8 Comments CherryPie on Aug 12th 2025
2 Comments CherryPie on Aug 10th 2025
THIS BELL inscribed in English & German with the word – PEACE FRIEDE was presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, by Richard von Weizsacker, President of the Federal Republic of Germany during the Service of Reconciliation on the 50th Anniversary of the bombing of Coventry. November 14th 1990~*
*Quoted from a sign beneath the bell
6 Comments CherryPie on Aug 9th 2025
… to Hodnet Hall Gardens
Mr C took part in a webinar on Sunday morning so I spent my time colouring a page in one of Johanna Basford’s books. I started colouring the picture a couple of weeks ago and was keen to finish it before my colouring ideas faded into memory.
The webinar finished on time which meant that after Mr C’s late lunch we were able to go out for the afternoon as planned. Mr C suggested Hodnet Hall which was a perfect choice, it is local and open till 5pm. On arrival, the teashop was calling and on entering I was tempted to a slice of Elderflower and Gooseberry cake. Alas, Mr C, after his late lunch was in a sharing mood rather than a cake of his own!
Following our refreshments and cake sharing I decided that we should walk to the kitchen garden rather than a lake walk. I thought the garden would be full of flowers at this time of year. I wasn’t disappointed the kitchen garden was spectacular.
PS: I will photograph my colouring creation to share with you soon.
9 Comments CherryPie on Aug 3rd 2025
This sculpture by Clarke Fitzgerald was given to the Cathedral by Christ Church, Cincinnati, USA in 1971.
A plumb-line is used to determine whether or not a building is standing straight. This sculpture is based on a passage from the Bible, Amos 7.7-9, where God sets out his intention to assess whether or not his people are aligned with him. Amos is warned that, if necessary, God will take action to put things right…
This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb-line.’ Then the Lord said, ‘See, I am setting a plumb-line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.’*
*Quoted from a signboard next to the sculpture
2 Comments CherryPie on Aug 2nd 2025
This Chapel has as its focus a replica of an extraordinary piece of art – the Stalingrad Madonna.
The curved figure of the Virgin Mary enfolds her baby in her hood, her eyes closed. The words around her translate as ‘1942 Christmas in the cauldron…Light, Life, Love’.
It was drawn at a time of terrible suffering, but the mother keeps her baby safe, a symbol of light, life and love.*
*Info from a signboard next to the chapel
4 Comments CherryPie on Jul 30th 2025
… and ready to go.
Recently our outside security light stopped working. We got it checked by an electrician who told us that the light fitting was broken and needed to be replaced. Locally you can have any colour light you like as long as it is black. Our Sunday mission was to go a little further afield to a countryside shop that we thought might stock a white outdoor light.
In the morning before setting off on our mission we visited mum who completely blanked me, turning away from me and pulling her hand away, so I gave her a quick hug and left. Sadly on this occasion she knew what she was doing.
This meant that we had lunch in Mere Park earlier than we had expected which was not a bad thing as the service is always rather slow. The food however is always delicious and on this occasion I chose poached salmon and pasta salad. Arriving early also meant more time for browsing the store. We ended up leaving with some new cushions for our outdoor chairs; our current ones are showing their age and the seat pads have become uncomfortable. I also couldn’t resist buying another colouring book as if I didn’t have enough already.
When we visited the outdoor countryside shop that I had in mind I realised that I had muddled it up with another shop. Mr C came to the conclusion that shop I had been thinking of was Charlie’s in Shrewsbury. Mr C was right and so was I with regards to the lights; they had several lights in white to choose from. We left with our purchase and arrived home just in time for pre dinner drinks with the elder Mr & Mrs C.
Later at home we enjoyed Normandy Pork which had been cooking to perfection in the slow cooker whilst we had been out on our adventures.
6 Comments CherryPie on Jul 28th 2025

















































