A visit to Castleton, Derbyshire

Yesterday evening on the first Sunday of the Advent season I lit the Advent candle on the wreath that I made using greenery from the garden. 

Today we decided to go to Castleton to visit the Christmas Tree Festival in St Edmund's Church which has become a tradition for us since we've lived in this area.  It was a bright and dry day and it didn't take long to get there and in fact we were a little early for the opening up of the church so we went into the inn opposite to have a milky coffee and a warm mince pie.

As usual there were many Christmas trees each one decorated by local organisations such as those associated with rock climbing, caving, geology, rambling, care support, arts and crafts, education.

The models under this tree represent a ceremony that takes place in May when a garland of flowers is paraded around the streets of Castleton before being hoisted up onto St Edmund's Church tower.

The famous Blue John mineral mined in Castleton and other rocks and minerals were on display.

I asked about the Advent Wreath and a volunteer came and lit the Advent Candle Christ Light for me.

the children's corner

After our visit to the church we had a quick look in the windows of the little shops along the high street which I'll post next time.  The top of the highest peaks were covered in mist so we didn't drive through Winnat's Pass and instead turned around and went back home the way we had come.

November 2019 roundup

November was a very wet month and we continue to think of those who are still enduring the aftermath of the flooding that occurred in many regions of the UK. We enjoyed having family come to visit. We are keeping fairly well and managed to get out-and-about including a visit to our Derbyshire family. In between the rain there was some gardening done, mostly tidying and cleaning and then on other days we rested.

Our son sent some photos that I've made into collages taken of  'The Knife Angel Sculpture' made with permission from the Home Office by the British Ironwork Centre in Shropshire from hundreds of  knives that had been surrendered to the authorities or had been used in a knife crime. The travelling artwork sculpture was on display for a time outside Derby Cathedral and was illuminated at night and brought attention to the public the awful consequences of knife crime that is sadly happening in our society. The campaign 'Surrender a Knife and Save a Life' is an important, ongoing initiative.

Inside the Cathedral touring artwork 'Museum of the Moon' by Luke Jerram was being displayed which was also illuminated in the evenings and a light parade, 'Parade of the Full Moon' took place at this time at the end of September. John Flamsteed, the first Atronomer Royal, (1646-1719) lived in Derby and was the first to map the moon so there was probably an association of ideas when organising the Derby Festé 2019. John Flamsteed's work (below) can be seen in Pickford's House Museum, Derby together with other displays on 18th century optical inventions.

Finally, a photo of me with Benito Argento our Derbyshire family's Spinone puppy who has the sweetest temperament.  (Argento is his pedigree name).

Off the Shelf Festival of Words, Sheffield 2019: It's All a Fiction Readers' Afternoon

'Off the Shelf ' Sheffield Festival - illustration by Phlegm
whose obviously still associated with the art scene in this city
and well known here and nationally for his street art murals.

Our city of Sheffield's annual literature festival is taking place over the next month organised by the two universities, Museums Sheffield and supported by the Arts Council, England.  There's always a creative programme of events and I try to get to some of them including the Readers' Day.  For the second year this particular event was held in Firth Court, one of the main buildings of the University of Sheffield.  Mr P dropped me off at Weston Park Museum and as I had time to spare I went in to view one of the art exhibitions - more about that another time.  Then I walked down the hill through the park to Firth Hall.

The six guest authors this year were all new to me although they have a following by many in the audience.  However, it's always interesting to hear about the process of writing a novel, what inspires someone to write about a subject. As it says in the Festival of Words booklet describing the writers' work, the subjects and themes included "love, loss and letting go" Do Not Feed the Bear, "homelessness" How to Find Home, "a dark thriller debut" Impossible Causes, "families and relationships" We Don't Die of Love, "an hilarious comic novel" Diary of a Somebody and "an epic, timely story of brotherly love" The End of Time.  There was the chance to ask questions and meet the writers afterwards.  The discussion was led by someone from Radio Sheffield who always takes the chair on these occasions.  There were refreshments in between the two sessions so it was a chance to relax, talk to other book lovers as well chat informally to the participating fiction writers. I bought the book How to Find Home and as we were given a book bag with a freebie book I shall have some more thought-provoking reading on my To Be Read pile.