Photos - just for the fun of it . . .

Life's been a bit hectic lately and no time to think about blogging but this evening I grabbed a few minutes to have a look at the garden close up and take a few photos. Mainly for the family and people who like photos of flowers.

Please feel free to click away at this point if you fit into neither of the categories above . . .

OK then, for anybody who might be left, here goes . . .

An exuberant camellia.

A hydrangea in hiding . . .

. . . and delightful dahlias.

I think this combination of fuchsias and lavender really works well.

Lovely old-fashioned roses.

And some not quite so old-fashioned.

I was pleased with this shot. Not bad considering it was taken with a basic 'point and shoot' camera, and through a window.

Oh, yes, and we had a lovely Corpus Christi procession on Sunday too!

The Invisible Woman . . .

Just received another great video link from Sr Anastasia. I'm sure many of us can identify with a lot of this! Great sentiment.

A reminder to us when we're wondering why we're rushing around like maniacs trying to do look after the family, home and often a job too; and feeling perhaps a little under-appreciated . . .

He notices!

Anticipating Pentecost . . .

One of the benefits (of course they are many and immeasurable) I've noticed from being in the fortunate position of being able to attend daily Mass is that I'm much more aware of the passage of the liturgical year.

It's gradually dawned on me this week, for example, how many references there are during the Mass to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the solemnity which of course we celebrate on Sunday. It's apparent, not just in the readings but also in the prayers, and in a similar way, in the Divine Office.

" This is the word of Jesus: it is best for me to leave you; because if I do not go,

the Spirit will not come to you, alleluia." (Today's Communion Antiphon)

I know it must be obvious to most people, but it makes sense!

In the past, for me, it was a case of attending Mass on Sunday for the Feast of the Ascension (although of course, it was on Thursday in the past!) and then, 'bingo', turn up for Mass again the following Sunday and we're suddenly celebrating the Feast of Pentecost and the descent of the Holy Spirit and, it could be said, the birth of the Church.

Of course you can always pray at home and read the readings of the day but I think it is much more obvious when you are actually present at Mass.

Lord God,

let your Spirit come upon us in power

and fill us with his gifts,

to render our minds pleasing to you,

and make us docile to your will.

(We make our prayer) through our Lord.

(Concluding Prayer from today's Morning Prayer)

Soft, refreshing rain . . .

Isn't it wonderful how a little bit of rain can make such a difference in the garden? All of a sudden the flowers in our back garden look a whole lot perkier. Refreshment from above; so much better than from a watering can.

Lovely blowzy pansies . . . and their more delicate cousins, the viola

The clematis has suddenly started to lift it's head again . . .

. . . and even the bees are buzzing with renewed energy.

Damme - bicycles, canals and a windmill; typical Flanders . . .

Give me a lovely day out over a longer holiday any day! I love having a day out. It doesn't much matter where but yesterday was one of the extra special kind as we went to meet friends and family for lunch in Damme which is not far from Brugges/Bruges in Belgium.

We didn't plan for our visit to coincide with Ascension Day (naturally, they keep it on the proper day!) but it worked out that way so we decided to avoid the crowds in Brugges and went to the nearby small town of Damme. It's a beautiful small town built around two canals.

Being a public holiday the town was full of people relaxing and enjoying their day of leisure, and . . . more bicycles than you could imagine.

We had a delicious lunch in a restaurant called De Spieghel. Named after the fictitious prankster Till Euelenspiegel (German spelling). Roughly translated this means owlglass. You may be familiar with the orchestral work by Richard Strauss based on this story.

There is an amusing statue of Till Eulenspiegel complete with mirrors and some animal friends looking over the canal in Damme.

And the beautiful church of Our Lady.

If you're looking for a slightly different day out for a treat, I'd recommend a visit. We went with the car via Eurotunnel and it's just about an hour and a quarter's drive from the terminal to Brugges and nearby Damme. If, like us, you live in the south of England, it's a very easy journey.

No, I'm not working for the Damme tourist board but I like to share good things!

Another Spring jaunt . . .

Normally on Bank Holidays, I prefer to stay at home having a lazy day and catching up on some of the household chores. I'm not keen on crowds and past experience has shown that usually not just the roads but anywhere of interest is busy, busy, busy on Bank Holiday Monday, especially if the sun is shining.

Nevertheless, it seemed such a shame to waste the sunshine on Monday so we set off for a little jaunt to Clandon Park. It's not that far away from us, traffic was fine and, although the car park was filling up, we arrived in time to find a spot easily.

The house, now owned by the National Trust, is well worth a visit and we were impressed to see how well-preserved everything looked.

Two things make this property a little different from other English country houses.

Firstly, the Maori meeting house, brought over from New Zealand in 1982 by the fourth Earl of Onslow who was a Governor of New Zealand at the time, and which now looks splendid in its new location in the gardens behind the house.

And, secondly, the West Clandon parish church of St Peter and St Paul. This lovely old church which stands at the boundary of the property has many interesting memorials. It is obviously well-cared for by the parish.

I enjoy wandering round old churches and there is something special about a church as old as this (late 12th/early 13th Century) which is obviously still in regular use. You can imagine the generations of people who have worshipped in this spot. If those stones walls could only talk what tales they could tell!