MOMPESSON HOUSE & SALISBURY CATHEDRAL

 

Another week, another day trip with the friendly, efficient Uptons Coaches off to Wiltshire today.

Sat on the coach awaiting the feeder coach. Greeted by friendly, welcoming Ian, I've become a regular, hence the familiarity.  

A few regular faces onboard- the purple lady is back, bless her, she's a character and at her age she can be anything she wants to be.  There are a few whingers !! But they're sat in the back out of the way- best place for them!!

9.15am, and the feeder crowd join us. The weather is dry and grey, hope it stays that way. 

Stopped for a quick "comfort" break at Yeovil.  Then arrived in Salisbury at 12 noon.  Walked through At Annes Gate, the passage way up to the house and cathedral and some other museums. Passed some very grand old town houses with fabulous doors, the street is cobbled with millions of old pebbles and for a city, it's very quiet. 

Mompesson House was clad in scaffolding, unfortunately. And not very big at all. In fact, only 7 rooms to view, so it didn't take long to walk around. It was very homely and decorated accordingly for its era.  It had been home to a widow with her 3 daughters. 

Found the tiny cafe in the old garden room. Manned by just 2 women, serving tea in fine bone china cups and saucers to add to the ambience of the house. Was a nice touch.  

Because the house was so small and I had until 5pm to while away, may mooch around shops if l find them. Glad I bought crochet and quiz book as I have such a long time to use up and because the heavens opened with heavy drizzle l ventured into the cathedral and boy, that did not disappoint. I'm not religious by any means, but it was well worth all the time I did eventually spend in there. 

2pm I am as I said not religious but felt compelled to go into the cathedral, and there is something spiritual and endearing about being in this divine, tranquil space, even emotive in parts.  I lit a candle as I do these days, admired the architectureecture and carvings, embroidery, and the ambience. I felt the energy. I saw "the signs", names, dates as I walked the cloisters. I felt I'd been here before.

The majesty of this grand building. The Magna Carter with its perfectly written script in the tiniest of inked writings from the 1200's was amazing. 

The Vices and Virtues- Virtues being Good and feminine, Vices Bad and masculine!! Quite relevant me thinks, says it all. !!

Prayer cushions, Mary Magdalene, Jude Simon!!, a tombstone Symons, family birth dates. Signs it's what I believe in, even if others think it's "woo-woo" stuff.

The beautiful water feature in the centre of the aisle, the Easter display. The sacred water.  Im sat slone in one of the cloisters, no one here at all, I feel it. The energy.

I'm going back to the shop to buy the bronze praying hands. 

2.30pm for someone not religious, l dont want to leave the sanctuary of this magnificent place. I've bought myself treats, red crystal jewellery, the hands, and a scarf/pashmina.

I want to stay in the sanctuary of this place. 

Went back in and sat by the water feature and sacred water until 3pm. Just sat and took in the energy and peace. It feels great and energised. 

then took myself for a cuppa until 3.30pm, dragging out the time until 3.30pm or as long as I can. Signs they're gearing up to close, so I left and wandered out into the damp cold, still an hour to kill.  

Nowhere to sit and wait inside unless I venture into another cafe or pub- which l dont really want to do. No sign of any fellow travellers. I took shelter around a wall from the direction of the cold rain just as well as a swarm of hundreds of school boys went passed.  Once they'd dispersed, I went back to St Annes gate to shelter some more, still nowhere to sit. Still no fellow travellers. Stood looking at the dirty wall and noticed the bricked-up doorway, tiny in size. And various markings embedded in the ancient gated wall - wondering about the history and stories this gateway must hold. 

Eventually, a few fellow travellers emerged so we congregated under scaffolding for our coach. All cold, wet and a bit fed up to be honest. 5pm in rubbish weather is too long.

Apparently should arrive back at the pick up point at 7pm!! Flipping heck!!

Gave Ian the feedback so the company know for next time. 

Hope it's dry and light so I can stomp home and warm up. Got dropped off at a motorway junction, which cuts out 15 mins of walking. Was back home and in my jammies by 7.30pm- 12 hours after beginning my day. 

The familiar faces of the regulars said goodbye until we meet again.

DAY TRIP-ARLINGTON COURT.

 

I am trying something different this time. Hope you enjoy the read.  As always, these are my words and feelings, and my own style of writing. This is how l write whilst on the move, so all taken from my note book and random not structured.

Thurs. 9th April Day trip to National Trust property Arlington Court and Carriage museum in North Devon. Travelled with Uptons Coaches.

