Adlestrop Revisited:Art In Cardiff.

The Poet Edward Thomas was travelling through this village, near to Stow on the Wold, in a train ( station closed 1964) during the First World War.

This poem describes a moment which for many people sums up an English summer day. The added poignancy for Thomas himself, who never set foot in Adlestrop, was his death in Flanders in 1917.
It needless to say immortalised this place.

Here are  the first and last stanzas:

' Yes I remember Adlestrop-

The name because one afternoon,

Of heat the express-train drew up there

Unwontedly. It was late June.

And for that minute a blackbird sang

Close by, and around him, mistier,

Father and farther , all the birds

Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. '

Phillip Edward Thomas ( 1878 - 1917 )

Yesterday ( 31 /10) D. and I revisited a walk from Adlestrop, which we first tried on 21st April 2003.

It was a beautiful day as  we ventured forth from the village hall car park, on the last day of October.

This is clearly a village which likes its race-horses, seeing many in our drive into Adlestrop. It is the home of trainer Richard Phillips, who has met with some success through the years.
The walk took us left from the hall up a bridlepath (what else!) where I noticed a training circuit and stables.

This may belong to (RP) , but I couldn't be sure. The walk was a gradual pull uphill, through large meadows, some with interesting trees.

The ridges, you can see in the above picture, are apparently,  the legacy of medieval ridge and furrow ploughing techniques.

The only animals seen, apart from horses were flocks of sheep content with their grassy repose.

This was taken at the top of the climb near the National Trust Property ' Chastleton House '

Chas House.

A very elegant Jacobean residence once owned by Robert Catesby, a conspirator of the Gunpowder Plot 1605.
The building in the background, by the way is a large Dovecote, in the grounds of Chastleton.

 This next photograph gives a clearer picture of the house, peering through the trees.

This picture encapsulates for me , the beauty of the day with the colourful leaves resting on the ground.

The last part of the walk, before we returned the way we came, took us through Peasewell Wood, with its very muddy paths and leaves with fading colours.

A memorable walk indeed.

AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaP

Last Monday D. and I visited Cardiff, in order to view my old friend Kevin O'Neill's Art Exhibition.

The exhibition is held at 'The Gate Centre. '
Gate

Kevin designs his art on his computer. The pictures are then professionally printed, varnished and mounted on individual blocks. The resulting  presentation was pleasing on the eye and well worth a visit. (On until 7th November )

Three examples of his work and below the man himself.

Great to see his work displayed in such a positive style. A proud moment for Kevin.
Well done Sir.

AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaP

A final memory from Cardiff, this splendid 'Poppy Tree ' situated in the forecourt of Cardiff Central Station.

Well here we are in November. Will the temperatures drop next week? Are we in for a cold or mild winter?  We shall see. In the meantime enjoy your fireworks.

Cheerio from me,

Ck.