God Bless the House

Another lovely day. Enjoyed a couple of hours at the National Trust property at Tyntesfield just outside Bristol. A gothic revivalist country house built on the wealth generated by trade in guano from Chincha Islands off the western coast of Peru.

It was really rather splendid with fabulous detail and extravagant furnishing and fittings which you had to look at carefully to appreciate their beauty and individuality. Our friend and guide is a virtuoso musician on keyboard, piano and organ so he is the subject of today’ blip.

He played God Bless this House, from memory, having not played it for 25 years much to the amazement of the incredulous pianist who was tinkling the ivories when we came in.

A smooth journey up to Shropshire where we spent the afternoon with Margaret, my Dad’s only cousin and her family who are the only relatives I have left from my dad’s side of the family. Her husband, Lawrence, who is 89, had been taken to hospital that morning with severe pains in his arm and shoulder.

Fortunately, it was muscle pain and he arrived home before we had to leave. They are certainly blessed with a caring and closely knit family. Their two sons and their grandchildren all live locally and can help out.

Of their two grand daughters one is a nurse, the other a carer. Their mother runs a care home and their father works on behalf of the care home. Margaret and Lawrence couldn’t be more loved or better looked after. It made my heart soar.

We’re now at the Pheasant Inn, a community owned pub with rooms in Neenton a little village in south Shropshire near to where my grandfather was born. I hadn’t heard of Neenton before. It’s a lovely place and we enjoyed an excellent dinner.

A walk on the Longmynd from Carding Mill Valley at Church Stretton is on the cards for tomorrow. Another much loved place from my younger days.