St Mary's Church, Gosbeck

This small 14th Century  church is a mile from the actual village of Gosbeck on a back road into Ipswich. I've been past the church many times but never turned off to the village itself. The church has it's own small car park and meadow.

The Gardemau Charities are historic trusts founded in the 18th century by the Reverend Baltazar Gardemau, a former vicar of Coddenham, and his wife.

The outside probably hasn't changed much since the C14. While inside was restored by the Victorians as usual.

When you step into the church via the south door in the tower, you step into a part of the church sectioned off by wooden and glass screens and curtains. It's quite unusual.

The font is in the screened off part. Not sure why it looks askew as I'm sure it wasn't. The design is typical.

Looking through the nave to the altar.

Below is the view from the alter back through the nave showing the screened entrance room. I think this is used as a vestry and baptistry because the church doesn't have one anywhere else. 

The most colourful thing in the church is this reredos behind the altar. (apologies this is an awful photo)

The crucifixion in the centre, with  the raising of Lazarus on one side and the raising of Jairus's daughter on the other.

A panel from the old rood screen is fixed to the wall

The stained glass dates from the late Victorian restoration

Better photos and more information on Simon Knotts Suffolk Churches website.

Nothing much to write about at the moment so I'll be back in a few days

Going Nowhere

 I'm having problems with one of my car tyres, it keeps losing pressure. I seemed to be pumping up with my hand held compressor far too often. So the car will be taken to my friends at the repair place on Wednesday to see if they can find a very slow puncture or valve leak and as there was plenty to do at home I decided not to risk the extra miles by going to car boot sales and jumble sale.

I started in the garden with filling the garden waste bin ready for it being emptied today. Cutting the grass and things in the greenhouse are finishing plus I cleared some of the flag iris that have spread like mad under the Magnolia.

I'd been leaving the bin empty as I thought BiL was going to come and cut the horrible Yew hedge but he'd not realised how many weeks had gone since I asked him. He was away at Stock Car racing for 5 days but hopefully he'll get here when he comes back.

Then I had 'fun' with paperwork as I was looking for something and had to wade through a pile of this years gumpf  - so lots of shredding done and sorting of things into different folders. Information to keep longer and things that can go into the recycling bin. It's a job I really dislike and it usually gets left until year end - or January. But getting rid of some now will make the January 2027 sort out so much easier. The instructions leaflet for our new recycling bins says you can now put paper shreds in the card/paper bin but only if its 'wrapped in paper'. What a messy business that was - bits everywhere.

A bit of stitching 

and reading

 were done too and I watched the Strictly Launch Show, which was what they called the first of the 2026 season. It was OK except for Josh Widdicombe who I do like as a comedian but his awful laugh kept intruding. Hopefully someone will have mentioned it to him and  it will be less annoying next week when the live programmes begin or maybe it's just me being picky.

Saturday 19th

Forgot this photo was on the phone - only 19 days late!

On Monday when  the post about Being Prepared was published I cooked up some beetroot that I'd collected from BiL's garden but a few hours later when I put the hob (electric induction) on for my meal it flashed up an error sign. I thought I was going to have to get the picnic stove in from the garage - even without power cut and apocalypse situation!

The hob instructions, once I'd found them, suggested turning the hob off and on - but the switch is behind drawers under the hob which involved a torch and a broom handle to reach it. Thankfully it worked and I was able to cook my meal. Which proves having a torch handy and gas picnic stove available might be a Good Idea in more than just a weather, cyber attack or zombie apocalypse crisis! 

BTW,  I'm still waiting for a commenter to explain why Monday's post was irresponsible advice!

AND can't imagine why a blogger thinks it's OK to copy a comment off my blog and dismiss it with hilarity on hers - bit rude I thought, then someone told me I was rude for saying it was rude to pinch a comment without attributing it! All jolly good fun!.

Anyway, on the sensible, non stirring-up-mischief side of life, what else has happened this week...... I've been doing some cross stitch, starting the Christmas tree decorations I mentioned and had a good week on the NYT wordle website as I got a 20 badge for getting the Spangram first on Strands and got wordle in two tries on Thursday. Didn't manage a Connections puzzle all week - hardly ever get a win on that game. And of course I got started on one of the library books.

Strictly Come Dancing starts tonight - I've not looked to see who's on it this year and it's all change for presenters so will be interesting to see how that goes. This week I've been watching the updated version of Magnum PI - the thing Tom Selleck did years ago with big moustache and very short shorts. The Chelsea Detective is back for a 4th series on U and Drama and Blue Lights back on the BBC at the end of the month.

I'm hoping to get to a rare Jumble Sale today unless BiL can come to cut the yew hedge, in which case I will be here clearing up all the bits.

Have a good weekend and I'll be back Monday