HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

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Grandad
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HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Grandad »

HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS
I don’t count myself as being religious and I am not really decided whether I am agnostic or atheist, probably the latter. But Christmas, whatever your religious views, is a holiday and a time especially for children and believers.

I had a wander into town this morning, well actually I drove into the town centre so that I could use my blue badge and reduce the amount of walking required. Age has its benefits. The city was busy of course, being the last Saturday before Christmas, and I found the atmosphere happy and uplifting with the Sally Army Band, buskers, and groups of carol singers. I took my X10, before you ask LLL. I have not yet had a good opportunity to use the new camera.

But with the X10 I am in good company. Anyone who has seen Prince Harrys recent snaps may be interested to know that he has an X100, but they are about three times the cost of mine.

I also wanted to go to the Cathedral to report back to Kiya on a couple of points relating to the TV series about it. I have a visitor pass but the entrance fee is now £10.50, rather a lot to visit a House of God. Anyhow, here is a selection from the pictures I took. Everywhere I went was within fewer than 100 yards of the car park, which will show just how small the centre of my home city really is.

The Sally Army had a good sized band playing a mix of carols and popular Christmas songs. Most of the musicians were young men and I like the odd close of musicians, here’s few.
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There was an excellent choir in The Buttermarket collecting for The Samaratans. I think they were professional singers because they sang both carols and cantata in their repertoire.
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The main street in Canterbury comprises 4 streets. From the south there is St Georges Street, The Parade, High Street, and St Peters Street which leads to Westgate. This is a crowded St Peters Street at the older end of the main street.
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I went into the Cathedral just on mid-day as a vicar climbed into the Nave pulpit. He invited people in the Nave to take a seat for a short mid – day prayer.I sat down and at first thought the vicar was in fact Archbishop Justin Welby. Not so, that would have been a scoop. I chatted with him afterwards and he is in fact Rev Christopher Smith, one of about 30 retired vicars who take part in some of the routine Cathedral prodedures.
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On one of the Nave columns I spotted this graffiti dated 1667 and 1672. So graffiti is nothing new.
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Now to Kiya’s questions.The window in the South West Transept will be in the process of restoration for at least another year. Here it is scaffolded and covered, inside and out. I will take pictures when it is completed and hopefully one day you will be able to visit and see it all for yourself.
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Here are a few pics inside including the chapel in The South East Transept where you will have seen the bell rung and the page turned in the Book of Remembrance.
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One last thing Kiya. You said how you like the narrow streets. This is Butchery Lane that leads to Burgate (Buttergate) and then to The Buttermarket and Christchurch Gate that leads into the Cathedral. Horus will have seen many such streets on his recent visit to York and many people say Canterbury is a slightly smaller version of York.
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As I said, there was a happy atmosphere this morning and even Bah! Humbug! Old Grandad was uplifted. Perhaps Grandad has moved towards being Agnostic. ;)


:gg:
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Kiya
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Kiya »

Grandad...Thank you for the visit & beautiful photos of in/out & around Canterbury Cathedral.

I don't think £10 50 is expensive at all for the entrance fee, after all it would all go towards the up keep of the building.

Wow! look at the Sally Army instruments gleaming, it must take some polishing to keep them as such.

I notice behind the choir a shop The Butter Market, what kind of shop is it ? or is a open market ?

I hope when chatting with the Rev you mentioned folks as far afield as myself admire their beautiful cathedral.

I spotted another date on the pillar picture of R I S 1671 between the two you mention.......wish I was allowed to write something somewhere in the cathedral.

I'm sure the window is going to be splendid when completed, I will hold you to it Grandad for photos on its completion.

The cathedral looks stunning inside, I wish I knew you were visiting I would have asked you to watch out for the window with the blue angel often mentioned in my history books or in fact you could have asked the Rev.

Yes I do like the narrow streets & what a view of the cathedral to behold while walking down there.

I'm glad you enjoyed your morning outing , who wouldn't visiting such beauty as Canterbury Cathedral................someday.......someday.

Thank you once again for the lovely photos, hope it wasn't too cold for you :) :)
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Grandad »

Glad you enjoyed my little walkabout Kiya. :up
The Buttermarket at the back of the picture is a pub.
I did tell the rev the purpose of my visit and he said he hopes you will visit one day. We talked about the TV programmes and he said that will probably push the visitor numbers up even higher. I think they get about a million each year at present.
BTW, there were just the three episodes in the TV series.

I will go back specifically to look for your blue angel. ;)

PS: It wasn't cold, 13 degrees....
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Kiya »

A pub, a unusual name for a pub ;)

I really do hope to visit someday...........Oh I think I must have missed one :(

I'm sure you'll find my blue angel sometime ;)

!3 degrees not bad for December, we had 8 degrees the other day ;)
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

Photos are terrific and the Cathedral is magnificent. Can't think of a strong word than magnificent - maybe majestic - and it is definitely both.

