Lazy Sunday Afternoon

This Sunday I returned to the same area where I was last weekend, when my friend and I were whisked off in a Police Van. (see previous blog - 8th Nov. 2008) Today was fine, no hallmarked silver littering the lanes, no Police van waiting to take us to 'the spot' where we found it .....all calm and perfectly normal. We returned to the area to do the things she wanted to do when everything went pear shaped last week.

We had a good look around as my friend is applying for a job there, it is such a pleasant village with a lovely Church (see picture above). We walked to one of the three castles in the area, all ruins now, but nevertheless enormously interesting buildings.

We drove out of the village for lunch this week. The place we choose was very different to your usual eatery. It not only provided lunches, but did Bed & Breakfast, there were separate Tea rooms, Oriental gift ware, fabulous gardens which are open to the public in the summer and a huge Belgian chocolate counter in the entrance! It is run by an Oriental chap with a Welsh accent! For lunch we choose a vegetarian option for a change, Beans Provencal which consisted of mixed beans & chickpeas with peppers, tomatoes & olives, served with Garlic herb & sesame bread with a salad garnish. It was excellent .... and reasonably priced.

Next we went to the neighbouring village where the Church there would be the second of four Churches under my friends jurisdiction should she get the job. This Church was very run down, but it had on display there The Skenfrith Cope. A cope is a garment like a cape and is still worn by Bishops and senior clergy in some Churches. This particular cope is dated back to the mid 19th Century and there are many legends surrounding the history of it. What is known about it is that it was found by Father Thomas Abbot, priest-in-charge of the Catholic mission for Monmouth, being used as a cover for the communion table in this Church. The cope was placed in the current glass-fronted case during a refurbishment of this Church in 1910. I doubted the wisdom of it being it that particular Church at all, as the Church is very wet and damp. That can't be good for the fabric even if it is encased in glass. Still ........ what do I know of such things?

We walked around the village and looked at the second of the three castles. By this time the drizzle had become more of a persistent rainfall and the damp was seeping into our clothes and it had grown a lot colder, so we decided to part and head for our respective homes. I was glad I made the effort to accompany my friend, not only to give her support, but it turned out to be an interesting and informative Sunday afternoon. Funny how something you are not looking forward to particularly turns out to be so rewarding.