NFN

Across the road from the site of the Mortlake Tapestry Works is St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake. I finally took a look inside on Monday.

I was walking twixt Richmond and Hammersmith with the General and his companions Candy and Floss. They are Norfolk terriers, floppy eared, unlike Norwich terriers that have ears that prick up. Although they have short legs their energy, curiosity and enthusiasm didn’t flag. They receive much adulation from passers-by. Top Tip: the Dove provides free doggie nibbles and a swanky water bowl, that C&F lost no time in flipping. Norfolks are short in both leg and brain department but that’s NFN (normal for Norfolk).

Along the way I pointed out things of interest including this example of “immaculate Strawberry Hill Gothic” (Pevsner).

What is interesting is that it was two cottages and had its Gothic make-over as recently as 1971. So it’s hardly surprising that I missed all the good bits at St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake. I will be passing that way again, with the Church Warden and Stella, next week and hope to give it a more thorough inspection. I especially want to see the stone commemorating the church’s founding by Henry VIII, dismissed by Pevsner as “bogus”.

Meanwhile, on the home front, there have been some setbacks. I have been deprived of a debit card and G&T for some days. The former was cloned and a withdrawal in Mumbai fortunately declined but the card had to go. The hinges on the freezer jammed again and access was also denied. But it is the festive season and when you read this I will have been to my first Carol Service. Meanwhile Fortnum & Mason has a colourful, secular window display.