Neils Architecture

Some of you maybe interested to see some of my work on Phil Drapers website. Click on the Bristol pages and scroll down to the nonconformist pages and you will see of my work jazzed up by Mr Phil. The website is the most comprehensive record of church and chapel buildings in the Bristol area. Click on link below
http://www.churchcrawler.co.uk/

The beasts of Exmoor and the mad Army man!

If you Imagine the sargeant major from 'It aint half hot Mum' and the driving of Jeremy Clarson you will understand why this weekend is going to be very memorable. Mel and I drove to Porlock and arrived early and had a good look around. It coincided with the rather sedate flower festival in the ancient church of St Dubricius (a celtic saint who was decapitated and carried his head under his arm across the Severn as only a celtic saint can!). Melanie steered me away from the rather nice walking clothes in some of the shops and at 2 we met our man with the landrover for my 'Discovery tour' which was a Xmas pressie from Julie.
Well, as soon as we climbed aboard the Landrover mel and I realised that we were putting our lives in the hands of a crazy army man. He introduced himself as Richard who had been a Jungle expert in the army and was shouting to us rather like a Sargeant Major which, coincidently he was. However he seemed to be a very genial character and with much waving to the local shop keepers and passers by we left Porlock. It was as we left a narrow lane and he shot up and suddenly veered to the right almost turning the vechial upside down that we realised what kind of ride we were in for. His commentary was brilliant but shouted and punctuated his commentary with smacking his hands with enthusiasm in an almost manic way. As we drove across the moor he told all sorts of stories some about animals and red deer. He was driving as if he was on army manouvers and we were tossed around like corks in the back. However he was brilliant - he managed to incorperate some off roading at dunkery beacon which involved lots of bumps and sudden turns. Also as soon as he saw something he would slam the brakes on and shout wildly! However we saw three lots of red deer not too far away and he took us to a little known resevoire also up some disused stage coach roads without tarmac. Apparently people used to fall out with their luggage and roll down the hill to be picked up at the base of the hill!
It was certainly an experience and Richard certainly made it that!
In the evening I had a nice restful time baby sitting for ellie and toby and watching Jessie James and Garfield. I was amazed to see how much Garfield is like Midnight!
On sunday I arrived at church early and pleased to see concert posters up. Not many people in church day - only 13. One wonders how long it can go on like this and whether some kind of ecumenicalism should really be the way forward. I kind of think the end for most mainstream denominations isn't far hence and that by 2040 only the larger churches will be remaining. As a mystery worshiper I was appalled to see that nearly all congregations have nobody between 20-40 and don't seem particularly bothered. It's not just a case of bringing in a set of drums and pop music. People don't want to be preached at but to explore 'spirituallity' in an open and non dogmatic way. People these days sadly equate spirituality with fundementalism. Yet a simple candle and a moments silence or meditation in a cathedral can do more than the ranting of a mad bible basher or the consumerist worshiper at the cathedral of shopping in Cribbs Causeway which is all-me! It is sad that liberal approaches to religion have been hijacked by the 'I've got all the answers mob' because so many people like myself want to explore and see that there is more to life than career, car, immediate family and holiday.
In the afternoon I sped round to Vic and Holly and had a walk in Blaise castle and played snakes and ladders with Holly who at 7 is very good at it.

LongAshton and St Nicks Market

Today I met up with Vicky and travelled to Long Ashton where we went for a walk in the woods and saw the deer. I have some very early photos of me taken at Ashton court - I guess I also love the view from here.
After Ashton we went to St Nicks Market which I love. It's a maze of record shops and incense stalls and has a nice Veggie cafe at the back where we had a nice Veggie meal watching the activity around this old Georgian market. Even the elderly gent at the back has tidied up his book stall after many years!

Home and Away - good bye Sally

Neighbours is 'my soap' and the only one that I watch. However many years ago I used to like Home and Away too (when I was a student). So when after watching Neighbours the voice over said Sally Fletcher was leaving I just had to watch it (sad!). Well there wasn't a dry eye in the house (me and the cat) when we saw the final scene with Sally and Alf (Mr Stewart) on the beach. Strange how these things often strike a chord

A severn bridge walk, RDA Fair and Kingsweston - an interesting day!

