Saturday 2.

The above two pictures are of a part of Ringshall Church (a few miles away from us) that I find very interesting. If you look just to the right of the centre of the top  photo you will see the end of one of the beams protruding from the wall, with a large oak peg shoved through it from below and securing the beam to the wall. The photo below shows the same beam inside the church. Both ends of all the cross beams go through the church walls and are secured in the same manner, which is used in the few surviving examples of late medieval furniture. If you now look again at the top picture you will see that the roof of the church was replaced and lowered, probably late in the 1400s. The walls of the nave are noticeably leaning outward, this is fairly common, quite deliberate, and is thought to have been done to give, from the outside, the impression that the church is taller than it is. I've just had to nip upstairs and ask Ann the correct name for this- it's called an optical illusion. The odd way of securing the beam ends also prevents the walls from leaning out any further. It's an early method of doing what was done in later centuries by putting an iron bar across the inside of a building, and through both opposite  outside walls, threading both ends of the bar outside the building, then putting on a large, usually round, pierced iron plate against the wall, heating the bar to expand it, and then screwing a huge iron nut up to the plate at both ends of the bar.
As far as I'm aware this is the only example of an ancient stone building being held together with large (about four to five feet long) wooden pegs, and is therefore unique. I'd be interested to know if any of my readers know otherwise. If you do please give me details.

P.s. I know I said I was going to blog about churches and this is only one church, but I've probably exhausted the attention span of my readers (and who could blame them) so I'll keep the others for when I next need photoes for a blog subject .

Saturday 1.

Just been out to breakfast at our favourite farm shop, Hollowtrees at Semer (to give them a buckshee- free Lori- and well deserved bit of advertising). Seemed that everyone we met there was someone we know. Our waitress was the granddaughter of friends, earning a bit during the school hols, and good for her. Then we met our choirmaster. "Hello Michael" says Ann, "Come for breakfast?"
"No" replies Michael, in his usual cheery way (irony) "Birdseed", and gallops off to find some. Then we meet up with a retired choirmaster, finally get to our table, are served, and before we can pick up a fork it's "Hello, you two, how are you ?" from Prim, the lady pictured above, whose long case clock I fixed a year or so ago. I think her full name is Primrose, which rather suits her. We assure Prim that we are both well, then enquire after her and the clock's health - She's well, and it's ticking over nicely- and we eventually are allowed to get on with our breakfast, which is, as usual there, excellent. Should add, in case Steve or Liz read this, that I've stuck to my resolution, and had the half full English breakfast this time, which was plenty. Stopped on way out to purchase some flowers for Milly, with whom we're going to supper this evening. Must close this blog entry and get on with the one I'd meant to write, which is about local churches. Don't go away.

Friday

Went to cafe Church this morning, and whilst there restocked the book stall, with books we'd been recently given. Talked to Robert about the books I'd taken in. After retiring as a teacher, Robert became a bookseller, and advises on values of books contributed to the stall. Lovely, sunny day today, after a miserably overcast, and rainy day yesterday, so took the opportunity of having lunch in the garden, when Ann took the above snapshot.

A coouple of months ago or so, when godson/nephew Ed and his wife Jo weekended with us, they gave Ann the above pot of plants. It contains a dark blue lobelia, a red and white fuchsia, and a yellow flowered plant, and has been a real joy all summer; so I've taken the above photo to show Ed and Jo that it's much appreciated.  By the way, Ed, we wish you many happy returns of tomorrow.
Yesterday had a drive round the area in the afternoon and took photos of churches. Had intended to do longish blog on them, but owing to a thoroughly awkward (in the sense of difficult to complete) game of scrabble that took up more of this evening than we'd intended, have run out of time, so will probably do another blog ack emma (in the morning Lori). I wish you all a very Good night.

Wednesday.

Up at 6.15 a.m. and to early service at 7.30.. Breakfast in Church, then unloaded some books we'd collected yesterday for the book stall. Walked round to Post Office sorting office and picked up a parcel; a small copper tinder box - needs a good deal doing to it. Above photo is of part of our garden, where, as it's a nice, sunny but fresh  August day, we had lunch.  As you can see, it's still showing a good deal of colour.

This afternoon Eileen and Hilary came to us for a scrabble tea. Played two games of scrabble first, then had tea. We gave them ham sandwiches (with a little mustard). Ann had baked some scones, served still warm with butter and raspberry jam. Then Ann's fruit cake, followed by apple and plum fool made with some of Brenda's Victoria plums. Back to drawing room for a third game of scrabble. Lovely afternoon, enjoyed by all.

Monday.

This morning our friend Helga (who is from Germany originally, married an Englishman, and has lived in England for a great many years) called in for coffee, together with her her sista Ingeborg and Ingeborg's two long term foster children, Felix (fourteen) and Angelique (twelve). The children were bright, intelligent, youngsters, who seemed to be pleased to be able to practice their English on us (as well they might be, as their English is excellent). They were also refreshingly good mannered children. The three of them have been staying with Helga, and will fly home tomorrow (they live in the old East Germany area).

