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Category Archives: architecture

Truro Cathedral, ShelterBox and A Poem

I was in Truro Cathedral this afternoon with both my choirs as we rehearsed for a very special Carol Service, the ShelterBox Carol Service on December 19th.

The poet, Brian Bilston, has very generously given me permission to share this excellent poem with you. I hope, as I progress through these decades, I can stick to this resolution. We will be at a demo on Saturday, marching ‘with the kids’ and ‘brandishing homemade placards.’

AS I GROW OLD I WILL MARCH NOT SHUFFLE

As I grow old
Iwill not shuffle to the beat
of self-interest
and make that slow retreat
to the right.

I will be a septuagenarian insurrectionist
marching with the kids. I shall sing
‘La Marseillaise’, whilst brandishing
homemade placards that proclaim
‘DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING’.

I will be an octogenarian obstructionist,
and build unscalable barricades
from bottles of flat lemonade,
tartan blankets and chicken wire.
I will hurl prejudice upon the brazier’s fire.

I will be a nonagenarian nonconformist,
armed with a ballpoint pen
and a hand that shakes with rage not age
at politicians’ latest crimes,
in strongly-worded letters to The Times.

I will be a centenarian centurion
and allow injustice no admittance.
I will stage longstanding sit-ins.
My mobility scooter and I
will move for no-one.

And when I die
I will be the scattered ashes
that attach themselves to the lashes
and blind the eyes
of racists and fascists.

Brian Bilston

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 15, 2023 in architecture, charity, Cornwall, photography, Postaday 2023, ShelterBox, Truro, Uncategorized

Tags: Brian Bilston

Zuni Pueblo

25 Sep

We made a stopover at the Zuni Pueblo on our way to Santa Fe. Here’s a flavour of the brief stay.

Inn sign

Parking sign

Loved this tree in the garden

Beautiful painted washbasin in our room

In our room

Before we left we walked about to see the Old Zuni Mission and the Visitor Centre.

Visitor Centre

Old Zuni Mission

A musician’s cross

10 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 25, 2023 in America, architecture, art, ceramics, environment, New Mexico, photography, Postaday 2023, travel

Our Town, Tomatoes and New Chimney

29 Jun

We were in town late last night after seeing the film of the Matthew Bourne ballet, Sleeping Beauty, which was wonderful! Coming out of our lovely Art Deco theatre and with few people to distract, these beautiful buildings really stood out.

We have tomatoes, still to ripen but looking good.

Our new chimney is really beautiful, made with care and precision by Matt of Cornwall Chimneys. It’s the best chimney in our street! Thanks to Matt and Josh for their lovely work and brilliant clearing up. Photos by Matt.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 29, 2023 in architecture, art, Cornwall, environment, photography, Postaday 2023, Redruth, Uncategorized

Tags: Cornwall Chimneys

Killifreth, Library and A Flag

28 Jun

We took a different route to Truro today and on the horizon was Killifreth, the most elegant of engine house chimneys.

This is the library, The Passmore Edwards Free Library, where I spent many happy hours as a child and where my Dad had to ask that I have access to the ‘grown-up’ library as I had read my way through everything in the junior section! I started with the wonderful Scarlet Pimpernel stories.

Solidarity to Ukraine in the face of more terror last night – Slava Ukraini.

Garden Party Opening at The Ladder and A Gig

27 May

There was glorious sunshine for The Ladder opening party in the garden we helped to create last Saturday. The old library is coming back to life and in the most imaginative and exciting way. Click on any photo for a larger view and the caption.

Beautifully restored windows with clouds

The cloud motif in the entrance hall

Leading to the map room

Leaving messages in little bottles to be planted with the Rowan tree.

My wish in a bottle

The band setting up on the stage with the newly planted garden behind

A view from one of the windows of Carn Brea, the castle and the monument.

This evening we have been to listen to Angeline Morrison who was playing in the amphitheatre at the Eco park – a beautiful voice and person in a beautiful setting.

There were eight dogs in the audience!

Christmas Shopping in Truro

14 Dec

We started very early this morning as last week we couldn’t park in Truro and today we were able to wander and appreciate Truro’s loveliness before it became too busy. Our coffee break was in Charlotte’s Tea House which is a delight. Join us on our wander.

The beautiful door to the tea room

About the Tea House

About Charlotte

The Christmas tree of love and memories in the Cathedral

Looking down the nave in Truro Cathedral

Walsingham Place, check out its history here

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 14, 2022 in architecture, Christmas, Cornwall, environment, photography, Postaday2022, Uncategorized

Truro Cathedral

23 Nov

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 23, 2022 in architecture, Cornwall, photography, Truro, Uncategorized

Moon, Narcissi and Arches

11 Oct

Last night’s moon, one after the full moon, was still wondrous.

Coming back from Chapel Porth on Sunday I bought some narcissi from a bucket in someone’s garden in St Agnes. They smell wonderful as they have opened.

The best thing about our visit to the Hall for Cornwall this evening, was the lovely old architecture, in particular, the repeated arches.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on October 11, 2022 in architecture, nature, photography, Postaday2022, theatre

Tags: Hall for Cornwall

Door Frame, Mincer and Bee

30 Jul

On our walk into town today we were amused to see how the door frame has been so carefully shaped to fit the old stone wall.

In the vintage store, Daisy Rain Vintage, where all sorts of treasures can be found, was this old mincer, enamelled and really rather lovely. The one we had at home was just a grey metal and I remember well making mince using it. Any readers remember same?

The bees love our sunflowers on the allotment where I harvested enough beans for dinner, another courgette and a cucumber and all the shallots which I will plait up for storage tomorrow.

8 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 30, 2022 in allotment, architecture, Cornwall, environment, nature, photography, Postaday2022

Tags: Daisy Rain Vintage

Church, Bottle Opener and Border

29 Jul

A lovely church tower in Breage.

I spotted this amusing bottle opener on a van we parked next to today.

I’m loving our flower border at the allotment – lovely Night Scented stock that is particularly lovely when we go down in the evening to water. There are also Sunflowers which turn their faces to the sun throughout the day and Cosmos, Sweet peas and Verbena Lollipop.