Most of the schools around here went back on Monday but last week Oliver stayed over with me for a few nights and we had a couple of days out.
Joanne had last week off work so we took Oliver and Bonnie to Worcester for the day, they have an elephant trail around the town at the moment as part of a public art trail. There are thirty large elephant and thirty six small elephant sculptures dotted in various places around the town, all individually designed. They will be there for eight weeks, after that they will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to St Richards Hospice.
Bonnie had been asking to go for 'afternoon cakes' for a while, so we found a cafe that did us a high tea.
Me and Joanne shared this
And the kids got finger sandwiches, a drink, crisps, a small chocolate and a choice of cake
We also visited the Cathedral.
My youngest daughter, Stevie-Leigh, went to Worcester University and her graduation was in Worcester Cathedral, but apart from that one time when she graduated we have never been to look around inside.
Worcester Cathedral is also the final resting place of Prince Arthur, eldest brother of Henry VIII
And King John, of Magna Carta.
On the day we visited it was also the last day for the The Leaves of The Trees Memorial. I'd never heard of this travelling memorial but this is what the information board said about it:
"The Leaves of the Trees" installation will be visiting towns and cities around the country. It has been designed to honour those who have passed away during the coronavirus pandemic and to allow us all to take a moment out to contemplate what we have been through both collectively and individually.
The installation is made up of , leave with the word HOPE on each, creating a beautiful impression of autumn leaves fallen from the trees and naturally scattered by the wind.
The leaves symbolise not only this period in time but also hope for the future, as the shape of a sycamore maple leaf traditionally symbolises, strength, protection, eternity and clarity.
Steel has been chosen as the material for the leaves to remind us of our resilience and collective strength.
As it moves around the country the steel will age, rust and change colour, just as the leaves of trees do when they fall each year.
It is hoped that the simplicity and beauty of the installation will give people the chance to pause and contemplate their own personal response to the pandemic.
Have you heard about this memorial? or seen it displayed in your town?
I did wonder if someone has to pick up all 5,000 leaves and place them all individually back down again 😕
On Wednesday me and Oliver had a trip to The Black Country Living Museum. This is only a few miles from us and my kids used to love it there when they were little, seeing how things were done in the 'olden days' lol. I haven't been for a good few years, they had added a few more things since the last time I visited.
This is the main 'street'. All the building are original, they were taken down from their where they once stood in towns around the Black Country and re-built here.
They have games in the street, who remembers playing in the street when they were little?
We always played in our street, now there are just to many cars and other dangers for children to enjoy this amount of freedom
The low building on the right is the school where you can experience a lesson of the time.
The taller building in the middle is the fish and chip shop, it's always popular.
Inside some of the shops
They have added a transport section since the last time I visited, some interesting vehicles on display, including this little car
I used to go to school on a bus just like this, but it was the No. 130 to Halesowen 😀
We took a ride on the bus when we were ready to go home, those seats did make me laugh, funny how you can forget about something then as soon as you see it everything comes back to you!
They are in the process of adding a new era, there will soon be a new hub all about the 50's and 60's in the Black Country, I'll be interested in visiting that when it opens.
And yes, in case you wondered, my blog is called Blackcountry Wench because I'm Black Country born and bred 😄
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