2ТЭ121 mainline diesel-electric locomotoves were developed in mid 1970s as more powerfull model followed 2TE116 having two 3000 hp diesels. It traditionally composed of two sections but have many progressive elements as frame support of traction motors, the load-bearing body with new 4000 hp / 2942 kW diesel 2В-5Д49 (16ЧН26/23), increased wheel size (1250 mm) and high wheel loading (up to 27 t). Unfortunately it remained low-production (only 80 for 1978-1992) and after USSR breakage Ukrainian plant VZOR (renamed to Luhansk Locomotive Works) continued to develop the series 2TE116, which in the last, the UD model received 4000 hp diesel engine of American manufacture.

2TE121 mainly operated on the Northern Railway of Russia and Donetsk Railway of Ukraine. After the collapse of the USSR, repair of diesel locomotives available in Russia was difficult, and they were not needed in Ukraine, where they were massively decommissioned by 1994-95. In Russia some of them continued to operate on the Oktyabrskaya railroad until 2010, the last one was decommissioned in 2014.

  

U.S. Army interpreter, Mohamed Said, instructs soldier of the Djiboutian Army’s 1st Quick Reaction Regiment his sector of fire during a training scenario at Camp Ali Oune, Djibouti, Feb. 2, 2011.

 

Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Lindsey

 

ALI OUNE, Djibouti– Under an overcast sky, nearly 200 members of the Djiboutian Army’s elite 1st Rapid Action Regiment honed their infantry skills, mentored by members of the U.S. Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment.

 

The training included instruction on squad movements, convoy operations, contact drills, camp security and marksmanship, and was part of a one-month course which began Jan. 16 and culminated with a graduation Feb. 10. The instruction included mortar crew training and a combat engineering course, according to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nelson Perkins, mission commander and member of Charlie Company.

 

“Our mission here is to mentor the Djiboutian military as they prepare for upcoming missions. We’re trying to help them so they are capable of preventing conflict, establishing regional stability, and protecting coalition interests here,” said Staff Sgt. Travis Elder, an infantry squad leader with the 137th, who is a sheriff’s deputy in his hometown located near Topeka, Kan.

 

“My team and I are out here mentoring the soldiers and helping them along, basically giving them more tools for their toolbox. We’re showing them things that have helped us get through certain operations, and we want to help them so they can get through their future missions without any problem,” he said.

 

One of the biggest challenges the instructors faced was the language barrier due to few Djiboutian soldiers speaking English, according to Sgt. Jonathan Moyer, a team member with Echo Company. Instructors relied heavily on 2nd Lt. Omar Ali, Djibouti Army 2nd Company commander, who is fluent in four languages, and Mohamed Said, a Somali-born U.S. Army interpreter.

 

Throughout the morning, the small groups practiced team movements, and communicated contact and direction of fire. Loud whistle bursts signified enemy contact, and the Djiboutian soldiers moved succinctly, went into the prone position and assumed their staggered firing positions.

 

The regiment, which was established in 1991 and is comprised of a number of 20-year combat veterans, is the first unit in the Djiboutian Army called to deploy during a contingency, according to Ali. The regiment also provides border security on the Somaliland border located approximately seven miles from the camp.

 

“The goal for my soldiers is to prepare them for their mission and especially for a deployment under the United Nations, like they did in Haiti and Central Africa,” Ali said, who has been in the army since 2001. He attended an officer’s course with Germany’s mountain troops from 2004-2008 and will soon attend the Infantry Career Captain’s Course at Fort Benning, Ga.

 

According to Ali, the training is part of a continuation of training that began in September 2010 that included effective methods of instruction, commander operation skills course, a command post exercise, and company grade and noncommissioned officer courses.

 

Just one month ago, the newly-formed training camp consisted of just six concrete pads. Today the camp consists of about 12 tents, a mosque and a large covered classroom area.

 

“Camp Ali Oune is actually the first of its kind. The Djiboutians don’t have any bases here on the Somali border, and this camp is supposed to be here for quite a while. They will be utilizing the camp as a training area and for continuing operations to keep this region safe,” he said.

 

About two miles away in the shadow of a steep hill, other members of the Rapid Action Regiment sharpened their marksmanship skills using the Russian PKM 7.62-mm machine gun, which is the equivalent of the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon. Automatic gunfire and the ricochet of rounds echoed from the large rock-covered hill as each two-man team practiced firing in staccato bursts of three and five rounds.

 

“Very well done,” one of the instructors exclaimed after seeing a bullseye on the target of one team.

 

Ali said the training and mentoring provided by the 137th is beneficial because the cadre of instructors bring real-world operational experience.

 

“We already had a good relationship with the U.S. Army, and I have to say it’s a good thing and we have a good image of the U.S. Army,” Ali said.

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official Vimeo video channel: www.vimeo.com/usarmyafrica

 

Photos courtesy of Missouri City

From Parks' projects to public safety initiatives, the "Show Me City" has implemented many successful citizen programs in 2011. At left, the Edible Arbor Trail is a site for nature lovers to see and at right, thousands of residents participated in this year's National Night Out.

 

"Show Me City" Continues Strong Growth and Progress

 

Missouri City has achieved significant successes in 2011 by continuing strong collaborations with citizens, gaining new business partnerships, earning local, state and national distinction for excellence and battling against record breaking drought conditions that brought many challenges to our parks. City Council's continued policy direction has allowed the momentum begun in 2010 to continue.

 

Building on Missouri City's national recognition as one of America's best places to live, according to Money magazine, and one of the country's safest communities, 5th safest in Texas, the "Show Me" City continues to garner awards. Missouri City has earned further honors for its excellent fiscal practices and policies. The prestigious gold Leadership Circle Award from the Texas State Comptroller's Office salutes the City's transparency in financial, audit and budget reporting to residents. This expansive information is available on the City's website homepage under Hot Topics.

 

And for more than 20 years the City Budget and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report continue to be recognized annually by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for their detail on City services and programs and the City's financial condition.

 

A strong community connection is vital to the area's dynamic growth. Citizens played a major role in the decision to purchase the Quail Valley golf property in 2008. And more recently they weighed in on what they wanted for the new Community Center and Golf Pro Shop under construction there. This facility will offer another option for Fort Bend County residents and businesses to host their special occasions. The second floor ballroom will seat 300 and overlook the 18th holes of both the El Dorado and La Quinta golf courses. There also will be smaller rooms available for use. A restaurant will be fully staffed but plans are to have a select list of catering companies for individuals and groups planning large events.

 

In the past 12 months, the two courses have logged almost 54,000 rounds of golf, and close to 100 golf tournaments. We thank all of our residents for their support as well as the many others who have enjoyed the two 18-hole courses here. Citizens also shared their opinion on activities they wanted at the new the Tennis and Recreation Center currently being built on Cypress Point Drive. Residents will be pleased with the recreational amenities that will be offered. The new City facilities are scheduled to open in the spring 2012.

 

On the business front, the City continues to expand its commercial square footage to not only diversify the property tax base but to provide jobs for our citizens.

 

The Lakeview Business Park and the Beltway Crossing Complex, both off the Sam Houston Tollway, are attractive locations for nationally- and internationally-respected companies. Coupled with business growth elsewhere in the City, 800 new jobs were created in the past four years and new companies coming to Missouri City will add almost 1,000 more positions when they are fully staffed.

 

In the past 6 years, our commercial tax base has grown from 15 percent to 24 percent. Contributing to that expansion is Global Geophysical Services on South Gessner Road-the international firm recently celebrated a milestone when company officials rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. Another major contributor is Ben E. Keith, one of the largest food purveyors in the nation. Their half-million-square-foot distribution facility currently is under construction on its 82-acre site, with the future opportunity to expand to more than 1 million square feet. Warren Alloy will also move to Lakeview Business Park, joining a respected list of companies already based in the center. State Highway 6 continues to be a popular destination for many shoppers who now can enjoy a new type of movie experience with the Star Cinema Grill. The City's first hotel, La Quinta Inns & Suites is set to open in early 2012.

 

The planned expansion of the Fort Bend Toll Road across the city's eastern boundary to Sienna Plantation should encourage further commercial development. Missouri City has leveraged its capital project dollars through partnerships with other government entities, resulting in improved safety and mobility for motorists:

 

*The revitalization of two gateways-South Gessner Road and Texas Parkway-increases motorist and pedestrian safety and encourages continued development. South Gessner from Beltway 8 to Cravens Road was fully replaced, mosaic-tiled City monuments were strategically placed along the roadway and sidewalks were added. Upgrades to Texas Parkway feature a prominent City monument at the intersection of US90A, drainage improvements and the addition of sidewalks. Phase Two on this thoroughfare will add landscape and signage.

 

*Construction of raised medians on Highway 6 caused initial resident concern but feedback now is that they are pleased with the added safety factor. In addition, six new Dynamic Message Signs along Highway 6 alert motorists to important traffic information and emergency messages.

 

*The largest project the City has ever undertaken will be operational early in 2012. The surface water treatment plant project, a partnership among 40 government and private sector groups, who are paying for the facility through user fees, will initially serve Sienna Plantation outside of the city limits of Missouri City. The project meets a mandate for water users to move from ground to surface water incrementally over the next 15 years.

 

Aerial view of the new Surface Water Treatment Plant

 

Missouri City reaches out to meet the needs of residents through a strong homeowner's association liaison program.

 

The Show Me City also uses a variety of communications tools to keep the community informed, anchored by the website, www.missouricitytx.gov, Missouri City television, the quarterly citizen newsletter, news releases and the new radio station, 1690 AM.

 

Key to residents is the City's ongoing proactive community-based public safety programs. National Night Out each fall allows residents to meet their neighbors, discuss crime prevention measures and talk with their City Council members, the officers who patrol and the firefighters who also protect their neighborhoods. We can credit our low crime rate to police working so closely with citizens to prevent crime. In the past year, the Police Department also won a competitive federal grant for $893,000 that funded four new positions during fiscal year 2011.

 

In other proactive steps to curb crime in Missouri City, the Police Department is utilizing the newly-formed Burglary and Auto Theft or "BAT" Team that focuses on those crimes.

 

Since the formation of the BAT Team, auto thefts have decreased 20 percent over the previous year, and auto break-ins have declined 20 percent, with 11 stolen vehicles recovered, 10 auto theft suspects arrested and more than $113,000 in stolen property recovered.

 

Residents are pleased with the Route 170 direct transit service to The Medical Center, with connections to METRO's transit system network downtown. In a service survey, 98 percent of riders said they were satisfied with service.

 

The year also saw the start of METRO Park & Ride bus service for area residents with 98 percent of riders satisfied with the commuting option. Residents are overwhelmingly supportive of the rides that give them access to jobs in the Medical Center and Houston downtown transit points. Plans are under way for the permanent Park and Ride site to be located behind the Fort Bend Town Center located on Highway 6 at the Fort Bend Toll Road.

 

After years of planning and preparation, the City officially celebrated the grand opening of the Edible Arbor Trail, the first of its kind in the region. Visitors to the trail, just west of Murphy Road, can sample treats created by Mother Nature including Mexican Persimmon, pomegranates and kumquats.

 

The second phase of Oyster Creek Trail, which will be completed soon, offers a bike/pedestrian trail along Oyster Creek Bayou between Dulles Avenue and Cartwright Road that will allow residents to travel on foot or on bicycle from Mosley Park on Murphy Road to Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land.

 

Another major milestone for citizens was the grand opening of an historic landmark - the Dew House and DeWalt Heritage Center in Fort Bend County's Kitty Hollow Park on Highway 6 South. The treasured house ended the year with an old-fashioned Holiday Wassail Program in December.

 

And Missouri City celebrated the year's end with the annual Snowfest Festival and the Snowfest Parade. Main attractions were the lighting of a 26-foot tree, the popular Snow Hill, fireworks and a special appearance from Santa.

 

In 2012, citizens are welcoming a new City Manager, Edward Broussard. He has been city manager since 2005 for Hutto in the Austin area and brings 16 years' experience in Texas municipal government. Former City Manager Frank Simpson accepted a position in College Station in May.

 

Also in the New Year, the economy will continue to control the pace of growth. Missouri City's physical location in the Houston area coupled with a developer-friendly environment and its growing reputation as a great place to live, should offer continued opportunities for the "Show Me City".

Continued

Crews prepare to pave KOHO's first roads.

