St Mary's Church, Nettlestead

 Nettlestead is one of those villages that is very small, just scattered houses and farms along small lanes with a population of around 100 and tucked away a few miles south-west of Needham Market. I'd certainly never been there before.

There is a plaque in the church marking the night of 12th August 1940 when the church was seriously damaged as German bombers, returning from bombing raids on the industrial Midlands, unloaded their remaining bombs over the Suffolk countryside

The font is the only thing inside that has survived from the medieval period and has some unusual carvings and many cracks. ( I have no idea what those things are, poking out from behind the font . I didn't notice them when I took the photo)

Very strange animals and creatures on each face of the font

There is no stained glass - it was destroyed by William Dowsing in 1644 on his journeys around the east, ridding churches of anything the Puritans considered too decorative. He wrote a journal of all his journeys around Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. 

When you read of his instructions it's a wonder anything survived in any churches. Often items were plastered over or removed  and hidden before he got to the churches.

In December 1643 the Earl, as their captain-general, appointed him "Commissioner for the destruction of monuments of idolatry and superstition".^[2][6] He was to carry out a Parliamentary Ordinance of 28 August 1643^[7] which stated that "all Monuments of Superstition and Idolatry should be removed and abolished". These were specified as "fixed altars, altar rails, chancel steps, crucifixes, crosses, images and pictures of any one of the persons of the Trinity and of the Virgin Mary, and pictures of saints or superstitious inscriptions." In May 1644 the scope of the ordinance was widened to include representations of angels (a particular obsession of Dowsing's), rood lofts, holy water stoups, and images in stone, wood and glass and on plate.

A 17th century memorial was destroyed by the bombs and just the top half remains and was put on a shelf in the Sanctuary. It remembers Samuel and Thomasina  Sayer 

Brass memorials on the floor have often been removed but there is one remaining here

Horse Chestnut Photos for Mid August

 Still following the Horse Chestnut  (Aesculus hippocastanum) that's at the village hall where we have the Keep Moving Group.

Last month we were "one step below drought" now we are in "official drought conditions" and the 5th recorded heatwave so it's  surprising to see it still green and not too many falling leaves either. The roots must be good even though it's still a youngish tree.

Often by August these patches of the disease are much bigger, turning the leaves very brown. The dry weather must stop the usually quick spread.

Guignardia Leaf Blotch (Guignardia aesculi): A fungus-driven disease.

• Symptoms: Irregular dull brown or reddish blotches, often surrounded by a conspicuous yellow band, typically concentrated at the leaf tips and edges.

The conkers are growing well - again despite the drought and heat. I guess when stressed all plants strive to produce seed to make sure they survive. 

When these trees were first planted in this country they were often used to line the driveways of large country houses.

In 1699 Sir Christopher Wren was responsible for the mile long Chestnut Avenue at Bushey Park ( now a Royal Park) north of Hampton court which was originally intended as a carriage drive for William III. 

Now a special Chestnut Sunday  is held there in May in alternate years.

Oh! There the chestnuts, summer through,

Beside the river make for you

A tunnel of green gloom,

And sleep deeply above

Rupert Brooke (1716 - 83)

All the photos from each month going back to March  ARE HERE if you want to compare.

The Sun, The Running and The Courgettes

Yes, lots of people guessed right yesterday. It's a cane topper.  I would have loved to have bought a dozen but that would have been rather extravagant............... so just one for a memento and I'll carry on using flower pots on the top of all the other canes.

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There's a partial eclipse of the sun this evening - I no longer have Col's welding mask that we would have used in the almost total eclipse of 1999 except that the cloud over the coast meant we didn't see it properly. It was in the summer holidays so YD was at home and we went outside as the day went grey and felt very weird. I think there have been other partial eclipses since then - can't remember them though. I know I won't be around to see the next total eclipse as it's in 2090!

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What about the guys in the European Championships 100 metres last night -  Gold and Silver medals - how good is that. I've been enjoying watching morning and evening sessions on the BBC (unlike the Commonwealth Games a couple of weeks ago which were only on paid-for TV channels except for an hour each evening)

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As usual at this time of year I've been eating courgettes, as many as I can, every other day - there are so many it's like free food.

No apologies for repeating three of the recipes I use. I think I include them every year.

COURGETTE FRITTERS

For one person I use 1 courgette, grated. Mixed with  a tablespoon of flour, a small egg, small pinch salt and good amount of black pepper and half a teaspoon of curry powder (or not)

Drop spoons full into hot oil in frying pan and press down, turn over when browned and press down again. Drain on kitchen paper. For a different version of most fritter type recipes some grated cheese can be added but I don't and serve up mine with a couple of rashers of bacon and some tomato ketchup.

CRUMBLE TOPPED COURGETTES

COURGETTE and PESTO PASTA SAUCE

Start cooking pasta then heat a little oil in a pan on low heat then add grated courgette, cook until soft. Stir in a spoonful of pesto and then the cooked drained pasta and serve up with grated cheddar and parmesan. (I just use cheddar)

And Finally..................

A while ago Steve at Shadows and Light Blog was mentioning itchy arms after working in the garden. Courgettes leaves are one of those things that really irritate my skin along with the leaves of  beans, cucumber, goosegrass and many other things. I have to hurry in and wash arms quickly.