The snapshot above is of dahlias that grew from a corm that friend Brenda gave to Ann for her birthday last March. They've done well.
Must do a bit of work now. More blog later perhaps.

Saturday.

Motored into London today to go to grandson Matthew's eighteenth birthday party. Took above snapshot just after lunch. It shows, from left to right, Matthew, his mother Liz, his sister Beth, Jude (our son Jonathan's partner), Ann, and son Jonathan. We weren't at all sure what to give Matthew. When Ann asked him what he wanted he said  "Surprise me, Granny". Asked Liz and she reminded me that a year or so ago I'd given him some old weskits of mine (mainly yellow tattersall check ones) which had shrunk in the wardrobe (as so often happens) and she said he would love a watch and chain to wear with them, so dug out and gave him a silver hunter watch (hallmarked 1884) that had belonged to his great - great- great - grandfather. Ann contributed a good silver albert from her collection of chains to go with it. The watch had been given me, in a moribund state and heavily oxidised, by an old aunt  a good many years ago. I eventually cleaned and put it into working order, and it's a good time keeper. He was delighted with it. Lizzie had put on an excellent cold collation lunch, which we all enjoyed. Matthew's having a party for his friends (of his own age) this evening. Hope both Matthew and the watch survive it in decent working order.

Goodnight.

Friday.

Been a fairly restful day. Took above photo this morning through kitchen window and cobweb (outside). To cafe Church this morning. Generally swapped local news with friends.

Spent most of rest of today pottering in workshop. Been a rather grey, dull day, weatherwise. After supper we were playing scrabble in the kitchen and realised that the sky to the north east was stormy, but to the west clouds were lifting and lighting up the colours in the garden so took above snapshot of garden in evening light. Should perhaps have concentrated on the game as the final score was :- Ann 351 points, Mike 349 points. Good night everyone.

Wednesday 2.

Just taken photo of clock dial by William Batt of Petersfield (in Hampshire I think) that I was working on this morning. It's a single handed clock as you can see (yes, you can- there are only four divisions between the hours -so not minute divisions but quarter hour divisions - so no minute hand). I now wish I'd thought to take a 'before' picture - the dial was covered in old, darkened lacquer, and was almost black.

To return to subject of plums, we picked about six pounds of them, and this evening Ann prepared, stoned,  and stewed them, so we should have a few plum crumbles and pies this winter.
Going up to bed now - Goodnight, oh pen pals.

Wednesday 1.

Went for a walk yesterday evening. Above picture taken at about nine in the evening, and shows Ann leaning on the parapet of Toppesfield Bridge, which is claimed to be the earliest bridge in Suffolk still in regular use, although I think this might be debatable.

Went to early service this morning (Ann was 'deaconing') and took the above snapshot of about a quarter of our garden when we set out at just after seven a.m. Spent the rest of this morning cleaning and resilvering the ten inch square dial of a small thiry hour long case clock. This afternoon got a call from friends of long standing Brenda and Warren to say that they have a glut of Victoria plums and would we go over and have a cuppa with them and help ourselves to some of said plums. Drove over to them and had cuppa and cakes. Their youngest granddaughter Hannah was with them. Hadn't seen her for a year or so, and she is now six and quite charming despite (or perhaps at least partly because of) lacking her two upper front teeth, which she told us her mummy had pulled out. After tea showed her my trick with a handkerchief mouse (which jumps and then runs up my sleeve). This had its usual success with a six year old. It was shown me when I was about that age by a great uncle who lived in Southwold, and he also showed me (some years later, though) how to perform this magic. It is (apart from the usual purpose) my reason for always carrying a red spotted snuff handkerchief. I digress. We then went outside and picked plums, willingly and ably assisted by Hannah. Back in a mo. Just thought of something.

Sunday.

Last night's supper - salmon steak fried in a little olive oil, ratatouille (spelling probably only an approximation), potatoes, and runner beans from the garden.

Sunlight and a stormy sky yesterday evening.

Went to morning service - choir not required so sat in congregation, towards the back. Shared a pew with lady we'd not met before who had a son with her- seven or eight I'd guess, but quiet and well behaved, who shook hands very correctly in the peace. Worst of being in the choir- tend not to meet new people much. Still, now the choir is only being used two Sundays in the month, we'll meet more people in church.
This evening we were invited to Liz and Bob's for 'drinks at six'. We'd met them around the area over the last few years, but not been to their home. The invitation 'drinks in the evening' can vary a good deal in meaning, but this time various nibbles were served (don't mean crisps and peanuts, but smoked salmon on brown bread, prawns on biscuits, etc.),   followed by strawberries and cream, so that, together with a couple of glasses of a very decent dry sherry, it turned into the equivalent of a light evening meal. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and agreed on the way home that we must ask them back here to lunch soon. Clocks are striking ten now, and Ann's just gone up - So - Goodnight, dear readers.

