Eternal Refuge

I am still trying to sort out photos, make icons ... and do housework!!

So, my bedroom is cleaned and here are a few pictures from The Royal Albert Museum in Exeter. I went there on my birthday between brunch and getting home. It is a very eclectic mix, and when I first went was slightly confused by that. However I think it means that you tend to look at more things, as you never know what's round the next corner. For example I love giraffs a,d Gerald is one of the 19th century prize exhibits ... but he is standing nxt to a harpsichord. The display in front of him has some ancient lace ... so, eclectic!!




( Stolling round the RAM )


Hope you enjoyed your peep into the local museum.

Work was truly hectic yesterday - no real reason, but at least the time went by rapidly! Off to work again, later. So, before that -




1. The Delphinium or larkspur is a tall plant with pink, blue, purple or white flowers. Shakespeare called it ‘lark’s-heel’. Butterflies love it, but it’s very toxic if eaten by humans/animals. Do you have any poisonous plants you recognise in your garden or nearby?
I always spot the yellow Ragwort, as having spent time around horses for 15 years, it is extremely poisonous to them. They brighten up a motorway, but sadly spread rapidly and a toxin to horses and other animals.



Right, lets get on

One of my favourite locations to visit when in London is that of The Wallace Collection, a combination of Stately Home, museum, art gallery and armoury.

Here's a small taster -




Sir Richard Wallace

( Lets see what there is to see )

One of the reasons I picked this specific trip to Egypt was that one of the visits would be to El Alamein.  This was a major battle during WWII.  My sister-in-law's grandfather was based here, as well, during that time, bringing it to a more personal level.  As it turned out the lady on the tour with me also found it a moving location, as her father was here.


( RIP )

We went to the museum, as well.  Sadly we didn't get very long here (that's the one trouble of being on a busy tour)
( A stroll round the museum )

On our way, again, and we were taken via the railway station, so Kathleen could see where here father had both left the area after battle, but also when he came back for a 20 year reunion ... here she is with our guide for the day -

As part of my trip to Europe we spent a day looking at the little known battle to liberate the Scheldt Estuary in Holland.

Before we went to the location we went to the amazing "For Freedom" Museum , which is a privately owned museum in Belgium. The original owner was a British soldier, who had met and married a local after the war. It is now run by their 2 sons, who give a welcoming speach to those who go. It is a combination of tableaus of the battles of this part of Europe, as well as some recovered remains of the fighting. One of the best museums I have been to.










































Remains of a Boeing B18 - Flying Fortress

Clerk Gable

Focke Wulf

Hurricane N2600 panel

Messerschmitt 208

Well I have some more photos to share.  On the Wednesday we had lunch at Hooge Crater Museum .... it is a great museum with a combination of items gathered from the war, but also models depicting life in the trenches ... both Commonwealth & German.


























Even 100+years on the local farmers still have an "iron harvest", where unexploded bombs are found










Opposite the museum is the cemetery.  One thing really noticeable about this museum are the number of multiple graves, just showing how devastating the fighting was in this area. There was a lot of damage caused by tunnelling, and thus a lot of multiple graves ... as Claire's great-grandfather was killed in such a way I do wonder if he is buried here (his name is on the Menin Gate Memorial.













And, up the road slightly is Hooge Crater Chateau, which is now a hotel, although the grounds are open to the public, showing a bunker as well as remains of some of the local trenches etc

On the first day I was in Belfast I used the "Hop On Hop Off" bus, and got off at The Botanic Gardens ... lovely.  On the edge of the gardens was the Ulster Museum.  I will admit it wasn't a great lay-out (from my point of view) as I seemed to see a few things more than once, and missed other things completely ... oh well, here's a taster -



















17th Century Bronze Temple Bells

Bomb disposal robot - 1972


Champion Irish Wolfhound - Patrick of Ifold, died aged 8 (I had a friend who used to own 2 of them, so it was a nice memory of Seamus & Siannie



Harp, 1785







Wine urn 1790

Shrine of St Patrick's hand, 1185

A flapper dress

Silver & gold plate teapot, 1991

Yes, life got away from me again .... I worked in clinic this morning, which in itself was confusing, as I don't normally do that on a Thursday morning!

