What Did I Do At Work This Week?... I Climbed a Cathedral

Wednesday was a memory maker for someone who enjoys the beauty of old buildings.  From the office window for the past few weeks we have been watching a meccano set slowly increase in size and fill out with scaffolding poles and wooden boards.  Each plank of wood being passed from level to level, each scaffolding pole being handed up grip after grip.  Gradually this work of art started to take shape and for me, standing at the office window, I was in absolute awe of this marvellous piece of engineering.

So, when someone says "Chel, remember you said you wanted to go on the scaffolding?  Do you still want to go?", you can imagine my response.  A little preparation for the morning was required, sensible footwear and of course, not a flowing skirt!  Oh, and remember to go to the loo before you go up!  

Myself and a colleague were going up with the contractor, so hard hat and high vis jacket were the order of the day, and then our wonderful historical journey began.  At the beginning, just seeing how the scaffolding poles and planks were pieced together was enough for me to be happy to be here.

There were no ladders here, instead a few steps up and then a platform.  Each platform giving such historical eye candy.  To see and touch this Cathedral at a point where no one from the ground could touch it was such a privilege.  This is as close as you can be to the magnificent windows, the leaded lights and the original glass with its waves.  Looking through to the other side of the entrance of the Cathedral and with the orange glow at the bottom of the shop.  Incredibly happy.

From our office the windows look big, but when you are this close, and looking down, the sheer magnitude was absolutely breathtaking.

The years of pollution and the Whittlesey Brick Factory from times gone by are still visible on parts of the stone work and delicate diamonds of glass.  But, in amongst this beautiful stone, the new work from the stone masons has begun to preserve the majesty and beauty of this building for the next few hundred years.

At the top of each staircase we could walk around the platforms and drink in the views.  Here we have the Cathedral looking east towards Whittlesey.  Below, the quiet and serene cloisters and then the roofs of the precinct buildings.

Looking west, Peterborough started to open up with the Town Hall in the centre of the photo.

But I just couldn't help myself with looking at the architecture so close up.  Touching stonework that probably hadn't been touched for so many years.  I got so excited when I saw one of the rain outlets close up.  Can you imagine how many tonnes of water this simple outlet has expelled over the years.

Already there has been so much work that the stone masons have dealt with.  The Cathedral so lovingly being cared for.  Here you can see the new stone being placed next to the old.  

Some of the stone work has artwork formed on it from the pollution, but to me this was a thing of beauty, showing that the Cathedral can survive whatever is thrown at it.

We were a bit further up and the view from the platform was even better.  The Palace and offices, which you saw from the ground in my Peterborough Heritage Weekend post, could now be seen from the air.

Behind me was the window that I love to see but haven't since the scaffolding has been up.  I have missed it, but imagine my heart skipping that we were right next to it. 

Here it was at the end of last year.

Did you notice the missing piece of filigree at the bottom right of the window?  Here is is close up.

Unbelievable that I could be close enough to touch it (I didn't though - it's too precious).

We were nearly at the top, and what was so totally breathtaking (apart from the views) was the attention to detail at this height.  You would think that when this was being built over the centuries (the Cathedral is almost 900 years old), that the higher they were working the less they would deal with the detail, but they certainly were devoted to the finer details to this beautiful building.

The turrets and little hidden slated roofs started to appear.  I could have quite happily put a picnic blanket on the planks, kicked off my shoes and given a huge happy sigh at this point.  There are times when you are in a place that you don't want to leave.  This was it.

A cracked tile, so perfect.  And look how thick the slate was back then!  My colleague walked past this roof first and then looked back, she knew my camera lens would be focussed on this!

Walking around this level was a wonderland and I can't put into words how lucky I felt.

The last level and we were just walking around in sheer wonder.  In amongst the spires of the Cathedral, close and respectful.

Are you ready for the views of Peterborough?

The church to the right of the shot is St John the Baptist which is in the centre of Cathedral Square.  In front you can see the Norman Arch which is the arch you walk through from the Square to enter the precincts of the Cathedral.  To the right of this is Becketts Chapel and to the left is the Knights Chamber (with the turrets).

Here again in a little more detail.  You can see St John the Baptist, and the little building in front is the Guild Hall.  The wetness on the ground in front are the two triangles of fountains in Cathedral Square.  The brown tinge of wall upon wall is the Queensgate Shopping Centre.  To the bottom of the shot is the Norman Arch again with the Bishop's Prison to the left (no longer in use) and the turreted room above the arch is where King Charles I had his last night before being taken to be executed.

Looking up we felt so incredibly lucky.

But we still had to keep an eye on the planks due to them protecting some of the protruding architecture!

But, we had to return to ground level.  Thankfully I just put my arm over the scaffolding and took the photo without actually looking!!

We were also thankful that we didn't climb down the rope too!

After our thanks to the contractor and all gates locked and secured once more, we went inside the Cathedral to see the part we had climbed.

Only part of it could be seen here, so another little trip is going to planned with a Verger as we are now on a quest to see our favourite round window from the inside.

So, what did I do at work this week?  I climbed a Cathedral!

Have you done anything unusual this week?

Take care.

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Our World Tuesday
Time Travel Thursday

Another Parenting Milestone

When you become a parent there are milestones to be reached and recorded, the first word, the first step, the first day at school - the list goes on.  Each one fills your heart with pride to the point of bursting.  It is as though nobody else's child has done it in the grand scheme of life.

