A Rocha Jubilee Celebrations

Last Saturday we went over to the hamlet of Lewknor (S Oxfordshire). We gathered in the Victorian church and were greeted by the Vicar (Rev Simon Brignall). The day was fine; a marquee had been erected in the grounds. These included the village Primary school grounds, in an attractive rural setting. This had play equipment, seats around a large tree, and a large grassy area. Peter & Miranda Harris (A Rocha founders) gave short talks. There were even staff from the original site in the Algarve, Portugal, present. A Rocha (meaning "The Rock", in Portuguese) is a charity working to show God's love for all creation through education, and practical projects. The first UK project is at Southall; the second at Lewknor - the Chiltern Gateway project.


You may recognise the church from the opening credits of "The Vicar of Dibley"!

Later some of the schoolchildren put on a little play about the danger of polluting the environment with plastic bags, etc.

We had our packed lunches in the grounds. Hot drinks were provided all day by a team of volunteers.

In the afternoon we went up to the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve on the Chiltern Hills, on the

View from Aston Rowant NR over Oxfordshire (and M40)


other side of the M40. There were beech woods on top of the hills; we (about 350-400) gathered on top of a nearby field for a service. The field was a 30 minute walk away up a hill through beech woods; some of us drove to the reserve. There were local people walking through, some with their dogs. Singing was accompanied by a keyboard. A small canvas shelter had been brought up in case of rain but the sun shone brightly. The talk was given by Rev Dave Bookless, A Rocha UK National Director.

After, as Pat had a cold, we decided to drive back to Worthing via the M40 and M25. A quick trouble-free journey - the major holiday traffic had gone (it was the first weekend of the schools holiday season).

Waddesdon

Last Friday we drove up to Waddesdon to see Cedric's aunt, and take her to the nearby Waddesdon Manor. She lives in a delightful house with gardens. It was a fine day so we had lunch at the Manor, and got timed tickets to visit the house. There were several visitors but not too busy. The wallpapers in many rooms were dark reds and blues, and light levels were kept low to preserve the fabrics. Guides in each room were friendly and knowledgeable so that we found out much about the Rothschild family.
















The Manor has a splendid fountain and formal flowerbeds.

The picture below shows Christmas lights in a chandelier.

Dordogne

A day or two after C came back from Lagos for a few days leave, we took the Eurostar from the bright new St Pancras station to Lille. Unfortunately, could not book C in the same coach as us, but we all got on to a crowded train. The day was fine; in what seemed a quick one and a half hours we were at Lille. This station was also modern with the cafes and other traveller needs kept up above the platforms and trains below. Ate a snack and then boarded the TGV for a 4 hour journey to Angouleme. We travelled via CDG Airport and Poitiers. Cedric was there at Angouleme Gare to meet us and it was about a one and a quarter journey to Preceger, Biras.


In the following days we went to the "Monolithic" underground church at Aubeterre which was in a huge man-made cave 20m high by 60m long. There are unearthed stone sarcophagi in the floor. Looking up from the crypt is a 'chimney'opening, with white light (the sky) and heads of anyone looking down from the pavement above.





This is the largest such cave church in Europe. The hewn stone was used to build a castle on the cliff above. The white stone village is very attractive and has other ancient buildings such as the Apostre's Tower.

Later that week we went into the open-air market in Perigueux for fresh fruit & veg. Also, to Chateau Beynac, an imposing 12th cent. castle on a cliff overlooking the R. Dordogne. The castle was bought in 1961 by a man who is attempting to restore it on a 50+ years schedule. There were tapestries, real oil lamps and a new oak spiral staircase. In the walls were fierce-looking large wood spikes. The cobblestone paths were very uneven, and several high walls had no railings. 'Health & Safety' in the UK would have no hestation in declaring the chateau closed!

Chateau Beynac

After C had left for Narbonne to see a friend, we were invited to an informal 'cocktail' party given by David and Beverley (U.S.) who were departing for another part of their continuous world tour. The tiny garden was by the R. Dronne in Brantome. Many Brits, French and a Scots lady were there. One chap, Brian, a retired marketing manager, has a house in Brantome which he is refurbishing with a 'cave'. Many houses in Brantome are formed around caves by the R Dronne.

By the Dronne

One afternoon we went to St Jean-de-Cole, a village built in stone not unlike Cotswold stone in colour. It was a hot day but there were few people around, a few tourists (mostly Brits). Another time we visited 2 friends of Cedric's but they were not expecting us - several of his friends like folk to call 'unexpectedly'. They lived near to Bourdeilles.

Many hours were spent gardening; C proved a dab hand with the electric hedge cutters and many metres were cut over 2 days.

We left on an early train from Angouleme to return to Worthing, and eventually had a bad 4 hour drive from London to Worthing via a very slow part of the M25 - due to an accident.