Point Montara photo study continue

 

View On Black

Day 245-- Part three in the continuing saga of the sick baby. Did I clone out a huge amount of personal information? Yes, I did.

 

Day three of Annika's fever dawned, and while the fever was better, the rash was worse. It was getting pretty gross, and Annika still didn't have one single symptom of a cold as diagnosed by the ER doctor, so we decided it was time to go back to the doctor. We were on vacation, a good three hours from our doctor's office, so our choices were the emergency room at the hospital (again) or the urgent care clinic. We opted for the urgent care clinic, because it sure didn't look like an emergency and we thought it would be a simple follow up visit.

 

My mom took Emily to Vacation Bible School at my in-laws' church while my husband and I took Annika to the doctor. After a grueling two hours, the doctor finally checked her out and reported back to us.

 

Annika had two ear infections and a throat infection that looked like strep throat. The initial strep test came back negative, but he would send it off to the lab to grow cultures and double check. She also had a diaper rash/ yeast infection and eczema, both of which opened up her skin to another infection, which was either strep or staph. If it was a staph infection, it was most likely MRSA, because that's what has been going around lately. MRSA is drug-resistant and won't respond to traditional antibiotics, so it is treated with sulfa drugs. This might not be a problem, except a baby whose daddy is allergic to sulfa (like my husband) has a good chance of sharing that allergy. Her hands and feet were also covered in blisters from coxsackie virus (hand foot mouth disease) which is highly contagious but not serious and is generally not treated.

 

The poor doctor was in over his head, and pointed out that he really works at a big first aid station and isn't equipped to deal with situations like this.

 

He decided to start antibiotics for the ear infections and hope that it would also wipe out the strep throat (if that's what it was) and the strep rash (if that's what it was) and then see what happened.

 

As we were sitting around waiting for the prescription and feeling overwhelmed, we got a call saying we needed to take Emily home because she was sick.

 

That's right! We're not done with this saga yet!

 

We got Annika's medicine (long and unpleasant trip to the pharmacy) while my mom got Emily. We met up at my parents' house, gave Emily a popsicle to help with the sore throat and fever that had appeared out of nowhere, and regrouped. My mom and husband stayed with the sick baby, and I took her sick sister back to the clinic. I assumed that since the doctor had just seen her sister, this would be a pretty straight-forward visit to get another bottle of antibiotics.

 

HA! After an hour and fifteen minutes of waiting with a miserable child, I finally convinced the receptionist/nurse to give Emily some Motrin for her fever. A few minutes later, she threw up all over the floor, the chair, her shoes, and our legs. The receptionist was really nice about helping to get us cleaned up and getting a bag to catch the rest of the barf, but then she told us that the doctor wanted us to go to the emergency room at the hospital instead of continuing to wait there. Yes, an hour and a half of waiting, and all we had to show for it was a paper bag containing vomit-soaked sandals. Sigh.

 

So I heaved my daughter, who is much heavier than her baby sister but too sick and barefoot to walk, out to the car and then into the hospital. Fortunately, the ER wasn't nearly as busy as it was two days ago, so we only had to wait about half an hour.

 

Emily's strep test also came back negative, but the doctor said she smelled like strep and agreed that she probably had what her sister had. Her legs, hands, and feet were also starting to get bumpy. Emily was given anti-nausea medicine. We waited 20 minutes for that to kick in. Then she was given Motrin again for the fever. Then we waited for her prescription and check out.

 

At this point, I had spent five or six hours at various medical facilities and knew I had another pharmacy trip before me, and that it would be difficult because I neglected to bring the proper insurance information on vacation with me. I hadn't eaten anything, so we stopped for a 4:00 lunch on the way to the pharmacy. By the time we got home, it was time for dinner, medicine all around, and bedtime.

 

Shoot me now.

Shanghai

Continuing my look back at some Alder Valley bus depot visits from the 1980s and early 1990s.

 

Here we see the Cranleigh depot in August 1987.

Updates - Egypt, July 7, 2013**

 

Millions took to the streets today to continue their revolution. After being terrorized for the past two days by Morsi Supporters, they condemned terrorism and chanted against the U.S. Administration that supports terrorism by calling an uprising of millions a military coup. Egyptians continued their peaceful people's revolution, even if the U.S. calls it a coup.

 

Egypt, July 5, 2013**

 

The Islamists took to the streets to fight what they called a “military coup”. Minutes after the peaceful sit-in in Rabaa of tens of thousands listened to speeches by Islamist leaders, including Supreme Guide to the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badei, inciting violence and hatred, violence erupted in Cairo. Morsi supporters moved in a march from Rabaa and were divided into two groups. A part went to the National Radio and Television Building in Maspeero and was pushed back by Special Forces of the army and police. They moved back to Abd El Moneim Reyad, trying to break in into Tahrir Square, where they were fought patriotically by protesters to protect the revolution’s square. This battle reportedly left eight dead. The other group went to Manial where they terrorized the residents and left six dead.

 

Later at night Islamist leader, Hazem Abu Ismaeel and Deputy Supreme Guide to the Muslim Brotherhood Khairat el Shater were arrested.

 

P.S. Both Tahrir and Manial were covered, but since going to Rabaa sit-in is too risky, especially for citizen journalists, there is no footage for it.

 

Egypt, July 3, 2013**

 

Egyptians revolted for the fourth day, now also in front of the Republican Guards building and mansion where Morsi is reportedly staying. The majority of Egypt today was waiting and counting down for the Armed Forces communique that was around five hours late. The reason behind this delay might be that they were trying to take control of things and getting ready to arrest Islamist and Muslim Brotherhood leaders. When the communique was finally out and declared that Morsi is no longer president people knew that violence will follow soon, nevertheless they still celebrated their victory.

 

Egypt, July 2, 2013

 

In a nonsense address to the nation late Tuesday, Morsi vowed to protect his presidency to stay in power and defend constitutional legitimacy with his life. The late night speech came after his statement earlier Tuesday, where he demanded that the SCAF withdraw their ultimatum, saying he wouldn't be dictated to.

 

On the other hand, many Politicians said that Morsi's speech equivalent to "civil war call" and its rehearsal is running now in front of Cairo University, where clashes erupted between the supporters of the president and the dwellers of Bain Al-Sarayat District.

 

In a quick response to Morsi's threats for his people, the armed forces spokesman declared on his official facebook page that "the army will sacrifice our blood to defend country".

The reaction of the protesters on Morsi's speech was simple and to the point; they gathered in many governorates and held up their shoes after the speech!

 

Egypt, July 1, 2013**

 

Protests continue for the second day after the official call for the revolution in tens of cities and villages across Egypt. While millions of protesters were sure that they will bring Morsi down, others decided to let it be known. Like the case of January 25, some protesters decided to show that they brought the regime down by protesting in front of the ruling group's headquarters. The clashes in the vicinity of the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters left eight dead and many injured when the MB youth shot live bullets at the protesters. Later the headquarters was broken into and set on fire.

 

Later in the day, the Armed Forces gave its first communique. The military helicopters that were met yesterday with great support from many protesters resulted in a statement declaring that the Armed Forces is on the side of the people. The Armed Forces gave "a final 48 hours for all sides to meet the people's demands, or else it will have to do its national duty of protecting the people." In the case of not meeting the demands before the end of the 48 hours, the Armed Forces will put its own roadmap and oversees its implementation. It was also stated that the Armed Forces will not take part in politics.

 

The communique was met by both the majority of protesters and people who didn't join with great support that has given the squares of Egypt a celebratory spirit. Secular political groups like the Salvation Front, the National Association for Change and Tamarod Movement also gave a positive reaction, but stated that protesters will ensure that the army stays out of the political life.

 

The Presidency and the Muslim brotherhood both announced that they will hold press conferences to comment on the communique, but none of them ever happened. Meanwhile the Islamist groups started mobilizing their youth in marches in more than six cities all over the country.

 

Egypt, June 30, 2013**

 

The second wave of the revolution has started! June 30 began as a much bigger movement than January 25. After a majority of Egyptians were fed up with Muslim Brotherhood rule they took their decision and lead the politicians to the street.

 

June 30 made a great start with millions of people revolting in almost all governorates of Egypt. With red cards and whistles, Egypt declared Morsi out. Rules were put for the protesters to never chant for or against the army or the police, but when a military helicopter started flying over Ithadeya many cheered for it. The loudest chant though was "LEAVE", all protesters united on one aim, to topple the Islamist fascist regime.

Meanwhile a few clashes between the regime supporters and revolutionaries took place in Assuyt and Beheira, leaving at least five dead and around 80 injured. In Cairo, the clashes were in front of the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Mokkatam where supporters fired bird-shot from the building and where met with Molotov cocktails from the protesters resulting in small fires inside the building.

 

June 29, 2013**

 

The Egyptian People did one final warm up before the Red Card comes out. Tamarod Movement (Rebel) held a press conference early Saturday at the Journalists Syndicate, the movement's founder announced that the final count was more than 22 million signatures. He called upon the people to protest on June 30 to continue what they started and topple the first civilian elected president one year after his inauguration for his failure in achieving the main objectives of the January 25 Revolution as well as putting the Muslim Brotherhood in control of the top of power of all country's sides of power. He also asserted that the number of signatures was a reflection of how much the public has turned against Morsi. It is noteworthy that the number of signatures collected is more than 85% of the number of voters in the presidential elections' second round.

Egyptians took their decision and raised the red card against President Mohamed Morsi!

 

Egypt, June 28, 2013**

 

As Egypt approaches June 30, the date of the uprising called for by Tamarod (Rebel), a movement that has already collected more than 22 million signatures to ouster President Mohamed Morsi, both excitement and apprehension fill the residents of the capital. In the governorates though, the protests have started earlier than expected. On the day of the governors' reshuffling people took the streets in all governorates that had a new Muslim Brotherhood governor. As the protests became bigger they have also demanded the removal of the regime.

 

In the past year, the life of the average Egyptian has become harder everyday; prices of essential products never seize to increase, people had to stand in endless lines to find diesel, every house and workplace all over Cairo suffer from water and power cuts. All this lead to rising aggression between a great percentage of the population. Anger was dramatically increased when Egypt ran out of gas and the streets of Cairo turned into one big parking lot.

 

By the beginning of the week, it has become known that Ann Patterson, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt met with Khairat El Shater, deputy supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood. The meeting with a non-governmental-official was never explained by the embassy, but it has become clear that the U.S. Administration still supports the Muslim Brotherhood rule, and President Morsi as part of it. The U.S. Administration that has always claimed to encourage democratic change in developing countries, proved itself wrong after the Arab Spring. It is now understood that the American support is always given to a group whom they believe will give them the most benefit regardless of the group's view on people's freedom. For this reason, a new addition to the revolution's banners was ones against Obama, Patterson and the U.S. Administration in general.

 

The Defense Minister, Abd El Fattah El Sisi has been very discreet about his stance regarding the Muslim Brotherhood rule. On Sunday he gave a vague speech that has kept people wondering if we'll be facing a coup in the coming days, especially when he mentioned that the army's role is to protect the will of the people. One day after the minister has spoken a National Security Council meeting was announced. The meeting's statement expressed the attendees' respect to peaceful protests and declared that the parliamentary elections will be held in a few months, once the elections law is approved. The presidency has also announced that the president will give a speech on Wednesday to celebrate the first anniversary of his inauguration.

 

Tamarod met the announcement of the president's speech with calling for a protest to watch him in Tahrir Square. After the whole country waited in front of a television, Morsi spoke for almost three hours saying complete nonsense. The speech that had not once mentioned June 30 or the clashes that were happening in Mansoura a few hours before he spoke, had one aim; to show that the army and police are on the side of the regime. This was proven, from the president's opinion, after both ministers of Defense and Interior were present in the front row listening to his speech, and after mentioning five times that he's the commander-in-chief of the police and armed forces.

 

Two days before the revolution, the plan was to mobilize all governorates but Greater Cairo's. Today what actually happened was that there were protests in almost every city and village in Egypt. While Alexandria, Dakahleya, Port Said, Dameitta, Monofeya, Gharbeya, Sharqeya and Beni Souief had huge protests, Greater Cairo had four sit-ins for the first time since January 25, 2011. As protesters poured in in Tahrir Square, others stayed in Kitkat in Giza, and others in front of the Ministry of Defense. A warm up has started with two small sit-ins in the vicinity of the Presidential Palace in Heliopolis. The day has faced clashes in many cities between revolutionaries and regime supporters that left two dead, one of which is an American citizen, and 227 injured.