Then I met up with my childhood neighbours as they are back in Exeter, as her brother has had a heart attack.  Luckily for him he was in hospital, which saved his life.  He is still finding the amputation hard to com  to terms with ... and has yet to start on his Chemo, so life is tough at present.  Still it was good to atch up with Liz & Steve, as I brought them back to my place to give them a break from the hospital.  They are back to Essex on Saturday, and hope they can spend some time there as Steve's sister-in-law is over from Australia for a few weeks.

Now I want to post a few photos from the Bygones Museum ... Victorian streets, shops, and WWI, WWII memorabilia ....
























WWI






WWII




27 – Refreshment Day: What is your go-to refreshment on hot summer days? Is this something you enjoy year-round, or that you mainly drink in the summer?
HotTea ... and cold water



Right, let's try and catch up x

I didn't take many anyway - but sadlymy camera had been knocked to the wrong centre so they aren't great qualit.

Brenda and I saw these on the way in ...





The girls -





A Chinese Bible, 1888

Gerald (and the piano!)

One of the dogs that travelled on Capt Scott's travels, but not to the South Pole

2000+ years old -

2 goddesses carved on a grain of wheet, 1600

I actually set my alarm to it's normal time as I had arranged to meet Christine in Exeter - so I walked into the city and met her off her bus at the bus station.

We then walked to the cathedral, which was part of her reason for coming in ... it's free for non-residents to visit this week.  So, as ever, I had a great walk round, and saw of the beautiful things that the Cathedral is filled with ... and even saw some things I had never noticed before ... here are a few pictures










A miserichord - carved 100 years before the first elephant arrived in England









On the 2 earl of Devon's grave ... his countess was of Royal blood, thus the swans at her feet


One of the roof bosses





The nativity set will be left out until Candlemass (2/2)


From there we walked to the museum and had a wander round there, as you can see ...






After our sightseeing we caught a bus to the outskirts of the city as friends of hers had suggested we meet up for lunch.  I hadn't met them before but have heard a lot about them ... so a steak dinner (& icecream) later I certainly was pleased we had met up ... especially as they insisted on paying!

Now back hoome and editing the photos, and now waiting for them to upload so I can post them.  While that is happeneing I have a couple of pressies to wrap, and a couple of letters to write so I can post them.

Yes, a year ago my little man "crossed Rainbow Bridge".  In some ways it feels as if it was only a few days ago that I was talking to him face to face ... but today I drove down to visit his grave.  I cleaned it and left a rose bud from Mum's rose bush.  So there is not much else to do, but I could not have missed the trip for anything.







While I was there, I also went to Churchstow Church to clean the war grave that was there, as part of my CWGC voluntary work.  So it was nice to see a bit more of the village where Jiffy is resting.






The grave I had to check on -


Yesterday I had a phone appointment with my Chronic Fatigue specialist.  She was pleased to hear that since our last conversation I had managed to stop the complete "crash" that I used to get a couple of times a week.  She has given me more advice, and some homework to do, and booked another appointment.

After that I walked into the city.  I had bought a pair of shoes (on eBay), and I needed the heals worked on.  Since I had my bike accident back in 1982 I have damage to my pelvis, and wear a heal lift on my left heal ... so it is frustrating that I buy new shoes, and then have to take them straight to a cobbler for some work!  While it was being done I walked around the museum.  I had a couple of photos that I had to take to complete the final prompts over at photo_scavenger ... but there are a few more photos to share with you all, as well.

It is certainly a very eclectic mix ... and sometimes in the same space!






Exeter seal - 1170



Silver Chocolate pot from 1707
I don't know about you, but my hot chocolate comes in a pre-mixed tub, & I just add water!  As I add it in the mug, I don't need the posh jug, but ... it might be worth it!

Redware pottery 4700 years ago
It is amazing that all those years ago, a normal jug could be decorated in such a delicate way, and that they had kept them all in one piece.


And so we are on Saturday afternoon ... so I will close this with tomorrow's (and yesterday, as I missed it) question, before signing off.


22. Have you ever eaten snow?
I have never really been in a place where we have had a lot of snow

23. Curtains or blinds?
Neither, really (well I do have curtains in my lounge)

24. Have you ever adopted a stray (cat or dog)?
No - but if I found one, I would


And, of course as I sign off I do so with an apology for still not catching up with answering your comments, they do mean a lot, honest

Enjoy your weekend - see you Monday x