The weekend

Can it be that April is already winding down? And so was the weekend. It has gone by so very quickly. Anyway, I’d a lovely, busy weekend and the sun did came out to play. Although a bit late on Sat, it was just bliss. It was a shock to the system when the heavens opened this morning. But the gardens will be very happy.

On a wet Sat. I took the bus into the city centre. Since I was early, I walked to this beautiful red sandstone building, standing proud surrounded by the ring road system. I bet that when it was first built it never imagined that it will still be standing in the 21st century amongst the noise and air pollution. And I hoped it would still be standing proud long after.

The Whitefriars of Coventry were a Carmelite group who set up the friary in 1342. The Carmelites wore white habits hence they were called 'whitefriars. The church, constructed from local red sandstone, was painted white internally.

The order grew as charitable donations and funding became available. They survived by providing shelter to the needy and passing travellers, and by preaching to the townsfolk. By 1539 the house had been  disbanded as part of Henry VIII's systematic destruction of the religious communities of England.

It belonged to several owners until 1801when the Whitefriars became a house for the poor, a workhouse. The poor law, repealed in 1948, saw an end to the workhouse. What remained today is the Medieval Cloister wing, survived since 1342. The building is now part of the Herbert Art gallery and Museum.

It was from this Oriel window that Queen Elizabeth I addressed the Coventrians in 1565. The words of her speech were never fully recorded but it is thought that it might have been about the townsfolk frivolous attitude towards religion.

 

My most prized moment was as soon as I started clicking away, this lovely handsome heron landed right on top of the building. My oh my…He wasn’t even bothered that I was right below him. I forgot the building for the moment and concentrate on this magnificent bird.

 

 

Imagine in the middle of this heaving city with traffic on the constant move, he was checking things out. I sat on the ruins and just observed him. By this time, the sun decided to come out and play. Ha…he was checking out the goldfish in the pool behind me. He flew down and strutted slowly along the bank looking for food. I could have watched him for hours, but I’ve got a building to photograph and friends to meet.

I walked to the Herbert to get some gifts for my niece’s birthday. I also got a lovely haematite bracelet for babe. Haematite was believed to have healing properties to ease aches and pains.

Then I checked out an exhibition at the Cathedral. The exhibition features a full length replica of the Shroud of Turin, one of only 6 in the world. The exhibition comes straight from St.Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham to Coventry Cathedral.

The Shroud has been at the centre of controversy for centuries. It bears a negative image of a man in death bearing the marks of crucifixion and flogging and is believed by many to be the shroud that was wrapped around Jesus' body. Scientific studies have denied this, but recently, scientists and historians admit they cannot prove that the Shroud isn't genuine.

The exhibition also featured a very modern retelling of the Stations of the cross called 'Jesus on the Cross Road' by artist Paul Hill, from Castle Vale in Birmingham. I couldn’t get my head around this one.

I didn’t take any photographs since a bus load of Yankees arrived followed by the Lord Mayor and his entourage. I don’t want someone to read me the Anti-Terrorism Act :-)

At 12pm, I had my noodle fix with CC. DB couldn’t make it. I’d my usual Fried udon with seafood special and Chinese vegetables. I kept on saying I’ll go down the menu, but I just simply adore this dish. Since it was a very warm day, I washed it down with a long tall glass of cold soya milk. Bonn appétit.

We’d a slow dawdle to H&M. I wanted to check out the clothes designed by Matthew Williamson. I could only afford his high street clothes. Horror, shocker they don’t stock his collection. Why? Coventry wasn’t big enough. Huh… It is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. I was asked to go to Birmingham!!!

We checked out New Look, Primark, Topshop and Monsoon. We nearly cracked our ribs at some of the clothes. We just don’t know whether it was a dress, a skirt or what???.

I was in serious trouble at Past Times. They’d a sale on and I came out seriously poorer but happier. I got some Easter eggs (for next year), a lavender hanging pouch, a rose-gilded photo frame, a book of poems and a fridge magnet. 

I’d to catch the bus home before the footie fans leave the Ricoh. Another home game, their last for this season. And they lost 3:2 to Watford. Coleman's side now travel to Roy Keane's Ipswich on the final day of the season looking to end their run of just one win in 12 games. I hope they finish with a bang. C’mmon guys.

At home, winding down to watch the repeat of Ronnie O’Sullivan against Mark Allan in the ????of the World Snooker Championship. I’m glad O’Sullivan lost. He was too arrogant and I don’t like the way the commentators worshipping him too much. But watch out in the next tournament. He’ll play like a tiger unleashed. Anyway, I enjoyed watching the younger payers, especially Mark Selby and Neil Richardson.

Yesterday, we made our way to the heronry at Coombe Abbey. I think we left it a bit late this time. Some had already hatched. We spotted a few tatty heads bobbing up and down the nest and there was even a young one testing his wings. The cormorants were still nesting. There was even a moorhen swimming with a twig in its beak, making a nest I bet.

We were upset that the bird hide was vandalised. All the glass windows was smashed. How could someone be so heartless? What kind of people are they… It made me so very mad.

On the walk back, we saw a pair of Greylags with 3 adorable, fluffy babies swimming close to the banks . A family of coots were busy feeding their cute babies in the pond by the hotel. We left as more people started arriving. It was a perfect, lazy Sunday to be out.

Just heard on about the outbreak of the swine flu. No, not another epidemic. Is this another thing to add to the doom and the gloom or to distract? I do hope every one take good care of themselves and be safe.  I couldn’t help taking this lovely photograph of Babe among the beautiful blooms in the warm sunshine. He was more interested in the insects basking on the leaves.