Giant Elephants and separated people at Trafalgar Square

Post by **spot** » Fri May 12, 2006 3:42 pm

OpenMind wrote: That's strange.

Ã‚¿Que?

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Fri May 12, 2006 3:48 pm

spot wrote: Ã‚¿Que?
My sentiments exactly.

(You walked into that one.)

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Fri May 12, 2006 3:50 pm

Spent a long time on the phone with weeder & theia this evening and they made me laugh so much my sides ached, i swear they have a brilliant comedy routine between them.

What lovely ladies they are, and even though i never got to meet the lovely laura i shall miss her when she returns home tomorrow as i know theia will,

if you read this before you leave laura, have a good flight home and i look forward to autumn (fall)

and theia i shall call you soon,

my love to you both.

Post by **spot** » Fri May 12, 2006 3:54 pm

OpenMind wrote: My sentiments exactly.

(You walked into that one.)But... Bez and I were wondering where the vividness of the 20th century image of Becket at the Altar came from, that's all, since they were considering going there. Eliot's 1935 play was staged in Canterbury Cathedral itself, and I'm sure it was the shock of the modern - practically sacriligious - which implanted itself in the British mind from then until now. She saw the Burton film that was only-maybe influenced a bit by it, I heard the echoes of the play on tape. Neither very close, but both powerful.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Fri May 12, 2006 4:15 pm

spot wrote: But... Bez and I were wondering where the vividness of the 20th century image of Becket at the Altar came from, that's all, since they were considering going there. Eliot's 1935 play was staged in Canterbury Cathedral itself, and I'm sure it was the shock of the modern - practically sacriligious - which implanted itself in the British mind from then until now. She saw the Burton film that was only-maybe influenced a bit by it, I heard the echoes of the play on tape. Neither very close, but both powerful.

History. How it changes so. I remember being taught about Thomas a Becket as a part of RI back in the late 60s. Of course, RI, RE, etc. is nothing more than a version of history. My little village has a chapel dedicated to Thomas a Becket.

I can't say that I know either the play or the film (although I have likely watched one or t'other with my parents at some point in my youth). 'Chinese whispers' makes for a dramatic ending.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Fri May 12, 2006 11:22 pm

I know that Hollywood films aren't 100% accurate, but I found this film appeared fairly realistic, that's why the image of the murder of Thomas a Becket have always stayed with me...or maybe at the age of 26 i was a little in love with Richard Burton

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Fri May 12, 2006 11:25 pm

Raven wrote: Okay. I think we have made up our minds. We're taking tomorrow off to recup from the week, cause sunday we're off to Bath, Stonehenge, and Glastonbury! Big long day!:-6 And as everyone knows, Stonehenge is a must see for everyone on the n. american continent! (along with loch ness!);)

Are you driving to Bath etc ??

minks · Post by **minks** » Sat May 13, 2006 3:44 am

Bez wrote: Are you driving to Bath etc ??

Canterbury for us and that is our final answer.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat May 13, 2006 3:47 am

There is a church in my village, Clapham, called the Thomas a Becket Church.

(I can see you're all getting excited now.):rolleyes:

Post by **spot** » Sat May 13, 2006 3:49 am

minks wrote: Canterbury for us and that is our final answer. :)Then I shall not join you in Bath for a surprise hour, but I'm certain that you'll enjoy Canterbury. And if you have the spare couple of hours on the way back, you do drive past the Chatham Dockyard and even pulling onto the forecourt gives you a spectacular impression of the late 17th century.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat May 13, 2006 4:09 am

Canterbury.

Have a gander at this: -

http://www.canterbury.co.uk/cgi-bin/bui ... ?mysql=303

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat May 13, 2006 4:35 am

SnoozeControl wrote: God, you English are weird! The things you can find to do with poultry.

(okay, I'll shut up now)

Now, am I supposed to find something odd about your post here?

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sat May 13, 2006 12:09 pm

minks wrote: Canterbury for us and that is our final answer.

Yippee....and I'll be there too ...:-6

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sat May 13, 2006 1:53 pm

Bez wrote: Yippee....and I'll be there too ...:-6

Huh?? You going to get to see them again tomorrow. Hmmmph

*Betty stamps feet*

Not fair!!:p

Give them all a big hug from Betty please! :-4

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sat May 13, 2006 1:58 pm

Betty Boop wrote: Huh?? You going to get to see them again tomorrow. Hmmmph

*Betty stamps feet*

Not fair!!:p

Give them all a big hug from Betty please! :-4

If you set off now you could come too.

I can't believe it...such an unexpected day out...I'm getting all excited....again...

I certainly will give them a big hug don't you worry..

