Sport Relief

We all wore red on Friday at school, paying a pound for the privilege, and had a sponsored one mile fun run, twice around the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park opposite School; pupils and teachers. I skipped for a bit of the way, ran a bit, and walked a bit with the children. Not on the scale of John Bishop's amazing feat, which was absolutely fantastic, but great fun, on a lovely sunny day. I'll update how much money we raised for Sport Relief when all the sponsor money comes in.

Did you do anything sporty over the Sport Relief Weekend?

Mothering Sunday

I hope all you mothers have had a fantastic day and were thoroughly spoilt by your offspring! I had a really lovely day with Mummie yesterday in Bournemouth; coffee and cake in Beales for elevenses and a wander round the shops. Then a delicious Luxury Afternoon Tea at the Print Room, downstairs at the echo newspaper offices; dainty finger sandwiches, plain and fruit scones with jam and cream, and a selection of cakes (carrot, apple and cinnamon, chocolate (doggy-bagged for Sean as it's still Lent) and apricot Madeira) with Earl Grey tea. Absolutely wonderful! 

Love the editor's office and little balcony which overlooks the print room!

International Evening

We had our annual International Evening today, and a fabulous colourful evening it was too. Singing, instruments, poems, dancing from Britain, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Colombia, Portugal, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Congo, Italy, Spain, France,  to celebrate our huge cultural diversity. We've been rehearsing for weeks, so it was great to see everyone's hard work paying off. The interval food provided by mothers, teachers and Daniel our chef was delicious!

Watching the show

 The talented entertainers

Mai and Shine, hosts for the evening

The Neighbourhood Café

When we were on our study weekend at Liverpool Hope, our tutor Maggie booked us into this delightful café for breakfast and dinner. It felt like being in my own sitting room with all the treasures displayed, and lovely food too! It's in Woolton, and well worth a visit to eat, or just to look, if you are in the area.

Beautiful tiles! Looks like this used to be a dairy or a butcher or a grocer.

George Gilbert Scott's masterpiece

How  wonderful is Liverpool Cathedral! The most amazing building, and so monolithic! Built on high ground overlooking the port,  the colour of the stone is so striking, really warm tones, and it's just so huge. All the congregation chairs were up near the altar, so the space as you enter was even more emphasised. We didn't have a great deal of time to look around, but long enough to know I need to come back again! 

We walked along Hope Street up to the Metropolitan Cathedral, but disappointingly found it closed. Still plenty to see on the outside though.

Next time I do hope it's sunny, so I can enjoy the stained glass windows.

Liverpool Hope

Last weekend, my theology course took me to Liverpool for a conference and study day at Hope University. We had a little free time, so went to the Tate on Albert Dock for a fleeting visit on Saturday and to the cathedrals on Sunday. I hadn't been to Liverpool since playing on an orchestra tour at the Garden Festival in 1984! So it was great to go back again; and I think it's a must for a long weekend over the summer. Enjoyed the study too.

Old and new

This amazing building is a ventilation shaft for the Mersey tunnel - so beautiful! It has these statues on the sides

And these wonderfully ornate windows and doors

More tomorrow!

Lent

I forgot to mention my Lenten giving-ups, probably because they are the same as always, but in the name of almsgiving, I figure it's fine to still buy things in charity shops, even if I am the lucky recipient rather than someone else. This is lucky as I found this little box for £2, in gorgeous 70s orange, yellow and brown florals.

Through the marvellous Freecycle I have these frames to pretty up, many thanks, Vicki! I'll show you when I've customised them.

So, when Easter comes and I can enjoy these again (especially the Margaux 2000!) I can hopefully feel virtuous than I haven't succumbed.