Happy 4th birthday!

©Carole Tyrrell

Happy 4^th birthday shadowsflyaway!

There’s no Symbol of the Month this month as it’s shadowsflyaway’s 4^th birthday!

Yes, it’s been 4 years since I started this blog and it’s been a joy to share my enthusiasm for symbols and other cemetery related stories with you.

I thought that I might have exhausted the supply of symbols on which to write about but no I always find a new one and undoubtedly there are still more out there waiting for me.

I always look forward to exploring a new cemetery or churchyard as there’s often a new gem for me to discover. Recently I have been poking about in medieval Kent churches and discovered a devil’s doorway, windows with eyes and a fine selection of 17th and 18^th century names in a list of churchyard burials.  Sadly, I don’t think that Beardsel, Chariot or Sundial are going to rediscovered but you never know…..and also some of the finest memento mori.

But mostly I’ve enjoyed letting the dead speak to me through the symbols they chose to have as their lasting message to the world.

This photo was taken in the churchyard of St Peter & St Paul in Seal, Kent.  The view from the back of the churchyard looks out onto the North Downs and it was literally a view to die for (sorry couldn’t resist that one)

So let’s drink a toast, mine’s a lemon and lime flavoured water, and let’s see where we go in shadowsflyaway’s 5^th year!

 

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Happy Birthday shadowsflyaway!

 

 

A view of Kensal Green cemetery taken from a lower path July 2017
©Carole Tyrrell

Yes shadowsflyaway is two years old this month! I’ll just blow out the candles on the birthday cake…

When I started shadowsflyaway in July 2015 I had no idea if anyone would read it although I invited a few like-minded people to view it.  But sometimes putting something out into cyberspace with no idea of who, or if anyone, is going to look at it can be very liberating.

But some of my readers and followers have been with me from the start so thank you for staying with me and the blog.

And also welcome to my new followers and readers – it’s great to have you on board!

I really enjoy writing and researching shadowsflyaway as well as taking the photos to accompany the posts.  I never know where the research might take me from a simple symbol to an unsolved Victorian murder. I know that Symbol of the Month is very popular and there’s many more out there for me to write about and discover.  As a tour guide leading a recent Symbols tour within Brompton Cemetery it was a privilege to share my passion with other enthusiastic people face to face.

Shadowsflyaway started out to support my proposed book on symbols which is still an ongoing project.  But the blog has taken on a life of its own and has also encompassed other aspects of cemeteries such as wildlife etc.

So raise your glasses,mugs or cups and let’s drink a toast to you for your support and to the next year of shadowsflyaway……now let me take you by the hand and we’ll explore that shadowy, overgrown part of the local cemetery as I’m sure there’s an interesting symbol under all that undergrowth……trust me I know these things.

©Carole Tyrrell