Lichfield Christmas Tree Festival

 On 1st December we went to Lichfield to visit the Cathedral where they were holding their Christmas Tree Festival.  I took quite a few photographs.  It was a cold Thursday morning and there weren't many people inside so we were able to take time to look at all the different trees.  They had been decorated by local schools, charities and businesses all very different but all equally pleasing.

 Beautiful Advent Candles

 The Cathedral is so beautiful inside. Sorry just a few words today as I'm not feeling too well at the moment.   I hope you enjoy the photos.

 

All for now. Take care.

Here and There

 A few photos and notes from the last few days.

Monday was a lovely day which was good as we had set it aside for a long awaited visit to RAF Cosford.  Paul hadn't visited since the last Flight Simulator weekend in October 2019 and of course there hasn't been one for the last three years.

There was one plane he particularly wanted to see and photograph which had recently been put on display.  

The Gloster Gladiator Mk1 made in 1937.

The Gloster Gladiator was the last bi-plane fighter to be built for the RAF and served in the early years of the Second World War.  They were withdrawn from the front line in 1941 but continued to be used for meteorological reconnaissance and training.

 

Two books from those I had reserved at the library became available.

I've read one and I'm halfway through the other.  I'll soon be able to take them back so someone else can enjoy them.

 

We had two outings in one week the second was to Lichfield yesterday to visit the Christmas Tree Festival at the Cathedral.  I'll write a post about that later next week but for the moment here are a few photos I took around the centre.

I liked the symmetry of the three spires on the cathedral and the three Swans on the Minster Pool.

 

A short explanation of ownership of the pools on the walls of a nearby house.
 

Old and new together.  I wonder if the building works will be residential or commercial.

Erasmus Darwin's house museum  opposite the Cathedral. We didn't go inside this time.

A few festive displays around the modern shopping centre.

So may shops I remember in this area had gone and been replaced by others.  M&S food and Debenhams have gone.  Body shop still there thank goodness but they were out of stock of everything I wanted.  I bought an Advent Calendar from Seasalt featuring Mousehole in Cornwall.  I remember spending time there as a child whilst on holiday in St Ives.  I loved the name.  Still do.

We'd made sandwiches to eat in the car for lunch but on the way back home we dropped into the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's headquarters at Wolesley Bridge.  By this time it was mid afternoon and getting quite cold.  A damp mist was beginning to hang in the still, quiet air.  We had a warm drink and a mince pie as a treat before taking a short walk around the reserve.  We did spot a Goldcrest and a Nuthatch but the little Goldcrest just didn't stay still long enough to photograph and I took a very poor photo of the Nuthatch which isn't good enough to show here.  It was lovely to be in the fresh air and as we walked around I spotted some lovely reflections.

There was hardly anyone about.

 

Just two older men taking close up photos of birds and fungi.

In the coffee shop there had been a cheerful birthday celebration going on around one large table.  

This piece of wood was an interesting shape and cast a great refelection in the pond.

It was getting dull and damp.  It was time to head towards home. 
All for now. I'll be back with the trees later.

Lichfield

 As it is Friday here are five from the small city of Lichfield in Staffordshire. I always enjoy visiting and it's just over thirty miles away, via Stone and Rugely so not too far to travel.

1.  The Cathedral

 The distinctive three spires can be spotted across the fields as you approach the city. Lights were being put on the outside tree ready for the evening illuminations.

It is the only medieval three spired cathedral in the UK and is the burial place of Anglo Saxon Missionary St Chad. 

St Chad

St Chad's Gospels are on display in the beautiful Chapter House.  I did take some photos of the interior which I may use for a separte post.

2.  Shopping

There were some lovely festive shop windows  full of beautiful things.

3.  Historical Connections

The city's most famous residents were Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784) and Erasmus Darwin (1731 - 1802).  Also the actor David Garrick (1717 -1779) whose mother was the daughter of a vicar at the Cathedral. Both DrJohnson and Dr Darwin have their own museum.  The theatre is named after David Garrick.  

 Dr Johnson's birthplace Museum and Bookshop.

Dr Johnson's statue in the Market Square.  There is a statue of his friend and biographer James Boswell at the other end of the the square.

 Erasmus Darwin's house museum and his medicinal herb garden.

4.  The Minster Pool

We sat on the opposite side of the pool to eat sandwiches closely watched by black headed gulls and Canada geese.

  When we first arrived we had coffee and a mince pie in Birds.  Luckily it was quiet and not all the tables were full.  Shopping done we returned everything to the car and went up to the Cathedral to see the Christmas Trees.

5. The Christmas Tree Festival

 The Cathedral was full of music as rehearsals for a concert were taking place

We heard the same piece of music time after time. So now I can't get it out of my head.

The trees were very pretty and thoughtfully decorated by all the participants.

Tokens were being sold so you could award them to your favourite trees.  It was hard to choose but in the end our two favourites were by the Staffordshire Gardens and Parks Trust and the National Memorial Arboretum.

All for now.  Take care.

 

Christmas Tree Festival at Lichfield Cathedral

On Wednesday morning we made our way to the city of Lichfield.  It isn't too far away from here, about forty minutes drive and is small enough to feel like a market town rather than a city.

Our main intention was to visit the Christmas Tree Festival at the Cathedral before doing a little shopping.

It was a very cold day and for some reason I was finding it hard to keep warm in the damp and breezy weather. 

As soon as we entered the Cathedral I felt better from being inside and the glow of the lights made us feel warmer too.

I didn't take too many photos as I wanted to just look at the trees and take in how lovely it all looked.

I've taken you inside the building a few times over the years so not many words this time especially after my wordy grumbles in my last post.

Before we get to the trees I wanted to mention the structure above. It's called 'In the Image and Likeness:  A constellation of Images'  It's a collaboration between the Cathedral, its artist in residence Peter Walker, local schools and community groups.

It was quite beautiful both seen at a distance with its pale, fragile silvery light and also close to looking up into it with it's bright golden glow.

Here is a - link - to more information about the project which explains it more easily that I could have done.

On to the trees, I had meant to find out how many there were but forgot to ask and didn't pick up any information about them, I would think there must have been about fifty of them.

I liked the turquoise blue feathers on this tree.

This one caught our attention as it was so simplel with gentle seasonal colours and didn't have glitter or flashing lights.

On closer inspection it was a tree from the National Memorial Arboretum.

I loved this star on top of one of the trees

I think you can see from the photos that at the time we visited it wasn't very busy

The tree with the rocking horse was decorated by a local vetinary surgery.

From about 5.30p.m. onwards there are also light displays and illuminations both inside and outside the cathedral.

I've heard that is is quite spectacular and seen wonderful photos on facebook taken by friends who have visited in the evening.