Cherie's Place

Filed under Anecdotes, Out & About, This & That

All Signed Up

One of my aspirations after I took early retirement was to become a volunteer in the Visitor Reception Area at Attingham Park. I regularly checked volunteer opportunities at Attingham but the result was always ‘no volunteering opportunities currently available’.

Then we had Covid-19 interrupting normality leading me to stop checking for volunteering opportunities.

In early January this year it was a pleasant surprise to see a Facebook post from Attingham Park seeking for volunteers. I signed up immediately and was given the opportunity for a taster session which was today. I am now signed up to volunteer and my first day is coming soon.

I am a little bit excited

After the volunteer taster session there was time for me to explore the snowdrop walk and the walled garden. I enjoyed my walk; the snowdrops are stunning. The light level was low so my photos do not do justice to the spectacle.

Tags: Attingham Park, National Trust, Shropshire, Snowdrops, Volunteering

20 Comments CherryPie on Feb 9th 2024

Filed under Books

The Prince Rupert Hotel For the Homeless…

… A True Story of Love and Compassion Amid a Pandemic

Synopsis (from book cover):

When Covid-19 hit the UK and lockdown was declared, Mike Matthews wondered how his historic four-star hotel would survive. Then Shrewsbury Council called. The British government had launched a programme called ‘Everyone In’ and 33 rough sleepers needed beds. The Prince Rupert would end up taking in more than 100 homeless people for over a year – many of whom had spent decades on the streets.

This is the astonishing account of how the hotel owner, manager and accountant and their unlikely new guests spent months locked in together and wound up transforming each other’s lives.

Review:

As we get to know the homeless people who were temporary guests at the Prince Rupert Hotel, I found the book is heartwarming, uplifting and sad in equal measures

Many of the homeless were traumatised, addicts or suffered with mental illness. We learn of their struggles and how some were able to lift themselves up to a better life whilst others were unable to break from their addictions.

The compassion, and sometimes frustration of the three hosts to the homeless shines through as does the generosity of the local people and businesses.

I thoroughly recommend this book, it gives an insight to how these ‘rough sleepers’ ended up sleeping on the streets and why some of them even when given opportunities are unable (or choose not to) to change their situation.

Tags: #2, 2024 Books, Book Review, Books, Covid-19, Homeless, Pandemic, Rough Sleepers, Shrewsbury, The Prince Rupert Hotel

6 Comments CherryPie on Feb 7th 2024

Filed under Faith Foundations, Heritage, Out & About

All Saints Evesham

All Saints is the parish church of Evesham and, together with its bell tower and St Lawrence church, represent the last complete structures from the foundation of Evesham Abbey. Evesham Abbey was founded on the site of a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the swineherd Eof, subsequently endorsed by Egwin, the third Bishop of Worcester (639 – 717). The Abbey was founded circa 709 and dissolved by Henry VIII in 1540. *

The two churches of All Saints and St Lawrence share the same churchyard. Both were founded in the late 12^th century as parish churches for the growing medieval town. When they were built these two churches stood in the shadow of the Abbey Church of St Mary and St Egwin (comparable in size with Gloucester Cathedral). **

*Information from a signboard next to All Saints church

**Information from A guide to the Parish Church of All Saints Evesham (Stan Brotherton)

Tags: Abbey Bell Tower, All Saints Church, Bell Tower, Church of St Lawrence, Evesham, Worcestershire

6 Comments CherryPie on Feb 6th 2024

Filed under Anecdotes, Out & About

An Afternoon in Evesham

There was a particular shop (Magpie) that Mr C wanted to visit in Evesham so on Saturday we took a trip there stopping for lunch at Ellenden Farm shop cafe. Local produce is used throughout the menu and I decided to have a hot cross bun which arrived warm and toasty.

When we arrived in Evesham Mr C was a man on a mission whilst I was in photography mode. Eventually I caught up with him at ‘Magpie’ where we (especially Mr C) spent some time perusing what was on offer.

Next, we visited Abbey Gardens where All Saint’s church, St Lawrence church and the Abbey Bell Tower are situated. St Lawrence church is only open in the morning but we were able to visit the delightful Parish church. After I left the church, I lingered to take some photos in the church precinct and then walked through the bell tower arch to explore the scant remains of the former Abbey.

Mr C had been heading in the opposite direction but caught up with me as I was about to return through the archway. At the same time a man stopped to talk to me, pointing out a Peregrine falcon on top of the tower. He called to her so she turned to face us for a photoshoot, although my photo doesn’t do her justice. She then gracefully flew off round the tower giving us a fine display of her wings.

My new found friend also shared the less welcome news that some of the male falcons were being shot at and killed by ‘perhaps’ catapults…

We didn’t have enough time left to visit the Almonry Museum, the building itself also being part of the original Abbey complex. However, we had just enough time to stop for afternoon tea in the Old School Café where dogs are welcome and children merely tolerated. The shared chocolate chip flapjack was delicious.

Evesham we will be back!

Tags: Abbey Bell Tower, Abbey Gardens, All Saints Church, Almonry Museum, Bell Tower, Ellenden Farm Shop cafe, Evesham, Magpie Antiques, Old School Cafe, Peregrine falcon, St Lawrence Church, The Extra Mile, There's Always One

6 Comments CherryPie on Feb 5th 2024

Filed under Gloucester 2023, Heritage, Holidays

Cherie’s Place – Thought for the Week

And if there is not any such thing as a long time, nor the rest of your lives, nor from now on, but there is only now, why then now is the thing to praise and I am very happy with it.

Ernest Hemingway

Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, Gloucester, Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucestershire, Stained Glass Windows, Vacation

6 Comments CherryPie on Feb 4th 2024

Filed under Faith Foundations, Out & About

Coming Soon…

… My adventure in Evesham and the site of Evesham Abbey which for now is a work in progress

Tags: Contemplation, Evesham, Evesham Abbey, Monks, Worcestershire

8 Comments CherryPie on Feb 3rd 2024

Filed under Art, Out & About

Visualisation of the 2020 Pandemic

Artist, Bruce Sherratt depicts the Covid-19 Pandemic in what he refers to as ‘Tropical Surrealism’.

PANDEMIC 202 is Bruce’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, expressed through his engagement with the emotions raised by the crisis. The colourful kaleidoscopic palette used in the painting suggests a dream-like, hallucinogenic narrative that combines with symbolic, mythological and surrealistic forms to intrigue and unsettle the viewer in equal measure. *