Eccentric Amblings and Ramblings From Gnat Bottomed Towers

My lovely friend Arty L sent me this...I haven't been able to meet up with her because she's up in London, but we have enjoyed long weekly chats on Whatsapp about all sorts. This is "If this time" by Kevin McCormack. Powerful words and beautiful images  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFRlV-9nFAI Arilx PS I saw this rose in someone's front garden...I just couldn't resist taking a photo of it!

Well these posts are getting a little shorter I'm afraid as my spare time starts to lessen. For the first time I have been able to meet a friend....we took a drink each and sat in the churchyard up the road from her house socially distancing. It was a bit weird, but did feel like a tiny hopeful green shoot. The garden is blooming away. Our orange pom pom buddleia is literally buzzing with life as it's smothered in all sorts of bees and other nectar loving insects. Mr GBT tells me that we now have kale seedlings and we have now sussed why the the two bird feeders have ended up on the ground again with their contents liberally scattered. The first time we thought it was due to high winds, but this time I caught a naughty crow [I love corvids, but they are a bit thuggish sometimes!] crashing into the feeding station sideways which sent it all flying. Two wooden pegs are now secured over the hanging hooks so that can't happen again! Lots more wine making here...Mr GBT went

Yes literally leftover Christmas money from my lovely clients spent on this rather splendid collection of green things...the little green things came free with my order. More fabulous greenmen to adorn the walls of GBT and yet another chance to support a local Sussex company. Now I might have had a major splurge [I went a massive 75 pennies over on the amount I'd been given😈], but I'm not going to pay £15 post and packaging if they trade within a short journey of my home and offer the opportunity to go and pick your items up by prearranged appointment. It was in a lovely setting and with their permission I was allowed to take these photos. The company were very efficient and their prices were very competitive. For anyone interested in what else they make their details are here  https://www.brighthelm-stone.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR0KYhleq7fCQ9K9EpFDd8tPNT5_HZ3GQsYqv8xazmjwgivQjBpGhBve1I8 Both TYM and Mr GBT are delighted to be welcoming a new crop of oddities to GB

We were just out of area on Saturday morning running An Exciting Errand [more tomorrow!], so whilst in the neighbourhood I thought it would be rather rude not to pay another visit to St Mary Magdalene's Church in Bolney. Since the last time I paid a flying visit as part of an organised walk I have learnt a little more history about its rather impressive double width lychgate which was built in 1905. The entire thing is built of Sussex materials from its oak frame through to its Sussex "marble" [not really marble, but called so because of how well it polishes up] aka winklestone and that Horsham Stone roof.....as promised in yesterday's post!! However, of most interest to me is the reputed reuse of the timber from the village smockmill that once stood on the common. Certainly its millstones have been put to excellent decorative effect either side of the gate. The local vineyard now makes a wine called "Lychgate" in honour of this local landmark.

We decided to be brave and venture out for a walk in the local countryside on Sunday. Although we saw some other people, everyone was observing social distancing and we had deliberately avoided the places which would attract large groups of people. For us it was a new route and really rather delightful. I stood drinking in the views greedily and taking photos of all the beautiful things I saw so that I could continue to enjoy them when I got home. Across the fields and into the woods. Due to us having stayed within the town for the past two months I have made the most of the wild flowers that I have glimpsed in the verges, but it was such a joy to see the hedgerows bursting forth. There was a whole bank of comfrey literally buzzing with bees and the most welcome saffron and tangerine coloured Chicken of the Woods fungi. We circumnavigated several farms or former farm buildings. The grain store was rather splendid I thought! Howev

"I'd rather have flowers in my hair than diamonds round my neck." Anon All these beautiful blooms were in the churchyard that we visited last weekend. Cultivated sat cheek by jowl with their wild companions and many areas of the grass have been left unmown to allow them to thrive. Arilx

A return to work for me has slowed down our doings a little, but still lots of ideas and projects underway or in the pipeline. At the start of all this business I had visions of totally deep cleaning the house and really sorting out every nook and cranny which normally escapes my notice. I have found a couple of things I have apparently never cleaned [not part of your everyday cleaning in my defence], but here we are and I've still not finished. Am gradually going through the kitchen a cupboard at a time. The other thing I thought was that I would be reading masses...that hasn't happened either. However, I have pottered slowly through a few books when I go to bed. Now you know me and my bleeding books....you can never have enough and kind souls keep tempting me with boxes full of free ones they're putting out on the kerbside. Last week I succumbed....bag and gloves at the ready these came home with me and then were left in the garage for 72 hours+ before I brought them o

Please see today's earlier post if you're wondering what the mad woman is bleating about!! A very kind lady has contacted the museum and has shared that the building dates from 1840-60 and is thought to be named after the burbage plot upon which it was built. It was used as a grain store and there's a wooden wheel and winding mechanism in the neighbouring smaller building [just out of shot]. Now I know that this is hardly earth shattering on a world stage, but right now when the media are having a field day sharing as much bad and frightening news as possible I'll take it!! It adds a layer of richness when I am able to understand what I'm looking at in my locality. Arilx

Another round up of the evening walks...we have begun to nose around a few more streets now to keep me amused! Many of the photos were taken up with my recording of the recent celebrations of VE day 75 years ago. TYM couldn't for the life of him understand why I was so interested, but to my mind it's history and these sort of displays are so ephemeral....nothing quite says British than a line of approriately coloured laundry for a make do and mend bunting, a straw boater or two Union Jack brollies! Some of the houses along one of the town centre's hidden alleys or twittens as we call them in these 'ere parts had really gone the whole hog and put up WWII posters all the way along. How about this for an interesting alternative planter...old piano anyone? This lovely old building is called "White Lion Barn". I had imagined there might be some thrilling history behind the name. All I knew was that it is owned by the local council and