As your child grows, the patience and understanding grows too as this little baby turns into a person with their own opinions and ideas.  You notice yourself smiling as their little traits come out, who do they take after?  and, where did they get that idea from?  Their interests begin to materialise and then the nurturing begins.  Clubs and trips along with the obvious 'Mum and Dad's Taxi Service' on constant standby.

The trials and tribulations start as they get older and their ideas start to clash with others that they have grown up with and friends change.  A parent's job now involves the empathy and guidance to see them through to keep their individuality and not do things that make them feel uncomfortable with themselves.

Then the teenage years start.  Oh yes, the hard times where everything is 'so unfair'.  Hormones kick in, spots appear, hair sprouting everywhere and mood swings - oh boy, mood swings!  To top it all, exams, exams and more exams.  The parent's job becomes the counsellor, police sergeant, public enemy number one, peacemaker and never, ever to embarrass!  Trying to keep your cool, trying to entertain, trying to support. 'Trying' being the buzz word.

And so, this week the milestone for Mr Teen was the end of his GCSE's and the final signing off on his last day at School!  Yes, my baby boy has turned into a school leaver.  I desperately wanted to be there when he walked through the school gates for the last time but due to a huge event I couldn't.  This 'difficult' teen who has spent the last few weeks thinking I am some sort of prison warden while he studied and fought through his GCSE's decided to make sure I didn't miss this milestone and called me from his mobile as he walked through the gates and walked down the road.

His voice was happy, relieved and euphoric!  Something that a parent just couldn't miss.  Another milestone achieved.

The next milestone?  College boy in September!

Being a parent feels so hard sometimes but moments such as a simple phone call made on the spur of the moment to keep their parents involved in their lives is priceless.  All the hard work has been rewarded by that brief conversation and I am so incredibly proud.

The photos this week are a continuation of last week's Heritage Weekend.  This is the Dean's garden at the Cathedral on and around Tout Hill which is within the garden.  It is on the site of a medieval Motte and Bailey Castle.  The mound was called the Motte.  On top of the motte was a wooden tower which would provide a stronghold.  There would be a large courtyard alongside the motte and this was called the bailey and would have a strong gateway often with a drawbridge.  

And now, it is time for a little bonfire with my son and a ceremonial burning of uniform!

Have a wonderful weekend and week.

Take care.

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Time To Go Back Through The Ages

It's hard to believe that it is TWO YEARS since I bravely clicked on 'Publish' and Sweetbriar Dreams was 'born'.  It has been such a learning curve since then with different designs, templates and even cameras!  But one thing that has been consistent is the variety of people I have 'met' along the way - my virtual penpals.  It was slow at first as I learned the blogging protocol for myself, but in the end followers began to show their presence, my constant check on statistics became a thing of the past, and then some comments began to appear.  I started my blog mainly for the love of crafts but my blogging voice just had to be the every day goings on in my little life, my love of capturing a moment in time and incorporating it into a post to look back on and remember.  Unfortunately, I can't be a blogger that writes every other day, there really is not enough hours for me, so have kept pretty consistent to one blog per week with a little bit of 'Wordless' occasionally in the middle of the week.  In between, I love catching up with what is going on in everybody's lives and admiring the photography.  You all are such amazing, talented and have made this little corner of blogland very humble and happy indeed.

Two years ago I went to the Peterborough Heritage Weekend for the first time and my first full blog post was created here.  Then last year another visit took place here.  So, are you ready for a trip down memory lane?  The usual requirements are needed i.e. your cup of tea and an indulgent biscuit, while I take you on the third trip to this amazing event set in the Cathedral Precincts and various other venues in the area.  Look, Queen Katharine of Aragon is waiting for you...

Henry VIII was inside the Cathedral, flirting with his audience!

This fabulous weekend is partly set within the walls of the Cathedral.  The green is totally taken over by tents full of various centuries of crafts, wares and history.

The Bishop and the Dean's gardens were opened too to set the scenes for various encampments.  The Knights Chamber archway is one that is private but today it could be walked through and into the Bishop's garden for the Viking encampment (even the Morris Dancers trotted and rang their way through to take a look!)

The encampment was nearly empty when we visited which is such a shame as there is one particular Viking that I like to photograph but he was no where to be seen!

Such a setting, and obviously one that I know very well.  The scaffolding in the background which I have previously shown in posts just shows the sheer scale of this meccanno set, and one that I have been told that I have permission to go on shortly... what a post that one will be!!  In the shade, there were Viking children enjoying the old walnut tree.

We were drawn to the sound of drums out in the City Centre and were delighted to catch a few groups of Morris Dancers.  The jangling bells and clapping of hands, so colourful.

I had some favourites though!  This man's hat was amazing!

And this lot were ones that I really wouldn't want to meet alone!

I could have watched them all day!!

As D Day has now reached its 70th year, the event had World War I as its main theme. Here's a group of photos of these wonderful men and women who were totally in character.

Further on, there were more soldiers from a totally different era.  The crimson in their jackets was so striking.

  

Then the Romans!  

 The Middle Ages were in the Dean's garden.  I just loved this character with these amazing glasses.

And, of course, a posing Knight!

 Phew!  A busy and incredibly interesting day.  My camera was working over time and so was everyone else's!  I have never seen such gigantic cameras as those that surrounded me and all the people in costume were more than happy to pose for the cameras.  A very happy day!

But at the end of the day I felt as wiped out as this soldier!  Information overload and so many photos to put together for today's post.  

I do hope you enjoyed this rather long Bloganniversary post and have enjoyed going back through the ages.

Here's to another year!!

Take care.

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This week I am sharing with:

Our World Tuesday