Spent this morning rebuilding a pendulum for an eighteenth century wall clock. Went well. One more job left to do on it - lead soldering the shaft of the brass pendulum bob to the pendulum rod- should be a five minute job.
This afternoon we walked into town and photographed the above two buildings on our way. The one at the top is the only hotel in town still functioning as a hotel. I'm told it's quite a good one to stay at. The house photoed below is called (and it's well named) the Crooked Cottage. To get the full effect of the place it has to be seen at night with the lights on inside. The top window has a very fine crown post roof. The heavily beamed inside walls lean in all directions, and on the ground floor is a fine eighteenth century window. The crown post appears to be fourteenth century, much of the timbering is fifteenth and sixteenth century, and it's complemented by the eighteenth century bay window. The whole thing is a muddle of various periods which blend together very attractively.
The last few days have started off with sharp white frosts, followed by bright sunny days - ideal weather - long may it last.
When we reached town I went off to scrabble club and Ann went to do some shopping. Mainly wool, I think; she's knitting herself a waistcoat in autumn colours.
One thing I should have recorded last monday in London :- in the afternoon we boarded a crowded tube train, and as we got on and the train moved off, a youngish woman got up and gave Ann her seat. Almost immediately, a little further along the carriage, a young man - no, a young gentleman- of West Indian parentage, very brightly dressed, with dreadlocks and a 'beany' hat (hope I've got that right) got up and gave me his seat. Both the young people also possessed the - increasingly rare - social skill of being able to smile (charmingly at that). Although (as Ann said) it has become quite obvious that we are now seen as senior citizens, it is very reassuring that some young people are still thoroughly well mannered. It was the nicest incident in a very busy and enjoyable day.
We plan to go out later this evening to a concert given by our local Choral Society. Will probably report back later on it, if worthwhile.
4 comments:
Good manners live on in Norfolk. Hurrah!
Hello Pat, good to hear from you. Two minor corrections, though: (1) we live in South Suffolk (not Norfolk), and (2) the incident took place in a tube train in central London. In another sense, though, I think you are right. Although we can't claim to live in a mannerly age, I think there are pockets of good manners everywhere. Hope so, anyway.
I am pleased to say that your experience on the Tube, and indeed London buses too, is not unusual. We go into Town quite often, each time if there was not a seat available I was offered one, usually Ian is too.
If we are travelling by Underground we get on at Richmond so can usually choose our seats; if we travel by Piccadilly line it is full of travellers from Heathrow but even then some one will offer a seat.
All we need now is queues to come back at bus stops.
Hello PixieMum. To get to two of the auction rooms (Christies and Bonhams) from Liverpool Street we use the Circle Line which, depending on the time of day, is usually not too bad. We were pleasantly surprised to be offered seats, but I do find your comment reassuring. Thanks.
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