Winchester: St. John's Hospital Charity (Almshouse)

During my two-hour, train stopover in Winchester (on the way to Dorchester), this almshouse building fascinated me.

Have just read that historians now believe that the foundation dates back to St. Brinstan, Bishop of Winchester, between 931 and 934, having previously believed that it dated back to the late 13th century.

Must investigate this almshouse a lot more if I pass through Winchester again, which I may do as I'll hopefully be going down to Dorchester again next year.

Some interesting information I've just read is that St. John's Charity was spared the destruction of the Reformation through being registered as a hospital.

Eastern Poland: Young Ginger Tom

My wife's picture of a new, young Ginger Tom she encountered in Eastern Poland.

Jean Luc Ponty Quartet Live at Warsaw Palladium 8th December 2016

Went to see the Jean Luc Ponty Quartet (with young Polish violinist, Adam Baldych) at Warsaw Palladium last night, and had a great night's entertainment.

Can still remember my old mate Daz George playing his Jean Luc Ponty albums in the early 1980s, and I went to the gig last night a bit out of curiosity and nostalgia.

Was nice to be at the Palladium again, hadn't been there since November last year when I saw Calexico:

Even the Tyskie (not one of Poland's greatest beers) tasted good last night.

Having tried to play the bass many years ago, I couldn't help but admire the Cameroonian bass player, Guy Nsangue:

Somehow, I ended up arriving late for the concert but still managed to catch about 90-100 minutes of elegance and magic.

Not really well up on Jean Luc Ponty, so I was happy that I recognised about half of the tunes (without really knowing the titles).

The band taking a well-earned standing ovation below:

Yeah, it's good to go and see a concert out of curiosity.  I'm not big on Jazz, but I loved the Jean Luc Ponty concert last night.

Tarja Turunen Live at Warsaw Progresja 5th December 2016

A few shots from the excellent Tarja gig at Warsaw Progresja last night:

This was the third time I've seen Tarja and probably the best.

 Really like the new album.

So it was really good to see Demons in You; Innocence; The Living End; Too Many etc. live.

 

As usual, about halfway through the set, I retired near the back to enjoy a couple of beers.

A quick word about the opening act, Suddenlash, they were also magic:

Warsaw: Passing Vintage Vinyl

Passed this very interesting-looking, old vinyl shop, Vintage Vinyl, while up near the Klub Progresja at Fort Wola in Warsaw.

Winchester Train Station

Winchester train station seemed a massive hub of activity with foreign students over for the summer constantly moving in and out of it.

Winchester: The Butter Cross

During the summer, I stopped off for a couple of hours in Winchester on my train journey down to Dorchester.

One of the things that most caught my eye there was the Butter Cross which dates back to the 14th century.

Have just read that the Butter Cross probably got its name from being the place where dairy products were traditionally sold in Winchester.

Have also just read that the figures on the Butter Cross include Our Lady and saints Peter; Bartholomew; Swithun (Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester); John; Lawrence; Maurice; and Thomas, and that at a later date, were added the figures of William of Wykeham; Lawrence de Anne; King Alfred; and either St. John the Evangelist or St. Amphibalus (a friend of St. Alban).

Thankfully, the Buttercross survived the destruction of both Henry VIII and Cromwell's Civil War.