Dear friends. The good weather persisted in September, particularly for us in the last week when we enjoyed temperatures of 30 (80 Fahrenheit) in Provence, France.
September also featured three cathedrals - four, if you count the one where we saw Luminescence, plus a trip to Plymouth.
Tuesday Sept 1
First day of meteorological autumn. Sunny. Still shorts weather. Did forest walk. Gave blood in the afternoon. Ordered a beauty Advent calendar.
Weds Sept 2
Went to Ely Cathedral with Oxana. It's noted for its 1,300 year history, Octagon tower and stone lantern, considered a wonder of medieval engineering.
Unfortunately the tours were all fully booked but I still enjoyed my own exploration. The cathedral also houses a very good stained glass museum. Afterwards we Saw Oliver Cromwell's House. Rained a bit on drive home.
From the stained glass museum I chose St Joseph and the Angel (top pic) by Wilhelmina Geddes, 1887-1955. Geddes was part of the Dublin Arts and Crafts stained glass cooperative.
Thurs Sept 3
Overcast, warm, windy. Did short bike ride. Heart rate alarmingly high, I think maybe low iron after giving blood. Got steak from local butcher for dinner.
Fri Sept 4
A bit of rain this morning. Some had blown into the hose of my portable AC unit. Aargh. J sorted it out. Had dinner at Brown's Victoria and then saw Luminiscence at Westminster Cathedral. It's an hour long immersive light show and narration that was billed as telling the history of London. It barely did this: the focus was the history of the cathedral, which dates from 1903, and how it is raising money to finish the mosaics. I found it a bit disappointing.
Below: the RC cathedral of Westminster
Sat Sept 5
Nice day. J has a cold so we postponed a bike ride. I did a an urban walk. Did some cleaning and wrote a quick books blog post. J persuaded me to try film Mayday, Apple TV. I had sore misgivings (and was proved right).
Sunday Sept 6
Turned out to be a hot sunny day. We did a ride to Lee Valley, just under 30 miles, different route. Saw Rachel and Olive, the latter riding her bike, in the forest.
Chicken salad. Watched 2nd Costner season film, JFK, 1991. A bit hard going.
Monday Sept 7
Went to Leyton for breast screening. These are free, every 3 years until age of 70.
Tues Sept 8
Pouring with rain, first time for weeks, so no bike ride. We did a walk instead, 4 miles. I knocked out a post about the garden makeover. My new Kettlewell "Ziggy," type jumper came and I took pics for KW group. Quite a nice cosy day. Sun came out late pm.
Weds Sept 9
J still has a cold so we did a short ride, 20 miles, LV. 1 raft out. Tidied up in garden, rain made weeds shoot forth.
Thurs Sept 10
Did walk 5 miles. Ironing. Watched The Beautiful Obsession, documentary about Pep Guardiola (Prime). Did chicken Caesar salad.
Friday Sept 11
Did shortish forest walk. Needed to do lunch early as J was picking up Olive from school at 1.30, and I was heading into town for a hair colour appointment at a new (to me) salon. Collected euros for our Provence trip. The hair appointment was enjoyable. David and I have a lot of things in common, including a love of David Hockney. Getting home was a bit of a palaver. Trains not running to Chingford after Wood St. Got on a bus but it terminated early. Eventually home by 8.
Sat Sept 12
Our last training bike ride this year. (Or is it?). Nearly 30 miles. A new and hilly route to Lee Valley via Abridge and Theydon. Am feeling feverish and exhausted, finding it hard to breathe at times. Used the bike's motor more than I like to do.
Sunday Sept 13
Left at 10 to drive to Plymouth. Tomorrow is the first anniversary of my mum's death. We will go to the garden of Remembrance and see her entry in the memorial book. Had my lunch when I got to the hotel at 4pm. Great view of Hoe from my window. Did a walk round the Hoe and Barbican.
In the evening went to a service in St Andrews in the centre of Plymouth. I was expecting this Minster church, first recorded in 1190, to deliver a traditional experience, but it was a bit too modern for my liking, although very friendly. Plymouth has a big student population and the church wants to appeal to them. Went back to hotel, read and ate grapes.
Monday Sept 14
Drizzly and cloudy. Decided to get bus to crematorium as the hotel basement car park is a piece of work. Met my brother, saw the book, wandered around the Commonwealth war graves. He dropped me off in Mannamead.
I walked to the house in Gleneagle Rd where I lived in a flat in the early 1980s with fellow trainee reporter Margery. It hasn't really changed. We were on the ground floor with, wait for it, an outside loo! It was a novelty even in the 80s.
I then walked down to Mutley and past the old reservoir which has now been restored. Had coffee in M&S. Fancied a pasty but the shops seemed to have sold out. Went out in the evening wifh my brother and his family. Very good cheese omelette and cheesecake.
Tuesday 15 September
Drove home, took 5.5 hours. Good weather.
Weds 16 September
First official Olive day. She has just started Reception at achool. She comes to us for breakfast, we take her to school and then pick her up later and take her back to ours. Watched 1st episode new Slow Horses (Apple) in the evening.
Thurs 17 September
Notified that my blood donation has gone to University Hospital, Birmingham. Unfortunately the sale of mum's house has fallen through. Back to the beginning. We drove to Maidstone Services to drop off our bikes ready for the upcoming cycling holiday. Peak Tours arrived 5 mins after us. All good.
Friday 18 September
Quiet day. Did short walk. Sunny. Finished packing for Provence. Although not usually a minimalist, I've got quite adept at packing for cycling trips. Cubes are the answer.
Saturday 19 September - Saturday 26 September
We were in Arles and Avignon for a cycling holiday with 21 others. I've covered the daily schedule in my post Cycling in Provence and Mont Vertoux.
On one day we finished early and did some sightseeing in Avignon, the Palais des Papes and the Cathedral of Avignon.
Below: exploring the gardens at the Palais des Papes. Once a fortress and palace, the papal residence was a seat of Western Christianity during the 14th century. Six papal conclaves were held in the Palais.
I was a little disappointed with the size of Notre Dame des Doms cathedral, which is dwarfed by the Palais. It does have some amazing statues outside that can be seen from far away.
Sun 27 Sept
Early start to collect our bikes at Maidstone Services at 9am. Decided to have a relaxed day once we were home. Did roast beef with Yorkshire puddings.
Mon 28 Sept
A day spent doing chores and catching up, plus a short walk. Invitation to book flu jab, which I did. We have accepted a new offer on Mum's house. Seems like it will go through quickly as there is no chain.
Tues 29 Sept
Went to the gym, did weights, bought trainer package. Good to be back. Started watching Blue Lights series 4. Absolutely gripping! Hot again, needed to use my ac unit.
Weds 30 Sept
Went to Southwark Cathedral. Lots of associations with the arts, which I wasn't expecting. Below: the Shakespeare memorial and window.
I spotted this plaque as I left the cathedral area. There's always something new to discover in London.
I hope you enjoyed my September. How was yours? Do tell in the comments.
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