 

**Text by: Mariam Saleh (mariam-saleh.blogspot.com)

Made a frame from used pallet. Finished product will be a table that lays over the fire pit for times when it is not in use.

i am REALLY loving just that little touch of black, do you?

Took a small brake between work today and this photo is what came out of it.

I posed the question the night before, that I wondered if the bells of the Minster would chime all night, and so would they be made silent after, say, eleven? I can now reveal that the bells did chime all night. I would like to say it was kind of re-assuring, but the ringing, not only of the hours but an attractive peal before the hours were chimed, was loud, loud enough to wake me from my slumber on a few occasions.

  

We arranged to meet Bradey at eight for breakfast, and in an unusual move we had to exit the guesthouse and go in the front door for the breakfast room. It worked, and soon we were tucking into toast, cereal and a huge cup of coffee or two.

Before breakfast, Jools and I walked round the monster, and saw that it opened at nine, so we hoped to load the car and be at the doors at the final stroke of nine so we could hit toe road as soon as we, or rather, I had my shots.

  

And this is what happened. The car loaded, we walked to the monster to find the door unlocked, but the church deserted. So, I rushed round getting my shots, it is always wonderful to have a building to oneself, but one as grand and as special as Beverley Minster was a rare treat.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

 

Beverley Minster, in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, is a parish church in the Church of England. It is one of the largest parish churches in the UK, larger than one third of all English cathedrals and regarded as a gothic masterpiece by many.

 

Originally a collegiate church, it was not selected as a bishop's seat during the Dissolution of the Monasteries; nevertheless it survived as a parish church and the chapter house was the only major part of the building to be lost. It is part of the Greater Churches Group and a Grade I listed building.[1] Every year it hosts events in association with local schools. Including the Beverley Minster Primary School Nativity Performance and the Beverley Grammar School Speech Night.

 

The minster owes its origin and much of its subsequent importance to Saint John of Beverley, who founded a monastery locally around 700 AD and whose bones still lie beneath a plaque in the nave. The institution grew after his death and underwent several rebuildings. After a serious fire in 1188, the subsequent reconstruction was overambitious; the newly heightened central tower collapsed c. 1213 bringing down much of the surrounding church. Work on the present structure began around 1220.

 

It took 200 years to complete building work but, despite the time scale involved, the whole building has coherent form and detail and is regarded[who?] as one of the finest examples of Perpendicular design, the twin towers of the west front being a superlative example. These formed the inspiration for the design of the present Westminster Abbey.

 

Saint Thomas Becket of Canterbury, (c. 1118–29 December 1170) was named Provost of Beverley in 1154.

 

Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland (1449–1489), was buried in the church after being murdered by the citizens of York in 1489 during the Yorkshire Rebellion over high taxes imposed by King Henry VII.

 

As with many English churches during the wars of religion in the 16th century, Beverley Minster was not immune to dissension. Church authorities cracked down hard on those they felt were part of the "Popish" conspiracy contrary to Royal decrees. "Among those holding traditional beliefs were three of the clergy at the minster, who were charged with Popish practices in 1567; John Levet was a former member of the college and Richard Levet was presumably his brother. Both Levetts were suspended from the priesthood for keeping prohibited equipment and books and when restored were ordered not to minister in Beverley or its neighbourhood."[2]

 

In the 18th century the present central tower replaced an original lantern tower that was in danger of collapse. This central tower now houses the largest surviving treadwheel crane in England, which is used when raising building materials to a workshop located in the roof. A distinctive feature of both the north and south transepts is the presence of rose windows, and a White Rose of York, with ten equal parts. Daily tours to the crane and rose windows are available to the general public, subject to other church commitments.

 

Features of the interior include columns of Purbeck Marble, stiff-leaf carving and the tomb of Lady Eleanor Percy, dating from around 1340 and covered with a richly-decorated canopy, regarded[who?] as one of the best surviving examples of Gothic art. A total of 68 16th century misericords are located in the quire of the minster and nearby is a sanctuary or frith stool dating back to Anglo-Saxon times.

 

The misericords were probably carved by the Ripon school of carvers and bear a strong family resemblance to those at Manchester Cathedral and Ripon Cathedral.

 

The church contains one of the few remaining Frith Stools (also known as Frid Stools, meaning "peace chairs") in England. Anyone wanting to claim sanctuary from the law would sit in the chair. The chair dates from Saxon times before 1066.[3][4][5][6]

 

The organ is mounted above a richly carved wooden screen dating from the late 19th century. There is a staircase in the north aisle which would have been used in collegiate times to gain access from and to the chapter house.

 

Improvements to the choir were made during the 16th and 18th centuries and medieval glass, which was shattered by a storm in 1608, was meticulously collected and installed in the East Window in 1725. The Thornton family, great craftsmen of the early 18th century, were responsible for the font cover and the west door. Another notable feature is the series of carvings of musicians which adorn the nave.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverley_Minster

 

Beverley Minster is the Parish Church of St. John and St. Martin

 

John, bishop of York, founded a monastery on the site where Beverley Minster stands.

 

John died in 721 and his body was buried in a chapel of the Saxon church.

 

He was canonised in 1037.

 

The present church was built around his tomb.

 

Building work began in 1220 and was completed in 1425.

 

Throughout the Middle Ages miracles which took place at his tomb attracted pilgrims from far and wide.

 

Today the church is still a place of pilgrimage for visitors. It also continues to be a place of prayer and worship at the heart of the community.

 

beverleyminster.org.uk/about-us/

CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF A BUTTERFLY PHOTOGRAPHER ! LOL

  

Is this "PERFECTION" ?

 

A newly emerged male silver studded blue before his first flight! i was holding the stem in left hand shooting single handed, pre focused first!

held about 4 ft off the ground behind a shrub sheltering from the breeze!

 

prees heath, shropshire

Að ganga upp að Víti og Öskjuvatni í yndislegu veðri er draumi líkast. Gufuna leggu upp af dökkum sandinum og krafturinn í náttúrunni er svo mikill að maður getur nánast gengið endalaust.

Gosh and Golly! As we continue onward cleaning out and organizing the garage, I am finding so many things from the past that I inherited or used to play with that were my parent’s.

 

This is a wonderful vintage (1956) paper doll of Debbie Reynolds. What I like about it is that when you open it (It is a booklet), the inside is a diorama. Check out the dated wonderful luggage.

  

continues to show signs of hope, despite it all.

 

Successful Fishing.....Followed by ...

 

Yellow-billed Loon YBLO (Gavia adamsii)

Saanichton Spit

Greater Victoria, BC

 

shots Taken on June 19, 2016

   

The Sisters of Mercy continue to sponsor this renown health care facility. This old photo shows the Sisters Choir Stalls in the front portion of the Chapel. Divinity Health( formerly known as Catholic Healthcare West) is the health system that manages this Catholic Mission driven facility

The most detailed English language website on the island

www.secrettenerife.co.uk

Construction continues on the $49.5 million FOS Bulgaria Base Camp. The base camp is designed to house and train 2500 Soldiers. The facility will provide 77 permanent buildings – 23 barracks, 5 battalion, 1 brigade Headquarters, 6 company ops facilities. A Chapel, commissary, post office, movie theater, fitness center and much more. The FOS is expected to have a 20-year useful life. Construction is expected to be complete Nov. 2010. (US Army Corps of Engineers photo by Carol E. Davis)

Fires continued to burn across Australia on January 19, 2014, including at Carabost, near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. The fire eventually left five homes destroyed. Photo by ABC journalist Siobhan Heanue.

..of 2-awkward-collies pictures

 

phone picture

A couple of weeks back, we met a couple in a pub in Canterbury, and they had been out exploring the city and said they were disappointed by the cathedral.

 

Not enough labels they said.

 

That not withstanding, I thought it had been some time since I last had been, so decided to revisit, see the pillars of Reculver church in the crypt and take the big lens for some detail shots.

 

We arrived just after ten, so the cathedral was pretty free of other guests, just a few guides waiting for groups and couples to guide.

 

I went round with the 50mm first, before concentrating on the medieval glass which is mostly on the south side.

 

But as you will see, the lens picked up so much more.

 

Thing is, there is always someone interesting to talk to, or wants to talk to you. As I went around, I spoke with about three guides about the project and things I have seen in the churches of the county, and the wonderful people I have met. And that continued in the cathedral.

 

I have time to look at the tombs in the Trinity Chapel, and see that Henry IV and his wife are in a tomb there, rather than ay Westminster Abbey. So I photograph them, and the Black Prince on the southern side of the chapel, along with the Bishops and Archbishops between.

 

Round to the transept and a chance to change lenses, and put on the 140-400mm for some detailed shots.

 

I go round the cathedral again.

 

Initially at some of the memorials on the walls and the canopy of the pulpit, but it is the windows that are calling.

 

At least it was a bright, sunny day outside, which meant light was good in the cathedral with most shots coming out fine with no camera shake.

 

As I edit the shots I am stunned at the details of windows so high up they mostly seem like blocks of colour.

 

And so far, I have only just started to edit these shots.

 

------------------------------------------

 

St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, arrived on the coast of Kent as a missionary to England in 597AD. He came from Rome, sent by Pope Gregory the Great. It is said that Gregory had been struck by the beauty of Angle slaves he saw for sale in the city market and despatched Augustine and some monks to convert them to Christianity. Augustine was given a church at Canterbury (St Martin’s, after St Martin of Tours, still standing today) by the local King, Ethelbert whose Queen, Bertha, a French Princess, was already a Christian.This building had been a place of worship during the Roman occupation of Britain and is the oldest church in England still in use. Augustine had been consecrated a bishop in France and was later made an archbishop by the Pope. He established his seat within the Roman city walls (the word cathedral is derived from the the Latin word for a chair ‘cathedra’, which is itself taken from the Greek ‘kathedra’ meaning seat.) and built the first cathedral there, becoming the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Since that time, there has been a community around the Cathedral offering daily prayer to God; this community is arguably the oldest organisation in the English speaking world. The present Archbishop, The Most Revd Justin Welby, is 105th in the line of succession from Augustine. Until the 10th century, the Cathedral community lived as the household of the Archbishop. During the 10th century, it became a formal community of Benedictine monks, which continued until the monastery was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1540. Augustine’s original building lies beneath the floor of the Nave – it was extensively rebuilt and enlarged by the Saxons, and the Cathedral was rebuilt completely by the Normans in 1070 following a major fire. There have been many additions to the building over the last nine hundred years, but parts of the Quire and some of the windows and their stained glass date from the 12th century. By 1077, Archbishop Lanfranc had rebuilt it as a Norman church, described as “nearly perfect”. A staircase and parts of the North Wall – in the area of the North West transept also called the Martyrdom – remain from that building.

 

Canterbury’s role as one of the world’s most important pilgrimage centres in Europe is inextricably linked to the murder of its most famous Archbishop, Thomas Becket, in 1170. When, after a long lasting dispute, King Henry II is said to have exclaimed “Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?”, four knights set off for Canterbury and murdered Thomas in his own cathedral. A sword stroke was so violent that it sliced the crown off his skull and shattered the blade’s tip on the pavement. The murder took place in what is now known as The Martyrdom. When shortly afterwards, miracles were said to take place, Canterbury became one of Europe’s most important pilgrimage centres.

 

The work of the Cathedral as a monastery came to an end in 1540, when the monastery was closed on the orders of King Henry VIII. Its role as a place of prayer continued – as it does to this day. Once the monastery had been suppressed, responsibility for the services and upkeep was given to a group of clergy known as the Chapter of Canterbury. Today, the Cathedral is still governed by the Dean and four Canons, together (in recent years) with four lay people and the Archdeacon of Ashford. During the Civil War of the 1640s, the Cathedral suffered damage at the hands of the Puritans; much of the medieval stained glass was smashed and horses were stabled in the Nave. After the Restoration in 1660, several years were spent in repairing the building. In the early 19th Century, the North West tower was found to be dangerous, and, although it dated from Lanfranc’s time, it was demolished in the early 1830s and replaced by a copy of the South West tower, thus giving a symmetrical appearance to the west end of the Cathedral. During the Second World War, the Precincts were heavily damaged by enemy action and the Cathedral’s Library was destroyed. Thankfully, the Cathedral itself was not seriously harmed, due to the bravery of the team of fire watchers, who patrolled the roofs and dealt with the incendiary bombs dropped by enemy bombers. Today, the Cathedral stands as a place where prayer to God has been offered daily for over 1,400 years; nearly 2,000 Services are held each year, as well as countless private prayers from individuals. The Cathedral offers a warm welcome to all visitors – its aim is to show people Jesus, which we do through the splendour of the building as well as the beauty of the worship.

