Birthday Surprises
31/07/2005 09:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
izmeinaA strange day in Izzieland. Two Sundays in a row worked from 7am to 1pm which meant that it was possible to visit a certain historical graveyard on a hill that is owned by the National Trust and opens its gates only on Sundays between 2 and 4pm
Was undecided last week – was the weather going to be sunny or rainy. Turned out overcast but it had rained earlier in the day which meant that sitting under a yew tree or any sort of tree at all with a good book was not really a possibility if we valued our health at all. But anyway, Izzie was zonked so ended up slinking home, scrubbing off the scales and curling up in her serpent basket.
But this week – not sure if it is rampaging hormones or what, felt so so much better and the sun was shining too. There was also the minor matter of having lots of nibblies left over from Friday's feast so we had no problem packing a picnic of cheese, home made bread, crackers and a very inky half empty bottle of Pepperjack shiraz. The Iz has always wanted to have a picnic in her favorite graveyard but has never been sufficiently organized. Of course we had our nice new potions book packed up too but on second thoughts, given the location, maybe Goblet of Fire would have been a better choice.
Due to not wanting to rush like a headless chook and limited bus services on weekends, the Iz did not get a bus until 2.20pm and did not arrive at the gates of the graveyard until about 2.50.
It was such an incredibly gorgeous day that a visit to St Brutus rather than St Bartholemew's Chapel seemed ever so tempting but the Iz thinks – no – you can go there any day of the week – this place has a much shorter shelf life and is also very high in the list of Izzie sacred sites.
Was there about five weeks ago and also did not manage to get there before 3pm. Then it was $$2.20 to get in like it has been ever since Izzie first discovered it back in 1998. (well used to be $$2 but they added the 20 cents for GST tax.
So was ever ever so shocked to discover that the entry price has now gone up to a ridiculous $$4.00. Totally outrageous. A bit rich for one hour of pottering around looking at grand old gravestones, a very pretty church and sitting under the trees munching and reading. But the Izzie was in a happy content mood – not neurotic like so much lately and it really did feel like the perfect day to stay and recharge those batteries. Well – next time – will not go so often with that ridiculous price and will only do so if we can get there for the whole two hours.
So now the Iz is getting devious and figures that the best way to get our nose in the door from now on is to attend the church services that are held at 5pm on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month. Will be able to get in free that way and maybe lurk about later. Got two weeks holidays in mid August which means that we will be able to go to the “Service of Light” on Saturday 20th which also happens to be the full moon. This place is facing directly east so will be a perfect spot to see it rising. In fact, this was the very first place the Iz went to see her first full moon rise way back in July 2001. Been pretty much addicted since then.
In between walking around the grounds looking for a nice picnic tree and soaking up the sun, the Iz only managed to read two chapters of the latest Potter. On our second time around reading – have only got to the end of “Birthday Surprises” (Yesss- guess whose birthday it is today?) Decided to cheat – and figures that there are more appropriate chapters than “Elf Tails” to read while sitting under a yew tree in a graveyard so skipped on to the most fascinating chapter with the very very secret Serpent Soul Business.
Lucky we decided not to wait for the toll of the bell which usually announces closing time. Quite often they do not lock up until around 4.15 or even 4.30 if one is very lucky.
Was not too far from the church and the main entrance and heard some rattling noises just before 4pm and turned around just in time to see the two staff locking the gates. The Iz called out and they seen us and let us out. Would not have cared too much for having to climb over the fences to get out.
Left the graveyard and then walked to the west end where there are park benches outside and where you can still see quite a bit of the graveyard itself behind the big black mesh fences. Back in 1995 when the whole area was a wasteland and National Trust had not taken over, the graveyard was not fenced, in a state of total neglect and was a lurking ground for junkies and other scary sorts.
Now that they are charging a ridiculous four silver sickles to get in, may make a habit of reading our books and having our picnics in the sun on the west side like we do the rest of the days when the gates are not officially open.
