Visiting old friends in Bristol...
Oct. 29th, 2008 07:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhythmaningI woke up early and gazed at the cathedral in the dawn, and then slept some more.
When I finally got up, I was still unsteady on my feet. I walked around the cathedral, staring at the ceiling. It was astounding beautiful.
My ongoing confusion about charges to see around cathedrals was – well, ongoing: there was no charge at Bristol to either look or take pictures. Instead, I left a contribution: I had to go to the shop to get change, and the woman behind the cash desk expressed surprise and thanks when I gave five pounds; I didn’t think it was much for the hour or so I spent wandering around.
I had lunch, and then went back and dozed for the afternoon; then I showered and walked back to G.’s: a mutual friend, an old schoolfriend of mine – and his wife and three children – were visiting from New Zealand (the large number of visitors – not least children – explains why I was in a hotel rather than staying chez G.!) Children were paraded, adults sat around talking – there was a lot of talk of dying, or, more correctly, its aftermath: grief, emotions, and how people work through it.
A lot of wine was drunk – including by me, so I must have been feeling a lot better (though I also drank gallons of water – as if I were flushing something out of my system).
It was a very good evening, surrounded by old friends. I really must visit New Zealand again! Now that would be a good trip…
When I finally got up, I was still unsteady on my feet. I walked around the cathedral, staring at the ceiling. It was astounding beautiful.
My ongoing confusion about charges to see around cathedrals was – well, ongoing: there was no charge at Bristol to either look or take pictures. Instead, I left a contribution: I had to go to the shop to get change, and the woman behind the cash desk expressed surprise and thanks when I gave five pounds; I didn’t think it was much for the hour or so I spent wandering around.
I had lunch, and then went back and dozed for the afternoon; then I showered and walked back to G.’s: a mutual friend, an old schoolfriend of mine – and his wife and three children – were visiting from New Zealand (the large number of visitors – not least children – explains why I was in a hotel rather than staying chez G.!) Children were paraded, adults sat around talking – there was a lot of talk of dying, or, more correctly, its aftermath: grief, emotions, and how people work through it.
A lot of wine was drunk – including by me, so I must have been feeling a lot better (though I also drank gallons of water – as if I were flushing something out of my system).
It was a very good evening, surrounded by old friends. I really must visit New Zealand again! Now that would be a good trip…