The chancel (not open to the public at the moment) is visible through the tower arches. Above the nearest arch are the royal arms of George II. The outer G,R, and 2 were changed to read E,R, and 2 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Stairs up to the bellringing platform are on the left.

Look closely at St Thomas’ church in Simpson, Milton Keynes, and you might wonder why the tower seems a little slender compared to the rest of the church. It’s because it’s all that’s left of an earlier, smaller church.

St Thomas is a cruciform church. It’s built with a central tower between the West nave and East chancel, (their usual orientation) and with transepts to North and South.  A birds eye view would show the church to be shaped like a Christian cross; the nave forming the long arm and the tower where the arms all join.

But it’s a slightly wonky cross; the transepts do not match and the South one has a West wall which isn’t quite at right angles to everything else. The porch, built around 200 years after most of the church, has an East wall that is also way off being square.

There are lots of little details to be found when looking round towns or villages, and getting a closer, slower look at something you don’t quite understand can be very rewarding.

If you are still not sure what you are seeing, take a photo; it can help you to find out more once you get home.

Here’s a few examples I found, on just one day this week.

The big man himself, in Lime Street, Olney.

There are some very good Christmas lights displays on private houses across North Bucks, and I wanted to show you examples from as wide an area as possible. I had a plan. But the Tier 4 lockdown came, and I only managed to get a few, all quite close to me.

The first one I found is in Lime Street, Olney. It’s there to raise donations for Willen Hospice, and last year they raised over £1,600. It was a good one to start with.

Lime Street, Olney.

The second one is in Vicarage Road, Winslow. I spotted this house as I drove through the town, and it’s just a few doors down from the house my grandparents lived in when I was a kid. They aren’t collecting for charity, but it’s still a fine display.

I had a look at my grandparent’s old house while I was there.

Sarah and Millie.

Sarah Payne is a cat fosterer. She looks after stray, unwanted and abandoned cats and kittens until they can be found a new home, for the charity Cat Protection. So far, she has fostered between 200 and 250 cats.

Four and a half years ago, Sarah was already fundraising for the Milton Keynes and District branch of Cat Protection, but at their annual general meeting, she discovered that she do more; she could foster cats and kittens at home.