Today's mail is unusual in that it is not based outdoors! I found inspiration this week in a visit to Beverley Minster (East Yorkshire).

I was in Beverley for a concert and took the opportunity to visit the Minster. Its grandeur and beauty, both externally and internally, took my breath away. The interior huge curving stone columns are awesome to behold. Divinity sings out.

And I'd booked a 'roof tour'! This involved climbing a very narrow spiral staircase up into the inside roof space. It was fascinating. We were shown a huge wooden 'hamster wheel' pulley system, used to lift stone and wood during the construction of the building. Men would walk round inside it, hauling up the load that had been be fastened by rope and net at floor level. The heavier the load, the more men in the wheel! Incredible to think how such a magnificent building was built piece by piece with these ancient methods. The roof space still acts as a workshop. It was magical to watch (the now electric pulley system) lift a round 'boss' from the entry hole in the ceiling, revealing the view below.

My visit also coincided with an exhibition - a textile project named 'Threads'. The scale of the 'Threads' project was incredible. Huge panels of textiles and silks lined the nave, on the one side of the building telling the story of Jesus's life, and on the other depicting the Creation. They were breath-taking, so vibrant and dynamic. As I stood soaking in one magnificent panel, a woman next to me shared her sense of wonder. 'It's amazing' she said. 'That one woman on her own did all these. It took 10 years'.

The roof tour and exhibition left me reflecting on the wonders of 'human endeavour'. Apparently the textile project is the largest ever by a single artist (Jacqui Parkinson), using more than 25 million stitches. Awesome. Her beautiful work pulsed with a sense of her love, spirituality and devotion. I felt deeply impacted by her creative vision and tenacity in bringing her project to fruition.

Beverley Minster. Main nave. March 2026. Barbara Payman.

Beverley Minster. Detail including 'Threads' exhibits. March 2026. Barbara Payman.

Beverley Minster. Detail including 'Threads' exhibits 2. March 2026. Barbara Payman.

This week's self-kindness invitation is to reflect on any 'higher goals' of your own... maybe something you are already working on, maybe something yet to be started. They don't have to be huge. They just need 'to start with one stitch'. And continue, 'one stitch at a time'. Good luck.