Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
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Where is chivalry?
Sherborne Castle, Dorset
Being given a castle as a present by the Queen is quite something, don't you think? Deciding you don't like it that much and building another one beside it is quite another; this is what Sir Walter Raleigh did back in 1594. Having pleased Her Royal Highness with his world expeditions, discoveries and naval achievements she gave him the 12th century Sherborne Castle. But he found it old, ugly and draughty (there's gratitude for you), however he did like the land so he decided to build a lodge of modern design and it's this that we see today; the old castle is now a ruin having fallen during the civil war in 1645.
We walked in Raleigh's footsteps yesterday, through the house and around the garden. The stone garden seat that he built for himself is there for you to sit in too, right beside the edge of his estate overlooking the road and he apparently waved at the travellers as they walked, rode or trundled past on coaches. The story goes, while he was sitting on this very seat enjoying smoking tobacco (having discovered it and brought it back for Queen Elizabeth 1), his manservant ran up to him with a bucket of water and threw it over him, believing his master to be on fire. (Must remember to do that in non-smoking pubs.)
Sir Walter Raleigh
So Raleigh had delighted his Queen. He also had a way with manners, but contrary to popular belief, did not lay his cloak down across a puddle to protect her feet. Well that's a disappointment. Where were his manners? This man was supposed to be chivalrous. Wouldn't you instantly throw down your cloak for your Queen if she was about to cross a puddle? Naturally.
And I'm sure you open doors for people, let them go before you, wait at unmarked crossroads for the other car to go first, stop cycling at pedestrian crossings, give elderly people your seat, lead a blind person across the road, do some shopping for an invalided neighbour do you not? Of course. And when they say "Thank you", you return "No problem at all"; a "Thank you" is great, it puts a smile on our face. Getting Knighted is a bonus.
But apart from us chivalrous few, what has happened to manners, politenesses, gentle courtesies and the doing of favours? Everyone seems to be in such a rush, at least in London. But down here in deepest Dorset people do have more time; they wait at crossroads for you to go first and on single-track roads they pull in and wait for you to pass, they smile and have more time to talk. Hey, I like it down here!
I think it would be lovely if more of us were a little more giving; to do more for our fellows and particularly to be a little more courteous. It makes people smile and we get to feel good about it.
But there are dangers.... Raleigh was knighted in 1584 and named captain of the Queen's Guard, but Sir Walter incurred Elizabeth's displeasure in 1592 for an illicit love affair with one of her maids of honor. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, later freed, and ultimately beheaded for treachery. So be careful......
:-)
