Life Observed

Here's a nice picture from a couple of years ago. I make no apologies for revisiting the Hospital of St Cross, near Winchester. It has appeared on these pages before, but here are a  couple of new pictures. This is the church of St Cross from the ornamental garden one sunny day. I have seen this view taken in autumn and winter with golden leves and snow on the ground respectively. An excellent subject. And here is an inviting view through a door to the Brother's garden. Beyond the wall there are water meadows leading down to the river. It's a very nice place to visit.

I am a great fan of Winchester. We generally go visiting or shopping a few times each year. Even if the town centre is heaving and the green at the front of the Cathedral is covered in tourists, you can still find quiet spots if you go searching. Here is a little detail from St Swithun upon Kingsgate: A church over the gate to the Cathedral close, for example. But here in St Lawrence church, you find a surprising and rather public demonstration of charity. I am impressed by the liberal use of the phrase for ever. They obviously had more faith in the banking system and the accrual of interest than we have these days.... A Groat Loaf, or a share in the Cemetery, anyone?

I now have an Amazon Kindle, that new thin electronic book reader with the astonishing always-on e-ink display. Like many new Kindle owners I have filled it with classics (because many of them are free) and have set about using it to read books. Now I should point out I am not usually a book reader. If it doesn't have an index or pictures, I have my doubts it's a proper book.  If you haven't seen one, A kindle looks like this. If you haven't held one and looked at the screen, I suggest you give one a try. What a great little gadget. Anyway I have started reading The Warden by Anthony Trollope. I have read this decades ago, but I though it would be a good test of the Kindle, to see how I get on with it. The book concerns Mr Harding, who is warden for a small almshouses that gives housing and food to 12 poor men of Barchester, a fictional small Cathedral city somewhere in southern England.  Now this seems familiar.  I commend the Hospital of St Cros...