A quick visit to wish you all a safe and Happy Halloween.. 

Until next time take care...Hugs & Blessings x

Remembering 9/11.....

Remembering those who lost their lives on September 11 2001. My thoughts and blessings are with their family and friends today......

Until next time take care...Hugs Chrissy xx 

Spring will Soon Be Here....We Hope..

 

 

Greetings everyone on the first day of February....A very wet and blustery day here in Cornwall I may add. As I sit here in the safety of my home I can hear the wind howling and the rain lashing against the windowpanes. The windows have stood the test of time but are rattling in protest this evening. I also have wooden shutters and they too are creaking and groaning. Yes, people have told me to replace them with double glazing!!!! How could I insult the character of my pre-1830 house....but saying that feeling the wind blow through the gaps I may consider new wooden ones..lol..

 

February 1^st marks the beginning of spring, a time when new life begins in nature, so I wish you a Happy Imbolc. One of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals Imbolc is observed in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man....

Snowdrops

 

Too Wet for Little Lambs Yet...

 

 

This day is also the Feast Day of Saint Brighid (St. Brigit of Kildare or Brigit of Ireland)....

 

Brighid was an early Irish Christian nun, abbess, and founder of several monasteries of nuns, including the monastery of Kildare, Ireland

 

Spring seems very far off at the moment with the awful weather we are having. I wouldn’t mind but we have not even been blessed with the winter sun to cheer us. So I will tell you about a day last September when the sun was shining during a visit to Zennor here in Cornwall.....

 

Zennor (curtsy of wikipedia)

 

During the day  I visited the church for the specific reason of visiting an exhibition of local vintage bits and bobs (more about this can be seen on my other blogs)....and of course the Mermaid Chair was there as it has been for centuries....

 

St. Senara Church (curtsy of wikipedia)

 

Cornwall is a magical place with folktales and legends. And one such legend is attached to the Mermaid Chair in St. Senara’s Church in Zennor....

 

 

Who stands upon that farthest ledge

And sees the Atlantic break,

Back through the fields with stones for hedge

His Eastward way will take

To Zennor’s valley and its pledge,

A legend cut in teak

 

It is thought that the 15^th century chair inspired the tale of The Mermaid of Zennor, which was first recorded by the Cornish folklorist William Bottrell in Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall in 1873....

 

The tale in teak has worn away

These last five hundred years

But still the church of granite grey

Its haunting music hears

While fields are singing or obey

The silence winter wears.

 

It is said that a beautiful woman dressed in rich finery used to infrequently visit St. Senara’s church. Not only did her unusual beauty capture the interest of the local people but her singing voice also. Who was this woman, for no one knew....

 

 

The Mermaid of Zennor, by English painter John Reinhard Weguelin (1849-1927). Watercolour, 1900

 

The mystery of the beautiful woman did not deter the would-be-suitors, one such suitor in particular. Captivated by her beauty and voice a local lad Matthew Trewhell, a chorister at the church, decided to find out all he could about her. So after service one Sunday Matthew decided to follow her as she made her way across the cliffs towards Pendower Cove......he was never to be seen again...

 

Pendower Cove. (cursy of wikkipedia)

 

 

Many years passed and Matthew’s disappearance was all but forgotten until one Sunday morning. A ship had cast anchor in Pendower Cove and the captain was relaxing on deck. Suddenly he heard a voice calling out to him and on looking to find the source was surprised to find a beautiful mermaid. Her blond hair was floating around her as she politely asked if he would remove the ship’s anchor as it was blocking the doorway to her house....

 

 

 

 

 

She explained that she was anxious to get back to her husband Matthew and children. The captain hastily pulled up anchor and went away to deeper waters. Later he went to Zennor and told the villages what had happened to Matthew....

 

But was it he who heard her sing

Or did she first hear him?

Black as bright teak the cormorants fling

Up from the waves they skim

The silver fish, and mussels cling

And close above the hymn.

 

 

Another tale about Matthew is that the mystery woman used to sit in the back of the church to listen to him singing. When he gazed at her they instantly fell in love. After which the couple then made their way towards the sea, followed closely by some of the villagers. In their haste the woman fell, exposing the tip of her fish tail. It transpired that the mystery woman was in fact Morveren, daughter of Llyr, King of the Ocean. She exclaimed that she was a sea creature and must go back to where she belonged. Matthew replied that he would go with her as he belonged with her........

 

 

 

It is said that their singing can still be heard in the church and cove....who knows...

Until next time, take care...hugs Chrissy xx

 

‘However long the waters roll

Longer my love shall be,

Nor shall you leave my burning soul

Torn by the moving sea,

Though all the bells of Zennor toll

And say you died for me.’

~ Vernon Watkins (1906-67) ~

 

 

 



 

 

Greetings from a very wet Cornwall. I hope you all had a good Christmas and are safe as we wait for 2013 to replace 2012....a good year I hope with the magical number 13.....

 

 

 

I put my last washing load on at 9.30pm and will not being doing any more until January 2nd....''Never wash on New Year's Day or you'll wash someone in the family away''....An Old superstition I know but I have never washed laundry on New Year's Day....

 

 

What New Year's superstitions do you follow?...

 

 

Have a Happy New Year and all the best for 2013...

 

Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx

 

 

 

Christmas blessings to all of you from Cornwall. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends..... 

It is some years since I have be sledging down a snowy hill but the old sleigh is still in the shed....

''Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night'

Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx

In Memory of Those Who Gave Their Lives For Freedom...

 

 

 

 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old...

 

 

 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn...

 

 

 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning...

 

 

 

We will remember them...

 

 

Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx

 

 

Guy Fawkes Night

 

 

Greetings from Cornwall on Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night as it is normally known. Did you all have a safe and enjoyable evening. I stayed home in the warmth after another cold day here. I always tried to do so because two of my cats and one of my dogs get very scared hearing the fireworks go off.....

 

My son however did have some fireworks for my grandees but sadly his next door neighbour complained despite other fireworks going off in the neighbourhood....

 

I hope they had some sparklers at least they don’t make any noise....

 

I know he won’t have had a bonfire. It’s many years since I had one, in fact I was a child myself when we last had a bonfire, Bonfire Night would not be that without one...

 

As a child Bonfire Night was not just about bonfires and fireworks. It was a time to make a guy, collect all sorts of things for the bonfire, get together in the street and share everything between neighbours...a fun time...

Guy Fawkes wax model buring on the bonfire at the Billericay Fireworks Spectacular in Lake Meadows Park, Billericay, Essex (curtsy of wikipedia)

 

But as the actual name of today implies, there would be no special November 5^th every year if it was not for Guy Fawkes, who along with others plotted to blow up the House of Parliament on November 5 1605....

Guy Fawkes

And so each year fireworks are sold, bonfires are made, a Guy thrown on the fire and people get together to do just that.....

Last year I took photographs of fireworks in my friend’s garden. Some did not turn out as just fireworks. It may be just me but I saw other images that I would like to share with you..

Do you see what I see....

Eerrie

Star Like

A Fairy Flying Away

Two Birds Flying Home

A Eagle or similar Swooping Down

 

The last one is just a beautiful image of the moon peaking through the pampas grass

 

Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'Twas his intent.
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below.
Poor old England to overthrow.
By God's providence he was catch'd,
With a dark lantern and burning match

Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip Hoorah !
Hip hip Hoorah !

A penny loaf to feed ol'Pope,
A farthing cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down,
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar,'
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head,
Then we'll say: ol'Pope is dead.

Hip hip Hoorah !
Hip hip Hoorah !