Does anyone have any experience of using a standing desk? I sit at my desk to work, tend to have poor posture and suffer from upper back pain. I’m wondering if a standing desk would help? #asknostr

Standing desk + treadmill. Health

A belated GM to you all!

Chicken & waffles & matinee 🤙

Zap to the first nostrich who guesses the film in the photo 🍿⚡️

#coffeechain #filmstr #grownostr

Something about rusting vehicles is really speaking to me at the moment. I have a theory as to why but I need to flesh it out… Saw this one today and didn’t hesitate to grab a shot. It really pays to have a camera with you at all times.

-Tom

#photostr #photography #noicemag #rust #artstr

"Wētā are large, flightless insects, and they are known for their impressive size, with some species being among the heaviest insects in the world."

This is very interesting Nick. I posted here before about Agatha's passion for surfing and will post an update here now. Look forward to seeing your finished work. 🧡

First time since I’ve moved to New Zealand three years ago that I’ve come across a Weta in the wild. Hiding under my deck of all places!

![[IMG_4743.jpeg]]

## ST. MARY'S CHURCH CHOLSEY & AGATHA CHRISTIE

## St. Mary's Church

Cholsey church was part of the monastic system set up by Ethelread the Unready in about 986 A.D. The lower part of the tower of St Mary's Church shows traces of Saxon style stonework in the form of 'long and short" quoins. In 1121 when Henry I founded Reading abbey he endowed it with the monastic lands at Cholsey. those days everyone had to pay a tithe - a tenth part of the annual produce of land or labour. The tithe was usually paid in goods and Cholsey produced so much that a huge barn was built - said to be the biggest in Europe.

## Great Barn

The church and manor were given to Reading Abbey by Henry Ist in 1121 A.D. It was a most valuable part of the abbey's possessions. In the 13th & 14th centuries the largest barn in Europe was erected close by the church.

Unfortunately, this was demolished in the early 19th century. On the right, as you enter the churchyard you can see a large barn - the original barn was bigger than this. The Great Barn was 303 feet long and had seventeen stone piers on each side supporting the roof timbers.

## The Church Bells

There are eight bells in the tower. The Sanctus bell was made by Richard de Wymbish, one of the earliest London Bell founders.

Only a few bells made by him now exist.

The Cholsey bell is still regularly rung.

It was rehung in 1972 and bears the inscription RICARDUS: DE: WIMBUS:

ME: FECIT (Richard de Wymbish made me.)

## Cholsey First School

In 1837 a school building was erected by the churchyard gates. The school was built by subscription and then adopted by the National Society and was used for Sunday school and evening classes.

## Agatha Christie

The world renowned writer Agatha Christie was a resident of the parish of Cholsey. She was born on the 15th September 1890 in Torquay, Devon.

In December 1914 she married an aviator in the Royal Flying Corps - Archibald Christie, but this ended in divorce in 1928.

There was one child from the marriage. In 1930 she married her second husband, the archaeologist Max Mallowan. They bought Winterbrook House in 1934. They attended St. Mary's Curch, Cholsey and are buried in the graveyard of their parish church.

After entering the churchyard walk along the path to the porch and then veer right across the grass towards the wall and you will see a large gravestone

The grave of Agatha Christie and her husband, Max Mallowan is tucked into a corner of the graveyard of St. Mary's Church. Agatha Christie was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1956.

In 1971 she received the Order of Dame Commander of the British Empire. Dame Agatha Christie died on the 12th January 1976 at the age of 85.

To return to Wallingford you need to go back through the churchyard and out to the road. You can then

Cross the road and go back the way you came.

If you wish to start the Agatha Christie Trail, cross the road follow the path to the bypass. Cross carefully and walk down Winterbrook Lane until you reach the main road. You need to cross and you will soon reach Winterbrook House which is almost hidden by a hedge.

Turn right and walk carefully over the bridge, past the school and turn right through the gate and walk across Whitehead Meadow. Turn left through the recreation ground towards the Pavilion. On leaving the recreation ground, turn left and walk into the centre of the village where it is possible to catch a bus into Wallingford.

Turn right and follow the pavement into Cholsey. At the first mini roundabout turn left and head back towards Wallingford After the Red Lion there is a long straight road until you reach the bypass. Winterbrook House is on the right hand side of Reading Road.