St. Stephen, the Church and a Solemn Moment

The photo above is of the church at St. Stephen-in-Brannel, Cornwall. 

Often it seems as if time is going faster and faster. We were previously at this village one year ago. I know this, as it is where I get my annual car service - not at the church, of course, but at a nearby garage.

It's never the happiest of visits as someone close to us is buried here. Always makes me think about life in general. We are on Earth for such a short period and yet we seem to waste so much time on unimportant trivialities. 

Our loved one is buried in the new section, adjacent to the main churchyard. Here only headstones are allowed.

Most locals simply call the village St. Stephens. The Brannel bit is left over from medieval times when the parish was within the royal manor of Brannel.

The church dates back to 1261. It is thought that there was a previous church on this site. This is indicated by various ancient crosses in the churchyard.

Back to the car.  It was serviced, no problems and life goes on. Well for some of us ... or perhaps all of us.

When my mother died I found this poem in her purse and it was read out at her funeral service.

Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped away into the next room,

I am I and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other,

that we are still.

Call me, by my old familiar name.

Speak to me,

in the the easy way you always used.

Put no difference into your tone.

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

What is death, but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind

because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you,

for an interval,

somewhere very near,

just around the corner.

All is well.

Nothing is past; nothing is lost.

One brief moment and all will be as it was before.

How we shall laugh

at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Thank you for your visit to my blog. Good wishes - Mike.

How Boscastle Harbour Today Compares With 1870

I came across the 1870 photo below of Boscastle harbour and it struck me how little it has changed. It remains very much the same today.

The photo above is a recent picture I snapped of Boscastle. There is the same lion like cliff guarding the entrance to the harbour. The harbour wall, built in 1584, remains virtually in it's original condition.

The natural inlet was the only place a harbour could be considered along the forty miles plus of rugged cliffs.

All is quiet in the harbour nowadays but 100 years ago it would have been heaving with activity.  Entrance into the harbour is difficult and dangerous. In days gone by the old sailing ships had to be towed into the inlet. This was done with the help of hobbler boats, which were powered by eight oarsmen.

Today Boscastle is a busy tourist attraction and the boats to be seen are fishing boats and pleasure craft. 

See also:

Boscastle, Cornwall : Walking to the Old 1584 Harbour Wall - 16 Photos

Lots to See and Do Near Tintagel Besides The Castle: Cliff Walk, Waterfall, Boscastle Harbour, Bronze Age Carvings, Holy Well & Chapel

Photos of August Flowers in my Cornwall Garden

 

A few August photos from my garden. The flowers above are at the front of the house. The trees in the background are on the opposite side of the road.

The lily is from the back garden, as are most of the other flowers.

There seems to be a bit of an unintentional pink theme this year, next are petunias. We over did these flowers as well this year.

Maybe too many dahlia as well - but they are easy to grow. We just leave them in the ground and up they come every year - providing you keep your fingers crossed!

Here we go again, but this dahlia has gone bonkers this year. The flower is higher than a five feet plus high fence. Not sure why, maybe it wants to be a tree - we all have our dreams!

Yes, another dahlia but a pompom variety, all neat and tidy.

Thought I'd better look up to the sky to find something a bit different.

Back to earth.

 Something else that isn't quite pink.

Okay, another dahlia, but it's not pink. I quite link the pastel tints.

Not sure what this is called, again it comes back every year to say hello.

A fuchsia, which again winters okay in Cornwall's mild climate.

Our passion fruit plant, passiflora, still has a few flowers - and very pretty they look.

Thanks for the visit.

See also:
An Abundance of Wild Flowers at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall

My Cornwall Garden Flowers: 16 Photos

A Touch of Bude on Cornwall's North Coast

A few photos of Bude today starting, above, with a view of the coastline and below the pathway to Chapel Rock. It is often said that there was once a hermitage on the top of the rock - but this could well just be a legend.

Alongside the path are a few lobster pots.

A cottage by the beach. What a lovely position, though may not be so idyllic when a storm is raging. 

Looking across the sand dunes at brightly coloured houses and B & B  establishments.

A view of the beach across from Chapel Rock. 

Bude has a canal dating back to 1825, but it is no longer used for carrying goods.

The workings of the lock gates are to be seen ...

... in several places.

The canal is looking good, even if there are a few rain clouds about.

