Sunday's rambling

This morning I picked  dark red nasturtiums and the pale pink perennial sweet pea to go into the small narrow necked copper vase.  I am trying to let my mind free roam, disappointed in the new to be archbishop of York, - Steven  Cottrell he sounded such a dull creature, quacking on about his books, and consider he is the second most important bishop in England, had very little to say on the poverty up North. He is a southerner by the way!  The figure for the Church of England assets  is 6.7 billion pounds, as the churches close it would be rather good to see those assets out in the wider world of their flock.  On another note, it seems that Jehovah Witnesses are rationalising their properties under one heading, scared of court and the sexual abuse cases coming up?

 Tuesday it will be my son's birthday, he seems settled in his world, I doubt he will ever marry but still he is content enough.  Here is a photo of him and Ephraim at the Red Lion at Avebury.  We are having lunch, it must be a summer megalithic meeting.  Free, easy days when you lunched at the nearest pub, there are many photos of family at local pubs.  Now we are constrained by rules and regulations, lines across the floor, it will change.

Red Lion Avebury

Hare and Hound Chelmer Village

Cats Pub in Woodham Walter, Essex

Now I live next door to a pub, the village hub, a place where the local farmers come to play darts and quaff beer, occasionally you will find yourself sitting next to guns, sure that it is illegal, but they have been out shooting pheasant.  Harriet has erected a large white marquee outside, and carefully marked the two metre limits as well.  I like our pub, it is informal, serves very large meals but is the general meeting place for events in the village.  In fact, as everyone kept reminding us, before this cottage was built on the small field adjacent to the pub, this is where the village barbecue was held.

The other pub which we used to visit, was The Plough at Wombleton, yes such a place exists, but the new owners rather spoiled the ambience of the place.  Pubs get bought up by newly retired people who think it will be fun, but they are incomers and have no general knowledge of the locals and of course one thing you don't find in pubs these days is the groups of males that you see in every film of 'olde England',  wives and children are part of the drink/meal package.