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sat May 13, 2006 2:01 pm

OpenMind wrote: There is a church in my village, Clapham, called the Thomas a Becket Church.

(I can see you're all getting excited now.):rolleyes:

There is a village quite near me called Clapham...how spooky.

We also have a Thomas a Becket church and one of ny grandsons goes to Thomas a becket school.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat May 13, 2006 2:10 pm

Bez wrote: There is a village quite near me called Clapham...how spooky.

We also have a Thomas a Becket church and one of ny grandsons goes to Thomas a becket school.

Whooo. I've gone all cold now.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sat May 13, 2006 2:50 pm

Here are a few more pics of our adventures!

And ladies..........there are more of Chris!;)

Now these are in no particular order.

But one of them is jack the rippers patch.

Attached files

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sat May 13, 2006 2:57 pm

These are the castle at rochester and the abbey at rochester.

Attached files

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat May 13, 2006 3:04 pm

Those are beautiful pics! The abbey pic in the middle is so cool!

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sat May 13, 2006 3:04 pm

This is another hodge podge from the london dungeons and the tower.

Attached files

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sat May 13, 2006 3:12 pm

These are the leeds castle pics!

Attached files

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sat May 13, 2006 3:16 pm

And last but not least.......We really miss him!:-4

Attached files

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat May 13, 2006 3:33 pm

Oh, Chris is so sweet in that pic!:-4

*hearing all the ladies sighing in agreement*

Post by **spot** » Sat May 13, 2006 7:22 pm

Raven wrote: And last but not least.......We really miss him!:-4You're such brutes, all of you. What's he got that I don't?

On a less hit-me-I-like-it note, I'm really pleased Bez gets to play again, that's such a nice twist.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sun May 14, 2006 12:47 pm

spot wrote: You're such brutes, all of you. What's he got that I don't?

On a less hit-me-I-like-it note, I'm really pleased Bez gets to play again, that's such a nice twist.

It was fantastic to 'play again' as spot put it. It was early evening Saturday when it was suggested I meet Robin, Voodoo, Minks and Roger at Canterbury today and I have had a wonderful day. The Cathedral is spectacular and we were priviledged to be there while the Sunday service was going on...the voices of the choir bought a lump to my throat.

It is almost impossible to impart the beauty, the history, the magnificense of it all. This place has it's roots back in 602 AD...possibly before. There is an area that commemorates the place where St Thomas a Becket was murdered....Pope Paul visited the spot in the late 1990s .

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sun May 14, 2006 12:50 pm

spot wrote: You're such brutes, all of you. What's he got that I don't?

On a less hit-me-I-like-it note, I'm really pleased Bez gets to play again, that's such a nice twist.
But we got you longer!!:wah:

And we miss you too!:-4

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sun May 14, 2006 12:56 pm

Raven wrote: But we got you longer!!:wah:

And we miss you too!:-4

Yeah...don't be greedy spot

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sun May 14, 2006 12:58 pm

Bez wrote: It was fantastic to 'play again' as spot put it. It was early evening Saturday when it was suggested I meet Robin, Voodoo, Minks and Roger at Canterbury today and I have had a wonderful day. The Cathedral is spectacular and we were priviledged to be there while the Sunday service was going on...the voices of the choir bought a lump to my throat.

It is almost impossible to impart the beauty, the history, the magnificense of it all. This place has it's roots back in 602 AD...possibly before. There is an area that commemorates the place where St Thomas a Becket was murdered....Pope Paul visited the spot in the late 1990s .
So glad you got home alright!:-4

OM just waiting for you buddy!

And all I can say about the cathedral is.....OMG!!! Pics will be forthcoming!

And we all had a lovely picnic lunch in the park, followed by the canterbury tales tour! Excellent day! Absolute sensory overload!

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun May 14, 2006 2:04 pm

Raven wrote: So glad you got home alright!:-4

OM just waiting for you buddy!

And all I can say about the cathedral is.....OMG!!! Pics will be forthcoming!

And we all had a lovely picnic lunch in the park, followed by the canterbury tales tour! Excellent day! Absolute sensory overload!

Here I am. That journey back all but wiped me out.

Pics will be posted as soon as the camera's battery is recharged.

Canterbury Cathedral costs Ã‚£9,000 a day to maintain. That's phenomenal. But so much work, blood, sweat and tears kind, has gone into creating this great British landmark.

The organ is fantastic to listen to. So much power. You not only hear it, you can feel it. The acoustics are perfect. An awe-inspiring and humbling experience. I felt a real anti-climax when our tour of the cathedral and grounds was over.

