Paddington in Cardiff

A sunny day with clouds but dry after rain last night and just the threat of a light shower. I was up and out of the house by eight thirty for my eighth covid job at Rookwood Hospital vaccination centre at nine. I got there in 56 minutes, slightly less time than the last walk there for the RSV jab. I took my time returning as I didn't need to be punctual returning for the rest of my breakfast. Clare was out for a McTimoney so I used the quiet time to record and edit texts I'd prepared for Thursday's Morning Prayer the week after next, and helped her make lunch when she returned.

I read a news article that stated an effigy of Paddington Bear sitting on a park bench had been installed in St John's churchyard garden. Similar images have appeared in the public realm in other cities around the country to publicise the forthcoming movie 'Paddington in Peru' due to be premiered in two weeks time. It made the news since the gardens are only open on weekdays, and not over the weekend, with the excuse of preventing anti-social behaviour. Apparently some families have complained, having made the journey especially to see and get their selfies with the bear only to find the gates under lock and key. 

In the fifteen years since the churchyard garden was renovated, it's always been difficult to secure regular opening hours for the garden, and yes there has been anti-social behaviour, day and night. Is this really an obligation of the Council to staff and pay for? Or has this been taken on by the FOR Cardiff team as part of the Cardiff Business Improvement District (BID) initiative? I don't know, but whoever is responsible has had to pull their finger out to arrange and publicise a Sunday opening time, while FOR Cardiff sees if it can find an alternative locations without the same problem arising. A nice idea, but not fully thought out.

Fifteen years ago, the redevelopment architects had a notion to commission a statue for the gardens that would symbolise the spirit of the city. This failed to materialise as the ground consecrated for burials and owned by the church. Only a memorial monument would be permissible under church law. I proposed at the time that a memorial to Cardiff's blitz victims would fit the bill, but this didn't appeal to the ambitions of the developers. Instead, a million pounds were spent on the abstract metallic edifice which stands in front of the city library, a true monument to pretentiousness.

I went into town at the end of the afternoon to take photos of the Paddington Bear effigy before St John's Gardens were locked up for the day. As Paddington is only there for publicity purposes, it's a temporary installation, not requiring legal permission from the Church in Wales. But, I can't help wondering if the Chancellor of the Diocese has been consulted about this! I had a wander around a few shops, then headed home by bus. 

After supper I watched this week's episode of 'The Chateau Murders'. It's complicated and rather dull, not what I'd call a crime thriller.