 

www.canterbury-cathedral.org/heritage/history/cathedral-h...

 

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History of the cathedral

THE ORIGIN of a Christian church on the scite of the present cathedral, is supposed to have taken place as early as the Roman empire in Britain, for the use of the antient faithful and believing soldiers of their garrison here; and that Augustine found such a one standing here, adjoining to king Ethelbert's palace, which was included in the king's gift to him.

 

This supposition is founded on the records of the priory of Christ-church, (fn. 1) concurring with the common opinion of almost all our historians, who tell us of a church in Canterbury, which Augustine found standing in the east part of the city, which he had of king Ethelbert's gift, which after his consecration at Arles, in France, he commended by special dedication to the patronage of our blessed Saviour. (fn. 2)

 

According to others, the foundations only of an old church formerly built by the believing Romans, were left here, on which Augustine erected that, which he afterwards dedicated to out Saviour; (fn. 3) and indeed it is not probable that king Ethelbert should have suffered the unsightly ruins of a Christian church, which, being a Pagan, must have been very obnoxious to him, so close to his palace, and supposing these ruins had been here, would he not have suffered them to be repaired, rather than have obliged his Christian queen to travel daily to such a distance as St. Martin's church, or St. Pancrace's chapel, for the performance of her devotions.

 

Some indeed have conjectured that the church found by St. Augustine, in the east part of the city, was that of St.Martin, truly so situated; and urge in favor of it, that there have not been at any time any remains of British or Roman bricks discovered scattered in or about this church of our Saviour, those infallible, as Mr. Somner stiles them, signs of antiquity, and so generally found in buildings, which have been erected on, or close to the spot where more antient ones have stood. But to proceed, king Ethelbert's donation to Augustine was made in the year 596, who immediately afterwards went over to France, and was consecrated a bishop at Arles, and after his return, as soon as he had sufficiently finished a church here, whether built out of ruins or anew, it matters not, he exercised his episcopal function in the dedication of it, says the register of Christ-church, to the honor of Christ our Saviour; whence it afterwards obtained the name of Christ-church. (fn. 4)

 

From the time of Augustine for the space of upwards of three hundred years, there is not found in any printed or manuscript chronicle, the least mention of the fabric of this church, so that it is probable nothing befell it worthy of being recorded; however it should be mentioned, that during that period the revenues of it were much increased, for in the leiger books of it there are registered more than fifty donations of manors, lands, &c. so large and bountiful, as became the munificence of kings and nobles to confer. (fn. 5)

 

It is supposed, especially as we find no mention made of any thing to the contrary, that the fabric of this church for two hundred years after Augustine's time, met with no considerable molestations; but afterwards, the frequent invasions of the Danes involved both the civil and ecclesiastical state of this country in continual troubles and dangers; in the confusion of which, this church appears to have run into a state of decay; for when Odo was promoted to the archbishopric, in the year 938, the roof of it was in a ruinous condition; age had impaired it, and neglect had made it extremely dangerous; the walls of it were of an uneven height, according as it had been more or less decayed, and the roof of the church seemed ready to fall down on the heads of those underneath. All this the archbishop undertook to repair, and then covered the whole church with lead; to finish which, it took three years, as Osbern tells us, in the life of Odo; (fn. 6) and further, that there was not to be found a church of so large a size, capable of containing so great a multitude of people, and thus, perhaps, it continued without any material change happening to it, till the year 1011; a dismal and fatal year to this church and city; a time of unspeakable confusion and calamities; for in the month of September that year, the Danes, after a siege of twenty days, entered this city by force, burnt the houses, made a lamentable slaughter of the inhabitants, rifled this church, and then set it on fire, insomuch, that the lead with which archbishop Odo had covered it, being melted, ran down on those who were underneath. The sull story of this calamity is given by Osbern, in the life of archbishop Odo, an abridgement of which the reader will find below. (fn. 7)

 

The church now lay in ruins, without a roof, the bare walls only standing, and in this desolate condition it remained as long as the fury of the Danes prevailed, who after they had burnt the church, carried away archbishop Alphage with them, kept him in prison seven months, and then put him to death, in the year 1012, the year after which Living, or Livingus, succeeded him as archbishop, though it was rather in his calamities than in his seat of dignity, for he too was chained up by the Danes in a loathsome dungeon for seven months, before he was set free, but he so sensibly felt the deplorable state of this country, which he foresaw was every day growing worse and worse, that by a voluntary exile, he withdrew himself out of the nation, to find some solitary retirement, where he might bewail those desolations of his country, to which he was not able to bring any relief, but by his continual prayers. (fn. 8) He just outlived this storm, returned into England, and before he died saw peace and quientness restored to this land by king Canute, who gaining to himself the sole sovereignty over the nation, made it his first business to repair the injuries which had been done to the churches and monasteries in this kingdom, by his father's and his own wars. (fn. 9)

 

As for this church, archbishop Ægelnoth, who presided over it from the year 1020 to the year 1038, began and finished the repair, or rather the rebuilding of it, assisted in it by the royal munificence of the king, (fn. 10) who in 1023 presented his crown of gold to this church, and restored to it the port of Sandwich, with its liberties. (fn. 11) Notwithstanding this, in less than forty years afterwards, when Lanfranc soon after the Norman conquest came to the see, he found this church reduced almost to nothing by fire, and dilapidations; for Eadmer says, it had been consumed by a third conflagration, prior to the year of his advancement to it, in which fire almost all the antient records of the privileges of it had perished. (fn. 12)

 

The same writer has given us a description of this old church, as it was before Lanfranc came to the see; by which we learn, that at the east end there was an altar adjoining to the wall of the church, of rough unhewn stone, cemented with mortar, erected by archbishop Odo, for a repository of the body of Wilfrid, archbishop of York, which Odo had translated from Rippon hither, giving it here the highest place; at a convenient distance from this, westward, there was another altar, dedicated to Christ our Saviour, at which divine service was daily celebrated. In this altar was inclosed the head of St. Swithin, with many other relics, which archbishop Alphage brought with him from Winchester. Passing from this altar westward, many steps led down to the choir and nave, which were both even, or upon the same level. At the bottom of the steps, there was a passage into the undercroft, under all the east part of the church. (fn. 13) At the east end of which, was an altar, in which was inclosed, according to old tradition, the head of St. Furseus. From hence by a winding passage, at the west end of it, was the tomb of St. Dunstan, (fn. 14) but separated from the undercroft by a strong stone wall; over the tomb was erected a monument, pyramid wife, and at the head of it an altar, (fn. 15) for the mattin service. Between these steps, or passage into the undercroft and the nave, was the choir, (fn. 16) which was separated from the nave by a fair and decent partition, to keep off the crowds of people that usually were in the body of the church, so that the singing of the chanters in the choir might not be disturbed. About the middle of the length of the nave, were two towers or steeples, built without the walls; one on the south, and the other on the north side. In the former was the altar of St. Gregory, where was an entrance into the church by the south door, and where law controversies and pleas concerning secular matters were exercised. (fn. 17) In the latter, or north tower, was a passage for the monks into the church, from the monastery; here were the cloysters, where the novices were instructed in their religious rules and offices, and where the monks conversed together. In this tower was the altar of St. Martin. At the west end of the church was a chapel, dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary, to which there was an ascent by steps, and at the east end of it an altar, dedicated to her, in which was inclosed the head of St. Astroburta the Virgin; and at the western part of it was the archbishop's pontifical chair, made of large stones, compacted together with mortar; a fair piece of work, and placed at a convenient distance from the altar, close to the wall of the church. (fn. 18)

 

To return now to archbishop Lanfranc, who was sent for from Normandy in 1073, being the fourth year of the Conqueror's reign, to fill this see, a time, when a man of a noble spirit, equal to the laborious task he was to undertake, was wanting especially for this church; and that he was such, the several great works which were performed by him, were incontestable proofs, as well as of his great and generous mind. At the first sight of the ruinous condition of this church, says the historian, the archbishop was struck with astonishment, and almost despaired of seeing that and the monastery re edified; but his care and perseverance raised both in all its parts anew, and that in a novel and more magnificent kind and form of structure, than had been hardly in any place before made use of in this kingdom, which made it a precedent and pattern to succeeding structures of this kind; (fn. 19) and new monasteries and churches were built after the example of it; for it should be observed, that before the coming of the Normans most of the churches and monasteries in this kingdom were of wood; (all the monasteries in my realm, says king Edgar, in his charter to the abbey of Malmesbury, dated anno 974, to the outward sight are nothing but worm-eaten and rotten timber and boards) but after the Norman conquest, such timber fabrics grew out of use, and gave place to stone buildings raised upon arches; a form of structure introduced into general use by that nation, and in these parts surnished with stone from Caen, in Normandy. (fn. 20) After this fashion archbishop Lanfranc rebuilt the whole church from the foundation, with the palace and monastery, the wall which encompassed the court, and all the offices belonging to the monastery within the wall, finishing the whole nearly within the compass of seven years; (fn. 21) besides which, he furnished the church with ornaments and rich vestments; after which, the whole being perfected, he altered the name of it, by a dedication of it to the Holy Trinity; whereas, before it was called the church of our Saviour, or Christ-church, and from the above time it bore (as by Domesday book appears) the name of the church of the Holy Trinity; this new church being built on the same spot on which the antient one stood, though on a far different model.

 

After Lanfranc's death, archbishop Anselm succeeded in the year 1093, to the see of Canterbury, and must be esteemed a principal benefactor to this church; for though his time was perplexed with a continued series of troubles, of which both banishment and poverty made no small part, which in a great measure prevented him from bestowing that cost on his church, which he would otherwise have done, yet it was through his patronage and protection, and through his care and persuasions, that the fabric of it, begun and perfected by his predecessor, became enlarged and rose to still greater splendor. (fn. 22)

 

In order to carry this forward, upon the vacancy of the priory, he constituted Ernulph and Conrad, the first in 1104, the latter in 1108, priors of this church; to whose care, being men of generous and noble minds, and of singular skill in these matters, he, during his troubles, not only committed the management of this work, but of all his other concerns during his absence.

