I don't have any recent photos. Not a one. The above is a picture from the school Tudor Day a couple of weeks ago. The castle in the background is actually Tudor, and just happened to be nicely lit up in a spot of sunshine (remember sunshine?) on the morning in question. A shame about the road and the signpost - I wished they had taken the children into the castle grounds and taken some photos, it would have been amazing. I've mentioned the castle here before, it's a luxury hotel now, but they are incredibly generous at allowing the local children to visit, with school, beavers, cubs and even pre-school. They haven't forgotten that the building is an incredible piece of history to be shared with people.
Although there are no new pictures on my camera, I wanted to come here anyway and say thank you all so much for your amazing comments on my last post about a more sustainable Christmas. It made me feel incredibly positive and motivated. There were tales of handmade beeswax candles, decorating the house with foliage from the garden, locally sourced food, presents wrapped in re-usable sacks, allotment vegetables, sparkling wine from Sussex and many, many handmade gifts. So much thoughtfulness and cutting back. It made me happy to read about it all, well done you lovely greenies, you've inspired me, thank you.
Tonight was the school carol service. The smallest ones dressed up in nativity costume and several of them ran down the aisle to the stable. No major incidents though, and interestingly no candles this year. Maybe the combination of small boys and naked flames has been tested to its utmost and they decided not to push their luck any further. I was a bit disappointed. You know how I like to come here and wax lyrical about flickering flames lighting up ancient stone walls. There are a certain amount of cliches I need to get into every occasion, and I can't do it if they go electric.
I'm wondering if my lack of photos is because I've already taken them all last year. A nice shot of the mantelpiece stockings, a close-up of a particularly good bauble, floury mince pie making. But I do like comfortable routines and traditions. It helps me know where I am in the year. Sometimes its pictures of bees on chive flowers, sometimes its apple blossom, sometimes its a bird in a leafless tree (ooh, yes, I haven't done that one yet this winter). Right now its angels and candles and banging on about ancient stone. You have been warned.
Sometimes it is just too much effort to get the camera ready. I have been tempted to re-use photos because I am a bit lazy these days. I haven't so far, in case you are wondering. On our last day at school before Christmas we used to have a candle on our school desks, small Christmas tree candles stuck in a tangerine, decorated by a small branch of Christmas tree. It was fun to burn the pine needles, it made a lovely smell. I would have been the same age as our little ones. Imagine the out cry if I were to propose this to our head teacher.... Have a lovely end of the week. xx
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how amazing it would be to actually get to see the Tudor castle. Lucky you! I'm doing a post tomorrow on how to roll your own beeswax candles.. I just love doing it. I used leftover wrapping paper ends to wrap around the candles and decorated them with fresh holly with berries and cedar that my husband went out and cut. Have fun! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo; it looks like a stunning castle and it's nice that they still allow the children access. Shame about the lack of candles but I imagine it's just one more thing to add to the dreaded risk assessment forms! I love seeing other people's Christmas photos - so bring them on! xx
ReplyDeleteWell, since I missed your last post I had to go back and read it and the comments, and appreciated both! When I was a teen, 50 years ago, I thought artificial Christmas trees were horrible, but early in my marriage I lived in the Rocky Mountains and the pine trees around us were beautiful, but sparse, and even though I could cut a tree from a tree farm I found myself converted to an artificial Christmas tree and decorated with mostly handmade decorations. I made a star for the top of our tree with large holed needlepoint canvas and thick white yarn while our 6 year old son was in the hospital, and am still using the star now that my son is 40! This year our household pooled our resources and made blackberry jam from the berries picked around our ponds, and then made some cookies and packed some packages with them to send to loved ones across the country. Using a tripod we took a photo of the members of our household and through a friend found a place to inexpensively have it printed on cards. We gather with others and get involved with some seasonal service projects, but I could still do better in not being so wasteful. Thanks so much for your thoughtful post, CJ. xx
ReplyDeleteThe trouble with too much health And safety being imposed is that no one learns how to weigh risks and behave with appropriate caution for themselves (as well as it inconveniently hampering blogging material). Perhaps you can go mad with candles at home instead? After you've taken the "bird in winter tree" shot? You've reminded me I've yet to photograph the mince pies. Possibly because I haven't made any yet -) roll on the holidays, eh? Xx
ReplyDeletemy grandchildrens school used battery candles. same effect without the risk.
ReplyDeleteIt always makes me feel happy to read your posts. I wouldn't mind seeing the same photos every year! Bring up the flowery mince pie making photos I would say.
ReplyDeleteI expect the lack of candles is due to health and safety laws, you know what it's like these days, kids aren't allowed to experience anything we did as children, things which never did us any harm. The castle's fabulous and it's brilliant that they encourage groups of kids to visit, so many grow up without learning very much at all about the history which surrounds them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful castle and so nice that they accommodate local children's visits now and again. Health and safety is the perfect excuse for not doing something, in fairness we would all be moaning if a child was burnt so they will never win. I just feel sad that a lot of traditions are been lost due to health and safety standards. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for the new year.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your lovely comments CJ. I read your last two posts and the comments with interest too. You have given me food for thought. It's so mild at the moment and I fear we really can see the effects of global warming happening before our eyes. I had a wonderful biology teacher and back in the eighties he was talking of "the greenhouse effect" as it was called back then. I believed him at the time when the evidence was sketchy...I'd say it's certainly plain to see now and I hope the world wakes up and smells the coffee so to speak before it's too late. In the mean time I'll just keep trying to make small changes because if we all did that I'm sure it would help.
