Early July Blog

You know there is a lot of people you can live with, there is only a few you cannot live without.

You can never forget those triggers that remind you of someone special.  Every night as I start cooking, I get the onion and garlic out, and I think of my brother, the man, the myth and the legend. He showed me how to peel and chop garlic. I have moved on since then; I now top and tail the clove of garlic and then crush it, and the remaining skins drop off. But at that moment when I break the garlic from the bulb, I think of him. Hopefully, he has moved on and is doing it the easier way. 

Did you know garlic is actually good for your heart? 

A word of caution: after eating garlic, it would be advisable not to go around kissing anyone; that will not be so good for your heart.

High blood pressure is not a good thing; it can cause heart attacks and strokes. Garlic may be an important part of maintaining a healthy heart. Garlic has allicin in it, which contains sulphur and gives garlic its aromatic smell. Allicin is the good part and the bad part. Good for your heart, bad for your breath; the choice is yours. I use garlic whenever I can, and it seems to be working as my heart is still going.

Village Cricket

When watching village cricket, the team to watch is Broadstone 2nd team. A mixture of the young and fit, mixed with older gentlemen, who try their best and almost get it right. An example when fielding a cricket ball: it is recommended that you go down on one knee and catch the ball. All very well, but when you are of an older generation, bending down can be something you have to think about. The ball seems to have a mind of its own and jumps over your outstretched hand and trickles to the boundary. Don’t get me wrong, this team wins quite a few of their matches and is the perfect afternoon entertainment. We decided to watch Gary’s cricket match in Witchampton, a small medieval village just outside Wimborne. With a population of 258, it cannot be described as a vibrant hive of activity. The pub owner, whom we asked for directions from, was redoing his paving. There was a lady doing the flowers in the church, and the rest was peaceful and quiet. Anyway, back to the cricket. One thing has to be said about these small communities: they take pride in their village, and the cricket pitch was no exception. Surrounded by large oak trees in wheat fields, it was a beautifully maintained pitch and outfield with a quaint clubhouse. 

Gary did well, scored 77 runs, and they won the match. 

St Mary, St Cuthburga & All Saints’ Church

We did visit the local church with a long history, dating back to the Doomsday Book. I had read somewhere that the organ was given to the church by someone, but I can not find who it was. The organ makes a huge statement, large and almost a centrepiece next to the altar. As in most village churches, it burnt down and was restored. The name of the church, St Mary and All Saints Church, is very common, but the St Cuthburga intrigued me. 

Turns out St Cuthburga was a Saxon Princess. Her statue stands over the beautiful Arts and Crafts-style lychgate. St Cuthburga was the first abbess of Wimborne. Cuthburga was the daughter of Prince Conrad, a cousin to Caedwalla, King of Wessex, and a direct ancestor of Alfred the Great. She was extremely well connected in Saxon times and married to Aldfrith, King of Northumbria. Eventually Cuthburga and Aldfrith separated for religious reasons, and Cuthburga took the veil with her sister St. Cwenburga. Her brother Ine, then the King of Wessex, was so impressed that his sisters had devoted themselves to the service of God that he built a church for the good of his soul and for his people. 

The East Window

A stained glass window representing the Annunciation and Visitation. Designed by the Scottish-born architect Sir Ninian Comper. He was one of the last of the great gothic rival architects, noted for his churches and their furnishings, particularly for his stained glass windows and his use of colour and his subtle integration of Classical and Gothic elements. With regard to the organ, I will research its origin and let you know.

I went to Poole Hospital today, they wanted to check up my heart. Anyway cut a long story short the woman doing examination was good looking and in her 40’s. She told me to strip from the waist up. Lying on my side facing away from her, she draped herself over me and, using the scanner, examined me. While draped over me, she did say if it is getting too hard to let her know. That did leave me a little perplexed. 

Talking about things in full bloom, I notice the Wild Carrot is flowering. I know, it is technically a weed, but then a weed is just a plant that has decided to grow in the wrong place. Walking up the path behind our house is a natural haven for plants that are in the right place. The Mile a Minute Vine is also in bloom, as is the eye-catching St James Wort. Weeds get a raw deal, and I suggest we give them more than a passing glance in the future; nature's beauty is there if we look close enough.