A day in Rochester

For CBC's birthday weekend, we took a trip to Rochester in Kent.  We drove and parked in a Multistorey carpark near the station.  If you wish to travel there by train, you can take the highspeed link from St Pancras in 30mins.

We arrived and CBC went in search of a haircut.  I looked around the shops and strolled the historical high street.

CBC went for a look in the cathedral before his haircut and I visited it after him.

There was a beautiful Easter garden display in front of some wall paintings.

The cathedral had a beautiful lightness to it and the organ was extremely attractive.

There was also a beautiful chamber organ.

More views of the organ.

I always enjoy looking at the stained glass windows.

Some beautiful flooring.

The cathedral was in the traditional cross shape.

The high altar.

The choir stalls

The high altar had such a beautiful floor.

After this, I attempted to find CBC who had made his way to Chatham in his fruitless attempt to find a haircut.

We decided to make our way to the Historical Chatham Docks.  It costs around £32 to enter but you can use your ticket for a year.  We only had 30mins before closing so we definitely need to go back!

We explored a historical naval ship

CBC had a kip!  Next time, we hope to see the Submarine!

I bought this embroidered jacket on my way to Chatham in the Demelza charity shop as I was really cold!

We visited another historical sea-faring vessel.

Rather than face the massive walk back to Rochester, we jumped on a bus to Chatham station and then walked the rest. We went to pick up CBC's brother and partner

Once we had found them, we headed to Upnor to visit the Madeiran Restaurant, Os' Camacheiros.  This is the reason we actually came to Rochester.  The owners of this restaurant used to have a Madeiran Skewerhouse in our home town and then they closed and we really missed it.  After our Madeiran visit (which was inspired by his restaurant) we wanted to eat here!  I really recommend it! 

Here was the restaurant.

CBC orddered the fish skewer and I ordered the beef skewer. His brother ordered the vegetable skewer.  When you order a skewer, you choose two sides to go with it.  We went for 2 each including the spicy rice, corn on the cob, fried potatoes, skin on fries and maize.

Desserts are varied. I regret my choice as there were so many better choices! Oh yes, and we played Qwirkle.

 CBC's was better than mine!

I thoroughly recommend a day trip to Rochester and Chatham. And, I recommend heading out to Upnor to visit the Madeiran Skewer house!

Recital day

Today was something unusual for me.  I had the day off school.  I had earnt a day in lieu a year or so ago for when I took my children to Warwick as part of our winning a Shakespeare week composing competition.  Somehow, I never got around to using it so when my flute quartet/trio were asked to play at Chelmsford Cathedral because another ensemble had cancelled, I asked my head if I were able to use the day.  He agreed.

To be honest, the timing was, in some ways, a God-send. I am completely exhausted at the moment and I just keep losing my voice every week. Plus, I started to get a really nasty throat on Wednesday night and worse, last night, I choked on a bit of plastic or gristle in my Moussaka and something seems to have been stuck in my throat since then (I'm hoping it is just scratched from the trauma of something getting stuck but it does feel like the thing moves around a bit). Plus, I had three awful days in terms of behaviour this week so it was nice to have a break from children (although Fridays are my favourite classes).

We turned up around 11am and got ready to practice.  Even though the recital started at 12.30pm, there were people already arriving to get themselves a good seat, my Mum included!  As well as my dodgy throat, it was awful that the Mother of one of our trio had unexpectedly died last night so it was amazing she was still there.

One utter delight for me was the fact that my Mum had passed on details of the recital to family friends and ALL the lovely people who used to live round the corner from us and we always used to spend our Christmas day and Boxing Day evenings with all came to watch including one lovely lady who I haven't really seen for years!

The recital went well although my throat was utterly raw and I had drunk all my water by the end of the performance and found it quite hard to play!

We had a full church- I couldn't see any spare seats in either the central or the side passages so it was great to have such an appreciative audience- I took this picture a few minutes after the end of the concert. We had some really nice people come up to us and say how much they enjoyed it and one local composer has asked to write a piece for us!

They cleared the cathedral pretty quickly after the recital but I grabbed a quick photo in the chancel.

