Summary

Friday afternoon was good. 'Twas a lovely summer's day. We drove over to Bakewell with Frances, Stewart and Phoebe. After parking, we headed straight to "The Woodyard" pub-restaurant where we had reserved a garden table overlooking The River Wye.

Great food. Good beer and good table service too. Phoebe gurgled peacefully in her pushchair as we tucked into our nosh - served on wooden bread boards.

Afterwards we meandered into the town crossing a pedestrian bridge that is now festooned with padlocks. You know the ones I mean - where people have locked in their devotion to each other. It has become a worldwide phenomenon. The first time I ever noticed it was on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy several years ago.

I guess that the first couple who ever did this with a padlock were doing something quite unique and endearing but when you see many hundreds of padlocks clipped to the handrails of a bridge it seems a little irksome and rather odd. The uniqueness has been replaced with copycat predictability.

Bakewell is a popular town in the middle of The Peak District. We bought Bakewell puddings from Ye Olde Bakewell Pudding Shoppe but decided not to buy Bakewell tarts. It was not a market  day and the school holidays had not quite started so the place was not overwhelmed with visitors.

Yesterday (Saturday) Shirley was out all day attending a hen do organised on behalf of lovely Caroline who we have know since she was two years old.

In the late morning, after picking a bowl of raspberries from the bottom of our garden I lounged around before instructing Clint to drive me back into The Peak District. He deposited himself in the little car park by Shillito Wood and then I set off in hot sunshine on a big loop that took in one of my favourite trees. I posted pictures of it in January of this year. Go here.

When I got home, Shirley was still not back so I made my own tea - cold chicken, new potatoes and salad. The weather folk said it had been the hottest day of the year so far 32°C or 89.5° and I can well believe it. Today (Sunday) will be equally as hot so there'll be no traditional Sunday roast in the evening. I have bought all the stuff needed for a barbecue - oh and a swede for Phoebe. She's gonna love that thing.

On Saturday's walk.

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Sisters

My sister Janet had her beloved dog Jess put down today.

We were meeting up with our elder sister Ann for dinner tonight 

That dinner carried on without her…

It was understandable she couldn’t attend.

and We missed her.

I felt better that I gave Janet some flowers yesterday, I sort of preempted today’s decision…

And as I left Ann’s today SHE gave me a bunch of sweet peas 

Too and fro 

Back and forth …

Ann and I and the family talked about songs and memory tonight

Songs that spark memories that are everlasting 

I have one such memory from decades ago

My sisters and I were driving home after a concert or a theatre visit and it was dark on the country road, 

We burst into a spontaneous version of  drink drink drink 

And as we sang the main words my sister Ann who can’t sing a note burst into an operatic “ arrrhhhh” an acomptiant  to the libretto…It was so bad that we laughed and laughed  until we cried.

Such memories make a family’s love 

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Beach

 Sandy beach

Warm heart 

Cold toes

A picnic

Of charcuterie 

And wine

To make 

My day 

Complete

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Blame

I got caught speeding on the motorway... Why do car manufacturers produce cars that can comfortably  travel at 100 mph?

I slipped over on an icy pavement... Why didn't the local council spread grit there?

I was late for my appointment... I knew it should have been scheduled for a later time.

My instant barbecue caused a small woodland fire... I didn't see any warning signs at the picnic site and besides who left all those dry pine needles lying around?

The doctor told me I have got lung cancer... The British American Tobacco Company knew about the carcinogenic dangers of smoking their products long, long ago. 

I was outed for posting comments about black English footballers online... It's not my fault that social media providers don't vet respondents properly - they are just asking for trouble. 

I was charged for storming The Capitol Building... President Trump had called for a response so as an American patriot it was like I was obeying his command.

I lost the presidential election.... The vote was rigged.

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The Church Meeting

 In the graveyard there is an ancient prayer cross. 

It dates from the 13 th Century and was a focus of prayer and the sharing of news long long before the church was built.

Yesterday the amiable and rotund Vicar with his sexy young curate in tow held a meeting around the cross to discuss the future options for St Michael’s.

I thought they looked a little like Batman and Robin in their black.

I was worried that few people with turn up, but was pleasantly surprised that in addition to the smattering of regular worshippers many of the non practicing residents of the village turned up. 

A good thirty to forty people were stood or seated in between the gravestones and the cross. 

I looked around from where I sat on the grass, my bare feet itching on the clover, Affable Despot Jason with Liv, Mrs Trellis with her surgical mask firmly in place, Pippa from the Rectory, many of the members of the Community Association and the Women’s Institute were there, Sailor John too as well as a smattering of younger people I didn’t know.

The numbers were encouraging 

Some of the Villagers 

Islwyn , the village elder, who had single hand idly transformed the new cemetery from disrepair to bowling green chic stood under the shade of the sycamore and made a strong speech about community spirit, as did Tim from Plas y Dre Ucha. Who I would like to introduce Chic Eleanor to. And there were many questions asked as the vicar gave us the four options the Church has.

It was a sobering listen. 

1) The Church could stay as a Parish Church but that would mean a new Church Committee would have to be formed with the responsibility of raising their allotted share of money for the Diocese yearly. The upkeep of the Church coupled with these costs were guessed to be around 12 thousand pounds a year

2) The Church could be adopted by Friends of Friendless Churches who would keep the building but would show it as a sort of museum

3) The Church could possibly become a Pilgrim Church supported financially and physically by the village. In this guise it could still be used as a place of worship ( approx 6 services a year not including funerals ) but it could also be used for other purposes, such a meeting place, food bank, community venue or whatever to be used by the general community.

4) The Church could be sold off, although access and use of the graveyard would be carried on

Village Leader Helen , led the meeting and people were asked if they would like to volunteer their help to whatever choice they thought fitting.

I looked at my laburnum, standing tall , just off the path behind us.

And hoped that things will work out for the best.

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