The Past Couple Of Days

[poliphilo]

Ailz spent twenty minutes in Newark about thirty years ago and wanted to take another look. First time round she hadn't got to see the castle. It was a Royalist stronghold- one of the last to fall- and the Parliamentarians gutted it but left much of its rind intact. We stayed the night at an Indian Restaurant with rooms attached. The website said bed and breakfast but the bit about breakfast was a lie.

I read a translation of Rilke's first Duino Elegy in the hotel. I want to get a handle on Rilke. All that business with angels is where I want to be right now.

We'd aimed to stop off for a cup of tea in Grantham- famous for Mrs Thatcher. I trotted round the church- which Simon Jenkins says has the finest spire in England- but we couldn't find a parking place in the town centre-which looked dull anyway- so we carried on down the road into Melton Mowbray- famous for pies and Stilton- which is much jollier. I came across this wonderfully preserved young person in the church. It's not often you find an alabaster effigy that hasn't been Killroyed by generations of bored choirboys. I understand she's a 14th century member of the Brandeis family but time, that thief, seems to have walked off with her name.



Then we went to Leicester to see Alice and Jaymz and Ivy. We handed over black and orange Halloween balloons and a witch's outfit.



As usual the M25 was a succession of queues and congestions .

And here we are again. Barbara the carer is in charge and I'm letting her carry on as she chooses (which includes having the radio on at breakfast- Gah!) because it's easier for everyone.  I wished my mother "Good morning". And she turned to Barbara once my back was turned and asked her who I was.

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

A really fine piece of alabaster!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Superb.

It's always a thrill to walk into a building you know nothing about and discover it houses a remarkable work of art.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

What an incredibly fine image that is! And not one bit of graffiti that I can see on it. She was quite beautiful as well.

Ivy is so grown up! I remember when she was born. She makes a very cute little witch.
:)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

No graffiti at all. I've no idea how she comes to be so well preserved.

[faunhaert.livejournal.com]

the new witch is sweet
it fits her perfectly.

oh how poignant
momma
hugs

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yeah :)

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

They say that dementia awaits one in six of us. I'm planning to not live that long.

Newark? That name has a completely different association in the US.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Maybe by the time we enter the danger zone they'll have found a cure.

Yes, I gather your Newark ain't as salubrious.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Oh, she's perfect! Have you seen Much Marcle in Herefordshire? A remarkable gathering of effigies for such a tiny place. I love their Blanche Mortimer. Her folds are beautifully askew, as if she stirred in her sleep.



Nine

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't been there. But obviously it needs to go on my itenary. Blanche Mortimer is wonderfully elegant.

Thank you.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

That effigy still has its high gloss and its nose -- how wonderful! And the carver was remarkably skilled.

Ivy looks like a witch princess.

Roy's father didn't recognize him in the last months of his life, either.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Noses are usually the first thing to go.

My mother recognises me again- it was only a blip- and has taken to calling me Ant. I think she is the only person ever to call me that.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

That last sentence was tough - and completely confirms the diagnosis. So sad. I'm glad you had an interesting trip back. I just tend to fling my car down the motorway as fast as possible, but look what we miss!