I was driving by the old Aust Ferry on my way home from helping a friend with an essay when I decided that what I really wanted to do on this warm sunny evening was to walk across the bridge to take a picture of St Tecla's island - the ancient island where a celtic princess built a small chapel which still survives.

She must have had nerves of steel (they don't make princesses like they used to) because the ruined medieval chapel stands on an island which although near to the shore is natoriously dangerous to cross. Recently two people drowned attempting it. I have cycled across the bridge plenty of times (twice on my way to Aberystwyth !!!). However I have never walked across it or on the Welsh side. Today the light was lovely and the tide low do I could see all the little inlets.

Judging by the 12x zoom on the camera the chapel seems to have some walls remaining and one chancel arch. The sea comes right up to the edge of the island at high tide. It was interesting watching the variety of people walking across the bridge which included a drunk and his dog and and Indian family and several couples. There were also some travellers nearby which reminded me of Roland the hippy bloke Vicky Holly and I met at a campsite on the Gower last summer who lives in a motorvan and parks under the bridge at Beachley.

The afternoon was spent at the Riding For the Disabled Centre where mum was helping out on a stall. It was a nice afternoon and as usual I went home with more than I came with and met up with Dad Michelle Toby and Elli. The band was wonderful but the singer had some trouble with the mike and sounded very flat indeed - but down to the mike! Dad and I watched a Falconer with his Falcon and there was some medieval jousting on horse back. Unfortunately the riders seemed to have left their glasses at home as they missed several times!

Afterwards dad and I had something to eat in Kingsweston house vaults with a delightful view over to Avonmouth! Actually it is a lovely little 18th cent place with pleasant grounds - a nice place for a relaxing afternoon. That was until my friend called me and asked me over to help with the research essay! I'm convinced UWE invents dry essays just to spoil students weekends and to make them as least pertinent to the vocation as possible. UWE I have always felt is a degree factory as well as a beaurocratic dinasour which would be the model of a Soviet Republic!

This morning at church Alan took the service and I was pleasantly surprised. He seems as liberal as myself and said that he felt that it was wrong for people to be so dogmatic and not to question things and to accept that we can learn things from other faiths. I liked his honesty - I often feel that I don't have the answers to everything and would far rather that people were honest and said I don't know rather than reach for the bible and come up with a stock answer. Why is there so much evil in the world and why doesn't God intervene? I don't know the answer, or even if there is an answer. I can only be sure of what I think is right from my experience. There is nothing worse than someone giving you a text and verse answer when what you really want is a straight answer even if it is 'I don't know!'

A Day out at Portishead, Clapton in Gordano and Blaise

Today was a real mixed bag! Michelle rang me early and suggested we meet up in Portishead.
I arrived at 11 in portishead to see a massive tanker moving around the bay. Michelle turned up with Toby and Ellie and we had a walk around the boating lake and a picnic. Im always fascinated to see the small island in the severn estuary which according to 'channel passage' was where highway men were hanged so that they could be viewed by everybody on land for many miles.

Well there was no hanging about for us. We walked around the lake and then played a few games with elli and Toby and said goodbye at 2pm.

As usual I took a detour calling in at Walton in Gordano church which was open. My next tour took me through an exceptionally narrow lane up to Clapton in Gordano which is amazingly so isolated - it really is even though it is now underneath the motorway!! The church has long been redundant and stands hidden above some old abbey buildings. There were the usual 18th century gravestones with cheerful verses reminding people of their mortality - however there was one with some particularly good advice ' in time take time and do no time abuse - time when it's past - it is to late to choose. One wonders whether it's supposed to be witty, depressing or whethere there was some story behind it. Curiously no name only initials on it. The church was very difficult to get to and involved several reverse manovoures up the road.

My next trip was to Weston in Gordano church another medieval place with an awful musty smell and with lots of medieval items inside. I also put my head around a corner curtain and saw the head bust of a 18th century gentleman - have no idea who he was as it had moved from somwhere.

After this trip I looked after Holly for several hours in the evening ( I had forgotten I was supposed to be doing this) whilst her mum worked away at her essay in peace. I decided to entertain Holly by visiting Blaise Castle which was actually very nice in the evening by the swings and dragged into cafe for an ice cream. When It came to taking Holly back I had to chase her around Blaise but ended up picking some flowers for her mum and entertaining her afterwards.

Back home at 10!

Ebbor Gorge

Two weeks ago I met up with Vicki who was taking a break from studying and baby Holly (who is now 7) at their caravan in Brean and drove off to Ebbor Gorge naer Wells. I have been to Ebbor Gorge with Vicki and Holly a few times over the years. One trip ended up with us having a lift back in a tow truck after Vicki's car broke down and when Holly was smaller I used to have to carry Holly up the steps. However there was no stopping Holly today as she ran up the gorge and was waiting at the top for us. In the field above Ebbor we could see Glastonbury in the distance but Holly was enjoying a game of putting as many stones in a metal byre as possible! On the way back Holly counted all the steps and as usual made friends with all the dogs on the way back.

Ebbor Gorge is a well hidden secret and isn't sign posted well. If you drive to Wookey Hole follow the road out of the village and bear right until you climb a hill. I think it is National Trust.

Back at Brean I took Holly in the beach to find the horses but there were none. So I had to play a jumping off the Dunes game with Holly before leaving for work.

If Only they could talk!

This is my pal Jasper who lives next door. I often take him for a walk. Let me re-write that. This is my pal Jasper who takes ME for a walk and nearly bit through his lead the other day. We can often be seen walking our way up to Milbury Heath. The other day we were taken back to see some lamas in a field as if we were in the middle of Tibet. Jasper only has to hear the jangle of my car keys and he's barking away for his next walk. I once walked him nearly to Wotton Under Edge. He's usually very eager to get going. The other evening we sat next to the duck pond at Milbury - Jasper usually pops up and joins me on the seat!

For my birthday I indulged in a bit of nostalga and bought the James Herriot DVD series - all creatures great and small. My claim to fame is that when I lived in Leeds 93/96 I travelled up to Thirsk where the series was filmed. On the very day I was there I saw the funeral party of the real James Herriott, Alf Wight outside the real Skeldale house. I also took a peek at the 'drovers arms' but was slightly amused to see James Herriott plastered over everything - I'm not sure if there was a James Herroit pound shop!

I have always been moved by the books and the drama. I also admired the man - a quiet unassuming man whose love of animals and the countryside have given us stories which make us a think of a less complicated, stressful world of the 30's which has now gone. The other night I was watching one story where a dog has to be put down - and I forgot that it was only a programme and shed some tears. However Midnight the cat was sat next to me and gave me a big nip on the arm as if to say 'don't be so rediculous!' It might also have been that I was sat on 'her' sofa which becomes her territory after midnight and usually makes a point of letting me know.

My favourite character is Tristan Farnon who plays little brother to Seigfried - I enjoy his practical jokes! It's a long time since I've been up to the Dales. When I lived in Leeds I used to put my bike on the train and hop off to Skipton and then to Malham Cove.

For me I like James Herriot's/Alf Wights simple view of the world and I think his compassion for animals really shines through his work.

A Laycock day

Bank Holiday monday 5th May I set off for Chippenham where I met Mel Rob, Keeran Nick Jenny and Dog at their home near Morrisons. We headed out for Laycock and nearly got stuck in mud in the car park before setting off around the village. However I enjoyed looking at the architecture around the village especially that of the pub where we enjoyed a very nice meal. After the meal we walked around the village and predictably I had a long look in St Cyriacs church and then around the nearby Pottery although i was a bit scared that I would knock something over. Our next port of call was a craft fair in the village hall and then I nearly got locked in the village lock-up.

After Laycock we travelled to Bradford on Avon which looked as though it had been very busy today. Lots of pine and crafty shops here - had an ice cream and then watched the mechanics of the canal locks (how do you spell it ?!) changing.

After dropping Rob and Mel off I predictably took a long trip home via Corston across from the motorway and along some narrow lanes towards Foxley where I stopped at the medieval church and took some pictures of this chocolate box church with its old Jacobean furnishings. I then ended up at Sherston and then travelled back along the uplands to Chipping Sodbury. I always feel sad at the end of the day when the sun goes down - although it was the end of another lovely day.

Labour Values

> I read this post again after question time yesterday. I feel I need to add that I'm not a raving politico (cynical laugh in the background!) and I do have plenty of Tory and 'Sun' reading friends with whom I enjoy a good debate!!! However I do dislike poilitions of all party's who follow the party line instead of their own conscience. That is why I like Claire Short and even Boris Johnson!

I have heard various people say recently that New Labour shuns the working class - and I have always resisted the opportunity to agree. Labours shift from a mainly working class electorate towards woeing the middle classes has left those of us from working class backgrounds feeling the party main interests are no longer with us. A friend recently described herself as being working class and said she felt disgusted with Labour. She felt that New Labour and the middle classes were determined to keep her where she was. I often get a tinge of 'get back whence you came' from some professional types I come across but maybe that is delusion or paranoia?!
I have been a loyal labour voter since the age of 18 having been influenced by Neil Kinnock and Arthur Scargill. Although I have never liked the continuation of privatisation I have stuck with the party through out the years. I have always supported the more militant wing of the party (Tony Benn) and sympathised with the militants on Liverpool council. I was also influenced by dad who had been made redundant as a result of Mrs Thatchers economic policies. I come from a long line of furniture removers and my uncle who later became an English Literature author and professor (In Australia) said that he felt working as a removal man was the most honest work he had ever done and he hated people who think a lot about their 'status' in society. I'm very much the same! Like John Frost of the 1840 chartist riots I don't admire a man for the cloth on his back, money in the bank or the porsche that drives or even the status of his/her job. I admire a person for who they are rather than what they do. Sad thay New Labour would have us think otherwise.
I have become happier with Gordon as PM but putting tax increases on the lowest paid whilst supporting tax cuts for the middle classes makes me shudder. Is this really the party that I have consistantly voted for? I'm not about to jump ship but listening to people I Know who live in 'difficult areas' who struggle to pay for food and essentials I really do wonder.
However I'm not about to join my chums across the chamber. The one thing I have liked about the new Government is the re-building of schools in tough areas with 'academies.' I just wish that they had gone further and closed all the private and elitist schools at the same time. I believe strongly that every child should have the exact same education as any other. For me priviledge is anathema.
For me the moral problem with this country lies with those who have too much. I had to laugh at a recent vandalisation of a recent south west town entry on wiki. It described the inhabitants as being self absorbed and having a 'shop to you drop mentality' combined with a 'Celebrity status' complex. For me this sums up the moral problem with our class ridden society. People now seem to see themselves as 'celebrity' whilst they shun those on minimal wages and don't give a dam. Maggy Thatcher said there was no such thing as society. Sometimes I wonder whether the party that I've supported all these years has perpetuated this monster.
For me society matters - and the disintergration of community has lead to the social problems we have now. The clever thing is that consumerism has told everybody that they are 'celebrity.' Thus as Tony Blair said himself 'everybody thinks they are middle class.' This like nothing else has shut everybody elses mind to local injustice.
A read of housing conditions in Bristol the 1890's where families were living in one room with out sanitation or a national health service shows how far we have come. Yet if Tory economic theory and values were instituted we may well find ourselves retreating back. People are gnumbed by the idiocrity of cable TV and apathy and also the likes of Piers Morgan (although I am starting to like him) and the dreadful Sun comic.
So Why do I still vote labour? Its hard to break with a tradition and I do enjoy upsetting all the local Tories and Lib dems in the area!

Celtic Rock

I was browsing through the record shop in Clifton Village and came across some exciting new music. I was looking to get back to my celtic rock roots (i.e. the Alarm) and had a look in the metal section. I came across a strange but nice mix of celtic Irish music see link below,
http://www.nativespirit.co.uk/index.php/news/article/new-bluehorses-album-thirteen-fires/
I have also been introduced to Bellowhead by a friend from orchestra. I rather like it - lots of brass and even a squeeze box.