Post 21 Cathedral and Cousins

During the night I had a bit of a sore throat and feared a cold coming on. By the end of breakfast (with a queue of people waiting to take my table!) I felt OK and, as there were only spots of rain, set off for the Cathedral. It was windy.
I can see the bell tower from my hotel.






It's a tantalising approach, around corners, up the hill then through the arches that connect to a college.

The Eastern entrance is attractive - carved sandstone, but closed to entry.

































Entering from the North, it is warm and welcoming.



Lovely vaulted stone ceilings, a desk and a shop, both staffed by friendly, helpful volunteers.


The first church here dates from at least the 11th Century but Augustine of Canterbury convened a meeting of bishops in this part of the country after his arrival in 597AD. It is likely there were churches established by St Columba before that.  The basis of the current church was laid by Henry VIII. There has been much renovation, restoration and adaptation - as one would expect.
Not far from a memorial to a woman of good works, I found an embroidered altar frontal behind glass (and behind the Mothers' Union noticeboard). It wasn't easy to photograph, but I thought it of sufficient interest to do my best.

































I also rather liked this pulpit - with feet like some giant animal!





The Eastern end of the church (where the outside doors are now blocked off) which was once the High Altar, has been converted into a Lady Chapel and the main nave shortened.

This conscientious parishioner has his work cut out for him!


I also liked the little chamber organ, hidden away in the Lady Chapel

There are some lovely bosses that were too difficult to photograph, and some really interesting stained glass windows installed after WWII depicting service men and women.



The vaulting, however, was my favourite.


Towards the end of his life, Bristol was the only city that attracted Jim to visit England. We had begun to plan a trip, but it was not to be.


Instead I am lighting candles. Sad and important to see the light burning. He would have liked the prayer that was resting with the candles.





Outside was sad evidence of the church as refuge - and the inadequacy of our response to homelessness.




Back down the hill, across the canal, and, in contrast, a view of my hotel. It is not an attractive building, but well located and comfortable. It has hot water!

At about 12.30 I went down to the foyer to wait for Pen and Mark. As I emerged from the lift I could see Pen at reception. As I turned around from hugging her, there was Christopher. Before long Eddie and Christine had turned up and we were sitting around having tea and coffee and taking up our conversations where we had left off. There were no gaps or hesitation. We walked down the road to the table Pen had booked at the Graze Bar and Chophouse.  At times I am on the edge of the conversation - these three are, after all, siblings. But I am not far on the edge. We are entirely at ease with one another and within three hours we are mostly caught up.

Eddie and Christine have gone back to Cheltenham. Christopher, Mark and Pen are currently at a pub watching the Rugby. We will catch up again later this evening for a drink but it won't be a late night.

I have been working on the last bit of Jenny's Hill Top project. Yes, I decided to have a go at the tripod (which is really a quadpod!). I began last night and had quite a bit of trouble with wrapping the rods (yes, the easy bit!). There was nothing to hold the wrapping in place. My knots did not hold it to the rod. I eventually got there with a lot of adjustment. In the process, my structure ended up decidedly wonky. I think it has been as windy in my Hill Top garden as it has been here in Bristol, and the supports have developed a lean. Very rustic.







The ribbon stitch, which is new to me and I was cautious about, turned out to be good fun.

I have now finished this piece - except for mounting it when I get the box.


Tomorrow we head to North Devon. When I get there I shall take up Nicola's Herdwick again.

Post 20: First day in Bristol

As I was having breakfast this morning a school excursion was assembling outside the hotel. It was a contrast with excursions in Adelaide.. The students all had coats and hoods, but were seemingly undeterred by the misty rain. I guess they would never go anywhere if they let it stop them.

At about 10.30 I set off for the Museum and Art Gallery in a taxi. The driver wanted to know if it was the one in Clifton - a question I couldn't answer.  As it happens, it was.

The Museum is a fine building. In the foyer is  a reproduction Bristol Boxkite, which featured in the film ‘Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines’. It's almost a perfect place to display it. It hangs free above you from ground but from the balcony on the first floor you can look straight at it.

I made my way straight to the African Textiles Exhibition. It is in a relatively small gallery space, but beautifully displayed.  It is a treasure trove.

There are commemorative banners, like this one from Gambia, or the left one, made in Malawi in the 70s-80s celebrating President Banda.




The exhibition combines some old historic pieces in the museum collection with contemporary designer pieces.

Not all of it is stitched. This old piece is both stitched and fringed with what amounts to hand made tassels.

Kuba cloth from Ghana.

This remarkable masquerade costume was  used by the Igbo people and worn by young men representing the spirits of young women that had died. 



It is mostly appliqued

This  embroidered tunic was made by the Bamendar Tikar people of Cameroon between 1960 and 1980.



























These contemporary designer dresses are often used for weddings or special occasions.

























as, presumably, was this boy's lurex tunic, embroidered in the front.


And there are piles of wax print fabric

The black and bone tunic is part of a corduroy trouser set and the kaftan-like garment is embroidered down the front.



It was a wonderful treasure house. It is of special interest as the World Embroidery Group of the Embroiderers; Guild of SA is studying African embroidery this year. There was, unfortunately, no printed publication from the Exhibition but the shop was selling John Gillow's African Textiles : Colour and Creativity Across a Continent.



I did not want to loose the high I had from the African textiles, but I did walk through the Sea Dragons Exhibition, to gaze at the fossils and models of giant extinct sea creatures -Ichthyosaurs and Plesiosaurs.

The Museum was full of people - any number of school groups. Like the group outside my hotel this morning, they arrived togged up in coats and hats, but the Museum provides teachers with racks on which the class can hang their outer gear to emerge in uniform!

On the way back to the hotel I passed this interesting piece of art.










I spent much of the afternoon stitching the delphinium on Hill Top. I could not find the remains of the metal purl so improvised with the remainder of the guttering gimp! If the purl turns up I can always replace.

My room has a comfortable embroidering chair that I can move close to a good desk lamp. Late in the afternoon I went to the bar, and sat under the skylight. A youngish man at the bar came over as I was packing up and asked to see what I was doing. His daughter, Arabella, has just bought a sewing machine and he is trying to interest her in textiles and sewing. I suggested she look up Jenny's website!

As I write this, the cathedral bells are ringing a peal.
I am pleased with my day. I needed some stitching time this afternoon after being on the move yesterday. I now have only the tripod and new shoots to go. Not sure yet if I will tackle that tonight.

Tomorrow I hope to walk to the Cathedral before meeting cousins for lunch.

I