Eternal Refuge

Well Winchester has been around for a very long time, with pre-historic forts in the area and was the centre of Anglo-Saxon England in the seventh & eigth centuries ... in other words, it was where the court was based. The city became known as Wintanceaster ("Fort Venta", as Venta was the pre-Roman name) in Old English In 648, King Cenwalh of Wessex erected the Church of St Peter and St Paul, originately called the Old Minster, but becoming the Cathedral in 666AD. The present form of the city dates from reconstruction in the late 9th century, when King Alfred the Great obliterated the Roman street plan in favour of a new grid in order to provide better defence against the Vikings. The city's first mint appears to date from this period.



King Alfred



One of the many decorated hares showing their history

A very odd statue ... not labelled, but in the middle of the high street





Entrance to Winchester College

On Cathedral Green


Winchester Castle was built in 1067, and the Great Hal (below) was built in 1222. The Round Table is 13th century, but re-painted early in the reign of King Henry VIII









Winchester Cathedral still to come ... but probably won't be until the weekend now.

Isn't it?

This morning I walked out my front door to put some things in the bin, and noticed the bush as I walked past.  And. it actually occured to me that if I got the camera then I really could get a half-decent photo ...


If I had left it any longer, with the breeze we had the flower would have been dry again.  A nice image, but not quite as stunning as I actually managed to capture.

So, go me!!!

I did my walk to the shop, and bought some bits & pieces, and once home did a bit of housework, lunch, another small walk ... and here we are.

I shall do some icons (if my brain feels OK), and then try to sort out some further details of my upcoming trip to The Lake District.  Yes, it's a Christian Convention that I am going to, and will admit I am (pleasantly) suprised that it is still going ahead.  I have to take a day out, and am only going to the morning sessions ... so will be doing some sight-seeing while there.  This convention has been running for years, and was a trip that Dad used to do pre-marriage.  Mum went on the one year that they had met, and it was a "decide whether they were going to work things out, or not" sort of holiday ... and yes, they stayed in different hotels!!  They went back about 25 years ago with friends, and I always said I would go.  I had planned to do so last year, but Covid had other plans!

So that's my plan for today ... tomorrow is Church, of course ... and then England is in the EUROs final ... so plenty of things to do ... but as ever -


10. Did your parents live in a different country before you were born?
No, although they movced to a different one when I was 3 months old!  (and back again when I was almost 6)

11. What's something you've experienced that very few others have?
Does going to a dog's funeral count ... as most people don't have a proper service for their pet.  Although there was only myself, and the "undertaker", Jiffy had a proper funeral, including a Bible reading & a small eulogy.
I have done cross-country eventing on a horse ... at a low grade, but the rules still counted.


Hope you all have a good weeked ... and "Good Luck England"  (sorry for any Italians out there!

Wow, I am being busy this week on LJ ... I shall try and keep this going, even if not as much junk as these memes. Anyway, this one I snagged from curiouswombat and kazzy_cee .... it is a British Meme .... lets see if I can now confuse the rest of you!



1. Marmite- love or hate?
Yum!

2. Marmalade- thick cut or thin cut?
Thin cut please.

3. Porridge- made with milk or water?
Milk.

4. Do you like salt, sugar or honey on your porridge?
Demarra sugar.

( And therer are more English questions here )

Great to do a meme that I understood immediately!

And for those who want to read a bit more, just have a look at this website

I have had a pretty good week - busy at work, but have made a determined effort to do "something" each day ... whether it is to write owing letters, or go shopping.  Procrastination and I are great friends!  As I have just said ina  recent icon post, even my artwork gets delayed.  I want to get back to some writing, as well as still wanting to decorate my bedroom in the next few weeks ... so have made a good effort this week.

I have had a shift each day and have worked on a variety of wards, so that I suppose, has made things interesting and kept me focussed.

But, yes, a good week.

And, as part of my focus I even said I would "meme" ... I still have the 5 character meme to finish but am finding my letter hard.  So curiouswombat I haven't forgotten.

Until then I have items to talk about that lupina78 has listed -

Great Britain
Family
Favourite Fandom
Music
Four-legged friends
James Marsters (you didn´t think I´d leave him out of this, did you? *gg*)
Books


( So, if you want to read ramble, click here )

I am slowly trying to catch up with memes - and although I still owe a couple, I thought I would do at least one of the two more recent ones.

slaymesoftly  gave me 5 words that she associates with me -
music
horses
English countryside
Spike/James
Angel

( So ... what do I think about them? )

Wow, that was a long ramble - extra hugs to any who read it all!

Took Jiffy for his walk - saw a great English Autumn sight.  Acorns

I saw this meme on luckster25 and kudagirl so had to play. A couple of the answers were not easy on a straight yes/no ... but here it is -


BRITISH
[x] You drink a lot of tea.
[x] You know what a brolly is.
[ ] Deal or No Deal has taken over your life.
[ ] You wanted Ben to win X Factor.
[ ] You use the word "bugger" or the phrase "bloody hell."
[x] Fish and chips are yummy.
[x] You can eat a Full English Breakfast.
[x]You dislike Emos almost as much as you dislike Chavs.
[x] It's football.... Not soccer
Total = 6 (I don't swear otherwise B***** H*** would probably score, as well!


( And now for the rest of the world .....  )

Yes, I ended up British (just) ... but the other 2 countries that were close are both ones I've never been to!

I saw this meme on the odd chances I got to sneak onto dad's pc over the weekend - so thought I would give it a go.

Age: 48
Where you grew up: Essesx/East London ... but my mum came from Northamptonshire, so some words are from her!


1. A body of water, smaller than a river, contained within relatively narrow banks: Stream

2. What the thing you push around the grocery store is called:  Trolley 

3. A metal container to carry a meal in: Our lunch boxes are plastic ... I would say the metal ones were cake tine, or biscuit barrels. 

( Read more... )