Sunday 23 October 2011

2003 Glastonbury visits, no's 34 and 35

You would have thought I would have lost count by now! I am a Cancerian, we are the great list makers of the zodiac!!
2003 Glastonbury visits
Tue 22nd Apr 03, visit 34

"Went to Glastonbury for the day with Ann and Andrew. Andrew picked me up at Bristol Parkway station as it was easier than Temple Meads. We went to Glastonbury first and had a couple of hours shopping. I bought Avalon magazine, a couple of Tor cards, a unicorn which is a mini handbag, and a unicorn fridge magnet. We went to Wells for lunch".

We actually spent the rest of the day in Wells, we tried to go to the Chalice Well but couldn't park and Andrew was (and still is) slightly less than keen on Glastonbury! I only took one photo, of the gems set into the pavement outside Stone Age in the courtyard.


Sat 8/Sun 9th Nov 2003, visit 35 Sat 8th Nov 2003 "Got up very early to go to Glastonbury for the weekend. I was in Bristol in time for the 9.07 bus. I was in G by 10.15. I had a cup of coffee first, then did a bit of shopping and had lunch in Rainbow's End. I felt very weary as I walked to the gardens, but Little St. Michaels is lovely, I had pretty Willow Room. I had a walk round the gardens then went back into town to do some shopping, with a coffee stop and a visit to the lovely Goddess Temple. I felt very weary going back to the house so when I got there I had a shower and lay on the bed just relaxing. About 7.45 I went for a night walk round the gardens, and though I had them all to myself I didn't feel at all scared. They are magical out of hours. Spent rest of eve reading." Sunday 9th Nov 2003 "Woke about 7 and crept down to make a drink, then had a nice long lie in until 8.15. Then I got up and had a long wander round the gardens, just sitting in various places, watching the birds and absorbing the colours. It was magical, I felt so relaxed. I had to leave my room at 10. Went to the Abbey then and had a long wander round the grounds which was also very peaceful. Had lunch in Rainbow's End, and did a little bit more shopping. Got the bus back to reality at 1! Met Ann and Temple Meads and we went and had a coffee in the nice little buffet. It was raining when I got back home. Got in about 6." This was the first time I stayed at Little St Michaels, which is the retreat house available for Chalice Well companions and I love it there. The house is beautiful and you can go into the gardens at any time (except if there is a special private event, then you need to respect that and wait till it is over) I did a lot of shopping but looking at the list I made, a fair bit of it was Christmas shopping for friends. I also bought a unicorn notebook which I use to jot down ideas and magical happenings, and a mermaid who sits in my "mermaid lagoon" at home. Glastonbury Nov 2003 Little St Michael's.
Glastonbury Nov 2003
Statue in a niche in the gardens
Glastonbury Nov 2003
Autumnal Vesica pond. The spiral fences have gone now
Glastonbury Nov 2003
Owl who was briefly in residence in the Glastonbury Experience courtyard
Glastonbury Nov 2003
The well at night
Glastonbury Nov 2003
The Vesica pool at night
Glastonbury Nov 2003
Chalice Well
Musings. Somewhere along the way, in my late 30's and early 40's, I lost my way. I lost sight of who I am. I think I decided I had to conform to be accepted, wear sensible clothes, have my hair short. During that time my spiritual side went into hibernation too. But by 2003 the real Jackie was coming back out, the hippy Jackie because that is who I really am inside. The ethnic clothes came back, because those are the things I feel most comfortable in. At the beginning of 2005 I decided to grow my hair long again. And I got back in touch with my pagan spirituality again. That was awakened on my first visit to Glastonbury in 1988. from 2003, my visits went back to being several times a year. I have to visit Avebury regulary too, and any other ancient sites which I get the chance to. Geoffrey Ashe once said that there was undoubtedly a great spiritual presence in Glastonbury and I am one of the ones who feels that. To me it is a presence which you feel and which you can interpret in many ways, but quite what it is.. who can really ever say. 

Thursday 13 October 2011

Sat 5th Oct 2002, visit 33

2001 is only the second year when I didn't visit Glastonbury since my first visit in 1988. Don't know why!
Sat 5th Oct 2002, visit 33

"Went to Glastonbury for the day with Dave (work friend). It was a lovely sunny day. We got there about 11.30 and had a quick shop and pub lunch. Then we did a walk over Wearyall Hill, and back along the River Brue. Went to the Chalice Well gardens and up the Tor and ended with tea at the White Spring. Although I don't go there so often now I still love Glastonbury."

The Glastonbury magic was still there for me and it was a glorious autumn day, perfect for a walk. I bought a few cards and a Celtic ring set with a moonstone.
Glastonbury Oct 2002
The Tor from Wearyall Hill.

Glastonbury Oct 2002
Tor, swans and River Brue
Glastonbury Oct 2002
The Millenium Spring at the gardens with new benches
Glastonbury Oct 2002
St. Michaels Tower on the Tor
Glastonbury Oct 2002
The White Spring

Monday 10 October 2011

Glastonbury visit 32, Sat Sept 9th 2000

Sat 9th September 2000, visit 32

"Got up very early for visit 32 to my beloved Glastonbury. Went and came back via Bath. Met a lovely American lady called Rowena on the bus going down. I shopped and lunched first, then went to the Chalice well which was lovely, new meadow at top. Met Rowena again there so we climbed the Tor together. I was going to go to the Abbey put I was too footsore! Got home about 7.45 and didn't do much"

The meadow in the Chalice Well gardens was open with the Millenium spring as well. It was a misty day but warm. I bought a few things- there is a surprise. Cards, window stickers, two Celtic rings (I love Celtic knotwork), Avalon magazine, and a book which I am re-reading at the moment, "The Circle and the Square" by Jack Gale

One thing marred the end of the day slightly, I was commandeered at the bus stop by a really creepy man! He had been on the same bus going down and had managed to glean a lot of info about me including that I was travelling home in the same direction as him. Thankfully he was getting off the train before me so I decided to grin and bear him. He managed to find my email address afterwards, and emailed me about 3 times and when I finally replied to say I wasn't interested he got quite stroppy. These days if anything like that happened I woud have been far more assertive and told him where to get off. Or, as there are more buses now, got off the bus in Wells and got the next one. I had been talking to Rowena about the Goddess so I think his ultimate motive was to save me! Why can some people not take no for an answer! I am a gentle person by nature but will not be cajoled or manipulated. 
Glastonbury, Sept 2000
Glastonbury, Sept 2000
The faery room which used to be upstairs in Heartfelt Trading, where you could be faery dusted if you promised to be naughty.
Glastonbury, Sept 2000
The indoor fountain in Stone Age.
Glastonbury, Sept 2000
Entrance to the Chalice Well gardens.
Glastonbury, Sept 2000
The Lions Head
Glastonbury, Sept 2000
The Millenium pool at the Chalice Well.
Glastonbury, Sept 2000
Millenium stone at the foot of the Tor
Copying these entries over from my That Funny Hill website will soon get easier.. soon the photos will already be linked to my photobucket and flickr accounts so they will be easier to transfer over!