Bring the Happy

I made a pit stop at the Bubble Chamber in the Bull Yard to contribute to the ‘Bring the Happy’ project. This was an ongoing project about happiness, an attempt to map moments and memories of happiness in Coventry and across the country. The memories were represented on the 3D map of Coventry. A first kiss, a lost love, a longed for baby, childhood heroes, a proposal, a dance, a chance encounter—where did it happen and how happy did it make you feel on a scale from 1 to 10.

After three weeks, these memories were collected and transformed into the Bring the Happy Live performance. Participants were given a discounted ticket to attend the event at the Warwick Arts Centre. In collaboration with Hope & Social and Invisible Flock, the live performance promises to be an interactive, intimate and highly moving evening where the performers ask the audience to join them in celebrating the happiness of Coventry. I haven’t decided yet whether I will be attending the performance but this was what I wrote.

“Brandon Marsh

The first place we went when we moved to Coventry 6 years ago. You can find us here most weekends for long walks, bird watching, photography. A place to relax and rewind. “ 

Babe (who always made me happy)  and I checked out our happy place later in the evening.  The reserve looked blooming marvellous as the sun came out to play. It was quieter too as the visiting time was over. As we walked past Kingfisher pool, we were greeted with this stunning view. The bank was dotted with hundreds of blooming Primroses facing happily towards the sun. Rosettes of pale, lemon-hued flowers with wrinkled spoon-shaped leaves. One of surest signs that spring was on the way. They were very much a part of the distinctive character of the country in spring, forming wonderful displays on hedge-banks. 

“They speak of things above my verse.

Of thoughts no earthly language knows,

That loftiest Bard could ne’er rehearse,

Nor holiest prophet e’er disclose,

which God Himself no other way,

Than by a Primrose could convey’

~William Gay~

We also spotted our first Peacock butterfly of the year. They too had finally emerged from their hibernation, Outside Baldwin Hide, we saw our first Whitethroat flitting among the trees. When we opened the shutters, we noticed that the Canada Goose had abandoned its nest and whatever eggs were there were already broken and shells scattered all over the ground. The Great Crested Grebe was still sitting on her nest.

“The  butterflies, by eager hopes undone,

Glad as a child, come out to greet the sun’

~John Clare~

We then checked out East Marsh Hide. Along the path, we spotted more Peacocks whizzing about and Whitethroats skulking in the trees. We were surprised to find the hide nearly full but we managed to squeeze in. House-martins were zipping in and out of their sandcastle. Little-Ringed Plovers were playing tag around the reserve. A Redshank flew in and started feeding on the island. And this Common Snipe suddenly appeared in front of the hide. He was so well camouflaged that we didn’t notice him feeding along the mudbanks.    

On Sunday, we took advantage of the free entry vouchers to participating National Trust properties. Babe wanted to check out Charlecotte Park again. We’d been here during one of the heritage weekend a few years ago. We arrived at about noon and the place was buzzing. We weren’t alone in taking advantage of the offer. Entrance to National Trust properties weren’t cheap. It would cost us £9.35 each. After parking the car, we joined the long queue to get our tickets.

Charlecote Park was a grand 16th century Tudor country house and a Grade 1 listed building with imposing chimneys and mellow red brickwork. It was surrounded by its own deer park on the banks of the River Avon. The Lucy family owned the land since 1247. Charlecote Park was built in 1558 by Sir Thomas Lucy, and Queen Elizabeth I stayed in the room that was now the drawing room in 1572. I love this thatched Summer House that looked like something out of a Tolkien novel. It was created by Mary Elizabeth Lucy in the mid 1800's. She had it built for her grandchildren. Lucky kids…

Our first stop was the parkland. We wanted to check out the fallow deer that had been here since Tudor times. William Shakespeare was allegedly caught poaching deer at Charlecote around 1583 and many years later immortalized Sir Thomas Lucy in ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’. We spotted a flock of deer from a distance and made our way towards them walking past the St. Leonard’s Church. Traditional oak paling fencing was designed around the park to keep the deer in.

Then we strolled around the freezing park that was landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown in about 1760. A pair of Buzzards were soaring and gliding over us and mewing from time to time. We walked along the River Avon that runs through the parkland. I was on the look out for the Jacob sheep. The ancestors of this flock were brought here in 1756 by George Lucy and were the first flock of Jacobs in the country but they mere MIA today. I guess they were hiding from the crowd.

We wandered around the newly restored woodland garden which was an absolutely delightful. I was so envious of the different varieties and colours of Hellebores that were blooming beautifully in cream, pink and almost black. The delightful scent of Mahonia enveloped us as we strolled through. Dens of different shapes and colours were scattered around the garden for the little people to play. These rattan balls added a different feel to the atmosphere. We walked past the Orangery Restaurant where people were queuing (im)patiently to get in.

Babe waited for me by this 180 year old yew tree while I search for the facilities. We were too early to see this Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum)  in full flower. From here, we could see the parterre while enjoying a view of the River Avon from a different angle. Fragrant wallflowers were blooming among hundreds of glorious tulips. A new project to expand and replant the croquet lawn borders with a soft colour palette of cottage garden favourites was planned for summer. It would look amazing.

At the entrance front of the house, the 16th century Renaissance porch featured the arms of Queen Elizabeth, celebrating her visit to the Park. The magnificent wisteria on the front of the house will look stunning when it blooms in late spring. Clipped yews and espaliered fruit trees lined the walls. Specially-commissioned Whichford Pottery pots planted up in front of the porch added to the tasteful formality of this area. We didn’t join the hundreds of visitors who were queuing to get into the house. Instead we checked the eaves for house-martins to see if these summer visitors had arrived and started nesting. Again, we were early. We gave the brewery, carriage store, kitchen and gift shop a miss as more visitors were queuing to get in.

We left as more visitors were still coming in. We walked under this imposing gatehouse, the only original Elizabethan feature to survive intact. The rosy, pink brick provided a very 'warm' welcome to anyone entering the park. The 2nd hand bookshop and family museum situated in this building was closed. We walked straight to the car and had something to eat and drink. While Babe rested in the car, I checked out the garden centre. It was mind blowing to see the huge selection to choose from and they weren’t cheap. In the end, I purchased a tray of ‘Rainbow Lights’ chard plugs, a pot of sweet peas and Bellis plus local homemade ice-cream to cool down before we made our way home.

I ended my happy week by baking a cake. But I took a very short-cut. I purchased Wright’s chocolate fudge cake mix where I only needed to add 200 ml. water and 60 ml. cooking oil. They were then blended to a smooth batter for 1 min. using an electric mixer. I placed the gooey batter into a lined tin and baked in a preheated 180C oven for 60 mins. It really couldn't be easier!  Simple instructions were on the pack.  And it contained real chocolate crumb to produce a rich and indulgent cake. It was a bit dry but still yummy and delicious.

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for

~ Joseph Addison~