Was undecided last week – was the weather going to be sunny or rainy. Turned out overcast but it had rained earlier in the day which meant that sitting under a yew tree or any sort of tree at all with a good book was not really a possibility if we valued our health at all. But anyway, Izzie was zonked so ended up slinking home, scrubbing off the scales and curling up in her serpent basket.
But this week – not sure if it is rampaging hormones or what, felt so so much better and the sun was shining too. There was also the minor matter of having lots of nibblies left over from Friday's feast so we had no problem packing a picnic of cheese, home made bread, crackers and a very inky half empty bottle of Pepperjack shiraz. The Iz has always wanted to have a picnic in her favorite graveyard but has never been sufficiently organized. Of course we had our nice new potions book packed up too but on second thoughts, given the location, maybe Goblet of Fire would have been a better choice.
Due to not wanting to rush like a headless chook and limited bus services on weekends, the Iz did not get a bus until 2.20pm and did not arrive at the gates of the graveyard until about 2.50.
It was such an incredibly gorgeous day that a visit to St Brutus rather than St Bartholemew's Chapel seemed ever so tempting but the Iz thinks – no – you can go there any day of the week – this place has a much shorter shelf life and is also very high in the list of Izzie sacred sites.
Was there about five weeks ago and also did not manage to get there before 3pm. Then it was $$2.20 to get in like it has been ever since Izzie first discovered it back in 1998. (well used to be $$2 but they added the 20 cents for GST tax.
So was ever ever so shocked to discover that the entry price has now gone up to a ridiculous $$4.00. Totally outrageous. A bit rich for one hour of pottering around looking at grand old gravestones, a very pretty church and sitting under the trees munching and reading. But the Izzie was in a happy content mood – not neurotic like so much lately and it really did feel like the perfect day to stay and recharge those batteries. Well – next time – will not go so often with that ridiculous price and will only do so if we can get there for the whole two hours.
So now the Iz is getting devious and figures that the best way to get our nose in the door from now on is to attend the church services that are held at 5pm on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month. Will be able to get in free that way and maybe lurk about later. Got two weeks holidays in mid August which means that we will be able to go to the “Service of Light” on Saturday 20th which also happens to be the full moon. This place is facing directly east so will be a perfect spot to see it rising. In fact, this was the very first place the Iz went to see her first full moon rise way back in July 2001. Been pretty much addicted since then.
In between walking around the grounds looking for a nice picnic tree and soaking up the sun, the Iz only managed to read two chapters of the latest Potter. On our second time around reading – have only got to the end of “Birthday Surprises” (Yesss- guess whose birthday it is today?) Decided to cheat – and figures that there are more appropriate chapters than “Elf Tails” to read while sitting under a yew tree in a graveyard so skipped on to the most fascinating chapter with the very very secret Serpent Soul Business.
Lucky we decided not to wait for the toll of the bell which usually announces closing time. Quite often they do not lock up until around 4.15 or even 4.30 if one is very lucky.
Was not too far from the church and the main entrance and heard some rattling noises just before 4pm and turned around just in time to see the two staff locking the gates. The Iz called out and they seen us and let us out. Would not have cared too much for having to climb over the fences to get out.
Left the graveyard and then walked to the west end where there are park benches outside and where you can still see quite a bit of the graveyard itself behind the big black mesh fences. Back in 1995 when the whole area was a wasteland and National Trust had not taken over, the graveyard was not fenced, in a state of total neglect and was a lurking ground for junkies and other scary sorts.
Now that they are charging a ridiculous four silver sickles to get in, may make a habit of reading our books and having our picnics in the sun on the west side like we do the rest of the days when the gates are not officially open.
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no subject
Date: 2005-07-31 08:12 pm (UTC)Ummm... Izzy's? ;)
Mystery birthdays
Date: 2005-08-01 11:39 am (UTC)