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.

Morcambe Bay seen near Ulverston

Summer Holiday in Corfu

We have been off for a weeks holiday and I had a full week without taking pictures or blogging.

These pictures are by my wife. She also did lots of pencil drawings.
One day we caught a coach to the capital of the Island of Corfu. All the church bells were ringing. Bands were taking part in a ceremony as priests paraded the remains of a Saint round the town.
This is one priest on his mobile after the event.
Another shot of the same town - its old quarter was built by Venetians.
Over the other side of the island we stayed in an isolated resort and so most of the time we just stayed put and had a restful holiday.

South Lakes Wild Animal Park

It is quite a few years since we last visited this animal park. We used to go when our children were young, but today we went without the children who have grown up. Entrance fee was £11.50 each, and £1.50 of that went to a charity for Samatran Tigers. It was a lovely sunny Easter Sunday. The following are probably my best pictures ....

Giraffe.

African Lion.

The emperor tamarin from South America - thought to have been named after Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany due to their distinctive long, white, drooping moustache.