“Only Connect”

This has been quite a 48 hours.

I awoke to a clear blue sky. A frost though.

I left the guest house and went first to St Nicholas church to say hello to Jane F. My great great (great ?) aunt is buried towards the entrance to the churchyard. The only wooden headboard there, it states she was born in 1810 and died in 1859. That is all I know about her. But whereas all the lichen covered headstones have weathered to near illegibility, hers was renewed 30 years ago so is clear. I have never asked the church how that happened. I really should, it is very curious.

I then went to Cinnibar for an excellent breakfast, and then to Mum and Dad’s.

The drip was still filling the bucket, the cylinder was hot, and some hot water was coming out of the tap. I had not cancelled the British Gas engineers visit in the afternoon, and when he came it became apparent that the “emergency plumber” yesterday had botched the job. The tank had refilled. So it was drained again , and the job undertaken properly. Money wasted yesterday, Grrrr!

There will be no hot water for a few days, but once the hot water cylinder is replaced and the heating system drained it should be OK.

I left late afternoon and headed northwards

The blip is emerging beech leaves in the churchyard. There are some huge beeches and ancient yews. And the church is very fine - flint covered, as is typical in these parts, with a graceful tall spire. It is distant from the High Street, nearly a mile away, Centuries ago most of the town moved down the hill as trade focussed on The Great North Road, the main route to and from London.

There is also a memorial here (“Only Connect”) to EM Forster. The original “Howard’s End” is not far from here. Also references to Elisabeth Poston, composer (“Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”) and secret agent, and co founder of the third programme on the radio, who grew up and lived in the town.