Five on Friday

Hello everyone.  Being Friday it's that time again when we get together for the Five on Friday linkup, the first of a new month!  Happy March to you all!   We are grateful to Amy for organising the linkup. The linkup is here if you would like to join in or see who is participating this week. Tricky and Carly of FAST blog will be taking on and hosting the Five on Friday meetup link on the 24th March, which is much appreciated.

I'm taking a blogging break next week, but I hope to participate in Five on Friday meetup at the end of the month. This Friday I'm sharing some of what I've been doing at home and locally over the last few weeks.

I finished the embroidery that I started when we were taking

a holiday in Italy in November. 

I've been working on my crocheting and finished off the edges

of this blanket after sewing in the strands of yarn on the back.

(I shall continue working on the one in grey, mocha brown and blue
 yarn as it needs a lot more squares crocheted before it's a complete blanket).

. 

On a sunny morning this week I walked in the local park,

went into the library to take some books back before 

going to meet a friend.  It was good to see the crocuses out.

There were yellow crocuses elsewhere as well as these pretty 

mauve and purple ones.

My friend and I went and had a cup of tea and a chat

in one of the tea rooms near the park. We haven't seen one another
 for a while so we had lots of news to catch up on.

Thank you for visiting, for your interest and your kind comments left on my blog posts. Until the next time we meet I wish you peaceful days.

A walk by the river in Reading town

Today I'm sharing the walk along the river in Reading. We used the new Christchurch foot and cycle bridge to cross the river (not shown on the map below as it was only opened in May 2016). Then we crossed the river again at Caversham Lock to get back to the car park.

the towpath in Christchurch Meadow

The building with the blue spiral staircases are the offices of Thames Water and there are other modern offices and apartment buildings along this stretch of water on the Reading side of the river.

We walked across Christchurch Meadow playing fields.  I remember the small building in the above photo and the open air paddling pool from when I was a child.  I vaguely remember coming here with cousins and our parents in the warmer weather.  Summer always seemed to be sunnier back then! There weren't any leisure centres with swimming pools and I remember we would take a bus with these relatives out to a neighbouring town to an open air swimming pool which we favoured over the one here as it meant a day out with a picnic.

The new Christchurch Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists must make it convenient for commuters to get across the river from Reading railway station which can be accessed through an alleyway on the south bank, although it doesn't solve the problem of traffic flow and congestion at certain times on Caversham Bridge and Reading Bridge. I expect the footbridge was built to encourage walking and cycling rather than using a car if you lived locally.

Fry's Island taken from the bridge

and below a view of the river and Caversham Bridge

a good view of the span of Christchurch Bridge

Reading Bridge

a view of Caversham Lock and weir through Reading Bridge

We walked through the arch of the bridge and on to Caversham Lock.

Across the river is Hills Meadow and the car park.

The yellow and green barge, 'Whittingtons Tea Barge', is static although it can be used for cruising and for occasions such as for parties and wedding events. It's run by a couple, Andrew and Lesley and Andrew is a descendant, apparently, of the famous Dick Whittington. They do cream teas and other refreshments as well as catering for small groups. A place to remember as it must be pleasant in the Summer months. The boat was actually built in 2012 and is a wide beam canal barge.

Caversham Lock

I was pleased to see the monkey puzzle tree as I'm sure as a child we used to call the island on which the lock keeper's house and the Thames Environmental Agency buildings are located 'Monkey/Monkey Puzzle Island'.  Our grandson comes here quite often on his way to a place where he goes fishing further down the river at Sonning-on-Thames (Sonning Eye) and enjoys seeing the wild life in the area. I think he was interested to hear what I remembered of past times.

View Island and Heron Island can be accessed by walking along the path of the weir.

The water is so calm on this side of the weir looking back to Reading Bridge.

rushing water on the other side

The wooden bridge leads onto View Island where the vegetation being kept in its natural state encourages wild life.

the back water and houses on Heron Island with View Island (to the right)

This is a good habitat for water birds and other creatures to live and breed and is a quiet spot for ramblers yet not far away are the recreational grounds of Hills Meadow.

A walk around Hambleden, Buckinghamshire

After a week back from our time in Berkshire I realise that it did us good and our daughter and her sons appreciated seeing us too. One day our daughter drove us to one of the pretty, unspoilt villages we often went to on outings with our children. We would go down to Hambleden Lock just outside Henley-on-Thames where friends had a house whose garden went down to the river. We didn't go down to the lock this time, but instead turned into a country lane and drove to the village of Hambleden itself where we stopped, visited the church and then had a wander around.  We then had a welcome cup of coffee in the village store before heading back to Reading by way of Henley-on Thames.

St Mary the Virgin Church

There has been a church on the site since the late Saxon/early Norman times and although it has been altered and extended over the centuries many of the external and internal features have been retained.  It is cruciform in shape with north and south transepts and a Lady Chapel on the south side with its own entrance door.

The patronage of the church went with the manor of some 4,800 acres as recorded in the Domesday Book (1086). The site of the original manor house  was located nearby, probably where the early Georgian house, Kendricks, now stands.  At one time it was the rectory and now is a private house.

From the Middle Ages the manor was the property of the Scrope family, important members of society in North Yorkshire.  Emanuel Scrope who built the manor house in 1603 was the great grandson of Henry VIII through an illegitimate son of the King and his mistress, Mary Boleyn (sister of Ann). King Charles I spent a night at the manor house when he was on the run from those who opposed the monarchy. The Sealed Knot Society, a group who re-enact historical events of the English Civil War has held one in the fields surrounding the manor house and I remember many years ago coming to such an event, making a day of it and having a picnic with the family. About 1666 King Charles II was patron and appointed the rector who had been his chaplain during his exile in France.  (My adapted notes are taken from the booklet purchased in the church).  I'm grateful to a member of the congregation who was present in the church at the time for showing us around. 

entrance to the bell tower

brasses on the wall on either side of the entrance to the tower 

the 12th century font or earlier (possibly late Saxon)

a memorial window - one of two in the nave and brass memorial dedicated to W.H. Smith, son of the founder of the bookseller and news agency firm who lived at a house called 'Greenlands', now Henley Business Management College.  On his death his widow was created Viscountess Hambleden of Hambleden. 

the nave looking towards the chancel and sanctuary

the roof of the chancel

looking towards the north transept from the nave

The monument of Sir Cope D'Oyley (d. 1633) and Martha his wife (d. 1618) and their ten children. The family lived at 'Greenlands'. The alabaster figures were originally coloured and gilded. Those children holding skulls died before their parents. the inscriptions are on black marble.

the south transept from the nave

This oak altar is known as the Wolsey Altar. It was carved in the early 16th century by Dutch or Italian craftsmen and includes the arms of Cardinal Wolsey on one of the panels. It was probably a bed-head which came to the manor house at the time of the marriage of Elizabeth Sandys  (widow) to Ralph Scrope of Hambleden.

The Lady Chapel

snowdrops were in flower in the churchyard

The village remains unspoilt and has been used during the filming of  many television drama series although one usually just gets a glimpse of certain buildings during these episodes. 

the village hall

the playing fields

'Kendricks', the former manor house and rectory

the village shop and post office

 The river at Henley-on-Thames.

I've had some technical difficulties with my Internet connection in the last few days.  I'm up and running again and hope to share some more of our time away before I take another break from blogging.

Wishing you a good day and a good rest of the week,