 

Probably archbishop Anselm, on being recalled from banishment on king Henry's accession to the throne, had pulled down that part of the church built by Lanfranc, from the great tower in the middle of it to the east end, intending to rebuild it upon a still larger and more magnificent plan; when being borne down by the king's displeasure, he intrusted prior Ernulph with the work, who raised up the building with such splendor, says Malmesbury, that the like was not to be seen in all England; (fn. 23) but the short time Ernulph continued in this office did not permit him to see his undertaking finished. (fn. 24) This was left to his successor Conrad, who, as the obituary of Christ church informs us, by his great industry, magnificently perfected the choir, which his predecessor had left unfinished, (fn. 25) adorning it with curious pictures, and enriching it with many precious ornaments. (fn. 26)

 

This great undertaking was not entirely compleated at the death of archbishop Anselm, which happened in 1109, anno 9 Henry I. nor indeed for the space of five years afterwards, during which the see of Canterbury continued vacant; when being finished, in honour of its builder, and on account of its more than ordinary beauty, it gained the name of the glorious choir of Conrad. (fn. 27)

 

After the see of Canterbury had continued thus vacant for five years, Ralph, or as some call him, Rodulph, bishop of Rochester, was translated to it in the year 1114, at whose coming to it, the church was dedicated anew to the Holy Trinity, the name which had been before given to it by Lanfranc. (fn. 28) The only particular description we have of this church when thus finished, is from Gervas, the monk of this monastery, and that proves imperfect, as to the choir of Lanfranc, which had been taken down soon after his death; (fn. 29) the following is his account of the nave, or western part of it below the choir, being that which had been erected by archbishop Lanfranc, as has been before mentioned. From him we learn, that the west end, where the chapel of the Virgin Mary stood before, was now adorned with two stately towers, on the top of which were gilded pinnacles. The nave or body was supported by eight pair of pillars. At the east end of the nave, on the north side, was an oratory, dedicated in honor to the blessed Virgin, in lieu, I suppose, of the chapel, that had in the former church been dedicated to her at the west end. Between the nave and the choir there was built a great tower or steeple, as it were in the centre of the whole fabric; (fn. 30) under this tower was erected the altar of the Holy Cross; over a partition, which separated this tower from the nave, a beam was laid across from one side to the other of the church; upon the middle of this beam was fixed a great cross, between the images of the Virgin Mary and St. John, and between two cherubims. The pinnacle on the top of this tower, was a gilded cherub, and hence it was called the angel steeple; a name it is frequently called by at this day. (fn. 31)

 

This great tower had on each side a cross isle, called the north and south wings, which were uniform, of the same model and dimensions; each of them had a strong pillar in the middle for a support to the roof, and each of them had two doors or passages, by which an entrance was open to the east parts of the church. At one of these doors there was a descent by a few steps into the undercroft; at the other, there was an ascent by many steps into the upper parts of the church, that is, the choir, and the isles on each side of it. Near every one of these doors or passages, an altar was erected; at the upper door in the south wing, there was an altar in honour of All Saints; and at the lower door there was one of St. Michael; and before this altar on the south side was buried archbishop Fleologild; and on the north side, the holy Virgin Siburgis, whom St. Dunstan highly admired for her sanctity. In the north isle, by the upper door, was the altar of St. Blaze; and by the lower door, that of St. Benedict. In this wing had been interred four archbishops, Adelm and Ceolnoth, behind the altar, and Egelnoth and Wlfelm before it. At the entrance into this wing, Rodulph and his successor William Corboil, both archbishops, were buried. (fn. 32)

 

Hence, he continues, we go up by some steps into the great tower, and before us there is a door and steps leading down into the south wing, and on the right hand a pair of folding doors, with stairs going down into the nave of the church; but without turning to any of these, let us ascend eastward, till by several more steps we come to the west end of Conrad's choir; being now at the entrance of the choir, Gervas tells us, that he neither saw the choir built by Lanfranc, nor found it described by any one; that Eadmer had made mention of it, without giving any account of it, as he had done of the old church, the reason of which appears to be, that Lanfranc's choir did not long survive its founder, being pulled down as before-mentioned, by archbishop Anselm; so that it could not stand more than twenty years; therefore the want of a particular description of it will appear no great defect in the history of this church, especially as the deficiency is here supplied by Gervas's full relation of the new choir of Conrad, built instead of it; of which, whoever desires to know the whole architecture and model observed in the fabric, the order, number, height and form of the pillars and windows, may know the whole of it from him. The roof of it, he tells us, (fn. 33) was beautified with curious paintings representing heaven; (fn. 34) in several respects it was agreeable to the present choir, the stalls were large and framed of carved wood. In the middle of it, there hung a gilded crown, on which were placed four and twenty tapers of wax. From the choir an ascent of three steps led to the presbiterium, or place for the presbiters; here, he says, it would be proper to stop a little and take notice of the high altar, which was dedicated to the name of CHRIST. It was placed between two other altars, the one of St. Dunstan, the other of St. Alphage; at the east corners of the high altar were fixed two pillars of wood, beautified with silver and gold; upon these pillars was placed a beam, adorned with gold, which reached across the church, upon it there were placed the glory, (fn. 35) the images of St. Dunstan and St. Alphage, and seven chests or coffers overlaid with gold, full of the relics of many saints. Between those pillars was a cross gilded all over, and upon the upper beam of the cross were set sixty bright crystals.

 

Beyond this, by an ascent of eight steps towards the east, behind the altar, was the archiepiscopal throne, which Gervas calls the patriarchal chair, made of one stone; in this chair, according to the custom of the church, the archbishop used to sit, upon principal festivals, in his pontifical ornaments, whilst the solemn offices of religion were celebrated, until the consecration of the host, when he came down to the high altar, and there performed the solemnity of consecration. Still further, eastward, behind the patriarchal chair, (fn. 36) was a chapel in the front of the whole church, in which was an altar, dedicated to the Holy Trinity; behind which were laid the bones of two archbishops, Odo of Canterbury, and Wilfrid of York; by this chapel on the south side near the wall of the church, was laid the body of archbishop Lanfranc, and on the north side, the body of archbishop Theobald. Here it is to be observed, that under the whole east part of the church, from the angel steeple, there was an undercrost or crypt, (fn. 37) in which were several altars, chapels and sepulchres; under the chapel of the Trinity before-mentioned, were two altars, on the south side, the altar of St. Augustine, the apostle of the English nation, by which archbishop Athelred was interred. On the north side was the altar of St. John Baptist, by which was laid the body of archbishop Eadsin; under the high altar was the chapel and altar of the blessed Virgin Mary, to whom the whole undercroft was dedicated.

 

To return now, he continues, to the place where the bresbyterium and choir meet, where on each side there was a cross isle (as was to be seen in his time) which might be called the upper south and north wings; on the east side of each of these wings were two half circular recesses or nooks in the wall, arched over after the form of porticoes. Each of them had an altar, and there was the like number of altars under them in the crost. In the north wing, the north portico had the altar of St. Martin, by which were interred the bodies of two archbishops, Wlfred on the right, and Living on the left hand; under it in the croft, was the altar of St. Mary Magdalen. The other portico in this wing, had the altar of St. Stephen, and by it were buried two archbishops, Athelard on the left hand, and Cuthbert on the right; in the croft under it, was the altar of St. Nicholas. In the south wing, the north portico had the altar of St. John the Evangelist, and by it the bodies of Æthelgar and Aluric, archbishops, were laid. In the croft under it was the altar of St. Paulinus, by which the body of archbishop Siricius was interred. In the south portico was the altar of St. Gregory, by which were laid the corps of the two archbishops Bregwin and Plegmund. In the croft under it was the altar of St. Owen, archbishop of Roan, and underneath in the croft, not far from it the altar of St. Catherine.

 

Passing from these cross isles eastward there were two towers, one on the north, the other on the south side of the church. In the tower on the north side was the altar of St. Andrew, which gave name to the tower; under it, in the croft, was the altar of the Holy Innocents; the tower on the south side had the altar of St. Peter and St. Paul, behind which the body of St. Anselm was interred, which afterwards gave name both to the altar and tower (fn. 38) (now called St. Anselm's). The wings or isles on each side of the choir had nothing in particular to be taken notice of.— Thus far Gervas, from whose description we in particular learn, where several of the bodies of the old archbishops were deposited, and probably the ashes of some of them remain in the same places to this day.

 

As this building, deservedly called the glorious choir of Conrad, was a magnificent work, so the undertaking of it at that time will appear almost beyond example, especially when the several circumstances of it are considered; but that it was carried forward at the archbishop's cost, exceeds all belief. It was in the discouraging reign of king William Rufus, a prince notorious in the records of history, for all manner of sacrilegious rapine, that archbishop Anselm was promoted to this see; when he found the lands and revenues of this church so miserably wasted and spoiled, that there was hardly enough left for his bare subsistence; who, in the first years that he sat in the archiepiscopal chair, struggled with poverty, wants and continual vexations through the king's displeasure, (fn. 39) and whose three next years were spent in banishment, during all which time he borrowed money for his present maintenance; who being called home by king Henry I. at his coming to the crown, laboured to pay the debts he had contracted during the time of his banishment, and instead of enjoying that tranquility and ease he hoped for, was, within two years afterwards, again sent into banishment upon a fresh displeasure conceived against him by the king, who then seized upon all the revenues of the archbishopric, (fn. 40) which he retained in his own hands for no less than four years.

 

Under these hard circumstances, it would have been surprizing indeed, that the archbishop should have been able to carry on so great a work, and yet we are told it, as a truth, by the testimonies of history; but this must surely be understood with the interpretation of his having been the patron, protector and encourager, rather than the builder of this work, which he entrusted to the care and management of the priors Ernulph and Conrad, and sanctioned their employing, as Lanfranc had done before, the revenues and stock of the church to this use. (fn. 41)

 

In this state as above-mentioned, without any thing material happening to it, this church continued till about the year 1130, anno 30 Henry I. when it seems to have suffered some damage by a fire; (fn. 42) but how much, there is no record left to inform us; however it could not be of any great account, for it was sufficiently repaired, and that mostly at the cost of archbishop Corboil, who then sat in the chair of this see, (fn. 43) before the 4th of May that year, on which day, being Rogation Sunday, the bishops performed the dedication of it with great splendor and magnificence, such, says Gervas, col. 1664, as had not been heard of since the dedication of the temple of Solomon; the king, the queen, David, king of Scots, all the archbishops, and the nobility of both kingdoms being present at it, when this church's former name was restored again, being henceforward commonly called Christ-church. (fn. 44)

 

Among the manuscripts of Trinity college library, in Cambridge, in a very curious triple psalter of St. Jerome, in Latin, written by the monk Eadwyn, whose picture is at the beginning of it, is a plan or drawing made by him, being an attempt towards a representation of this church and monastery, as they stood between the years 1130 and 1174; which makes it probable, that he was one of the monks of it, and the more so, as the drawing has not any kind of relation to the plalter or sacred hymns contained in the manuscript.

 

His plan, if so it may be called, for it is neither such, nor an upright, nor a prospect, and yet something of all together; but notwithstanding this rudeness of the draftsman, it shews very plain that it was intended for this church and priory, and gives us a very clear knowledge, more than we have been able to learn from any description we have besides, of what both were at the above period of time. (fn. 45)

 

Forty-four years after this dedication, on the 5th of September, anno 1174, being the 20th year of king Henry II.'s reign, a fire happened, which consumed great part of this stately edifice, namely, the whole choir, from the angel steeple to the east end of the church, together with the prior's lodgings, the chapel of the Virgin Mary, the infirmary, and some other offices belonging to the monastery; but the angel steeple, the lower cross isles, and the nave appear to have received no material injury from the flames. (fn. 46) The narrative of this accident is told by Gervas, the monk of Canterbury, so often quoted before, who was an eye witness of this calamity, as follows:

 

Three small houses in the city near the old gate of the monastery took fire by accident, a strong south wind carried the flakes of fire to the top of the church, and lodged them between the joints of the lead, driving them to the timbers under it; this kindled a fire there, which was not discerned till the melted lead gave a free passage for the flames to appear above the church, and the wind gaining by this means a further power of increasing them, drove them inwardly, insomuch that the danger became immediately past all possibility of relief. The timber of the roof being all of it on fire, fell down into the choir, where the stalls of the manks, made of large pieces of carved wood, afforded plenty of fuel to the flames, and great part of the stone work, through the vehement heat of the fire, was so weakened, as to be brought to irreparable ruin, and besides the fabric itself, the many rich ornaments in the church were devoured by the flames.

 

The choir being thus laid in ashes, the monks removed from amidst the ruins, the bodies of the two saints, whom they called patrons of the church, the archbishops Dunstan and Alphage, and deposited them by the altar of the great cross, in the nave of the church; (fn. 47) and from this time they celebrated the daily religious offices in the oratory of the blessed Virgin Mary in the nave, and continued to do so for more than five years, when the choir being re edified, they returned to it again. (fn. 48)

 

Upon this destruction of the church, the prior and convent, without any delay, consulted on the most speedy and effectual method of rebuilding it, resolving to finish it in such a manner, as should surpass all the former choirs of it, as well in beauty as size and magnificence. To effect this, they sent for the most skilful architects that could be found either in France or England. These surveyed the walls and pillars, which remained standing, but they found great part of them so weakened by the fire, that they could no ways be built upon with any safety; and it was accordingly resolved, that such of them should be taken down; a whole year was spent in doing this, and in providing materials for the new building, for which they sent abroad for the best stone that could be procured; Gervas has given a large account, (fn. 49) how far this work advanced year by year; what methods and rules of architecture were observed, and other particulars relating to the rebuilding of this church; all which the curious reader may consult at his leisure; it will be sufficient to observe here, that the new building was larger in height and length, and more beautiful in every respect, than the choir of Conrad; for the roof was considerably advanced above what it was before, and was arched over with stone; whereas before it was composed of timber and boards. The capitals of the pillars were now beautified with different sculptures of carvework; whereas, they were before plain, and six pillars more were added than there were before. The former choir had but one triforium, or inner gallery, but now there were two made round it, and one in each side isle and three in the cross isles; before, there were no marble pillars, but such were now added to it in abundance. In forwarding this great work, the monks had spent eight years, when they could proceed no further for want of money; but a fresh supply coming in from the offerings at St. Thomas's tomb, so much more than was necessary for perfecting the repair they were engaged in, as encouraged them to set about a more grand design, which was to pull down the eastern extremity of the church, with the small chapel of the Holy Trinity adjoining to it, and to erect upon a stately undercroft, a most magnificent one instead of it, equally lofty with the roof of the church, and making a part of it, which the former one did not, except by a door into it; but this new chapel, which was dedicated likewise to the Holy Trinity, was not finished till some time after the rest of the church; at the east end of this chapel another handsome one, though small, was afterwards erected at the extremity of the whole building, since called Becket's crown, on purpose for an altar and the reception of some part of his relics; (fn. 50) further mention of which will be made hereafter.

