My week

We had a period of sunshine early this morning so I went into the garden and picked more of the remaining daffodils as many of them seem to have been nibbled by some creature whilst my back was turned and others are bending in the wind on their long stems.  I thought that it would be better to enjoy them indoors.  I've also opened the blinds on the front living room window as I feel that I want to connect even more with what's going on in the street and let more light in.  Of course, with social isolation/distancing and other restrictions fewer people are walking by and since we are a no-through road except for a narrow path further along that leads to another lot of houses it has always been a quiet road to live in.  

Yesterday our next-door neighbour knocked on the door and asked if we needed any shopping or other errands done such as going to collect prescriptions.  It was strange standing far apart to talk, me well back in the entrance hall and the lady in the front garden, but it was reassuring to have this connection with a neighbour and get a phone number so I can text if necessary. She was able to give us her telephone number verabally so we didn't need to come any closer and so I wrote it down as she talked.  This young family recently moved in and as the couple are both working we haven't had a chance to get to know one another.   

Royal Mail have sent a text to inform the public that they are still working and sending mail out.  The mail lady knocked yesterday and I looked out of the window and saw that she had a parcel for us which she left on the front door window ledge for me to pick up after she had gone. There are so many adjustments to make regarding living our daily lives now.  Yesterday we also had a phone conversation time slot with the doctor at the general practice surgery.  After some questions Mr P was prescribed more antibiotics for his chest infection.  He hasn't got a temperature, but again it was reassuring to have this way of communicating with the GP team.  We're very grateful for the efforts when the health system is severely overstretched.

Well, that's my week so far so here are a few random photos taken this week and from my photo archive.

skimmia japonica

purple osteospermum - a new cutting from the original plant and at the moment growing in a pot indoors

A ceramic plant pot stand which I inherited from my great aunts so it must be very early 20th century.  On the back it has a pottery mark and a Made In Germany stamp - intriguing. 

Below photos from a past visit to the Forbury Gardens in my home town of Reading, Berkshire where the Maiwand Lion is an iconic landmark monument.

A food festival was taking place in the gardens at the time of this visit.

Reading Abbey Ruins - a return visit

A few years ago I wrote about my visits to Reading Abbey Ruins and the Forbury Gardens in my home town and you can read about this here and here. At that time I was disappointed that a place I would often spend time in had been closed for safety reasons when stones began to fall from the unstable walls. In the days before the gates to the ruins were locked Shakespeare plays would be performed and open air church services took place on the large area of lawn within the walls. Then a £3 million plus conservation project was announced and in the last year or two the walls were stabilised and rebuilt in places. The work has included further work on the abbey inner gatehouse. In June of this year the site was reopened to the public after nearly ten years of closure.  Of course, I had to go and see for myself . The conservation work had been a success. The tablet plaques in the Chapter House are just as I remember. A new arch looks good and in time will blend in. There are new information boards, displays of samples of stone carving and visitors can take a guided tour.  The ruins will be a wonderful venue for events and our daughter is looking forward to going to some of these in the future including the next Shakespearean play that's put on.

We started our walk in the Forbury Gardens. The land here was also

part of Reading Abbey. It was good to see that the water bowl

 and water in the shell fountain had been cleaned up since I visited last. 

The entrance that leads into the ruins. The walkway

 to St. James' Church and former school in the photo forms a tunnel

which I enjoyed running through on walks with my Dad along by

the River Kennet to the Forbury Gardens. The shell fountain was

a stopping point as there were large goldfish

 swimming in the water in those days.

looking into the Chapter House

inside the Chapter House

This plaque shows the music notation of

the song Sumer is i cumen in (Summer is a coming in)

It was sung as a round and the earliest manuscript

came from Reading Abbey.

This plaque is to the memory of

 the First Abbot of Reading Abbey 

A plaque to the memory of Blessed Hugh Cook Faringdon,

the last Abbot of Reading Abbey who refused to surrender

the Abbey to Henry VIII and who died on the gallows.

The wood seat has a lion carved on the top. The seat and the steps up to it

were given by The Lions Club International, Reading.

a path leads down to the Chestnut Walk

by the  River Kennet

a display of  carved stone architectural  pieces 

the River Kennet

The Chestnut Walk

On the left are the brick walls of the former Reading Prison

There are plans to open this to the public possibly as a new arts venue.

We went back into the Forbury Gardens.

The Maiwand Memorial with Lion Statue

the restored Abbey Gateway