Thanks for the picnic guys. That was a nice surprise.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sun May 14, 2006 2:11 pm

OpenMind wrote: Here I am. That journey back all but wiped me out.

Pics will be posted as soon as the camera's battery is recharged.

Canterbury Cathedral costs Ã‚£9,000 a day to maintain. That's phenomenal. But so much work, blood, sweat and tears kind, has gone into creating this great British landmark.

The organ is fantastic to listen to. So much power. You not only hear it, you can feel it. The acoustics are perfect. An awe-inspiring and humbling experience. I felt a real anti-climax when our tour of the cathedral and grounds was over.

Thanks for the picnic guys. That was a nice surprise.
Our pleasure! It was a mindblowing day! And thanks for sharing it with us!

minks · Post by **minks** » Sun May 14, 2006 2:29 pm

Awww you guys this has been a complete fairy tale, yeah lil old cowtown Minks in England!! Today was spectacular. Even if you don't like history, don't celebrate any religion, Canterbury will blow your mind. Chonsi you will like this, I bought the little booklet on Canterbury thinking it would be enough to refresh my memory when I got home, heck at the end of the day I had to go and buy a bigger and more in depth book on the place, it was facinating.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun May 14, 2006 5:39 pm

Oh, it sounds simply glorious, I am going to look at OM's pics to see a tidbit of the wonder you saw.

Post by **spot** » Sun May 14, 2006 8:17 pm

Bez wrote: Pope Paul visited the spot in the late 1990s .And a natural gentleman he was too. I remember we discussed the consequences of ecumenical liberalism deriving from the Vatican II council. He kept his end of the conversation up quite well, given that he'd been dead thirty years - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_XXIII

Bez, I think you got da wrong guy but I could check my diary for the late 1990s if it helps.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Mon May 15, 2006 12:06 am

spot wrote: And a natural gentleman he was too. I remember we discussed the consequences of ecumenical liberalism deriving from the Vatican II council. He kept his end of the conversation up quite well, given that he'd been dead thirty years - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_XXIII

Bez, I think you got da wrong guy but I could check my diary for the late 1990s if it helps.

I bow to your greater knowledge spot.........it was however an historic event when the leader of the Roman Catholic church visited Canterbury Cathedral.

I believe I should have referred to Pope John Paul II

Papacy began October 16, 1978

Papacy ended April 2, 2005

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:07 am

Raven wrote: This is another hodge podge from the london dungeons and the tower.
OK, guys, I'm sorry, I'm sure this question has been asked and answered, but this thread is too damn long for me to sift through to find the answer.

Raven, I recognize 3 of the foursome in the last pic on the top row, but who is the dude in the orange coat? Is that VooDoo?

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:13 am

I keep saying it, I know...I know. I sound like a broken record, but I can't help it. I just think this is the coolest thing that I've seen in a long time. So many friends meeting from so many corners of the earth. I get a warm fuzzy every time I read this thing. You are all so very lucky to have had this experience.

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:17 am

BabyRider wrote: OK, guys, I'm sorry, I'm sure this question has been asked and answered, but this thread is too damn long for me to sift through to find the answer.

Raven, I recognize 3 of the foursome in the last pic on the top row, but who is the dude in the orange coat? Is that VooDoo?

Sorry to butt in, butt

yes. It's Minks, Bez, Voodoo and Chris and they're standing by Traitor's Gate in the Tower of London.

After the Catholic Mary Tudor, eldest daughter of King Henry VIII, came to the throne, she had her youngest sister (soon to be Queen Elizabeth I) imprisoned in the Tower of London.

The Princess Elizabeth came to the Tower by barge and had to wait for the tide in the River Thames to recede before the river level dropped low enough to uncover Traitor's Gate so she could enter the Tower. All prisoners of the Tower of London had to enter through Traitor's Gate, because the tide was a good natural defence against any escape attempts.

Many many people were beheaded on Tower Green, including young Princess Elizabeth's own mother, Anne Boleyn.

In fact Anne Boleyn's ghost is still said to be seen, walking the battlements and wailing, to this very day.

So imagine the young Princess Elizabeth's feelings as she stood on the other side of that gate, waiting for the tide to lower and knowing that she could very easily be executed once she was a prisoner inside those cold damp walls!

Hope you enjoyed that brief history lesson folks!

These are simply wonderful photos guys and how brilliant that Bez and OM got to spend another day with you! Whats next on the agenda?

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:20 am

Rapunzel wrote: Sorry to butt in, butt

yes. It's Minks, Bez, Voodoo and Chris.
Actually, thanks for "butting in," Rap. You answered my question, that's all I wanted! :yh_bigsmi

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:28 am

Oh I'm so happy for you Minks, Raven it looks like you have had an excellent last couple of days. Those cathedral pictures are beautiful, (not too sure of that chap in the blue raincoat though!!