 

The eastern parts of this church, as Mr. Gostling observes, have the appearance of much greater antiquity than what is generally allowed to them; and indeed if we examine the outside walls and the cross wings on each side of the choir, it will appear, that the whole of them was not rebuilt at the time the choir was, and that great part of them was suffered to remain, though altered, added to, and adapted as far as could be, to the new building erected at that time; the traces of several circular windows and other openings, which were then stopped up, removed, or altered, still appearing on the walls both of the isles and the cross wings, through the white-wash with which they are covered; and on the south side of the south isle, the vaulting of the roof as well as the triforium, which could not be contrived so as to be adjusted to the places of the upper windows, plainly shew it. To which may be added, that the base or foot of one of the westernmost large pillars of the choir on the north side, is strengthened with a strong iron band round it, by which it should seem to have been one of those pillars which had been weakened by the fire, but was judged of sufficient firmness, with this precaution, to remain for the use of the new fabric.

 

The outside of this part of the church is a corroborating proof of what has been mentioned above, as well in the method, as in the ornaments of the building.— The outside of it towards the south, from St. Michael's chapel eastward, is adorned with a range of small pillars, about six inches diameter, and about three feet high, some with santastic shasts and capitals, others with plain ones; these support little arches, which intersect each other; and this chain or girdle of pillars is continued round the small tower, the eastern cross isle and the chapel of St. Anselm, to the buildings added in honour of the Holy Trinity, and St. Thomas Becket, where they leave off. The casing of St. Michael's chapel has none of them, but the chapel of the Virgin Mary, answering to it on the north side of the church, not being fitted to the wall, shews some of them behind it; which seems as if they had been continued before, quite round the eastern parts of the church.

 

These pillars, which rise from about the level of the pavement, within the walls above them, are remarkably plain and bare of ornaments; but the tower above mentioned and its opposite, as soon as they rise clear of the building, are enriched with stories of this colonade, one above another, up to the platform from whence their spires rise; and the remains of the two larger towers eastward, called St. Anselm's, and that answering to it on the north side of the church, called St. Andrew's are decorated much after the same manner, as high as they remain at present.

 

At the time of the before-mentioned fire, which so fatally destroyed the upper part of this church, the undercrost, with the vaulting over it, seems to have remained entire, and unhurt by it.

 

The vaulting of the undercrost, on which the floor of the choir and eastern parts of the church is raised, is supported by pillars, whose capitals are as various and fantastical as those of the smaller ones described before, and so are their shafts, some being round, others canted, twisted, or carved, so that hardly any two of them are alike, except such as are quite plain.

 

These, I suppose, may be concluded to be of the same age, and if buildings in the same stile may be conjectured to be so from thence, the antiquity of this part of the church may be judged, though historians have left us in the dark in relation to it.

 

In Leland's Collectanea, there is an account and description of a vault under the chancel of the antient church of St. Peter, in Oxford, called Grymbald's crypt, being allowed by all, to have been built by him; (fn. 51) Grymbald was one of those great and accomplished men, whom king Alfred invited into England about the year 885, to assist him in restoring Christianity, learning and the liberal arts. (fn. 52) Those who compare the vaults or undercrost of the church of Canterbury, with the description and prints given of Grymbald's crypt, (fn. 53) will easily perceive, that two buildings could hardly have been erected more strongly resembling each other, except that this at Canterbury is larger, and more pro fusely decorated with variety of fancied ornaments, the shafts of several of the pillars here being twisted, or otherwise varied, and many of the captials exactly in the same grotesque taste as those in Grymbald's crypt. (fn. 54) Hence it may be supposed, that those whom archbishop Lanfranc employed as architects and designers of his building at Canterbury, took their model of it, at least of this part of it, from that crypt, and this undercrost now remaining is the same, as was originally built by him, as far eastward, as to that part which begins under the chapel of the Holy Trinity, where it appears to be of a later date, erected at the same time as the chapel. The part built by Lanfranc continues at this time as firm and entire, as it was at the very building of it, though upwards of seven hundred years old. (fn. 55)

 

But to return to the new building; though the church was not compleatly finished till the end of the year 1184, yet it was so far advanced towards it, that, in 1180, on April 19, being Easter eve, (fn. 56) the archbishop, prior and monks entered the new choir, with a solemn procession, singing Te Deum, for their happy return to it. Three days before which they had privately, by night, carried the bodies of St. Dunstan and St. Alphage to the places prepared for them near the high altar. The body likewise of queen Edive (which after the fire had been removed from the north cross isle, where it lay before, under a stately gilded shrine) to the altar of the great cross, was taken up, carried into the vestry, and thence to the altar of St. Martin, where it was placed under the coffin of archbishop Livinge. In the month of July following the altar of the Holy Trinity was demolished, and the bodies of those archbishops, which had been laid in that part of the church, were removed to other places. Odo's body was laid under St. Dunstan's and Wilfrid's under St. Alphage's; Lanfranc's was deposited nigh the altar of St. Martin, and Theobald's at that of the blessed Virgin, in the nave of the church, (fn. 57) under a marble tomb; and soon afterwards the two archbishops, on the right and left hand of archbishop Becket in the undercrost, were taken up and placed under the altar of St. Mary there. (fn. 58)

 

After a warning so terrible, as had lately been given, it seemed most necessary to provide against the danger of fire for the time to come; the flames, which had so lately destroyed a considerable part of the church and monastery, were caused by some small houses, which had taken fire at a small distance from the church.— There still remained some other houses near it, which belonged to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine; for these the monks of Christ-church created, by an exchange, which could not be effected till the king interposed, and by his royal authority, in a manner, compelled the abbot and convent to a composition for this purpose, which was dated in the year 1177, that was three years after the late fire of this church. (fn. 59)

 

These houses were immediately pulled down, and it proved a providential and an effectual means of preserving the church from the like calamity; for in the year 1180, on May 22, this new choir, being not then compleated, though it had been used the month be fore, as has been already mentioned, there happened a fire in the city, which burnt down many houses, and the flames bent their course towards the church, which was again in great danger; but the houses near it being taken away, the fire was stopped, and the church escaped being burnt again. (fn. 60)

 

Although there is no mention of a new dedication of the church at this time, yet the change made in the name of it has been thought by some to imply a formal solemnity of this kind, as it appears to have been from henceforth usually called the church of St. Thomas the Martyr, and to have continued so for above 350 years afterwards.

 

New names to churches, it is true. have been usually attended by formal consecrations of them; and had there been any such solemnity here, undoubtedly the same would not have passed by unnoticed by every historian, the circumstance of it must have been notorious, and the magnificence equal at least to the other dedications of this church, which have been constantly mentioned by them; but here was no need of any such ceremony, for although the general voice then burst forth to honour this church with the name of St. Thomas, the universal object of praise and adoration, then stiled the glorious martyr, yet it reached no further, for the name it had received at the former dedication, notwithstanding this common appellation of it, still remained in reality, and it still retained invariably in all records and writings, the name of Christ church only, as appears by many such remaining among the archives of the dean and chapter; and though on the seal of this church, which was changed about this time; the counter side of it had a representation of Becket's martyrdom, yet on the front of it was continued that of the church, and round it an inscription with the former name of Christ church; which seal remained in force till the dissolution of the priory.

 

It may not be improper to mention here some transactions, worthy of observation, relating to this favorite saint, which passed from the time of his being murdered, to that of his translation to the splendid shrine prepared for his relics.

 

Archbishop Thomas Becket was barbarously murdered in this church on Dec. 29, 1170, being the 16th year of king Henry II. and his body was privately buried towards the east end of the undercrost. The monks tell us, that about the Easter following, miracles began to be wrought by him, first at his tomb, then in the undercrost, and in every part of the whole fabric of the church; afterwards throughout England, and lastly, throughout the rest of the world. (fn. 61) The same of these miracles procured him the honour of a formal canonization from pope Alexander III. whose bull for that purpose is dated March 13, in the year 1172. (fn. 62) This declaration of the pope was soon known in all places, and the reports of his miracles were every where sounded abroad. (fn. 63)

 

Hereupon crowds of zealots, led on by a phrenzy of devotion, hastened to kneel at his tomb. In 1177, Philip, earl of Flanders, came hither for that purpose, when king Henry met and had a conference with him at Canterbury. (fn. 64) In June 1178, king Henry returning from Normandy, visited the sepulchre of this new saint; and in July following, William, archbishop of Rhemes, came from France, with a large retinue, to perform his vows to St. Thomas of Canterbury, where the king met him and received him honourably. In the year 1179, Lewis, king of France, came into England; before which neither he nor any of his predecessors had ever set foot in this kingdom. (fn. 65) He landed at Dover, where king Henry waited his arrival, and on August 23, the two kings came to Canterbury, with a great train of nobility of both nations, and were received with due honour and great joy, by the archbishop, with his com-provincial bishops, and the prior and the whole convent. (fn. 66)

 

King Lewis came in the manner and habit of a pilgrim, and was conducted to the tomb of St. Thomas by a solemn procession; he there offered his cup of gold and a royal precious stone, (fn. 67) and gave the convent a yearly rent for ever, of a hundred muids of wine, to be paid by himself and his successors; which grant was confirmed by his royal charter, under his seal, and delivered next day to the convent; (fn. 68) after he had staid here two, (fn. 69) or as others say, three days, (fn. 70) during which the oblations of gold and silver made were so great, that the relation of them almost exceeded credibility. (fn. 71) In 1181, king Henry, in his return from Normandy, again paid his devotions at this tomb. These visits were the early fruits of the adoration of the new sainted martyr, and these royal examples of kings and great persons were followed by multitudes, who crowded to present with full hands their oblations at his tomb.— Hence the convent was enabled to carry forward the building of the new choir, and they applied all this vast income to the fabric of the church, as the present case instantly required, for which they had the leave and consent of the archbishop, confirmed by the bulls of several succeeding popes. (fn. 72)

 

¶From the liberal oblations of these royal and noble personages at the tomb of St. Thomas, the expences of rebuilding the choir appear to have been in a great measure supplied, nor did their devotion and offerings to the new saint, after it was compleated, any ways abate, but, on the contrary, they daily increased; for in the year 1184, Philip, archbishop of Cologne, and Philip, earl of Flanders, came together to pay their vows at this tomb, and were met here by king Henry, who gave them an invitation to London. (fn. 73) In 1194, John, archbishop of Lions; in the year afterwards, John, archbishop of York; and in the year 1199, king John, performed their devotions at the foot of this tomb. (fn. 74) King Richard I. likewise, on his release from captivity in Germany, landing on the 30th of March at Sandwich, proceeded from thence, as an humble stranger on foot, towards Canterbury, to return his grateful thanks to God and St. Thomas for his release. (fn. 75) All these by name, with many nobles and multitudes of others, of all sorts and descriptions, visited the saint with humble adoration and rich oblations, whilst his body lay in the undercrost. In the mean time the chapel and altar at the upper part of the east end of the church, which had been formerly consecrated to the Holy Trinity, were demolished, and again prepared with great splendor, for the reception of this saint, who being now placed there, implanted his name not only on the chapel and altar, but on the whole church, which was from thenceforth known only by that of the church of St. Thomas the martyr.

