Knittery

A Halloween poem.

My contributions to a collaborative poem just about hold together . . .

The ancient feast of Samhain

is now approaching fast

that time when we remember

the spirits of the past

Do you dare to read the tombstones

Do you dare to walk the lanes

or wander past the churchyard

blood curdling in your veins?

The veil between our world and theirs

grows thin as night proceeds.

beware, oh mortals, of the mist

that lingers in the reeds.

The time to light the lamps has come

to banish fear and gloom

to welcome friendly spirits home

and give the others room.

A small child holds a parent's hand

and candles banish murk

but just beyond the flickering flame

fearful creatures lurk.

The jack o' lanterns'  dubious light,

trickers and treaters too,

guisers acting out their roles

see the evening through.

Wandering souls are quieted

wandering people fed

and now the magic's over

we can all get to our bed.

Corby Glen and Bourne Woods

To Corby Glen
and Willoughby hall
for art exhibition

sunlight and shadow
trimmed trees follow the curve
of central flowerbed

the Woodhouse Arms
polished tables
and open fire

lunchtime
sandwiches, salad and coffee
by the sunny window

a curly pot sheep
watches us eat
sheep-wrapped mint chocs

in Bourne woods
criss-cross paths through autumn trees
lead to fenland views

wide grey skies

piled clouds slashed with blue

far flat horizon

light strengthens

from dark to sunbright
glowing bark

golden leaves
in the spotlight
against dark backdrop

Nottingham (5) - oddments and sodments

A nurses' home built as a memorial to 'those sailors, soldiers and nurses of this city and county who gave their lives in the Great War'.

A couple of snaps for the colour that's in them -

No wander round the city centre would be complete without Cloughie.

Nottingham (4) Castle and Rock

 Nottingham Castle was built in William the Conqueror’s time, high on Castle Rock. The Norman castle is no longer there, but there is a 17th century ducal mansion built on the site of the original castle.  It is now the city's main museum and art gallery. We didn't visit, so on the list it goes!
The rock is formed of Nottingham Castle Sandstone, a pale brownish sandstone that is about 65 metres thick in the Nottingham area.  

It is soft and crumbly and easy to dig out.  Caves and tunnels in Castle Rock have been used as stables, tanneries, storage cellars for beer, and as homes. There are more caves in Nottingham than in any other British city, and all are man made. 

This is part of a restored Victorian fern garden

 I didn’t take a tour this time, but they take you from the Castle, down into King David’s dungeon and Mortimer’s Hole. The tour includes 300 steps.

Brewhouse Yard 

Nearby is the Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard.

Nottingham (3) - some olde innes and the like

The first one, The Royal Children, is not so old(e), but it amused me, especially with the group nearby. It is said to be named after the children of Princess Anne, daughter of James II. She took refuge in the area in 1688. Here's the story in more detail.

 The one below claims to be very old.

 The Trip to Jerusalem is one of the most famous . . .

The last one is not a pub at all, but Severn's House, a merchant's house, which was moved from its original site in 1969. For more info click here

Nottingham above eye level (2)

Once I started looking upwards,  I was captivated by central Nottingham's rich selection of carvings and decorated buildings, many from Victorian times.

Here are just a few.  The ones below are on the building which is now The Major Oak pub.

The doorway shown below, of Cleaves Hall student accommodation is dated AD 1883.

Nearby there is a sinister looking cow's skull.

Near the Old Market Place, behind Brian Clough's statue is a fine building, now a Brazilian restaurant.

The detail above the main entrance is dated AD 1848

These buildings are surely the expression of a wealthy and self-confident town.

Nottingham curiosities

1. Above eye level

In Victoria Street. The clock was made by the firm of G & F Cope and Co, for the ironmongers who owned the shop in about 1950.  It was later restored, and according to an article in the Lenton Times was in full working order in 1982. Alas it seems to have been stopped now - one face read 4 o'clock and the other face 2.25.
At one time the two blacksmiths would strike the anvil every quarter hour.

The Legion of Honor - Fine Art Museum, San Francisco

Set high on a hill in Lincoln Park, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, this building is worth a visit just for its situation.

In front of it a circular pond with fountain and flower beds, including a flower which always says San Fran to me - the agapanthus.

You enter through this archway.

The exhibition rooms are spacious and well set out, and you have plenty of time to wander and absorb, and wander back again.  We spent two or three hours there - including a somewhat overpriced veggie-burger for lunch - I guess this made up for the entrance price of a mere $5 each.

The paintings cover European Art.  Highlights for me (among many):

The Merry Company by Gaspare Traversi

The Fortune Teller by Jacques-Louis David

A portrait by Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun

Sarah Bernhardt - Jules Bastien-Lepage

Snow Effect, Damvillers - Jules Bastien-Lepage

Mother and child - Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Many of the paintings etc from the museum are online here .  

Outside again we noticed this plaque - reminder to self, look her up!

Finally a view of the famous bridge as we walked down the Camino del Mar.