in this instance I don’t think we will go out of our way to visit again.  In my view the castle just wasn’t special enough to endure the birds and their mess again, although if I was in the area I would be tempted to take a wander around the town walls.

Beaumaris Castle

Tags

Castles, Photography, The UK

Beaumaris, the castle on the ‘fair marsh’ on the isle of Anglesey, begun in 1295 and the last of Edward I’s great line of fortress castles for Wales.  It is unusual for a castle in that it is built at sea level and is relatively hidden, you happen upon it rather than seeing it in the distance on some mound or rocky outcrop.  This was my favorite of the castles we visited in Wales, however like other castles and historic monuments held by CADW I fear for its future, but more of that later.

Beaumaris Castle is what my daughter always refered to as a proper castle, that is it has a moat and in Beaumaris’ case the moat is still full of water, probably due to it being at sea level.

Beaumaris Castle Moat

The only way into the castle today is through the Southern Barbican, beside which was once the sea dock bringing people and provisions right up to the castle walls.

Beaumaris Castle Southern Barbican

As well as the drawbridge and the portcullis, there were murder holes, doors, a shooting platform and that only got you into the narrow outer ward which runs the whole way around the castle.

Beaumaris Castle Outer Ward

The castle might be at sea level and not easy to spy out but from the walls of the Southern Barbican you get great views across to mainland Wales.

Mainland Wales from the Castle Walls

If your plans had been to storm the castle so far you would be stuck between the outer and inner walls, being attacked from the tops of both and from the incredible 164 ground level arrow loops.  To get into the inner ward you would have had to try to get through the South Gate past a further ten barriers including five murder holes and three further portcullises, this was a well fortified castle.

Through Inner South Gate

Of course you could have approached from the north, but the same awaited you, the outer Barbican being fortified is a similar manner to the southern one.

Outer North Gate

While the inner northern gatehouse being deeper and housing the Great Hall was never fully completed but would have housed even more defences than that of the Southern Gate.

Grand Hall above Northern Inner Gate House

By the time you had made it to the inner ward, you had got past the kind of security that even today’s camera would be hard to match.

Inner Ward towards South Gate

One of the great features that remains at Beaumaris is the arches in the basements of the towers.  Usually these have long since gone, or are still plastered over to make a dark basement with a domed roof.

Tower Basement

This picture also clearly shows one of my concerns about the care of this and all the CADW sites.  As pretty as you might thing the vegetation looks it will be doing damage to the walls and undermining the pointing.  In fact in every castle we visited in Wales there were areas which recently visitors had been allowed to visit but now were considered unsafe, Beaumaris has the most number of these areas.  It isn’t just the unchecked vegetation however, there is another problem, birds.  Pigeons and gulls are allowed to nest in the ruins, there is no netting or wires up to prevent them, this also made both Conwy (which I will blog about at a later date) and Beaumaris Castle less than pleasant with birds suddenly swooping towards you and the amount of bird droppings around the place – do take wet wipes and or gloves with you when you visit.

On the east range in the central tower there is a chapel and unlike many a castle chapel (usually the watching chamber, larger windows and sometimes wall niche are the only clues) its purpose is clearly seen with its stonework and plastered walls, that would have been richly painted originally.

Beaumaris Castle Chapel

If you leave the mainland and head to Anglesey then Beaumaris Castle is certainly worth a visit but don’t forget those wet wipes and don’t miss the gargoyle outside the southern inner gate

Beaumaris Castle Gargoyle

Royal Caernarfon Castle

Tags

Castles, Photography, The UK

While Staying at The Bath Tower we did of course visit Caernarfon Castle which is part of the same fortification.  Started in 1283 and finished although not completed in 1330 it is considered one of the finest remaining buildings of the Middle Ages.

Caernarfon Castle from The Bath Tower

Commissioned by Edward I to secure the recently captured lands or northern Wales it is one of a series of castle built to defend the area, it also shows the ways of a shrewd and clever king.  Caernarfon was the grandest of these series of castles and its multi coloured walls, like those of Constantinople and grand Eagle Tower with stone eagles perched on its battlements made both a bold claim with comforting security.  The locals in northern Wales held their last conquerors, the Romans in great respect, now their new conqueror used a famous Roman city and the Roman’s emblem to adorn his administration castle for the area.