  

On July 7, anno 1220, the remains of St. Thomas were translated from his tomb to his new shrine, with the greatest solemnity and rejoicings. Pandulph, the pope's legate, the archbishops of Canterbury and Rheims, and many bishops and abbots, carried the coffin on their shoulders, and placed it on the new shrine, and the king graced these solemnities with his royal presence. (fn. 76) The archbishop of Canterbury provided forage along all the road, between London and Canterbury, for the horses of all such as should come to them, and he caused several pipes and conduits to run with wine in different parts of the city. This, with the other expences arising during the time, was so great, that he left a debt on the see, which archbishop Boniface, his fourth successor in it, was hardly enabled to discharge.

 

¶The saint being now placed in his new repository, became the vain object of adoration to the deluded people, and afterwards numbers of licences were granted to strangers by the king, to visit this shrine. (fn. 77) The titles of glorious, of saint and martyr, were among those given to him; (fn. 78) such veneration had all people for his relics, that the religious of several cathedral churches and monasteries, used all their endeavours to obtain some of them, and thought themselves happy and rich in the possession of the smallest portion of them. (fn. 79) Besides this, there were erected and dedicated to his honour, many churches, chapels, altars and hospitals in different places, both in this kingdom and abroad. (fn. 80) Thus this saint, even whilst he lay in his obscure tomb in the undercroft, brought such large and constant supplies of money, as enabled the monks to finish this beautiful choir, and the eastern parts of the church; and when he was translated to the most exalted and honourable place in it, a still larger abundance of gain filled their coffers, which continued as a plentiful supply to them, from year to year, to the time of the reformation, and the final abolition of the priory itself.

 

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol11/pp306-383

Mandy continued to prove each day how wonderful she could act as a mother to our two precious children, Paul and Vanessa. Vanessa took after Mandy in almost every way, especially her good looks and artistic creativity. Here they are on Thanksgiving Day, 1977, in Hamden, CT. We gave thanks especially because we almost lost Vanessa to spinal meningitis shortly after she was born, but a month in Children's Hospital in DC saved her life.

It's not scary to retreat, it's scary not to continue the fight.

continued .....

Suppressed .338 battle rifle WIP

 

pastebin.com/152vCnFy

The process of organizing continues.

 

More over on my blog.

We continue to seek public assistance in relation to a homicide that occurred in 2012.

 

In the early morning hours of Friday, May 25, 2012, a man was shot while sitting in his dark green Ford Bronco, in the 4300 block of 19 Avenue S.E. He was discovered by a female associate at approximately 1:15 a.m.

 

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined Kather EL-KHATIB, 56, of Calgary, died as the result of a shooting.

 

We are re-releasing a photo EL-KHATIB, as well as a similar-looking vehicle to the one he was in.

Posters asking for information from the public have recently been distributed in the area that the homicide took place.

 

Anyone who may have information on this incident, or the whereabouts of the victim prior to his death is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

 

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

TEXT: tttTIPS to 274637

 

I attended the Charles Lloyd Trios:Ocean Concert at the Musical Instrument Museum. It is an incredible venue for Jazz concerts. They considered me with my Sony A7 IV a professional photographer. So they relegated me to my iPhone. I wasn't thinking fast enough and forget to shoot in Apple RAW.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lloyd_(jazz_musician)

Charles Lloyd (born March 15, 1938)[1] is an American jazz musician. He primarily plays tenor saxophone and flute and occasionally other reed instruments,

Lloyd is given credit for anticipating world music by incorporating music from other cultures into his compositions, as early as the late 1950s. He describes his music as having "danced on many shores".[7] Peter Watrous stated, "Lloyd has come up with a strange and beautiful distillation of the American experience, part abandoned and wild, part immensely controlled and sophisticated."[8]

Since 2015, Lloyd has recorded ten albums for Blue Note, including 2024's The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow, which was selected by DownBeat critics as album of the year. Lloyd was also elected into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame in 2024.[25]

 

www.bluenote.com/spotlight/charles-lloyd-trios-ocean/

"Charles Lloyd has long been a free spirit, master musician, and visionary. For more than six decades the legendary saxophonist and composer has loomed large over the music world, and at 84 years old he remains both at the height of his powers and as prolific as ever. Early on Lloyd saw how placing the improvised solo in interesting and original contexts could provoke greater freedom of expression and inspire creativity.

As a sound seeker, Lloyd’s restless creativity has perhaps found no greater manifestation than on his latest masterwork, an expansive project that encompasses three individual albums each presenting him in a different trio setting—a Trio of Trios. The first, Trios: Chapel, features Lloyd with guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Thomas Morgan. The second, Trios: Ocean, with guitarist Anthony Wilson and pianist Gerald Clayton. The third, Trios: Sacred Thread, with guitarist Julian Lage and percussionist Zakir Hussain.

Lloyd once pointed out that his playing was a reflection of his life in real time. Perhaps this explains the emotional power of his playing, a soulful cry from the heart that argues for peace and beauty in a world becoming increasingly impatient with both. It’s why his saxophone tone, his signature in sound, is central to his art. “I’m trying to get a great sound, because when I think of all the great masters that went before, this kid in me still sees areas where I come up short and I continue to work on it,” he says. Unique and expressive, it’s what draws listeners into his music, shaping the emotive elements of his performances, from passionate intensity to sotto voce subtones, from which we construe meaning.

With good reason Lloyd’s playing has been described as lyrical, a style that is evocative of singing, expressing a subjective, personal point of view. Indeed, as a child he wanted to train as a singer, and today, when he plays a ballad, such as his recent recording of ‘Anthem’ by Leonard Cohen on Tone Poem, he has spoken of how knowing a song’s lyrics helps him add greater expressive weight to his playing. It is a reminder of music’s ancient connection with words and how melody frequently follows the meter and rhythm of speech patterns. Formalized a thousand years ago with the diatonicism of plainsong, music’s evolution through chromaticism to what has been called “the crisis in tonality” precipitated by Arnold Schoenberg, was mirrored in jazz in the space of just fifty years. So much has been accomplished in music that today, the search for the “always new” that propelled jazz through the twentieth century has given way to the realization to the once witty riposte by arch-modernist and surrealist Man Ray in the 1920s — “I can’t do something better than the old masters did, my only justification is to do something different.”

 

mim.org/our-story/

MIM began with a vision to create a musical instrument museum that would be truly global. Realizing most musical museums featured historic, primarily Western classical instruments, MIM’s founder Bob Ulrich (then CEO of Target Corporation) was inspired to develop a new kind of museum that would focus on the kind of instruments played every day by people worldwide. A focus on the guest experience shaped every aspect of the museum’s development. From the beginning, our goal has been to deliver a musical experience that is enriching, inspiring, interesting, and fun.

Today, MIM has a collection of more than 7,500 instruments from more than 200 world countries and territories. The galleries reflect the rich diversity and history of many world cultures. But music and instruments also show us what we have in common—a thought powerfully expressed in our motto, music is the language of the soul.

MIM’s immersive exhibits foster an appreciation of diverse cultures and the craftsmanship and traditions of instrument makers from the past to the present. A visit to MIM is also about experiencing the sensory nature of music and how it affects our emotions. Through state-of-the-art, interactive media, guests can see the instruments, hear their sounds, and observe them being played in their original contexts.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_Instrument_Museum_(Phoenix)

 

Musical Instrument Museum

MIM

Continuing the matryoshka series: www.flickr.com/photos/valerian1985/albums/72157667218595390

View On Black

 

A poem to accompany this image by Daniel Duffy:

 

Continuing Dialogue

by Daniel Duffy

 

Scribblings of the past,

They stare up at us

But none is the wiser

As to its message

 

Chain upon fragmented chain,

We wonder what exactly

It all means when we realize

We haven’t a clue

 

This foreign tongue is meaningless

And yet, to someone else

It wasn’t

 

Go figure

 

Words will always have meaning

But will be distorted by

The changing times

 

Continuing the dialogue

In the present is quite the challenge

 

Let’s hope the meanings are the same,

Or how else will we communicate

Our culture to another?

 

Questions asked,

Questions answered,

But still more remain

Why must we fritter away

The hours on pointless

Psychobabble?

 

Only time will tell,

As the cliché goes…

 

No Matter What

  

Construction work continues in the Cannon House Office Building's north wing.

 

Phase 2 of the Cannon Renewal Project began in January 2019 and is scheduled to be complete in November 2020. The entire north side of the building, from the basement to the fifth floor, is closed. Work includes demolishing and rebuilding the fifth floor, conserving the exterior stonework and rehabilitating the individual office suites.

 

Full project details at www.aoc.gov/cannon.

 

-----

This official Architect of the Capitol photograph is being made available for educational, scholarly, news or personal purposes (not advertising or any other commercial use). When any of these images is used the photographic credit line should read “Architect of the Capitol.” These images may not be used in any way that would imply endorsement by the Architect of the Capitol or the United States Congress of a product, service or point of view. For more information visit www.aoc.gov/terms.

 

Reference: 504650

 

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Love Lets Us Remain in Changzhou

 

"Of the places around Nanjing and Shanghai, we are most attracted to Changzhou," say this pair of American sweethearts.

 

The tall gentleman chose the name "贲喆明", and the charming young woman is called "马文慧". A year ago, this young American couple made the long journey to become Middle School 24's foreign English teachers and have since completed a one year contract. Since exploring Chinese culture has been so pleasurable for them, they decided to continue with their foreign teaching career in Changzhou. It is now one month after the start of the new school year. Jeanne cleverly told the reporter, "Not only does the middle character I use in my name ('文') represent my interest in culture, but it reminds me that we are still studying and have more to learn. How can one year be enough time?"

 

They were able to come to China together because they share common interests. Benjamin tells this reporter, "When I was very little, my parents told me that if you dig a hole in the earth and keep digging, you'll dig all the way through to China." Because of the couple's interest in China, they took Chinese names for themselves in the classical tradition, hoping to be able to accumulate a lot of wisdom, and beyond this, to increase their knowledge.

 

Before he came to Changzhou, Benjamin had been a computer systems administrator. He had already spent time in thirteen U.S. states doing network administration. While of university age, Benjamin lived the life of a Jew in Israel. He had already had the experience of teaching Hebrew. As for Jeanne, after graduating from college, she did community work enlightening people about culture, race, and gender, emphasizing treating people with equality. This well-matched young couple, having known each other for two years, mutually chose China to acquaint themselves with Eastern culture.

 

"We like Changzhou because of its geographical location. This place is not a tourist city, and we are attracted to this typical Chinese tranquility and, yet, Changzhou is modern, and so it also meets our needs. We've made friends here from Liaoning, Shandong, Qinghai, Anhuai and other places. As a result of this, we have come to understand the culture of China's provinces and their various traits. This fact is especially pleasing."

 

How do these two youths communicate with their Chinese friends? Outside the gate of Number 24 Middle School there is a family noodle shop. The first time Benjamin and Jeanne went there, the owner and some customers were full of kindness and said that they wanted to be friends. If Benjamin and Jeanne needed any help, they said they would help them. Because nobody at the restaurant can speak English, the couple was forced to use Chinese for every exchanges. But Benjamin and Jeanne are especially happy about this because it makes their progress fast. The noodle restaurant is run by people of the Hui minority, so sometimes the couple are invited to join in special minority events. Their relationship is reciprocal. For example, Benjamin and Jeanne took the noodle restaurant's menu and researched it. After they finished trying all of the dishes, they brought a translated menu with them. The owner of the restaurant was very happy because now in this small restaurant people cannot but see things in a new light.

 

Now, perhaps you believe that the fact that this young couple leans strongly toward Chinese cuisine is still somewhat inconsistent. Jeanne is an earnest vegetarian, and Benjamin apparently is also mainly interested in vegetarian food. "In America, we have no baby bok choy, amaranth, bitter melon, or chinese chive dishes—American tofu is Japanese style—and what's more, we don't have dried tofu. Nor do we have another thing I love to eat—tofu sheets. Consequently, in China, I can accept vegetarianism much more happily than in America." Considering what Benjamin says, it's no wonder that they bring food home to cook and eat from time to time. Rumor has it that Benjamin's Hong Shao Eggplant isn't too bad. Sometimes, when they miss America, they go to a nearby Western restaurant and have a coffee and french fries. However, the best place for them to relax is the Tianning Temple restaurant, because, since everything is vegetarian, they can eat anything they see.

