Saffron Walden

My U3a bus pass group had an outing to Saffron Walden on Friday. Saffron Walden is a lovely picturesque market town with a history dating back to the Neolithic period. It is believed that a small Roman settlement and fort existed as an outpost of the much larger settlement to the north. The town was originally just called Walden, derived from the old English 'walhdenu' meaning 'valley of the Britons'. In the 16th and 17th centuries the saffron crocus was widely grown, thanks to the town's favourable soil and climate, and that industry gave Walden its present name - Saffron Walden.

At the heart of the town lies the historic Market Square, where markets have been held since 1141.

Opposite the square is the lovely old library building 

with some nice bright open spaces

I love the sentiment but the grammar is very bad! I'm sure it should read either "Time spent is never wasted" or "Times spent are never wasted" I was contemplating telling a member of staff, but didn't!

There are lots of lovely independent boutiques, shops, and cafés

and lots of charming cottages

the church is magnificent

The Fry Art Gallery is a lovely little building showcasing an impressive number of paintings, prints, illustrations, wallpapers and decorative designs by artists of the 20th century and the present day who have connections to the area.

I really wanted to get a photo of the whole wall but people kept getting in the way! This represented the cattle markets from years gone by.

this sculpture represents many of the artists in the collection

Beyond the gallery and this lovely house is a serene garden

We had a lovely day with sunshine.

oOo

I catch a bus into town from a neighbouring village. When I left that morning there was a Canada Goose at the pond flying around making a lot of noise. I wondered if he was protecting his mate from possible predators but didn't have time to investigate. When I returned I looked around and sure enough there was Mrs Goose on the little island sitting on her nest.

I think she has chosen well. That white statue is in memory of Godfrey who used to be the resident patriarch of the pond. I hope it will deter predators.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

by Shirley Jackson

I have always thought that the title of a book bears a resemblance to its content, not so with this, there was no mention of a castle anywhere, unless the family saw their home as a castle - remote from anywhere else.
Rich New England landowners, the Blackwood family, are well-aware of their presumed class-snobbish superiority over the inhabitants of the nearby village. They are met with distrust, fear and even hatred - not quite unfounded. Six years ago half of the members of the Blackwood family were poisoned by arsenic in their food. Three remain: Uncle Julian, left crippled by the poison, hanging on to the remnants of his mind, obsessed with the tragedy of the day of the murder; Constance, an agoraphobiac trapped in the narrow confines of her domestic universe, cooking for the remnants of her family with a strained chirpy attitude was the cook on the day of the fateful poisoning and therefore is considered the poisoner in the eyes of the villagers; and Mary Katherine, Merricat, the narrator of the story, now eighteen, who was sent to her room without dinner on the day of the poisoning, and now serves as a link between her diminished and scorned family and the rest of the world. Merricat just wants to protect her family and preserve their delicate way of life.
But when Cousin Charles arrives, armed with overtures of friendship and a desperate need to get his hands on the Blackwood fortune, the family is thrust into turmoil.

Despite no castle I did enjoy it!

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Easter

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Crockery Art

These lovely panels are on display in a stairwell in one of the wings of the hospital. Anne Schwegmann-Fielding is an internationally renowned British sculptor and mosaic artist. She produces work for hospitals, gardens, schools and private clients. 

The mosaic panels are made using assorted crockery, china and tiles.

The designs are developed from a continuing series of doodles that originally stem from studies of aerial views and maps. They're colourful and happy and sparkle when the sun shines through the windows.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This is a heartbreaking story of the friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan in the process of being destroyed.

The year is 1975. Twelve year olds Amir and Hassan are the best of friends, running and playing around their homes and the streets. Amir is desperate to win the local kite flying tournament and loyal Hassan promises to help him.

The story started very well, there was a strong sense of family, love and friendship, but as it progressed I began to dislike Amir. And then came the cowardice, cruelty, misplaced honour and pride, and eventually redemption.

 

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

St Albans

My last day out read "glorious weather made for a lovely day out", we had the windows open in the car and I spent a good part of the day wearing a short sleeve t-shirt. That was just seven days ago, yesterday's day out was cold, rain and a vicious wind. I had a day trip to St Albans a Hertfordshire market town, originally the Celtic Iron Age settlement of Verlamion. After the Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43 it developed as Verulamium and became one of the largest towns in Roman Britain but was later destroyed during the revolt of Boudicca in AD 60-61 before being rebuilt. The town is named after Alban a pagan who was converted to Christianity when he sheltered a Christian priest. The legend goes that Alban switched cloaks with the priest and was arrested in his stead by Roman soldiers and subsequently executed for his faith. Alban’s declaration “I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things” is still used in prayer at St Albans Cathedral. He was later made a saint and named as the first Christian martyr. Historically a market town, it grew in importance, gaining city status in 1877, largely due to its cathedral which is HUGE. 

My friend M didn't go because she has a cold. The coach dropped us off in the High Street, after a coffee and croissant I headed in search of the cathedral. I visited a few shops and looked at a few restaurants with lunch in mind and then lost sight of the cathedral! but I knew it was somewhere near.

I explored an alley with some lovely small shops

and came out in the cathedral grounds.

It's the 137th anniversary of the foundation of St Albans High School for Girls and preparations were under way for a service of thanksgiving.

There was a good exhibition from a local college exploring the themes of Shrines and Homes

oOo

Time for lunch. 

There were so many eating places

it was hard to choose - sandwich, soup, a roast.

Because I hadn't had breakfast I decided on a small English all day breakfast

at the courtroom cafe in the museum. 

Bacon, sausage, mushroom, tomato, hash brownies and a perfect runny poached egg on a slice of toast, delicious

This is where the accused entered the court

from the holding cells below. The courtroom was in use from 1831 right up to the 1960's when the court was moved to a new location.

Some cells are now toilets

Judges chair

There were some interesting but sad cases

If you click on the images you should be able to read the transcripts

The museum was small but very good

Famous people with a connection to St Albans

I think it's a parrot

At one time there were 92 pub in and around St Albans!

Fragility is Strength

The bricks have London Brick on them, my father worked for

the London Brick company in Peterborough.

Before boarding the coach for home I had time to buy a jumper

from a charity shop and visit St Peter's church

I was lucky with the weather, the worst of it was when I was having lunch.

But it was very windy and cold

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x