There is a pleasant walk along the canal's tow path.

After the dull canal moments a look at the beach again, while the tide is going out.

Oh, and I'll end with this fellow who was very camera shy. He just wouldn't move or turn round.

See also: 

Nanny Moore's Bridge in Bude

A Wonderful Display of Rocks, Cliffs, Pebbles and Sand at Northcott Mouth, Bude, Cornwall

Carlyon Bay, Cornwall in the Sunshine

 

I don't know what I was thinking! We only wanted a quick walk as we had other things to do. I suggested walking along the beach at Carlyon Bay.

We headed for the car park and there was a queue. It's normally free and empty out of season. Today though everyone seemed to want to head for the beach. 

As I had turned into the slip road to the car park I couldn't do an about turn as cars were following me. 

So, after paying £3, we had our walk. The first stretch of the Carlyon Bay beach had lots of people but, as most visitors don't like to walk, the far end of the beach was virtually empty.

Just the occasional person taking a selfie.

And the odd adventurous family who wanted a quiet life.

One thing I did notice was how much seaweed and other bits had been washed ashore.

We walked to the very end of the beach. There were a couple of boarders paddling and that was all.

We wandered back along the beach, following a young couple dressed more appropriately than we were.

Then, of course, there were more and more people enjoying the sea and the sand.

We did our best to avoid the crowds. The coronavirus hasn't disappeared completely.

It was a very hot day so can understand why many had headed for the beach.

As we made our way back to the car park all looked peaceful. I wouldn't have minded a swim!

Thanks for visiting my blog.

See also:

Looking For Lucky Shells at Carlyon Bay, Cornwall

The Meeting With Barrel Jellyfish at Carlyon Bay, Cornwall

St. Dennis, Cornwall and its Connection with a Beheaded Saint

An old story today from an 1865 book, originally written by a Robert Hunt. The story tells of St. Dennis and the links to the Cornish church of the same name. I have previously mentioned St. Dennis church in my post St. Denys, King Arthur and St. Dennis Church

"The patron saint of the parish church of St. Dennis, Cornwall was born in the city of Athens, in the reign of Tiberius. His name and fame have full record in the History of Saints of the Church of Rome. 

How his name was connected with this remote parish is not clearly made out. 

We learn, however, that the good man was beheaded at Montmartre and that he walked after his execution, with his head under his arm, to the place in Paris which still bears his name. 

At the very time the decapitation took place in Paris, blood fell on the stones of the courtyard of St. Dennis in Cornwall. Previously, to the breaking out of the plague in London, the stains of the blood of St. Dennis were seen again; and during our wars with the Dutch. The defeat of the English fleet was foretold by the rain of gore in this remote sequestered place.

William Hals the Cornish historian, with much gravity, informs us that he had seen some of the stones with blood upon them.  Whenever the phenomenon occurs again we may expect some sad calamity to be near."

Other Old Traditional Stories:

Who or What Are Cornish Knockers?

Old Cornish Ghost Story From 1800's

Bodmin Jail and a Hanging Watched by 25,000 People

The Smugglers Brew From Cornwall

My son gave me a box of Cornish Tea, described as a 'Smugglers Brew'. I drink a lot of tea, usually PG Tips mixed with Tetley - one tea bag of each in a teapot for two cups.

What fascinated me about the Cornish Tea, however, was that there was a poem about Cornwall on the box.

TEA BY THE SEA

Cornwall is the place to be,

With tea and scones by the sea.

Lovely weather all summer long,

How could one possibly go wrong.

Walking bare-footed on golden sand,

While couples are walking hand in hand.

From smugglers coves and tiny streets

To pubs and night clubs blaring their beats.

Driving your car down single lanes

Watching tractors plough their muddy plains.

Surfers flock to tidal waves,

Water crashing in to empty caves.

Pasties are what the Cornish do best,

If you don't believe me go try the rest.

Holiday camps are so much fun

When you could play all day or sit in the sun.

So next time you're sitting there, 

Drinking your tea

Remember that Cornwall is the place to be.

The poem was by Matthew McGuiness

Age 13 - Looe Community Academy

The tea tastes good too! Perfect 

with your scones, jam and cream

I guess, in an ideal world, we would all purchase local products and support local shops and businesses.

Must be time for tea! I prefer mine in a white mug.