The best thing about breakfast time in the Bristol (for me anyway) was nattering to the other guests and finding out what their plans were for the day, much to the acute embarrassment of Carol who would rather stick pins in her eyes than open a conversation with a stranger.”You shouldn’t be so nosey” she would scold as I interrogated fellow guests on where they were going (or where they had been) but then (as I chatted to folks and she wished she was under the table) she would often keep a keen ear on the conversation as she nibbled away at her toast and marmite.
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“That lady’s visit to the apes sounded good, I think we should do that today” said Carol (after ‘that lady’ had finished breakfast and left the building).
“How come you tell me off for being ‘nosey’ with strangers and yet sit back listening to every word?” I asked.
“Don’t be so sensitive” she replied (tongue in cheek) sounding more like Hyacinth Bouquet than herself. “You’re only confusing the issue. We all want to do the apes. What is it you say? If you don’t do the apes you didn’t do Gibraltar. I know you want to visit the Cathedral this morning too so we can do that first then head for the cable car”.
There was something very endEARing (pardon the pun) about Carols ‘earwigging’ of my conversations with strangers and then giving her opinion (and taking charge of situations) after the stranger had left the building; yep, very Hyacinth Bouquet but then as someone who thrives on humour it works for me 🙂 And if we can still laugh at one another after forty years what’s not to like?
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The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity sits right next door to the Bristol Hotel with Commonwealth Park almost to its front and Main Street almost to its rear. It’s a lovely square building that looks more like a cake than a Cathedral and one which naturally I have a very strong connection with since my children were all christened together there back in 1977 (see 2:55). Looking around the building from the outside there are several entrances but the one which stands out for me is the main one where we had our family photograph taken back in the day.
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As you enter the building there’s no question you’ve walked into a beautiful religious environment which (regardless of personal faith or belief) I doubt anyone could fail to admire. Although geometric on the outside the inside is very much softened by beautifully smooth arches connecting a series of pillars which lead up to an altar framed by an amazing round stained glass window.
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After admiring the main features of this beautiful building I (almost naturally) turned right and walked over to the font where I stood (for some time) reflecting back to the day of our children’s christening; everyone was there as the Reverend Christopher Jarman RN (who I suspected aspired to become the Very Reverend) conducted the service and placed the Holy water on my children’s foreheads. Carol too was very moved at standing (once again) where we had stood all those years ago and delighted in telling a fascinated Sheila and Joe about the experience.
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Looking up the right hand side of the Cathedral from the (very special) font I found it very moving to see the flags of Gibraltar, the United Kingdom and the White Ensign of the Royal Navy all hanging very dignified together from the wall; it was almost as though all of the loves of my life had come together to greet my return and although that sounds a little arrogant I don’t care. We all see what we want to see in some things.
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As I left the building I made a donation; not quite the £200 it would cost to run the Cathedral for that day but nevertheless quite a generous one. As I looked back at this beautiful Gibraltar Cake I felt really proud to have it as a (albeit small) connection in my life.
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