Status-Q

Complete with fashionable headgear, knobbly knees, trusty hound, and Brompton (on kind loan from John)

Even mad dogs and Englishmen have been choosing early evening for cycling excursions here: it's been very hot over the last few days. Light showers have made for a more autumnal climate today, though, which makes a nice change.

You'll notice that, despite this being prime Tour-de-France country only a few miles from the Col de Tourmalet, my parents and I have somehow managed to cycle in the one flat valley in the area.

That's just for our warm-up training, of course...

...when we really should be going for a walk...

Ely Cathedral is an amazing place – most of the structure being an outstanding feat of engineering nearly a thousand years old.

I've been visiting it for about the last thirty, but not until a couple of weeks ago did I go on one of the tours that let you see behind the scenes. Or 'above the scenes', really; you go right up into the octagon. You see those paintings of angels at the top of the picture above? Here they are a little closer:

And here's the view if you look down:

The lead on the roof outside is also rather pleasing.

And behind the decorations, millennium-old tree trunks hold it together.

Lots of good launching points for birds.

This clock is high up on the western tower – normally only seen from a couple of hundred feet below!

And stained glass, I always think, is best enjoyed close-up.

Definitely recommended if you get the chance. More information about the tours can be found here.

High up in Ely Cathedral...