The Eagle Tower from King's Gate

It is said that while visiting the Castle on 25th April 1284 Queen Eleanor gave birth to Edward I’s son within the far from complete castle walls.  Later in 1301, again in a shrewd move to quell rumblings, Edward I would declare his son Edward, who had been born in Wales within the great Caernarfon Castle, Edward or Caernarfon Wales’ new Prince, there was still a Prince of Wales and what is more as Edward I’s oldest surviving son that Prince would one day be King of England.  In the castle there is a stained glass window that marks this link between the castle and the title Prince of Wales.

Caernarfon Castle Stained Glass

The current Prince of Wales is the 21st to hold the title since Edward of Caernarfon, his investiture as Prince of Wales took place at Caernarfon Castle on 1st July 1969, it took a lot of planning and preparation and the large slate dias that was built for the occasion is still in place in the castle.

The Black Tower with the slate plinth for the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales

Slate Dias at Caernarfon Castle

Thanks to Hubby for the picture directly above, I was having a rest so didn’t get this view of the dias from above Queen’s Gate.

In 1911 Edward VIII is the only other Prince of Wales to have been invested at Caernarfon Castle.

Caernarfon Castle from The Eagle Tower with Snowdonia in the distance

Inside the Castle walls is a large area and on the day of Prince Charles investiture it was filled with invited guests.  Some sat on staging with cushions made out of Welsh tweed which they were then allowed to keep as mementoes.  Others sat on special designed chairs also with specially commissioned Welsh tweed cushion.  In The Bath Tower were we were staying were two of these chairs.  Now I must admit at this point that when I originally saw them I thought they were out-of-place and wasn’t too keen on them, still not really my thing, but now I don’t think they are out-of-place, especially as they sit beneath the window that has a view of the castle.

Investiture Chair

Which brings me full circle from where I started only this time the picture is of The Bath Tower (shrouded in green and scaffolding) from Caernarfon Castle.

The Bath Tower from Caernarfon Castle

p.s.

As we left The Bath Tower to go to the Castle we met a neighbour of the Tower.  ‘Did you see the Queen?’  she asked.  Apparently she had been at the castle an hour or so before us.  However as Hubby had stood next to her admiring a horse at Royal Ascot in the 90′s and I had spoken to her and shook her hand in the 70′s neither of us felt we had missed out on that particular aspect of our royal trip to Caernarfon Castle.

The Bath Tower

Tags

Castles, Landmark Trust, Photography, The UK

While away Hubby and I stayed in another Landmark Trust property, this time The Bath House part of Caernarfon Castle and Walls.

The walls around Caernarfon like the castle itself were built in the late 13^th century.  In was part of a Bath House although not believed to house the baths themselves, although since this period it has been called the Bath Tower.  In 1856 the North Wales Theological (later the St Mary’s) Training College, obtained the Bath House through the efforts of the Bishops of Bangor and St Asaph at a Crown rent of 4d a year.  The lower floors were used as a pantry and for the cleaning of shoes and knives and by 1871 the first floor was the chapel with stained glass being placed in what is now the kitchen and bathroom.  It became a private house in 1894 and was lived in until 1907 and ran into disrepair before Landmark Trust purchased it in 1967.  While several other of the bastion towers on Caernarfon town walls have been lived in, in the past, it is now only the Bath Tower that is habitable.

To be absolutely honest, I was a bit disappointed by this property, not because of the property itself or it’s situation which has many pluses, but because it was clad in scaffolding and netting, an entrance wasn’t available to us and men appeared outside our bedroom window first thing in the morning; if this had been my first Landmark Trust Property visit I wouldn’t have been recommending them as I have been.

Hubby was less perturbed by the pointing work than I was so you can read a more enthusiastic report about our stay there over at Hubby’s blog, for me I am just going to stick to the history and post pictures of the stained glass from when the first floor was a chapel (ps I slightly disagree with Hubby and Landmark Trust’s notion of floor counting I think it’s starts with a basement – I will explain my reasoning to anyone who is interested!)

The Bath Tower Kitchen Window

The Bath Tower Bathroom Window