The City of Wells

So over the Bank Holiday weekend I took a day off and headed 50 miles from home down to stay with my Mum who lives near Bristol.

One of the places she loves to visit is the city of Wells in Somerset.  

It has great childhood memories for me with the drive there I used to cycle with my Dad and we once did my longest cycle from our home up to a place called Priddy Pools which is right on the top of the Mendips.  

It is about a 2 hour cycle to get there and I will always have such clear memory of Dad putting his hand on my back and helping me up the hill.  Every time if I cycle and I'm struggling to get up a steep hill I just imagine Dad pushing me and it spurs me on.

This is a picture of Priddy I hasten to add not taken by me but a beautiful image I wanted to show.

Mum has the most amazing memory of places they walked, Dad worked for the Ordinance Survey and if their was a walk to be had, or a footpath to find, he would find it!

It was interesting finding somewhere to park as it has been many many years since I last drove to Wells. In fact the last time was also when the market was in town and I got my trusty knitting basket which I adore.

So by the time we got there it was time for lunch and what better place to have lunch than with Wells Cathedral as a back drop!!! I mean just Wow!!

We had lunch and a good old natter.  

Then as we were leaving a big congregation of people came out of the Cathedral including the Archbishop.

We had a wonder through the market and I was treated to an Aloe Vera plant to add to my lovely houseplant collection.

Then we headed to the Bishops Palace Gardens which I can't recommend highly enough, it is just the most peaceful and inspiring place.  On route we passed a very talented pianist who played so beautifully that I wanted to share with you.

Isn't it just beautiful.

Before we entered the gardens we were saw the Swans and there new signets too.

You can't do anything but say ahhhh when you see the little babies.

This is the entrance to the gardens where behind me is a lovely café which does the loveliest cakes and drinks.  This very precise lawn doubles as a crotchet lawn, although I am not sure when they ever play on it.

I love this view through this window. 

The buildings date back over 800 years with more information here if you would like to go and have a look for yourself.

Mum and I loved the doorway which she modelled just how much more petite in height than some people are now as she is 5ft 2" and she fits perfectly!!

I then ventured off for a little while with my camera, while Mum found a lovely spot to sit and knit.

To get to part of the gardens you go through an entrance in the surrounding of the palace wall down a walkway that runs parallel with the moat that surrounds it.  As you come round one side of the building you are greeted by the most stunning view of the Cathedral.

The sound of the waterfall, the reflection in the water, and the majestic huge building that is the Cathedral is just stunning.

So I walked over the bridge and the waterfall and came across the community allotment.  I mean wow what a place to have an allotment! 

I then walked through the gardens and came across this area that was left to grow naturally with Tulips and Bluebells just popping up through the grass.

This was I think one of my favourite parts of the gardens, it was just so quiet and when you sat down at the flowers level it was like you could be in your own private woodland.

Throughout the gardens there was also paintings and this was by far my favourite. I would love to have that on the wall in my home.

Finally we came across this sculpture which represents a Swan, I just loved that when you looked at it from different angles it looked higher on one side, then higher on the other.

I hope you have enjoyed my photographic tour of Wells and will leave you with Stanual my Campervan when we stopped off at a scenic part of the drive home on the outskirts of Wells.

Until next time......

Visiting Dad

This post is a very personal share of place and person very dear to me. 

Back in 2014 my Dad for his own personal reasons took his own life.  People may judge and say "it's the cowards way out", but you should never judge someone else's suffering and if it eased him from his demons then I believe and always will that he was incredibly brave for what he did. 

My Dad was a very private person, but oh my goodness he was super fit, he used to run marathons and triathlon. Growing up I used to go on long cycle rides and we'd go swimming together. I swam my first mile with him.  

He absolutely adhore his 3 grand children and would love to play footy with them and take my son rock climbing at Clevedon.  He just loved being outdoors, be it pottering in the garden or out hiking on the hills.  

From my Mum I am blessed to have my passion for knitting that she taught me from a young age and she is originally from Wales a place that I gravitate to the most for peace and a sense of calm. 

I am blessed to have the same birthday as him and too just love spending time in the garden and have recently started running and I love walking in the hills. 

It has however taken me 7 years to be able to finally visit his resting place, but today is the day and I'm so so glad I did. His ashes are scattered in a beautiful church yard at the base of Crooks Peak Hill which is part of the Mendips in Somerset.

So I have come to just sit and be at peace with him and do a spot of knitting under the bush in the shade. Then on top of Crooks Peak overlooking the Mendips towards Cheddar, Somerset, Brean down, the Severn Estuary and take in the incredible 360° view and just be.