The organiser of the events was very taken by our trademark red heels and made reference to it so I thought I'd share them here too!

I must admit, it was lovely to then be able to walk out in the beautiful sun, not something I ever do at school!

I had to get back home quickly for a Doctor's appointment but it was lovely to take my time and arrive home in the daylight for a change!

Here's hoping we are invited back again!  The first time we ever played together was at Chelmsford Cathedral so it was nice to play there again, this time as the central feature.

If you are interested in these free lunchtime concerts, here is the website link to the cathedral.

xx

Circumnavigating the UK Day 6 Part 2- Walking around Liverpool- colours in profusion.

In my previous post, I shared my journey to Speke Hall in Liverpool.
On my return to the town, Mum decided to walk back to the boat and I decided to walk around the town. We'd been given some maps with walking routes on by the tourism team by the ship.

I left Mum and I had a look in a bookshop and artshop which was quite nice and bought one or two Caran Dache watercolour pencils to supplement my shortening set at home.

Then, I followed the walking route.
The first interesting sight was the entrance to China Town, this attractive, intricately-decorated arch.

Beside it, was, I believe, a library building, but I forget in retrospect.

I then headed into the Anglican Cathedral. The red brick building was really attractive with the traditional Cross-like shape.

Inside, the height of the ceilings was really impressive. It had a quiet calm to it.

There was an art exhibition going on in there which suggests the space is versatile and they use it for different purposes. I was delighted by this wonderful stained glass window.

I love it when the details and colours are tiny like this and it is not immediately obvious what the image is.

I cannot imagine how long it took to create this mosaic-like window.

I stood scrutinising every detail of the window for a long time.

Looking upwards,although it lacks the colours of the window, the detail was attractive.

I would have liked to have sat for a while and maybe prayed but I didn't find anywhere to sit.

Outside was this Mausoleum.

After leaving the beautiful cathedral, I saw the Magical Mystery Tour Bus in all its brilliant hues driving past.

There were a few of these decorated animals around.

It passed me again.

I thought this sign was clever for Host which was a wine bar.

There's another one.

Next, I saw the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's concert hall. I have a friend who used to play clarinet for them- she still does a bit but has had children.

It was appropriate seeing the bar called 'The Flute' next.

Apparently, the Philharmonic pub is famous.

The next item on my tour was the Catholic Cathedral, St Patrick's. 

It was a total contrast to the Anglican cathedral. So modern.  I liked the way it looked like a crown on top- like a modern take on Jesus's crown of thorns.

Inside, I was told that mass was on but I was welcome to come and sit and have a quiet look around.

I cannot tell you how utterly sublime it was inside.

I felt quite emotionally overcome by the beauty, hushed calm and the feeling of holiness in this place. I actually shed tears as I walked around.

The Mass was Sung mass and they were singing beautiful Renaissance Polyphony which I was so glad to hear. In all honesty, coming into this place of tranquility and such a strong sense of God really made the trip to Liverpool for me.  Discussing Liverpool later with our fellow table members, others said that this was the highlight of the whole cruise so far and these were not Christians.

The interplay of light and colour in the Cathedral was something else.

I stayed for a while there, I really did feel reluctant to leave.

If you ever go to Liverpool, I will tell you that you cannot miss this place.  It is truly awe-inspiring and I use that word in its proper sense, not in the overused superlative for something quite insignificant it is usually used for.

It seemed intricate and simple at the same time which I think is where its power lay.

With great regret, I left the cathedral, as time was passing rapidly.

One final glance and then onwards I went.

There was another beautiful church.

Around the town, there was some intriguing graffiti too.

I glanced into one of two shops but I kept looking around (and forgot to take photos).

I realised I needed to head back to the ship but nearby, I saw this interesting and attractive water structure with some Egyptian influence.

A final glance saw this intriguing melage of contrasting buildings.

I'd missed many elements of the city, such as the Beatles experience and a few other things but for me, seeing the places of beauty I'd seen, including Speke Hall,made this an unexpectedly delightful day given that I hadn't had high hopes for it.

Our next stage of the journey was to be Dublin. Would it be such a spectacle as Liverpool.

xx