Easter Sunday

I am glad to be able to say that I will not be working today. On Friday, having to work next to the local Church, I  was embarrassed at the passing by of the people , all of whom I knew, as they went to the Door . Of course nothing was said. But I got the vibe.

Today although I wont be going to church to partake of the service I will at least be ringing. And will therefore be in a church for a period of the day. Called changes on brand new (2000) bells. 

There has been something of a change in the general discourse . Religion and spirituality are  now  acceptable subjects of enquirey and debate on the radio and the TV. 

A chance

I wonder what will happen when the governments of the world stop trying to halt a process of collapse that they do not understand and cannot control. This is the end of a political paradigm that has been running from the end of WW2 . The ideological battle twixt the Communists and the West. Although the USSR ceased to be some years ago the Western approach to life , shaped to a considerable degree by that struggle, continued on as if it was the natural way to live. Emphasis on individual advancement and "The devil take the hindemost ". The press all howl for the bankers blood as if it really is all their fault and they were not simply doing what everyone else was - trying to make as much money  with as little effort or regard for the rest of reality as was possible...

Walk

Meeting a new friend in the woods! A massive Holly tree in Woods near Hedingham.

"The Holly and the Ivy when they are both full grown .
Of all the trees that are in the wood.
The Holly bears the crown."

Someone has put a metal box hidden under some leaves against the trunk at the back . A votive offering or just a drugs stash ? I didn't look. Privacy is privacy, eh?

I don't know how old she must be but she isn't in very good nick. The main trunk seems nearly dead and the bark gone off it. Shooting from the base very well though.

An enchanted spot methinks.

5 miles

a walk on the higher ground overlooking the Stour valley behind Clare and going towards Cavendish. Some roe deer about and a flock of Golden Plover wheeling about . Sunny with a breeze. two and a half miles each way , just about the right distance for a Sunday.

So quiet

More Wall

Here is the same from other angles

The wall was knocked down by a large oak tree that fell in the Famous gales of '89. Its replacement stands in its place

25th Nov

Well here I am about half way through rebuilding part of the old flint wall round the churchyard.

back in August.

So here the bells are "up", ready to go. This means the ringers can go straight into the set of changes to be rung . They should end like this at the end of the set as well so they all stop at once.

The church from the northeast.














Well we had a good session with 7 ringers present, 3 learners and 4 regular and did some rounds which were OK. Difficult to keep going following one's neighbour and keeping in time. And to hear the bell that one is ringing against the others. However with more practice things get easier.

On Sunday morning some ringers came and did a half hour of changes which I watched with interest. David, conducting, calling out the next change till it all comes back round to 123456.
A real feeling of peace as the bell call out across the land

Bells

Jade, cools off below Mill Green Weir.


Looking forward to the bell ringing session tomorrow and hoping to get the bell under better control .Its tricky to get it to go right for any length of time and also to stop it just when you want. I am on No 5 , the second heaviest. Still a long time 'till I will be joining in with the change ringing.

Ahhhh

Wed 14th

Kite flying at Hickford Hill

Sat AM

Well here are some images of the Church that I am involved with but that I donot attend sevices at. I put the flag up and I have been doing small repairs just lately. I have also just started ringing the bells , although I have not been allowed to do it alone so far. The view is from the top acroass the village looking northeast.
The bells are behind the large window just below the castellations on the tower.

Thurs

today I have been welcomed into the world of campanology by the venerable figure of David Smith .

Scotsman.com News -3 Cheers for Robin

Scotsman.com News - International - German 'Robin Hoods' give poor a taste of the high life

On the 27th

Today I journey to Malta......

The Garden on Tues

Sunday afternoon and all is well

Out the back.......

but no sheep.

Trial photo

trial photo

Allors

Well this will serve some purpose I hope.
Yes blue is best as the colour
and I want to put in some photos .