Cotswolds

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Cotswold Stone

dry stone wall in the cotswolds

dry stone wall in the cotswolds

This post is inspired by the Haiku heights prompt word “Stone”

Golden meadows bound

With dry stone walling.  Built by

Cotswold craftsmen

The Cotswolds, where I live, is a very beautiful area in the heart of England, which covers the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

Beyond the hedgerows

As far as the eye can see

Yellow rapeseed glows

Rapeseed field

Rapeseed field

There are gentle hills and wolds, meandering rivers rich with salmon, trout, roach, bream and eels, a coastline along the Severn Valley, ancient woodland in the Forest of Dean complete with wild boar and roaming deer, beautiful market towns and unspoilt villages,  gorgeous thatched cottages, magnificent country houses, fertile farms, and even several castles!

One of the outstanding features of the Cotswolds is the beautiful stone which is used for building.  During the time of the enclosures act in Britain it was cheaper for farmers to enclose their land with dry-stone walls than to plant hedges, and to this day one of the special features of the Cotswolds is the golden dry-stone walls about a metre in height which border country lanes and lush farmland

The limestone found in the Cotswolds is from the Jurassic period about 150 million years ago, a time when dinosaurs roamed over the earth and the area was once below the sea.  It is still possible to find fossils in the rocky cliffs and quarries.  In fact Huntsman’s Quarry has a superb collection of large fossils that were unearthed during quarrying.

Fossilised features

Of prehistoric creatures

In limestone preserved

You can download a fascinating fact sheet about the quarry here

Quarrying has been carried out in the Cotswolds for many years, for sand, gravel and clay as well as stone.  Some of the old quarries have been turned into the Cotswold Water park which covers an area of  40 square miles and has 150 lakes.  All sorts ofwater sports go on here and it is a beautiful area to walk around enjoying the nature and wildlife.  You can read all about it here

At the weekend I took my grandchildren to Warwick castle to enjoy the Horrible Histories.  It was a great day out in wonderful weather.  The castle was sold by the Greville family in 1978 and is now owned by the business group that owns Madame Tussauds.  This has enhanced the visitor’s experience as every room is filled with models of the famous people who lived in or visited the castle.  It must cost millions to maintain the structure of this impressive building.  The walls are so think and the building so huge, that the bedrock is groaning under the strain.  But there is 1000 years of history oozing out of every stone.

Stone steeped in stories

Of secrets and scandals in

High society

Bedrock is cracking

Sinking under centuries

Of blood-soaked conflict

Enjoy my pictures from the weekend…

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Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley in my lounge
Bluebells
Azalea
Lily of the Valley in the garden
Bleeding heart plant
Cherry Blossom
Lily of the valley
Two robins in the garden

May has got to be one of the most beautiful times of the year here in the Cotswolds.  In my garden at the moment there is such a variety of blossom.  We have several varieties of apple, two kinds of pear, a cherry tree and a quince all covered in blossom.  The hellebores are almost over but there are still a few tulips and primroses.  The blue bush, whose name I can never remember, is covered in flowers and the orange azalea is amazing.  But the piece de resistance has got to be the Lily of the Valley.  I did not plant these, they were already naturalised when we moved in ~ but they are superb.  They are prolific under my pear trees.  The perfume that surrounds them is just beautiful.  There are so many in our garden that I picked a couple of bunches on Sunday.  I brought one indoors where the perfume fills the room.  I gave the other bunch to a lovely local lady when I took her some rhubarb I had just picked.  The rhubarb is another thing that seems to love our soil as it grows really well.  Unfortunately my husband is not allowed to eat it now that he is on dialysis so I tend to give it away.

Lily of the Valley is a native of Britain. The 16th century Gerard’s Herbal decries it as “growing on hampstead Heath, four miles from London, in great abundance@”  I must remember to check if it still grows there.   It used to be a tradition here to give bunches of Lily of the Valley on May 1st.  It still is in France I believe, where the flowers are called Muguet.

In 1851 Queen Victoria commissioned a special painting to commemorate 1st May.  It was a very special year for her as it was Prince Arthur’s first birthday, the 82nd birthday of the Duke of Wellington who was the Prince’s grandfather, and the opening day of the Great Exhibition.  Of course Lily of the Valley featured prominently in the painting with the Duke of Wellington presenting a posy to the Queen, Prince Albert and the young prince Arthur.  The painting was completed by Franz Xaver Winterhalter and is in the style of the adoration of the Magi which seems rather irreverent to me but was a sign of the times I guess.

Queen Victoria wearing the George III Tiara (T...