Friday 2.

Yesterday evening we went on our annual visit to the RedRose Group's theatre in the forest (Rendlesham), to see Twelfth Night. Went with our usual group, and had a picnic before the performance. The performance was as good as it usually is (eight actors performing all the parts). It had been a wet day on and off, so we dressed accordingly, and even a ten minute downpour in the middle of the first half didn't spoil the evening.

This morning fellow bloggers Steve and Liz called in (by arrangement) and we went off to Hollowtrees farm restaurant and partook of the excellent breakfast supplied by that establishment. Very pleasant morning, but I think it only fair to suggest to any East Anglian readers who decide to try the place that the 'half full English breakfast' will easily satisfy any but the stoutest trenchermen.
Photoes above are of the garden which is really looking colourful at the moment. Been pottering in the workshop for most of the afternoon and evening. Ann's just gone up, so - Goodnight All.

Friday.

This is in response to Nea's request/comment in the previous blog entry.

Wednesday.

Orford Castle, which we visited last week, was built between 1165 and 1173 A.D. by order of Henry II. The castle is 90 feet high, circular in shapewith three square towers equidistant around it. It is quite remarkable for the completeness of its domestic 'facilities' and arrangements. There are toilets on all of the floors (I think), with shafts running down the outside of the walls, and emptying into the moat (now dry). On the floor below the roof is a small room, lined with well fitting stone, which appears to have been built as a large cystern, probably filled originally by rain water (my idea).

Above are two of the loos. Below is a snapshot of the castle well, which is, of course, in the basement/undercroft.

Below is a photo of the Castle Chapel, a well fitted little room, with a passageway to the Priest's chamber, complete with its own lavatory.

The picture below is taken inside a room in one of the square towers on the castle roof, and shows one of the two ovens there.

The outer walls of the castle fell during the early part of the 19th century. About a century after the castle was built it withstood a short seige during the reign of Edward Ist, and this was about sixty years before serious artillery (cannon) were in use. It then saw virtually no further action, This must, I think be the main reason that the castle at Orford has survived in such a remarkably  good and complete condition. It is really very well worth a visit.

It has always seemed to me that a visit to Framlingham Castle, which has never had a keep, but has the outer walls complete, followed by a visit to Orford (about twelve miles away) which now has no outer walls, but a very well preserved keep, would give between them, a good and complete impression of a mediaeval English castle.

Tuesday.

This morning went out to a local farm shop for breakfast (a service it has recently started providing). Above left shows grandaughters Tuva and Freja). We (after much earnest consultation) ordered two full English breakfasts and three half English breakfasts and then did swappsies - I swapped my two tomatoes for Tuva's black pudding (which she didn't fancy at all, after hearing her mother describe its main ingredients), plus drinks to taste - pot of tea, pot of coffee and fresh squeezed orange.

Ruth took the above photo of the breakfast table after the food had been served and exchanges of goodies made. At this point two friends of ours, ladies of about our vintage, turned up, having ordered coffee. They said hello, were introduced, looked at our table, drooled a little, then Dorothy said "well I'm going to order a scone", and went back and did so.

After breakfast we walked round the farm and socialised with some of the animals. Ann and Nanny above.

Took above photo over a gate of lovely looking brindled heifer.

I introduced the above guinea pig to the girls as Wiggy, and I'm afraid the name stuck.
After that breakfast nobody felt they needed any lunch. Been pottering, and socialising since then (friend Bill called in early afternoon), but really must do some work now, ready for tomorrow - Long Melford.

Monday.

This morning we asked the girls what they'd  like to do with their last free day in England. They couldn't make up their minds between going to see the inside of a real English castle, or going crabbing at the seaside. It seemed to me that we could easily combine the two by going to Orford Castle, then on to Orford Quay. Orford Castle is a little gem of a castle, built around the year 1170, during the reign of Henry II,  it withstood a short seige in the reign of Edward I in around 1280, then spent the next seven centuries or so in quiet retirement.
This means that the keep, and all its domestic arrangements have survived remarkably complete. This includes the :- Sorry seem to have lost a picture here. Bear with me. Going to have to rejig this.

Above is the Chapel, beautifully finished chamber inside the first floor of the keep. Will come back to the castle, possibly in tomorrow's blog entry.

We then went down to Orwell Quay and fished for crabs. Ann above.

Ruth and Tuva crabbing.

Freja and Tuva starting the crab race down  slipway beside the Quay. We always let the crabs back in the water by letting them race a few yards down the slipway. Of the hundred or so crabs we caught today none were of edible size.
Sorry about today's messy blog. Will try and do better tomorrow.