Didcot Parkway to Bracknell and back

I've been working in Bracknell since the start of November, travelling down by car. The M4 round Reading is dire at that time in the morning, and if one morning the M4 turns out good the A329M will be even more dire. The exit from Bracknell can also be dire later in the day. On one occasion it took me 2 hours to do 2 miles.

But now thanks to the internet I can get train tickets that work out cheaper then going by car with the £6 parking at Bracknell. And they allow me to read books - a pleasure I don't usually allow myself.

I also have started to cycle the few miles to Didcot, cutting out any need to go the gym (another saving).

Then on the way back I get absorbed, wherever I am, reading my book. It is so much better than making my way round those horrible roundabouts through backed up traffic telling myself I should have gone the other way. I have 3 routes out of Bracknell.

More of Bracknell anon. The shopping centre needs a bomb dropping on it. But they have a regeneration project which I am starting to follow with interest.

HMV Christmas gift cards have been declared worthless by the heartless administrator Deloitte

I did pop into HMV for what could be a last look round the shop that once faced the Virgin Mega Store across Cornmarket. How are the mighty fallen.

The Guardian reported today "Thames Valley police confirmed that they had been called to an incident at an HMV store in Oxford after a dispute over a gift card between two customers and staff. Holders of gift cards are particularly frustrated as HMV continued selling them and vouchers after warning investors on 13 December that the group expected to face a solvency crisis by the end of January."

Moving On at Kenley and Purley Methodist Church

"After much exploration and prayer, at the Church Council held on 25 February 2012 the Church resolved that it would cease to function as a local church after 25 November 2012. Moving On was the theme for the last service held at Kenley and Purley Methodist Church on Sunday, 25 November 2012. It was wonderful to see the church packed, and to hear the memories of over 100 years of witness and service in that place."

I had a friend who said her mum and dad went to this methodist church but that they were an ageing shrinking congregation.

Now I read ...  "For Sale Freehold Price £700,000.00 (Offers in excess of.)

Substantial church property with adjacent hall and various meeting rooms and ancillary areas. redevelopment potential subject to planning consent. site area 0.34 acres ( 0.137 hectares) approx.

Not just loosing a church but also a community space.

Swarthmoor Hall Revisited

This Elizebethan Manor House in Ulverston, Cumbria was the home of Judge and Margaret Fell. Here George Fox found a place to rest and be among friends in the years around 1650 when the Quaker founder was often the subject of persecution

We often visit, and look round the old house - just half a mile from the house of my parent's in law. Swarthmoor Hall has been furnished with artifacts from George Fox's time. But it is more than a living musuem. The long barn alongside has been rebuilt as a place of study and retreat where people can come, like George Fox, to find peace among friends.

In Cambridge not Oxford for a change

After a family event in Bury St Edmunds we booked in to St Johns College (for B&B during the student vacation) in  Cambridge.

This was one of the views of our B & B - the Bridge of Sighs.

In the zoological museum we saw what could have been an extra-terrestrial in a preserving solution.

I enjoyed the quiet of the botanical gardens and walking round on the grass - barefoot - looking at the flowers in the systematic beds.

Also very much enjoyed Kettles Yard, a house crammed with modern art from about thirty or fourty years ago. Very relaxed as you can sit in easy chairs or browse books from the shelves as long as you like.

Saw the iconic view of Kings College from the Backs.

But did not punt - the venders were just too pushy everywhere we went. I have never noticed them being that pushy in Oxford.

Bethnel Green and Docklands

One of a number of pieces of ceramic sculpture in a church belfry in Bethnell Green.

Under the railway arches at Bethnell Green.

The museum of Childhood in Bethnell Green.

Coming up the shiny escalator at Canary Wharf.

Seeing the shiny buildings at Canary Wharf.

Bubbles at Jericho Street Fair

The bubbles were huge

and everybody loved them, both children

and adults.

Hoad

The Hoad Monument was made in the style of an Eddystone Lighthouse, and restored thanks to a National Lottery grant last year.

Judith and me climbed up to see Hoad today - Easter Sunday.

It is the first time in 28 years of going to Ulverston that I have ever climbed right to the top. We were the last visitors of the day.

Ulverston - St George Day Pageant 2011

We are up in Ulverston in Cumbria for Easter and saw St George come into town.

A young damsel watching from a balcony was kidnapped and tied up by an evil baron.

All this happened while a jester was entertaining the crowds.

A few jokes later and two damsels were kidnapped. St George arrived to deal with the dragon.

and the evil baron got caught with his pants down. Audience participation was taken a little too far on this occasion

Trafalgar Square

Christmas Eve and the wind caught the spray and got you wet if you went too close to the fountains in Trafalgar Square.