 

Although the two of them ardently love to travel, they seldom took trips during their first year, which spanned from their arrival in August of 2004 until the start of this new school year. But since they put everything into studying Chinese, they can now go anywhere in China on their own. At one time saying "one tea" but now saying "one cup of tea," Benjamin's Chinese has indeed improved. "Sometimes I can't remember a specific piece of Chinese vocabulary, but I can use my Chinese to describe it. For example, if I forget the word for 'cup' I can describe it, and the other person will give me a cup." Benjamin is very proud of himself.

 

With American students, it's normal to remain seated through the entire class, and the teacher often will sit while teaching class. At the beginning, Benjamin wasn't accustomed to the Chinese classroom protocol. However, now he has explained both ways so it's now possible for him to do both. Also, he likes to pace all over duing class, wanting to be near to the student with whom he is having an exchange, "We do what the students are most comfortable with." This young pair of Americans smiles very brightly.

  

让爱情逗留常州

 

“在南京和上海之间，我们更向往常州。” 说这话的是一对美国请侣。

 

高大的男子取名贲喆明，娇小的女孩名叫马文慧，一年前，这对年轻的美国情侣飞越千山万水，成为二十四中的英语外教。当一年合约已满，对中国文化充满探究乐趣的这对情侣，毅然选择在常州继续外教生涯。新学年开学满一个月时，马文慧俏皮地对记者表示：“自己不但在名字中用‘文’字体现对文化的向往，更要在实践中多学一些，一年的时间怎么够呢？”

 

共同的志趣让他们走到一起。贲喆明告诉记者，父母在自己很小的时候就说过：如果你在地下挖一个洞，坚持下去，等到挖通的时候就到了中国。因为对中国的兴趣，他把自己的中国名字都取的那么古典希望自己能积累很多智慧，变的更加聪明。

 

贲喆明来常之前是位计算机程序制员，曾在美国13个州从事网络基础工作，而在大学时代，作为一名在以色列地区生活过的犹太人，他曾有过教授希伯来语的经历。而马文慧，大学毕业后曾从事社区公益事业，着重启发人们在文化，人种，性别等方面的交流，两位志趣相投的青年在认识两年后共同选择到古老的中国，认识东方文化。

 

“我们喜欢常州，是因为他的地理位置。这里不是旅游城市，我们向往的是一种宁静典型的中国式生化，常州现代，又能满足我们的要求。在这里，我们交到的朋友有来自辽宁，山东，青海，安徽等地，所以我们能了解到中国其他省份的文化与特点，这点令我们尤为满意。”

 

这对青年是如何交上中国朋友的呢？原来，二十四中门口有家拉面馆，当贲喆明和马文慧第一次来到店里时，店主和一些顾客就表示了充分的好感，提出愿意跟他们交朋友，如果需要帮忙不要客气。因为拉面馆的人都不会讲英语，所以这对一心要学汉语的美国青年特别高兴，他们只能用中文与大家交流，因此进步也就快得多。拉面馆是回族朋友开的，碰上一些带有民族特色的活动也会邀请两人参加。有来有往，作为回报，贲喆明和马文慧把拉面馆所有的菜单都研究了个遍，然后把每只菜成英语再送了回去，拉面馆主十分开心，因为就是这么个不大的店，菜单也同时用汉字，拼音，英语三种方式予以说明，今人不得不另眼相看。

 

也许你会以为这对青年对中国的饮食文化兴趣颇浓，事实却有所出入。因为马文慧是地道的素食主一者，而贲喆明似乎也只对吃素才感兴趣。“美国没有小青菜，苋菜，苦瓜，韭菜之类，美国的豆腐是日本的，更没有豆腐干和我喜欢吃的百叶，所以，在中国当素食主义者，比在美国要幸福的多了。”贲喆明谈自己的感受，难怪他们时不时买点小菜回来自己烧着吃，据说贲喆明的红烧茄子就相当不错。怀恋美国时，他们会到附近的西品店点上一份咖啡加炸暑条。而最为放心的地方是天宁寺的餐馆，闭着眼睛点都可以啊，因为全是素的嘛。

 

从2004年8月抵常至今年新学年开学后，这对热爱旅游的青年却极少出去游玩，他们把全部放在了学汉语上，现在己达到可以单独走遍中国的地步了。从来时的“一个酒”到如今的“一杯酒”，贲喆明的汉语的确有了质的飞跃，“有时我会想不起一个具体的汉语词汇，但是我会用中文进行描述，比如我可能忘了酒杯这个词，但一经我解释，别人就会递给我酒杯。”贲喆明很得意。

 

跟美国学生通常坐着上课，老师也可以坐着授课不同，贲喆明开始不太习惯中国的课堂教学模式，不过他表示每种模式都有可取之处，而他上课则喜欢四处走动，愿意跟更多学生近距离交流，“我们会让孩子们更喜欢我们的。”这对美国青年笑得很灿烂。

 

Students from the Pennies for Pets class sold candy to raise money for the Chautauqua County Humane Society (CCHS). Sue Bobek, CCHS representative, and Buddy thanked the students for a donation of over $420.

 

2012 Kids’ College, offered through JCC's Center for Continuing Education.

Continue reading here: Asian Unicorn

Chartwells and District 99 mobilized on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 to deliver meals to those in need.

Continuing construction work on what was the Westralia Swamp. Note that they've torn the backs off the Royal Insurance (right) and WA Trustee (left) Buildings to integrate them into the new structure.

"Red Lips" - six color print by John Wesley, at the Axelle Fine Arts Silkscreen Studio

 

Although he was part of the original group of POP Artists and was included

in the three Pop Art Print Portfolios, Wesley, a native Callifornian, has

been slow to gain the recognition he deserves. In POP ART: A Continuing

History, Marco Livingstone notes that Wesley used a "straightforward linear

technique associated with such non-art sources as cartoons, comics and

coloring books" (82-83) and used "gentle humor . . . framing devices,

symmetry, and tactics of repetition as essential ingrediants in the

production of paintings that appear to be innocent in an obviously childlike

way but are in fact meditative in atmosphere and sophisticated in their

formal construction" (208). Meditative they may be, but if innocence is

present it is often that of those who ought to know better. As a press

release foor the January-February 2001 exhibition of his work at the Harvard

University Art Museums points out, "Wesley has been painting acutely sexual,

intensely observed, narrative paintings for more than 40 years. The

conspicuous characteristics of his work since the early seventies-its

insistent flatness, powdered pastel palette, cartoon/cinematographic

narratives, embrace of the sexually charged encounter, sophisticated

anthropomorphism, and mannered drawing-have enormous appeal for younger

painters inspired by a digital revolution to rethink the medium: Wesley's

painting looks like nothing else out there.

A recent retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art's P.S.1, Wesley's first

in the United States, reflects this new interest in a painter who first came

into prominence in the early sixties. Staged against the backdrop of the

more extensive MoMA/P.S.1 retrospective, John Wesley: Love's Lust is

selective rather than comprehensive, featuring work from the sixties through

to the present in an effort to look more closely at Wesley's allegorical

subject matter and sophisticated formal innovations. 'Wesley's compelling

approach to painting encourages the viewer to question the reasons for his

eccentric creations and in doing so forces us all to ponder his intended

message,' said James Cuno, the Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director of

the Harvard University Art Museums. 'Wesley has never lacked for attention,'

said Linda Norden, the curator at the Fogg who organized the show. 'But

critics have been eager to characterize rather than analyze the art for fear

that looking too closely would kill off whatever it is that works. This

exhibition is meant to show that exactly the opposite is true. Wesley's

paintings can be frighteningly funny, poignant, and just plain weird; but

there is a complex pictorial intelligence driving this body of work.' "

 

The Harvard show "includes a wide selection of acrylic-on-paper paintings,

which Wesley usually enlarges on canvas. Two wall cases contain some of the

traced drawings he uses to compose his paintings. Surprisingly, these

tracings reveal how little is fixed by an apparently mechanical means of

reproduction: Instead, what becomes quickly apparent is Wesley's mastery of

subtle shifts in scale and placement. Over the last ten years, Wesley has

taken another turn in his paintings, opening spaces between figures,

substituting distance for repetition, and conveying character less through

facial expression than by developing a complex mannered line. This seems to

be John Wesley's moment: John Wesley: Love's Lust offers an overdue

opportunity to examine the work of an artist who has long been loved, but

never taken quite seriously enough."

 

The Curator of John Wesley: Paintings 1961-2000, a retrospective held during

the autmn of 2000 at P.S. 1, a branch of The Museum of Modern Art, has a

slightly different perspective. Alanna Heiss, P.S.1 Director, says"Wesley's

work stands eerily apart. He mixes images of traditional emblems, historical

figures, comic book personalities, animals, sexy women, athletes and

showgirls into surreal daydreams, prompting the viewer to rejoin her own

private dream-world." This exhibition includes works ranging from his

earliest paintings (Stamp, 1961) to his most recent-Showboat, 2000. To

accompany this retrospective, P.S.1 has produced a catalogue including new

essays by Brian O'Doherty and Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, an interview with

the artist by Alanna Heiss, a chronology by Hannah Green, and an anthology

of other significant texts and color plates. Wesley is known for his

consistency of palette (baby blues, cotton-candy pinks), his use of painted

"frames" within his pictures, his early emblem paintings, his cartoon

Bumstead paintings, and ultimately for his representations of an inner

erotic voyage where we are both the voyager and the voyeur.

 

After moving from his native Los Angeles to New York in 1960, John Wesley

began showing his work at the Robert Elkon Gallery in 1963. Donald Judd

became an early supporter of Welsey's work at that time. In a review of that

first New York show he wrote "...the forms selected and shapes to which they

are unobtrusively altered, the order used, and the small details are

humorous and goofy." Initially considered in alignment with pop artists of

the early 60s, Wesley consistently produced works of such a subtle and

subversive nature as to put him in a category of his own. He used the early

tools of advertising production (tracing paper and stock photographs).

Influences on his work range from Surrealism to Art Nouveau, from ancient

Greek pottery to Matisse. Wesley's colorful and figurative style also

reflects the "flat" world of comics and posters. His secret life is ours;

the works uncover the private world of a dreamer, where the dreamer is the

protagonist, the artist, and the viewer. They are icons proclaiming the

sanctity of our subconscious wanderings.

 

Selected Bibliography: In addition to discussions of Wesley in such standard

works on the POP Art Movement as Judith Goldman, The Pop Image: Prints &

Multiples (NY: Marlboroush Graphics, 1994), Marco Livingstone, POP ART: A

Continuing History (NY: Abrams, 1990), see R. H. Fuchs, Kasper Konig, et al,

John Wesley : Paintings 1963-1992, Gouaches 1961-1992 (Frankfurt: Oktagon

Verlag, 1993-Catalogue of a travelling retrospective held in Frankfurt,

Amsterdam, Ludwigsburg, and Berlin between July & Oct. 1993); Alanna Heiss,

John Wesley: Paintings 1961-2000 (NY: P. S. 1-MoMA, 2000).

[Source]

 

Read: A Conversation with John Wesley by Marianne Stockebrand

I'm back at Leslie Anne's again for another wonderful dinner. As usual we begin with cheese and beer and then a mixed green salad. I haven't worn my pink cocktail dress in a while. It is too fancy for wearing to the movies, and there just aren't enough parties for a dress like this. Depending on the light, it can look pink or purple and has lots of glittery things imbedded in the cloth.

Taken at the Saco River Walk in Saco, Maine

Continuing my Southern Arizona Adventure 2024 with a stop in Tubac, AZ. This is stage 3 of 9. This is a place I plan on revisiting.

This is the entrance monomument to Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. That is a molino leaning against it on the right. A molino is a granite stone used for grinding grain into flour.

 

ChatGPT says:

Tubac, Arizona, is a charming town rich in history and culture. Founded in the 18th century, it began as a Spanish presidio and later became a hub for artists and artisans. Today, Tubac is known for its vibrant arts scene, featuring galleries, studios, and shops showcasing local artwork and crafts.

The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park offers a glimpse into the area's past, with preserved ruins and exhibits that highlight its significance in Arizona's history. Visitors can explore the beautiful desert landscape, enjoy outdoor activities, and participate in various festivals and events throughout the year.

The town's blend of history, art, and natural beauty makes it a unique destination for those looking to experience the spirit of the Southwest. Whether you're interested in exploring its historical sites or indulging in the local arts, Tubac offers something for everyone.

 

Haiku thoughts:

Old adobe walls stand,

Artists' dreams in sunlight bloom,

Tubac's heart beats on.

 

Southern Arizona Adventure 2024