A short but (I hope) sweet post today.
- Kate from Winchester – I don’t know you but I do know your friend. I cannot begin to tell you how much pleasure your card gave me – thank you so much for your kindness! I got it today through the route you used to find me. And such a perfect card too (my bike has a basket with flowers just like that). You completely made my day ♥ ♥ ♥
- Cinnamon and cardamom buns – don’t make them how I did yesterday! next time I’ll use a recipe. They were – ok. Not sweet enough for buns. Not enough filling. Not enough cinnamon. Other than that though, they were fine. Edible; but you wouldn’t walk 12 miles for them (see below). Malcolm was gloating just a wee bit – his were definitely better.
- Walking – another good long walk today. 12 miles or so circuit from home, going west along the River Avon path as far as Saltford, then on the Bristol-Bath Railway Path for a short way, cutting off up to Park Farm at Kelston. There we stocked up on cheese for the next week or two, and walked home separately as I wanted to explore the church and churchyard in Kelston and he needed to get home. Walking home along the roads, it was noticeable how much more traffic there is around. And some of the measures being taken to try to help. A much more pleasant temperature for walking than the past few weeks, especially as we managed to leave home at 8:30. Back home for lunch (a flask and bun stop along the way). And then I was plumb tuckered* for most of the afternoon.
Pretty building, but at one time the wares made here, as with the other brass mills in our area, were an integral part of the Bristol slave trade
Distant view across to Kelston Round Hill with it’s distinctive copse at the top (where we walked to a few weeks back)
Mending the thatch. These reeds come from Devon
I was intrigued by the surname, and the cross and star of David on the stone – not something I’ve seen before in an English church graveyard. And of course the sadness of the deaths of two children
Dry stone wall with ammonite fossil fragment
Inspirational front garden (I really haven’t done it justice here)
Detail of front garden – beans growing over arches
- Face coverings (aka masks – but NOT clinical ones) – now that wearing these will be compulsory on pubic transport from 15 June, it’s time for those of us who are able to make them to ramp up production and help provide them for family, friends and neighbours. There are a number of excellent instructions around, and as you know I’ve tried several over the past few weeks. I’ll be writing about it more fully over the next few days. When I’ve worn a face covering in shops in recent days I’ve mostly been in a minority of one, but I’m hoping that will change now. Mine protects you, yours protects me. Altruism in action.
- Life – people I know have been dealing with such difficult things in their lives. Things that would have felt hard at the best of times, and these are decidedly not the best of times. Bereavements. Funerals. Separations (chosen or forced). Physical and mental health problems. Loneliness. Despair. Exhaustion. I’m sure the same is true for you too. Offers I’d like to make to help and support aren’t practical these days, and that doesn’t sit well. I’m trying hard to be creative about what help or offers of help might be appreciated, but it isn’t always easy to come up with ideas.
I hope that you aren’t finding life too difficult, and that if you are, you have somewhere to turn for support. And that I’ll see you again tomorrow xx
* I think this is Australian for really rather tired – we heard it in an Australian film years ago and it kind of stuck with us. If that’s not what it means in Oz, well it does around here mate.