)

Oh and it's great to see that both Bez and OM could make another day out with the party, I bet that was such a hoot!! Keep up the great pictures and stories please!!

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:42 am

Rapunzel wrote: http://www.forumgarden.com/forums/attac ... 1147557812

Sorry to butt in, butt

yes. It's Minks, Bez, Voodoo and Chris and they're standing by Traitor's Gate in the Tower of London.

After the Catholic Mary Tudor, eldest daughter of King Henry VIII, came to the throne, she had her youngest sister (soon to be Queen Elizabeth I) imprisoned in the Tower of London.

The Princess Elizabeth came to the Tower by barge and had to wait for the tide in the River Thames to recede before the river level dropped low enough to uncover Traitor's Gate so she could enter the Tower. All prisoners of the Tower of London had to enter through Traitor's Gate, because the tide was a good natural defence against any escape attempts.

Many many people were beheaded on Tower Green, including young Princess Elizabeth's own mother, Anne Boleyn.

In fact Anne Boleyn's ghost is still said to be seen, walking the battlements and wailing, to this very day.

So imaging the young Princess Elizabeth's feelings as she stood on the other side of that gate, waiting for the tide to lower and knowing that she could very easily be executed once she was a prisoner inside those cold damp walls!

Hope you enjoyed that brief history lesson folks!

These are simply wonderful photos guys and how brilliant that Bez and OM got to spend another day with you! Whats next on the agenda?
Today, not much. I think we're going to get rained out. We're going to do laundry....LOL! Then maybe hike to hadleigh castle. Going to sleep early tonight cause tomorrow is either Hever castle or stonehenge and glastonbury.:-6 Good weather forcast for both days!

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:49 am

chrisb84uk wrote: Oh I'm so happy for you Minks, Raven it looks like you have had an excellent last couple of days. Those cathedral pictures are beautiful, (not too sure of that chap in the blue raincoat though!!

)

Oh and it's great to see that both Bez and OM could make another day out with the party, I bet that was such a hoot!! Keep up the great pictures and stories please!!

I dont think OM has posted the cathedral pics yet! We should be this evening when we get the pics developed! Those pics you saw were when you were still with us! :wah: But plenty more is on the way! I just wish you could see them all! Looks like I'm going to have to do the photo bucket thing! And Chris, we're going to scan the dungeon pic today!:sneaky:

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:59 am

Raven wrote: I dont think OM has posted the cathedral pics yet! We should be this evening when we get the pics developed! Those pics you saw were when you were still with us! :wah: But plenty more is on the way! I just wish you could see them all! Looks like I'm going to have to do the photo bucket thing! And Chris, we're going to scan the dungeon pic today!:sneaky:

Hahahaha oh where they!!

I guess my eyes just saw so many fantastic historical buildings over those 5 days, that I just confused myself hahaha. Oh and the dungeon pic hahaha, that should be funny, it will be interesting to see what others make of it. I'll say no more so as to not ruin it for everyone!!

Is today the first real day, that the weather has been nasty for you since I left, or has the sunshine and rain been very mixed??

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Mon May 15, 2006 2:07 am

It was a mite chilly yesterday, but no rain! We couldnt have ordered better weather! I am rather amazed myself!

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Mon May 15, 2006 2:12 am

Raven wrote: It was a mite chilly yesterday, but no rain! We couldnt have ordered better weather! I am rather amazed myself!

That's really good to hear. We have had the odd day of drizzle, especially yesterday here, but the sun has been out most days, so it's nice to see the same applies to you as well. So not much planned for today then, that's a shame, but I hope you are able to take that hike to Hadleigh Castle if you can, I'm sure it will make up for the wet weather, (besides I was the only one grumbling about the weather, so it shouldn't be a problem for you!! :wah: )

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Mon May 15, 2006 2:28 am

You grumbled?? LOL! I never heard you grumble once! But the sun always shines in this corner of England!

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Mon May 15, 2006 2:38 am

Raven wrote: You grumbled?? LOL! I never heard you grumble once! But the sun always shines in this corner of England!

Hahaha no I meant before the event, my consistent worrying and grumbling like an old man!!

You know it was really nice being able to see the sea and ships, because living in the middle of the UK, really does put a hamper on trying to see them on a regular basis. This event has really opened my eyes to some of the beauty around our country, so I really should try and get out more!! All I end up seeing lately is this laptop screen, our town centre or my bed hahaha.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Mon May 15, 2006 3:06 am

LOL! You KNOW you have to keep walking! Minks said!:wah: