Saturday was a bright day and decided to head for Pershore Abbey although the M4 was clogged up and went for an unexpexted climb thtrough some of the narrowest roads in the uk. A road took me up to the isoalted heights of the cotswolds with barely room for the car and eventually I came to Cowley church site next to a husge hotel (formerly manor) with lots of signs telling worshipers to keep out. I then drove up 800 feet to Brimsfield where the medieval church was sited on the highest point. A sign said leave your car at the village hall but I couldn't find it! Eventually I did and walked up to St Micheals which had the ancient characteristic of not having an east window and had some splendid views over the narrow combes below.
The road somehow seemed to get narrower as I passed through a hillside wood - it came to a cross roads and then climbed up a steep hill and came to a hillside parish and crossroads with the saxon church in the hollow with house. Here only 40 people live and the church has medieval paintings and 18th cent pews and reading desk.
Then moved onto see more saxon work at winstone and then onto coulesbourne, north cerney and at Baunton something interesting. As I opened the door a huge 9ft medieval St Christopher leapt out from the wall. Apparently according to tradition seeing this once a day prevents the viewer from dieing a violent death.
On the way home I had a text from Mel to say that there were still some tickets on sale for the Iron Action proms. So anyway dashed out and bought a chair. Got there and enjoyed some excellent music from the shows and found I was sat next to psychiatrist collegue! Then came the flag waving bit - the bit I always find difficult having a natural aversion to any nationalism of any kind. However the fireworks soon put me at ease - amazing.
The road somehow seemed to get narrower as I passed through a hillside wood - it came to a cross roads and then climbed up a steep hill and came to a hillside parish and crossroads with the saxon church in the hollow with house. Here only 40 people live and the church has medieval paintings and 18th cent pews and reading desk.
Then moved onto see more saxon work at winstone and then onto coulesbourne, north cerney and at Baunton something interesting. As I opened the door a huge 9ft medieval St Christopher leapt out from the wall. Apparently according to tradition seeing this once a day prevents the viewer from dieing a violent death.
On the way home I had a text from Mel to say that there were still some tickets on sale for the Iron Action proms. So anyway dashed out and bought a chair. Got there and enjoyed some excellent music from the shows and found I was sat next to psychiatrist collegue! Then came the flag waving bit - the bit I always find difficult having a natural aversion to any nationalism of any kind. However the fireworks soon put me at ease - amazing.
