There and Back

Norwich is the administrative center of Norfolk and a lovely city to visit. It is steeped in history and has many fine buildings, including two Cathedrals and a Castle keep. To quote Wikipedia: Norwich is a cathedral city in Norfolk, England. Situated on the River Wensum in East Anglia, it lies approximately 100 miles (161 km) north-east of London. It is the county town of Norfolk and is considered the capital of East Anglia, with a population of 141,300. From the Middle Ages until the Industrial Revolution, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important.  The city is the most complete medieval city in the UK, including cobbled streets such as Elm Hill, Timber Hill and Tombland, ancient buildings such as St Andrew's Hall, half-timbered houses such as Dragon Hall, The Guildhall and Strangers' Hall, the Art Nouveau of the 1899 Royal Arcade, many medieval lanes and the winding River Wensum that flows through the city centre towards Norwi...

This year marks 100 years from the end of the horrors of the First World War. No, we don't learn do we, because we went to war again 20 years later! Commemorations were being marked in numerous countries, and the UK in particular marked the occasion in many, and varied ways. Being a small community, our commemorations centered around the local church, and the huge efforts of the volunteers gave us a memorable, and frankly outstanding display. From the display on the railings outside .... ...to the entrance door ..... .... and then as you entered and looked toward the East end Walking down the aisle, the effect of the Altar Poppy curtain increases. Until the full effect is apparent when you stand in front of the altar. Even better with the soldier standing beside it. The cascade from the pulpit The pews were adorned with more hand knitted poppies - A good touch I thought. And last, but not least, the Font. A...

The displays around the district were also a poignant reminder of the suffering and loss of life in the Great War - still remembered 100 years on. They ranged from the simplistic but effective display in Raydon, to the huge 21000+ poppy display in Sudbury. The beautiful, simple display of Raydon Church.  The amazing cascade in Sudbury. A cascade of more than 21,000 knitted and crocheted poppies covering the local church, many of which were donated from all over the world.  While I was dodging traffic to get my photograph , this rainbow appeared behind the church.  I wonder what he would have made of it all?  This display in the Castle Park, Colchester, features willow sculptures and a floral World War One tank, and incorporates over 11,000 plants. It is the town`s commemoration of the centenary of the end of World War One, as well as remembering the town’s important role during the conflict, when up to 20,000 soldiers wer...

Thursday started as an easy morning looking, and finding, a local Geocache with Izobelle and Rosey. Afterwards we went for coffee and cake to the Duchy Coffee shop near by. It had looked very tempting from the outside and we were not disappointed. Coffee and cake digested, on the way back I took a picture of St Bartholomew Church near the house. The present church at Lostwithiel was mainly built around 1300, though first mentioned in about 1220. Before this, Lostwithiel inhabitants had to climb the steep hill to Lanlivery or go down river to St Winnow to worship. Built in the Early English (or first Gothic) style when the town was a prosperous river port, Lostwithiel church stood at the top of a medieval triangular marketplace. The Duchy Palace and river crossing were at the lower end of this space.  Most Cornish churches were enlarged in the late medieval and Tudor period when the tin industry started to generate wealth, but not Lostwithiel. A new churchyard cr...