ReplyDeleteJacquie x
I'll echo what 'M' says above. I thoroughly enjoy your posts CJ - funny, thought-provoking, inspiring – and I don't care if you re-use photos (although this one is lovely - gorgeous light)! There's a candlelit service in our village church on Christmas eve and the church is always packed with all ages (lots of children). Everyone gets a candle: the ones on the end of each row are lit by tapers, then everyone passes on the flame, candle to candle. When the all the candles are lit it is kind of magical. I'm so glad health and safety hasn't stopped it! Enjoy the run-up to the big day CJ. Sam x
ReplyDeleteAs always a lovely post despite the paucity of pictures. Enjoy the weekend. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteMy photos are all of the same bit of beach. I was too slow to take my bird on bare branch one. I love the idea of children carrying candles. I'm sure they hold them extra carefully, and walk slowly too. And anyway, all children are drilled in the stop, drop and roll nowadays.
Leanne xx
A Christmas carol service is always a wonderful thing isn't it. Glad that it went well even if sans candles! Happy Christmas! xx
ReplyDeleteTudor day and a costume in a castle. Fantastic. I love this stuff since it is completely unfamiliar to me. I am so grateful to hear your story of the kindness and consideration of the luxury hotel owners to share their magnificent space and piece of history. The best thing to do is not always everyone's natural thing to do.
ReplyDeleteHave a Happy Christmas and thanks for all your entertaining posts. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the carol service went without a hitch.( I imagine real candles didn't pass health and safety!) I miss the school nativity play/carol service now that our girls are grown up. Have a good weekend x
ReplyDeleteHealth and Safety regulations seem to have sucked all the fun out of everything. Remember metal slides and those roundabout things at the playground? Everything's molded plastic nowadays. They even have special, shock-absorbing rubber mats as footing --- nothing like the good old slippery gravel we played on. It's a miracle we survived to adulthood really.
ReplyDeleteI giggled aloud at the bird-on-bare-branch photo requirement. I actually find myself *not* taking photos because certain 'scenes' have become so cliche. Ridiculous, really. I'm a big fan of comfortable routines - so what if they seem repetitive to the outside eye. Maybe I should go and bake some mince pies just so I can take a photo of them. Properly staged, of course. Possibly an overhead shot with some artfully place sprinkles of flour and a vintage rolling pin.....
Happy Christmas to you, CJ -- thank you for your lovely blog and for the way you see the world. You're an absolute gift. xo
Beautiful castle! It sounds like you are very busy. I have been busy and worried with so many medical exams but it is ok and they are over for now anyway. I may then have time to do some blogging again. This was a very enjoyable reading. Wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas and a wonderful new year!! xx
ReplyDeleteI love the repeating nature of photographs in blog posts, I am waiting rather impatiently for your bird in tree!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful photo dear C.J., the castle looks wonderful lit with the morning light. Your little boy's Tudor costume looks wonderful, you did very well.
ReplyDeletexoxoxo ♡
That castle is exquisite, and I am so glad they cherish the history of the building. No worries about new photos, just do what you need to do this time of year.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Oh CJ, I've been taking the same seasonal photos on my blog for the last four years, and there is inevitably some repetition because I carry out the same rituals each year. I am banking on the fact that no-one really cares what I took a photos of, I do it to please myself. And I can't for the life of me remember what you photographed last year (I can't even remember what I photographed last year!) so please go ahead and share your everyday things, because you do it so well and it's always a joy to read your posts and admire your photographs.
ReplyDeleteThe costume is a triumph by the way. xx
I love that costume! Wow, it's wonderful. Like Gillian says, my blog features the same basic photos, sometimes almost to the day, year after year. I consider my blog to be a record primarily for myself, with the fact that others read it being a surprising, happy benefit, and I'm sure most of us feel the same about our blogs. I don't remember what you photograped last year either, so please continue to do just what you have always done. I always love it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful picture and the costume looks fantastic too. Which castle is it? It is good to read that they still access despite being a hotel. Sometimes I think the country has gone made when it comes to health & safety I'm sure other countries aren't as extreme as us! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteHi, I enjoyed your post and have come to your blog before. I've been to that castle and stayed the night! Your town is so delightful! All of England is delightful! I love the brick walls and homes that lead from the castle to the center of town with the little shops and homes all connected to one another. There was an Italian restaurant that we ate at, and we just enjoyed listening to the accents of the local people. We left through the back door and explored behind the restaurant. We "discovered" an opening to a field that revealed an amazing view of the countryside with a church and cemetery in the distance. It was sunset time, and everything glowed and I felt like we were in a British movie or looking at a picture book. It was magical. :) We were visiting from America. The beauty and charm of the British Isles was everything I'd hoped it'd be. I'll never forget our trip there.
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