Carol Purves

It being a Bank Holiday weekend and having a little spare time I drove out to Gilsland which is situated on Hadrian’s Wall. Thanks to the Romans)  The route of this wall goes from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway; from the east coast to the west.  Today I walked about three miles along the route.  I had the other 69 miles few years ago with my two cousins.

The weather was suited to the three miles and it was raining by the time I finished. Afterwards I visited the House of Meg cafe in Gilsland, a place with poetic connections.  I also located the village Hall where I will be speaking in two months time.

Carol, a Hadian’s Wall walker.

I decided to visit my old friends back where I had lived most of my life.  I know to some of you 350 miles will seem a short distance, but my 350 miles showed up big differences.  The pace of life is busier and faster than I have grown used to to in the north of England.

Also the season was further advanced – the daffodils were over, mine are still in bloom, the trees were further into leaf.  I also saw grey squirrels, we are trying to encourage the red ones up here.

So we are a small country, but we see great differences.

Carol, the traveller again.

Another day of culture!  This abbey dates back to 1123 and was once, after Fountains Abbey, the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in the country.  Sacked by Henry VIII the ruins are still impressive.  History lesson over.  Situated in the southern most part of Cumbria the journey was well worth while.

Restoration work has been going on since 2010 with fears that part of the abbey might collapse.  This meant I had to be clever with my photography and one of my pictures shows a very large crack from top to bottom. (should that be bottom to top?)

With a group of lovely friends we spent a few hours exploring and then the obligatory time to eat.  Soup and sandwiches were a reward for all our historical study.  We chose the right day to go as the next day it snowed.  Maybe snow would have added drama to my pictures.

Carol, the budding historian

In an effort to make up for omissions in past years, I visited the daffodils again.  This time with a friend, we went to Ullswater and then Glendinning.  The weather was remarkable, rain, sleet, a howling gale and yes, even snow.  Its still a beautiful area.  The daffodils were not very plentiful in the designated area but many were planted along the roadside and in gardens. There is  a complaint that non-local daffs are being planted.  As far as I’m concerned a daffodil is a daffodil is a daffodil.

Where does the Prince come into the title?  We stopped for a coffee at Rheghed at the same time as Prince Charles was visiting.  Well, he does love Cumbria.

Carol, mixing with royality.

When the Carlisle Christian Writers group met we had this fascinating subject to write about.   One member had travelled to the other side of America from England which added 8 hours to the day.  Another wrote about Israel and a child temporarily lost in a bunker during a raid.  It was scary stuff and we didn’t know until the end whether the child was safe or not.

Joshua’s sun stopping exercise was chosen, one poem and one narrative.  The longest day was in another poem.  Another, an Italian story, where the tolling of the bell would signal an execution, but the daughter clung to the clapper, thus saving her father.  One haiku was submitted and a story about a supermarket and OCD.

I wish you could hear the fun we always have at our meetings, and our improved work!!

Carol, at the equinox.

I wasn’t lonely and I wasn’t wandering.  My friend and I went down Glemcoyne Bay,Ullswater to see the daffodils which had inspired William Wordsworth to write his famous poem (not the same daffs, but their descendants) It is rumoured that on 15th  April 1802 Dorothy and William went to this area, she recorded it in her diary and he wrote the poem.

We were a bit early but to record the occasion I read the poem out loud.  Fortunately no-one could hear me, not even the two fishermen by the lake.

‘If God so clothed the grass of the field which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, oh you of little faith.  Matt 6:30

Carol, the reader of poetry.

What a wonderful sight some of us had on Saturday to see the eclipse.  It’s not as some scientist said, a coincidence that the earth, moon and sun were all in a line.  God had it planned before the beginning of time, man is only just trying to catch up with his knowledge.

BUT

Deuteronomy 4:19 says ‘when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars – all the heavenly array – do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshipping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven’.

NOR believe those with knowledge who do not acknowledge God the Creator.

Carol, gazing to heaven

Had another chance to visit Scotland’s capital.  It was a cold few days, even colder than Northern England.  Also my train up had no heating!!

I gave a talk to a small group of ladies on my book about Mary Slessor.  Was pleased to see that in Edinburgh there were various events based on her life.  Also great that Scotland as a whole are honouring  one of their premier missionaries.

Carol, the writer

My latest adventure has been into Scotland (just) to visit the Devil’s Porridge Museum which records the history of HM Factory Gretna which produced cordite for use in ammunition in the First World War.

The area was 9 miles long by 2 miles long from Dornock in Scotland to Longtown in England.  At its height  30,000  workers, mainly women,   were employed, with two townships created  (Eastriggs and Gretna), 30 miles of road and 125 miles of rail track laid.

The unusual title was coined by Sir Conan Doyle who said the dangerous mixture of nitroglycerin and gun-cotton was like ‘devil’s porridge.’

Well worth a visit for those in the area at Annan Road, Eastriggs, 01461 700021  info@devilsporridge.org.uk

Carol, the museum visitor

Just visited a capital city – Edinburgh – Scotland.  Beautiful at this time of year and any time.    Went to South Queensferry.  The rail bridge is magnificent (not painted so often now) and the road bridge elegant.  I understand that my sister-in-law remembers the time before the bridge when there was only a ferry. (not long ago really).

And now there is a third bridge coming up.  We had a meal at the Three Bridges Hotel (once called the Two Bridges.)  I suppose it should now be called the Two and One Third Bridges. (not such a good ring to it).

Carol, the bridge spotter, whose older cousin was involved in building the Hull Bridge.