Someday, one day I'll get there too. Truly beautiful. Wonder if they'd let me camp out inside for a few days? I'd tell them I'm an innocuous Canadian who just wants to soak up the vibes and atmosphere! ;)

It is hard for me to get my mind around the 1600s. That is before Canada was even discovered (by the text books we use however I have an inkling the world was mapped out by others well before our current times)

The Salvation Army guys also never fail to impress me. They are definitely dedicated to service and the uplifting of man.

Your small town definitely has character Grandad and definitely looks to have lots of charm!
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Grandad »

I am not the worlds biggest fan of Christmas LLL, just too commercialised and over hyped, but this year I am feeling good about the coming few days. All gifts bought and wrapped, plans now firm for Thursday and Friday, and looking forward, so no problems foreseen. (Famous last words :lol: )
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Horus »

Lovely photos Grandad and the little camera is performing well, although I also fall into the none believer category I also like to visit these splendid cathedrals. When I was in York I only stuck my head around the door as I was pushed for time and was not prepared to pay some silly admission price for maybe 20 minutes, I must get around to writing up my little visit to York and sort out a few piccies.
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Grandad »

Please do Horus, I had noticed that we had not seen any report but I think I remember you left your camera in the hotel one day.....or is the memory failing. :lol:

@Kiya It is called The Buttermarket because it is in, The Buttermarket. Probably in days of old it was the market where you could buy dairy products, milk, eggs and butter.

I must correct an error in earlier text. I have always assumed that as the buttermarket is at the end of Burgate, that the name came from the French 'beurre' for butter. Not so apparently. It refers to the Borough Gate which no longer exists.

@Kiya. I cannot find any reference to a 'Blue Angel' in my Google searches. Can you give me a clue as to where you heard about it?
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Kiya »

That was what my first thought was of the pub that it was a shop/market marketing in all dairy products old & new.

As for the "blue angel" its been mentioned a couple of times in the books of Richard III & his beloved Queen Anne ( Neville ) I've been reading lately, her father was Richard Neville 16th Earl of Warwick aka The Kingmaker when he made Richard III elder brother king Edward IV.
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

As for Christmas I do believe it is now commercialized beyond belief and that takes away from the "reason for the season" however I really do enjoy the excitement of the grandkids, their anticipation of Santa arriving, do like seeing the Christmas lights that go up and the visiting with friends and family that happens.

As for religious aspects - well - can't say I've darkened the door of a church for years. Was sent to Sunday school as a child (hated it) and opted as an adult to not go. I don't actively self profess to being Christian, do not belong to a specific church nor do I spend much time, if any, really thinking about God or religion however honestly I am fascinated with the architecture, the sculptures the human Ooomph that is put into the church buildings and decorations. Just can't help but be fascinated, be-dazzled and in awe of all the people have done in the name of their faith, their beliefs, their religion.

I know on the 'other side' any mention of religion brings about an immediate thrashing and trashing complete with lots of proclamations if "I'm atheist" but I'm much more of a live and let live and if holding a faith and attending to weekly services brings you contentment or calm or happiness then that is truly wonderful to me. That being said I did, when my daughters were younger typically go to Church on Christmas Eve for the candlelight services and Christmas carols. I really enjoyed participating with the entire community in singing all the songs whose words I just know. The candle light aspect added ambiance and we all enjoyed going. Am sure the Minister said a few wise words and I'm none the better or none the worse for listening ;)

This year I've got my tree up. Decorated via the happy hands of the Grandkids. The youngest twin has a penchant for putting umpteen decorations on one branch 'til it won't hold any more. I figure it gives the tree character but does make for a few blank spots on other branches. The baby is just wide eyed at it all and am sure if trying to figure out and make sense of all that is happening.

I also have a landscaper starting today - the Monday before Christmas!!! But this is his off season and he has the time to tackle moving the rocks and making the gardens that I want so the outside of my house is the only house on the street that has no exterior lights up and soon will be a mud pile for Christmas. :( Very sorry to the new neighbours for the mess but next year (and even come spring) I'll be looking much better (I hope) than now. Am sure my mess is taking a bit of the Christmas spirit away from the immediate neighbours but - oh well - next year will be better.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL on E4U from me - LLL
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Horus »

Thanks LLL and I wish the same for you and yours and of course all of the E4U members :)
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Kiya »

My answer to any religion is " I don't have to be in any house of God to pray or have any belief, I can do it all as & when I feel their is a need all in my own privacy at home or any place I choose "

Merry Christmas to all here on E4U
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Horus »

My thoughts exactly Kiya :up
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Re: HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS

Post by Grandad »

And mine Kiya :up

We can all live a good life, caring and respecting others, and that does not require some religion to back it up.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EVERYONE AND A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL 2015
:gg:
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