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Church of St Mary, West Somerton, Norfolk
Church of St Mary, Shipton Solers, Gloucestershire
Church of St Mary, Somerleyton, Suffolk
Me, on bridge 204 (Allen's bridge) over the Oxford canal (at Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire)
Church of St Mary, Fawley, Berkshire
Church of St Mary, Dolbenmaen, Gwynedd, Wales
Church of St Mary, Oakley, Bedfordshire
Church of St Mary, Tivetshall St Mary, Norfolk
Church of St Mary, Shrawley, Worcestershire
Church of St Mary the Virgin, East Bergholt, Suffolk
Church of St Mary, Gainford, Durham
Church of St Mary, Old Swinford, Worcestershire
Me, on the narrowboat 'Sculptor' at Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire
Church of St Mary, East Ruston, Norfolk
Church of St Mary, Burford, Shropshire
Church of St Mary, Fairford, Gloucestershire

Big Ted Online

Travels of a Bear (with splendid fur!)

Staffordshire frolics

Added on 09 May 2025

Dear Reader,

You may have noticed that I've called this news item "Staffordshire frolics". Well, I was s’posed to be going on a trip to Staffordshire, but then I find myself sitting in a sunny spot on the gate outside a church in Warwickshire - still, could be worse, it could be raining! I also visited St Mary’s churches in Derbyshire and Staffordshire (hurrah, finally!).

Big Ted sitting on poppiesThen, while my associates were out visiting a boring National Trust property [actually Calke Abbey is a very interesting place to visit, Big Ted], they decided to go “off piste” (i.e. they found another St Mary’s church that wasn’t on my list of churches to visit but “just happens to be nearby”). And (wait for it…) it’s not even in Staffordshire - it’s in Leicestershire! Grrr.

(If you're confused by the picture of me with the poppies, I was on holiday while the country was commemorating 80 years since VE day. There were poppies and flags all over the place.)

So, the total is eight St Mary’s churches (three were open), in four counties, in five days - it must be a record! I hope my next holiday will be better organised!

I did get in a few snoozes, but the cottage we were staying in was a bit too cold for a serious sleep. I was thankful for my splendid fur and my cosy cardigan.

Love, Big Ted

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