I thought this profound thought today when we walked into the cloister Garden of Chester Cathedral this afternoon.
The small square pond, the arching sculpture with the magnolia tree behind, the ancient leaded windows.....all spoilt by the thunderous woman with the baby filled double buggy and a couple of old queens loudly eating their sandwiches on the only bench.
Tis a pity,
The cathedral would have felt so much more serene without the people
Here here !!!
ReplyDeleteI'm including ourselves in this statement f i l
DeleteBeauty is wasted on such people!
ReplyDeleteignorant people!
ReplyDeleteHHmmmm, I can see your point John but you were one of the people there, do you mean have it all to yourself ? Perhaps the thunderous woman with the buggy had been looking forward to her outing all week, perhaps that is as good as it gets outing wise for her, no exotic trips to far flung places, perhaps the few hours spent there made her happy and was a bigger deal to her than maybe the other visitors. Ok I`ll hop off the soap box now ! X
ReplyDeleteI was talking generally miss margo-soapbox
DeleteI think the cathedral should be seen on your own
And i mean that for every visitor miss smarty pants
X
Thanks for clarifying Mr Back Peddler ! X
DeleteTouche smart arse! X
DeleteDid you smile and speak to the old queens, fellow queers?
ReplyDeleteNo ..The prof was in a strop..... for the overly boisterous man on the entrance desk made a big show of stating that although it was free entry into the cathedral, there was an expectation for us to pay 6 £ donation fee ( by card) there and then.....
DeleteSuffice to say we didnt pay.........
The Prof hates a hard sell
I have said it before and I will say it again, there ought to be a place for praying so noise even if it is music should be fine. And there ought to be a place for contemplation and that shall always be silent.
ReplyDeleteI think that there should be a schedule for those who don't agree to admire in silence to come in masses during certain days and certain hours. And then for the curmudgeons among us the times in between. I love our Library but I am not there anymore because everyone talks so loud that the decibels are enough to run you out of there, at least to run me out of there.
Ah, how silence enhances beauty and makes it so easy to appreciate it no just with one's eyes.
I was there this past October, a herd of school children were visiting on a day trip. No silence then either.
ReplyDeleteIt's a spectacular cathedral nevertheless.
~Jo
If I had a nickel for every time I've thought the same thing ... and then I try and remind myself of what MargoBowBells said ... and it gets me to a state of resignation although not all the way to happiness :)
ReplyDeleteThat garden is so beautiful. What a treat to be able sit there and be surrounded by beauty.
ReplyDeletePeople seem to forget their manners. Now it seems the "I" is more important.
Thank You for such a lovely photo.
cheers, parsnip
Don't you find that old queens ruin everything? I cannot count the times when I have had my contemplative state of mind completely destroyed by a couple of old queens, loudly eating sandwiches. Should be illegal.
ReplyDeleteFuck off stephenson
DeleteXxx
DeleteA bit of a delay there John.
DeleteI was having my tea
DeleteCoconut prawns, salad and fruity dressing
And to mix coconut prawns with fruited salad dressing! Slurp slurp.
DeleteOh dear, the Prof in a strop, did he loudly complain too?
ReplyDeleteI'll just enjoy your photo John, as I sit here, accompanied by two very contented snoring dogs....at least we're not spoiling anyone's enjoyment !
What a beautiful photograph .... a couple of old queens munching on sandwiches wouldn't have spoilt it for me !!
ReplyDeleteWe've just had crab linguine. XXXX
So, you took a lunch then?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy sister in arms
DeleteQuite a lot of places are better without people. And I am struggling to think of one that is better with people.
ReplyDeleteWe often have lunch in the Cathedral Refectory, it's a lovely place to get a break from the chaos!
ReplyDeleteI wish people could have more consideration for others, so often quiet, peaceful places are ruined by ignorant, loud mouthed idiots! Col.
This is an absolutely beautiful photo!
ReplyDeleteWe went early in the morning, no bitch and babes, no old queens eating sandwiches, but star magnolia was not in bloom......can't have everything.
ReplyDeleteSome people spoil the view, others enhance it. Mostly there are more spoilers than enhancers, in my xperience as a tourist.
ReplyDeleteWe're actually talking about taking a trip to visit Chester and surrounding areas this summer. Tell the old lady with the kids -- and the old queens with the sandwiches -- to get lost before we arrive, please.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place. I adore ancient churches, but the best of all for me are the ruins of Coventry Cathedral. I like to stand in the rain, alone, and read the words that were written on the wall after the bombing of WW2 "Father forgive Them". I don't have or want a religion, but those simple words move me to tears every time.
ReplyDelete