Posts Tagged ‘St George’s Day’

St George’s Day at Bomber Command Memorial Spire

April 23, 2017

When I last visited Bomber Command Memorial Spire, it was an unpleasant cold March afternoon. Today, by pleasant contrast, although a chill in the air in the morning, a pleasant warm sunny afternoon, especially if got out of the wind.

Daffodils were still in flower. The variety I learnt, a very pale yellow, almost white, is Lady of Lincolnshire.

There are areas of grass intended to be regularly cut, others are of rough grass. I would strongly recommend, the rough areas, sow wild flower seeds and manage as a traditional hay meadow. Allow the grass to grow tall, wait until seeded then mow some time late June. It may even be possible to find a farmer who will be interested in the hay. Then once the hay cut and removed, mow regular, but not short. Ideally once cut for hay, graze animals, rare breeds

There needs to be access to the South Common. If not open access, then a fence or a wall, with a gate, that leads direct down from the Spire, where a path runs along and a path or steps leading down into the common, all it would require are steps leading down to the path.

Today we were honoured with Knight of the Skies, one of a series of Knights dotted around Lincoln. He will then, I was told, move to Castle Hill, top of Steep Hill, outside Lincoln Castle, where he will form part of the Knights Trail.

Bomber Command Memorial was due to officially open in September. That date has now been put back to next year, when it will coincide with 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Royal Air Force.

St George’s Day farmers market in Guildford

April 23, 2015
Town Bridge

Town Bridge

truggs

truggs

rhubarb

rhubarb

Celtic Baker

Celtic Baker

Angel Gate

Angel Gate

Elderflower

Elderflower

Guildhall and clock

Guildhall and clock

asparagus

asparagus

I did not expect this market to be successful, and sadly it proved to be the case.

It was out of the normal sequence of markets, not on the usual day, and at the last farmers market, no information there was an additional market. The only reason I knew there was a market today, was because at the last market, a couple of stallholders told me.

There was a lot of people on the street, but that was because it was a pleasant sunny day, not for the market.

The stallholders had a bad day, lots of produce piled up on their stalls. If nothing else they ought to receive a pitch reduction for the day.

St George and the dragon

St George and the dragon

Silly flags.

When are the English going to learn, St George is not special or unique to England? Celebrated in Brazil, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus.

Contact with a friend in Cyprus, she was very surprised to learn St George celebrated in England. In Paralimni, big celebrations for St George’s Day.

Walking up the High Street, two micro-climates, hot in the sun one side, very cold the other side in the shade.

Late afternoon, it was much warmer.

A drink in The Royal Oak, hidden behind Holy Trinity. The chef had tried a new dish and asked me to try it. It was excellent. A good sign when pubs try to cook quality meals, not hotted up white van chiller food. Whether they will get the custom another matter. Irritating though the background music. When are pubs going to learn, a quiet pub, ability to relax or converse, is far better? It was a pub for live music, but no more, drives away the punters.

Out the back way, or is it the front, and an excellent cappuccino at Glutton & Glee.

St George’s Day farmers market

April 23, 2014
Celtic Baker

Celtic Baker

I was surprised how fast the River Wey was flowing, and running high. Heavy rain last few days and saturated ground.

Today an extra farmers market for St George’s Day. The English think it is something uniquely English. Maybe they should have a word with Greeks, Brazilians, Romanians, Russians ….

At least the extra market was midway between the first Tuesday of the month, but it was more or less a waste of time going. Many of the regular stalls not there. Of the stalls that were there, many of the stallholders looked bored stiff, too many more interested in the content of their mobile phones tan what was happening in the street.

There needs to be a tightening of standards. Food served in polystyrene burger boxes is not acceptable. Guildford needs to join the dots.

Candle lit in Holy Trinity for my lovely Romanian friend Cristobella.

It is rare to find Holy Trinity open. Did the caretaker really have to make a racked with a vacuum cleaner?

Lunch at Thai restaurant in Jeffries Passage. The boss away, the service poor, the food not very good either.

Cappuccino in Harris + Hoole. They really have made a mess of the back wall. A pity as a good job was done when it opened.

Guildford holds a farmers market in the cobbled High Street first Tuesday of the month with an occasional extra market.