Having enjoyed my elevenses, walked around the Master's beautiful garden and visited the Norman church, I was on my way out of the Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty when I saw a lady and her little dog sitting outside near the archway.
They were obviously enjoying the sunshine, the dog, a little dachshund sitting quietly on its owner's knees just looking around. I went over and asked if they minded me sitting on the wooden seat for a bit. I discovered that they were Judy and her dog, Tilly. Tilly is ten years old and has been blind for two years but, still retaining good vision and that incredible canine sense of smell, she is able to find her way around.
I explained my strangers' portrait project and asked to take some shots. Judy answered yes for both of them and I took more photos than usual, in an effort to have Tilly also looking at the camera. She was quite unfazed by it all.
Judy explained that she works from home, quite near the almshouses, as a counsellor, having previously been attached to a GP surgery as a psychotherapist. She counsels clients from a spiritual perspective and focuses on mindfulness. Tilly sometimes sits in quietly on a session. (Except for one gentleman to whom she has taken a dislike, as dogs sometimes mysteriously do.)
As we spoke more, I found that Judy has had rather a varied career. She has managed an art and craft gallery. In London she worked as a model for Simpson's fashions and for Fortnum and Mason, and went on to learn the business of a buyer. She trained as a silversmith, purely as an exercise in knowledge of the way of working in this art.
I asked about passions outside work and Judy spoke about her beach hut at Milford on Sea where she can walk Tilly by the sea and entertain her friends. She also attends spiritual retreats at Brockwood Park in Hampshire, six times a year, for 3 to 5 days each time.
When I enquired about family, Judy spoke about her children and also about her eight grandchildren. She explained that she has seven grandchildren living but that she always likes to include in the total the child who did not survive.
Judy and I are both 'Friends' of the almshouses with an annual pass to come as we please during opening hours so we very likely will meet up again by chance one day. I have her email address to send her some photos. We agreed that we enjoy the atmosphere and peace and tranquility of St Cross.