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Believe in yourself

Laughter and Lyrics Choir

Laughter and Lyrics Choir

Yesterday was very emotional for me in so many ways.  I belong to a choir called “Laughter and Lyrics” which meets every Friday morning in the restaurant of the Everyman Theatre.  We have only been singing together for a few months and we are all of different ages and from varied backgrounds.  But I think we gel as a choir and make a beautiful sound together.  Of course singing is very emotional at any time but yesterday was especially so as we had been invited to sing at a service to celebrate the life of the much loved father of one the ladies in the choir.  The service was in a beautiful little church in one of the most idyllic villages in the Cotswolds, Dumbleton, and the sun shone on it.

As I sang in that beautiful church with our choir of wonderful ladies I felt privileged to be there, blessed to be alive, and grateful to be me.

One of the songs we are practicing for our show in July is “Believe”, written by Lin Marsh.

It is often sung at final assemblies here in the UK when pupils are moving on to a new school.  It is so uplifting and affirming.

I hope you enjoy listening to this  You Tube version of it, and know that it is meant for you.

 

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Splashes of sunshine

Golden rapeseed spread
Thickly on the countryside
Fields splashed with sunshine

On a coach trip to London yesterday for one of Gerry’s hospital appointments it was a joy to see fields of Rapeseed bursting into bloom. I know lots of people find that rapeseed gives them headaches or breathing problems, but it made my heart sing to see the countryside spread thickly with golden sunshine.

Rapeseed fields high up in the Cotswolds

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Gone Fishing

It’s that time of year again when the weather is just about good enough for Gerry to go fishing ~ joy!

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Under a fishing umbrella by the side of a lake in the pouring rain with husband and grandchildren, heaven happens.  There is nothing quite so exciting as being at the mercy of the elements but safe!  It appeals to our most basic human need for shelter and protection.  All our needs are met.  We are together, warm and dry and we have a picnic.  We are relaxed and at peace.  There is nothing we mustdo but enjoy ourselves.  It is a precious gift ~ time to be.  Grandchildren learn how to fish.  They watch the fluorescent tip of the float marking the place where the line enters the water.  The bait of sweetcorn gently drifts in the depths as we throw more corn in to attract the fish.  And it does.   The float waggles then dips down ~ a bite!    Ben gets the landing net ready and Rosie slides the…

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Youngling

Invading my space
Busy Blue tit emerges
Eco warrior!

Blue Tit

Blue Tit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was amused to watch a blue tit flying in and out of a small hole in my brickwork. I thought he might be nest building, but actually he was helping himself to my cavity wall insulation then flying into a nearby bush to line his nest! Whatever next? Central heating? Solar panels?
blue tit 2

blue tit

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Shadow ~ Haikuheights A2Z April Challenge

Spectral shadows form

In candlelit cathedral

Vespertine vision

~~~

In gathering gloom

Spectral saints in chapels pray

Unseen and unheard

~~~

Caught in candlelight

Silent battles continue

As saints shadow fight

Shadows in Worcester cathedral

Shadows in Worcester cathedral

Shadow in chapel at Worcester cathedral

Shadow in chapel at Worcester cathedral

 

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Moth ~ Haiku

Tenderly treasured

Nurtured chrysalis to moth

Now time to release

P1090021 P1090025The grandchildren have been breeding butterflies and moths in a cage. When they are ready the children release them into the bushes in the morning while the sun is shining.  It’s a serious business and Rosie worries about them with maternal zeal.

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April 23rd 1964 ~ 400th Anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare

As it is Shakespeare’s birthday celebrations in Stratford this weekend I thought I would reblog a post I wrote when I first started blogging.

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William Shakespeare was born on April 23rd 1564 and died on 23rd April 1616.  1964 was the 400th anniversary of his birth and I was living in Stratford on Avon, which was certainly the most exciting place to be at that time for a theatre mad teenager.

The highlight of my acting career had been the part of Mole in Toad of Toad Hall at St Gabriel’s Convent in Carlisle.  Cardinal Heenan was the honoured guest in the audience.  My part was memorable as it involved a tea party at Toad Hall.  We had real cakes and biscuits.   I had never seen those pink and white marshmallows with a biscuit base and coconut all over the top.  I became so engrossed in examining and eating them that I forgot where I was and had to be prompted to continue my lines.  “Oh, you silly ass, Mole”…

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Owl ~ Haikuheights April Challenge ~ A2Z

Solemn, silent sage,

Features frozen forever,

Fixed a stony stare

stony owlLooking after the grandchildren during the Easter holidays we stayed in a cabin by a fishing lake.  It was freezing cold, as you can see from the snow on the hills, but the children had fun.  Ben used the stone owl as a goalpost!

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Gloucester Mystery Plays

Mystery Play at Worcester Cathedral
Gloucester Mystery Play

Weeks of rehearsals are over and the show is now underway.  It is a privilege to be part of such a spectacular production.  This week we are performing amidst the breathtaking beauty of Gloucester Cathedral.  The first night was not perfect but it was so moving.  It will get better and better as we become familiar with the new and very complex staging.