Day trip time, weather 8am cloudy at the moment as I trek to the pick up point a half-hour walk up the road. Nerves kicking in, or should I say adrenaline, happy to be going out, out visiting somewhere new.  Its been a while. But is the start of travel day trip season for me anyway.

Not many of us today- 11  in total. The Tiverton purple lady is a regular and a very able-bodied frail elderly lady who sits and chuckles at all sorts. The rest of my fellow travellers are new bodies and not overly chatty.

We arrived at 11.30am, as did the heavy, drizzly wet rain; it had been dry up to Bampton, our last pick port. Then fog & damp followed us over Exmoor. 

Had a quick pit stop in the cafe for a sausage roll and coffee served by very friendly, welcoming staff. Looked at the mini map then set off to trek the estate, trekking through trees, rhododendrons which are beginning to blossom- I love a rhododendron.  Daffodils, carpets of primroses and, wild garlic which smells gorgeous, bluebells in 3 shades of colour- blue pink and white. 

Its 2.20pm, I've been in the old stables where 40 glorious carriages are housed, most built in the 1800's from wood and leather, all in great condition, given their age and use by the landed gentry and royalty- Queen Vic no less. I've been in the grand house too, which had a lovely feel to it, homely and warm. Was home and owned by the Chichester Family in particular, a strong female Rosalie Chichester. 

For my last hour l took shelter back in the cafe for cream tea and a cuppa, of course its stopped raining now I'm indoors!!  

Cream tea- so full up now, think new meds prevent me from eating so much, which has to be a good thing, as I feel quite sick and bloated right now. I moved into the other closed dining area to shelter from the cold and crocheted until the bus came.

Anyway, back to Arlington, a lovely house, great gardens, kitchen, walled , wooded lots of winter storm damage where huge trees with their roots just fell over ripping up their attachment to the earth. Quite sad and amazing considering the size of them.

Lots of wild garlic, especially down a little path into a woodland canopy with a babbling brook, moss-covered logs and bluebell carpets- loved it down there  a nice atmosphere.

Had a mooch around the shop with its usual National Trust goodies, candles honey jams, blankets, etc. but as l left and started to walk back noticed a black and white bird hopping around the field it wasn't a wagtail- I would say a Blackbird with a health problem as it was quite distinctive black and white plumage.. 

Typical, as we're about to leave, the sun came out, no heat like yesterday, where we had a day of summer!! 

Slept well for an hour in the warmth as we drove back through Exmoor valley and its sleepy villages and towns, as if time has stood still here.

Been a good day lots of trees and nature inclusion, which l loved. Even stroked the stone memorial stone of Vanguard, the estate dog who apparently ad died aged 13 7 weeks after he lost his owner.  The carriage museum was fascinating, with some seriously old but well-preserved carriages.

Lots of things for kids to do given it's the Easter holidays. Staff in the cafe were super friendly. But they do need to provide napkins!! 

Watched a gang of kids climbing a huge tree, nice to see kids doing outdoorsy things. 

I need to sort a travel diet that's not bread and pastry-based so l dont feel like l am right now. 

Indoors, jammies on and it's 6pm. Got dropped off by J25 so not so far to walk home makes a difference. Quick walk past tesco to get light food options to calm my still bloated belly. 

Been a long day but a good one. Until next week. Wiltshire destined.

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter, everyone. 

A time for religious and non-religious celebrations. Bunnies, Lambs, chicks, new life, new leaves, Spring beginnings springing into life.

The return of the sun and warmth. 

Apparently, Easter Sunday is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox.  The divine moon decides when we have Easter.

It's about Jesus being crucified on the cross and rising again when he vanishes from a stone tomb. Where I live, 3 crosses get erected on a hill to symbolise this.  Even though I'm not religious its a nice sight to see.

And Easter is about abundance of food- simnel cake, easter biscuits, hot cross buns, chocolate easter eggs, roast lamb dinners.  And a 5-day weekend if you're lucky enough not to have to work. 

But the 5-day weekend can be a drag for some people. 

Going to be Debbie Downer now and say if you're a baby boomer, empty nester without transport, those 5 days and any bank holiday can just be a reminder that it's a time that your offspring have flown the nest, have families of their own and will exclude you from festivities.  Whether they mean to or not. Or more than anything, and rightly so, do their own family thing.

It doesn't make things any easier to stomach or cope with the reminder that you/ l am alone and isolated. There is no affordable transport on a Sunday or a bank holiday.

Anxiety prevents me from wandering alone around the local area despite the glorious weather. If I were to live within walking distance of a beach, I wouldn't have a problem walking alone. But in an urban-rural area alone, I do.

I think the plan of action for future bank holidays would be to book to go away to a seaside venue so that I can then dine and walk alone without any issues.