Saturday 6 October 2018 - All Things Bright and Beautiful

Four fabulous women were bright and beautiful in waterproofs this morning!  Very grey, damp in the air and rain forecast later.  We decided to go over to Sandridge by the most direct route, ie Woodstock Road, Homewood Road, Marshalswick Drive to the King William junction.  Then down Valley Road and onto Sandridgebury Lane.
By riding at a suitably sedate pace we arrived at St Leonard's Church just as they were opening the Flower Festival for the day.

Autumnal! Above the exterior view and below the aerial view of the church.  The Associate Minister actually was at the door to welcome us and had just positioned his knitted avatar in place to match!

The Harvest Flower Festival theme this year is All Things Bright and Beautiful and the arrangements were many and varied.  A visit is recommended - open until 6pm today and 11.15 to 6pm tomorrow (Sunday)  Concert tonight at 8pm with Village Voices Community Choir.  You will need to go and visit, as I was so enjoying the flowers that I omitted to take pictures, except for one of the patchwork, to delight our sewing section:

We were made very welcome at St Leonards, and had a good chat over coffee and cake in the useful space at the west end created in 2004/5 with a beautiful glass partition.  

We headed for home shortly after 11, it was now raining, so we rode steadily up Jersey Lane, getting a 'thumbs up' from a cheery youngster out on her bike to encourage us to get back before the weather deteriorated.

A return visit to Sandridge is indicated, since we now have copies of the excellent tour and history booklet. Check events and opening times on the church website: http://www.sandridgechurch.org.uk/