The second night was “visually stunning, music just right, costumes and lighting spectacular ~ colourful, vibrant and flowing, stage crew and props slick” according to the audience.  It felt amazing to perform in such a show and in such a setting.  Can’t wait for tonight!

I will post a video when we are finished the run, but for now here are some pictures from rehearsals.  Enjoy!

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Butterfly ~ Haiku

To celebrate National Poetry Month this April, Haiku Heights is hosting a month-long Haiku writing journey. This journey will take Haiku lovers through the alphabet one day at a time.  Today’s  letter is B and the prompt word is Butterfly.

HaikuBadge_Final

Watching butterflies

Their beauty borne on the breeze

Children barely breathe

Butterfly in captivity
Butterfly in the Forest of Dean

 

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Ascent ~ Haiku

HaikuBadge_Final

To celebrate National Poetry Month this April, Haiku Heights is hosting a month-long Haiku writing journey. This journey will take Haiku lovers through the alphabet one day at a time, with the first stop being the letter A! The prompt word today is Ascent.

My inspiration came from an enormous Murmuration of Starlings that I am thrilled to watch as the sunsets over the carpark at Gloucester Royal Hospital each evening.  It really is spectacular but most people are in such a hurry that they fail to look up to see it.

Starlings at Dusk, Herefordshire

Starlings at Dusk, Herefordshire (Photo credit: soundslogical)

Starlings swoop and swirl

In synchronised ascent, dark

Cloudburst at sunset

 
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Cacophony

Cheering throngs gather

Cheering throngs gather

Cheering throngs gather

In Messianic fervour

Fronds fall at His feet

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Calling for His death

Crowds that cheered Him now decry

Innocent, He’ll die

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three times he denied

The master he followed. And

The rooster crowed twice

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Barabbas!” they cry

A callous cacophony

Convicts the wrong man

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Orthodox cross

Orthodox cross

Forsaken by friends

He hangs dying on a cross

Forgiveness His gift

~~~~~~~~~~~~

No stone left unturned.

In the harrowing of hell

All sins are exposed

I am in the Gloucester Mystery Plays this Easter , which will be performed in Gloucester and Worcester Cathedrals.  While I only have a small part I have found the whole experience extremely moving.  Indeed the professional and semi professional actors involved are so good that they have brought the whole story to life for me and given my faith a much needed boost.   It is mainly down to the professionalism and commitment of Sheila Mander, the producer.

Mystery plays were the foundation of the modern theatre.  Developing between the 10th and 16th century, they portrayed key stories from the Bible in an accessible way for people who had not heard or read the stories before.  The dramatic productions appealed to all types and ages of people.

Gloucester mystery Plays have taken these stories to a new level with a modern interpretation of the ancient texts.  The language is modern while the actions and rhythms of the original are faithfully captured.  There is also wonderful original music and singing.

These Mystery Plays will be bold, colourful, joyful, sad, dramatic, thought provoking and challenging.  They tell the story of the life of Jesus as an adult right up to the Last Judgement.   Hopefully they will leave the audiences deeply moved.

I can’t wait to tell you how good it was after Easter!

Gloucester Mystery Play

Gloucester Mystery Play

Mystery Play at Worcester Cathedral

Mystery Play at Worcester Cathedral

Worcester Cathedral

Worcester Cathedral (Photo credit: JmGpHoToS)

Gloucester, England

Gloucester, England (Photo credit: Nigel’s Europe)

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Breeze haiku

Nightingale at Cotswold Water Park

Nightingale at Cotswold Water Park

As gentle breeze blows

Nightingales in bushes sing

Sublime serenade

Nightingales in bushes sing

Nightingales in bushes sing

 Gazing on Taize

Sunflowers bow to the breeze

And my spirit soars

Sunflowers bow to the breeze

Sunflowers bow to the breeze

 Boughs bend to the breeze

Covering the earth in a

Blanket of blossom

Ornamental cherry

Ornamental cherry

 Watching butterflies

Their beauty borne on the breeze

I can barely breathe

butterfly-eating

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Springtime

The weather is so beautiful today and Spring is so exquisite that I just have to repeat a quote from Thomas Traherne  the 17th century Poet & Mystic

“Heaven! is not that an Endless Sphere
Where all thy Treasures and thy Joys appear?
If that be Heaven it is Evrywhere
…
Heaven surely is a State and not a Place
To be in Heaven’s to be full of Grace
Heaven is wherever we see God’s face.”

I recently took a walk in Painswick to see the snowdrops at the Rococo Gardens.  By the lake children were playing and birds were singing.  The sky was blue and the soft breeze blowing through the trees was chilly but welcome.  The snowdrops were beautiful and the company was great.  It is one of those special places, a sacred space filled with peace and natural beauty, which justify Traherne’s words.
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