Mute Swans

Don't ask me why, but I've been watching the very cringingly cosy and unrealistic crime series 'The Marlow Murder Club' on the 4 Catch up channel or maybe on the U channel- can't remember which. In one programme they  mentioned Swan Upping on the Thames which reminded me I had this cutting from last years folklore diary.

The nearest swans to visit from home are at Needham Lake - next to the car-boot sale field, so I went to take a photo- as you do when you have a blog and posts to fill!!

There is a really good page about Swan Upping HERE. It looks like a very colourful occasion.

A toast to Queen Elizabeth II

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Books For The Country Gardener

This is another page from the book that I had for Christmas - The Country Commonplace Book by Miranda Mills.

No idea of the criteria for the authors choices for these book lists but "The Potting Shed Murder" was rubbish! I only got a few pages in before giving up on it and it went back to the library straight away.

I've reserved the first on her list - Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim - from the library, it will be here next visit.  Morville Hours is one of those books that was everywhere when it was published but I've not read it or any of the others.

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The Church of St Mary, Framsden

A path from the village street crosses a bridge and then through this lych gate with lots of texts and carvings.

Unusually, the outside of the church is plastered and painted white on this side

In through the porch

Into the light church that has a South aisle. The nave isn't used for services, there is a huge curtain in the chancel arch and just the chancel is heated to use for the congregation.

It looks as if this old stove is sometimes used in the chancel to keep everyone warm but there were electric heaters too.

The old coffin bier and extra chairs stored in the south aisle

Like nearby Helmingham church there are many painted texts.

Very little stained glass, just  the red borders to some windows and a few pieces of older glass mixed in.

The pulpit and stairs to the long gone rood loft

These are what many people visit the church to see, probably damaged on purpose during the reformation

 Much more HERE on Simon Knotts' church site.

Thanks for comments yesterday, I think I'll resell the shelving, it's not going to last long outside with or without drainage and waterproofing.

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