We decided to take her to Ely, she's a very religious person, in fact she used to be a missionary in the Philippines and the course she's on is something Church-y. She mentioned she'd never been to Ely so it seemed a good place to start and the Cathedral is a beautiful building. We weren't very impressed with the charge of £5 per person they wanted though - so instead of 3 people each going in and giving a donation to their coffers, Hubby and I didn't go in at all (we've been a couple of times before anyway) and Aunt just went in to say a prayer - the Cathedral didn't get a bean. I know that it's expensive to keep these places open but I really do think they've got a nerve to require payment to visit a church - if I remember rightly from Sunday School days, Jesus threw a bit of a wobbly over people trading and making money within the synagogues hmmmm......
We had lunch and a wander around Ely - and a quick poke around in the maddest shop ever - The City Cycle Centre - which sells bikes and toys, DIY and models - and lurking right at the back a little crafty area with lots of fabric, haberdashery, a bit of card-making and all sorts of interesting bits and pieces - a real Aladdin's Cave of a place!
Then off to Denny Abbey near Waterbeach, which is an English Heritage site. It's got quite an interesting history, having been a Benedictine Church, then it belonged to the Knights Templar, then the Franciscan Nuns the Poor Clares, then after the dissolution it became a farmhouse and was owned by a succession of families and companies including at one time Chivers - the jam people. This is one of our regular places to visit as the setting is so pleasant and peaceful. There's a farmland museum there, and also a cottage which has been decorated in the style of a farmworker's cottage of the 1940's, complete with it's little cottage carden and a "privy".
Next stop was for coffee and cake at a Garden Centre near Huntingdon, after which I managed a little look-see in their craft department (well it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?) I bought some sort of skin coloured card with which to have a play with my new QK dies, a couple of the lovely 6x6 Making Memories paper pads which I love. I got a bargain pack of interlocking plastic pots for £6.99, there are 5 stacks, four different sizes of little pots and very useful for all those teeny weeny bits and bobs. I've got quite a lot of the smallest size already - they are the ones you can buy in Boots and they cost me over £2 the last time I bought some, so I'm well chuffed with my new purchase! Dropped Aunt off back in Cambridge and headed for home. Just got back before the now seemingly daily thunderstorm......phew!
5 comments:
Little pots are great Kathy - I really need to get myself organised re storage, but just posting this to say they're not as great as your hubby's photographs - omg I just took a look at them - they are fantastic!!!
he he.........Kathy , My mum is German- I know just what you mean LOL ! - sounds like you had a good time though. Hey- I'm finding the same as you- it would appear that only you and me are updating our blogs these days. !!(HIIIINTTT !!)
wow fancy having to pay to get into a cathederal/church, that is a bit rich! but Ely sounds like a wonderful place - would love to see more photos of the places you visit, if you have your camera handy next time :) England just fascinates me as pretty much all of my ancestors come from there!
had a wee giggle at the "loud aunt" doesn't take long to take on another countries naunces.(sp)
Also hjad a wee giggle at an image of Jesus throwing a wobbly :-)
Sounds like a good time had by all and crafty bargains as well. My Dad has a stall at Ely market on a Saturday - has done that one for years. I mus try and pop over there sometime :-)
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