Saints remain second after a draw against Cardiff City

I worked in the study this morning dealing with some matters for a new client including holding a telephone conference with some solicitors in London.  Sara continued to work on her tax return this morning but went out at lunchtime with Bella to collect some Calendar money from shops and businesses in the Romsey area. I picked Mary up from school this afternoon and Sara was excited to announce that her trip to Romsey had revealed that the Calendar had raised the target figure of £15,000 - the cost of the biopsy machine which Salisbury Hospital wanted to purchase.  Well done indeed!  Tonight, Richard joined Tom and me in going to Southampton to attend the Saints v. Cardiff City game.   A win for Southampton tonight coupled with a defeat by West ham would put Saints back on top of the league again.  Unfortunately, Saints could only manage a 1-1 draw but West Ham did lose.  The status quo therefore remains with West Ham at the top but Saints only two points behind with Cardiff a point behind them.  A slight improvement on their position in the league but a real opportunity to go top again was missed tonight.  After the game I bought tickets for Tom and me to go to the Saints v. Millwall FA Cup 4th Round Reply game which will take place on the evening of Tom's birthday next week.  Originally it was intended to have a family dinner at the Water Margin restaurant in North Baddesley but the football match has a stronger "draw".  The winner of that game will play Bolton Wanderers at home.

Rose Croix at Brighton

Up early this morning to deal with my mail and other paperwork following my very lazy day yesterday.  There was snow on the ground this morning - albeit a sprinkling, and the air was bitterly cold.  As the morning progressed so the snow dissipated and the sun came out for a while. Sara and I popped over to Truffles' Coffee Shop and then Sara drove into Salisbury.  I stopped off at David M's to deliver his newspaper bill which Tom hadn't been able to do because he couldn't find the house (it not being on his usual round).   This afternoon I drove across to Brighton to attend my Rose Croix Chapter. We had a very pleasant meeting when we had a demonstration of a perfection ceremony with a fish and chips supper to follow.  I really enjoy this Christian Degree.  I sat opposite somebody who had once been a guide around Wilton House and knew well the Double Cube Room where Sara and the Calendar Girls all stripped off for their Christmas photograph.  It never ceases to amaze me what a really small world it is. Although the weather remained bitterly cold there was no more snow and I returned to Winterslow at just after 11 p.m. after a really good clear journey home.

Lazy Sunday after Church

I felt really tired today after such a long and cerebral day yesterday.  I organized toast and orange juice for breakfast for myself and Dave who had stayed overnight.  We left Sara and the kids and went to Pitton to attend the Team Eucharist service.  The church was absolutely packed this morning and Dave and I had to squeeze ourselves in the second from the front row of pews in front of the pulpit with Roger and Mary, the retired clergyman and his wife.  An excellent service with Elizabeth giving a wonderful sermon about creativity.  Dave was very much taken with Elizabeth.  I showed Dave Farley Church on the way back to Winterslow - an interesting Wren-style church in the middle of the Wiltshire countryside.  Dave didn't stay for lunch - which today was boiled gammon with roast vegetables, and I really felt like a vegetable myself afterwards.  I spent the afternoon watching football and snoozing.  I declined a trip down to the Lion's Head with Richard tonight preferring to stay at home in front of a warm wood fire followed by an early night.  I have another busy week ahead of me.

A Cerebral Day

After breakfast this morning, Sophie arrived for a lift into Salisbury where she has joined me on the second module for my LLM training - "Interpreting the Bible".  We arrived at the Diocesan Education Centre in Devizes Road early to find that we were locked out - the access code pad didn't seem to be working.  After about fifteen minutes of trying to get in and failing, we decamped to Sarum College where we were able to use a room overlooking Salisbury Cathedral.  We worked almost constantly from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. with only a very short break.  Elizabeth tutored us in the morning session on the Synoptic Gospels and Debbie took the afternoon session on the hermeneutics and other quite academic topics connected with the translation and interpretation of the bible. All fascinating and interesting stuff - but quite mind-blowing.  We met, for the first time, the academic work of German theologian, Hermann Gunkel - what a glorious name!  Sounds like a German bomber in the Second World World (Hermann's Heinkel!). Must get him into my next sermon or as a pub quiz answer!  On the way back to Winterslow, after our marathon college session, we listened to the closing stages of Southampton's cup tie against Millwall.  As we left college, Saints were winning 0-1 but before we arrived back home (as we drove down Weston Lane) Millwall got the equaliser, meaning that there will be a replay at St. Mary's on Tom's birthday.  Dave Burch, my old friend from Liverpool days arrived around 6 p.m. to visit us and take part in the Lord Nelson's Curry n'  Quiz in aid of the Calendar Girls' appeal.  The pub was packed tonight - quite a noisy lot, and we had to shout to be heard.  David Cook's team won again (with the Pennys) and David Burch joined the Dalton's/Ryans' Team which came second (seven points behind).  A great evening which culminated in the auctioning of the old pub sign which went for £85 - I bid £70.  I was absolutely shattered after such a long and mind pounding day.  As it happened I didn't get to bed until 2 a.m. so this didn't get written up immediately! A total of £416 was raised for the Winterslow Calendar appeal tonight. My brain so hurts!

Homeworking

I attended Morning Prayer at All Saints this morning - the first time for quite a while - with Nils and Andrew.  It was a really calm and pleasant way to start the day which I must do more often.  Sara and I went over to Truffles for coffee this morning and then on to the Lord Nelson  where she was working this lunchtime and Sophie came over with her daughter, Rachel, to go through some homework with me for tomorrow's tutorial at the Diocesan Education Centre - Interpreting the Bible.  I cooked us all fish fingers and beans which Rachel really enjoyed as well as some of Sara's pineapple upside-down cake/pudding. I then drove into Salisbury in Sara's car to fill it with petrol and return some library books to Sarum College (not realising at the time that I would be there tomorrow anyway!) and also to pick up some furnishings for Sara's study.   After having cleared up the family room for Dave's stay on my return, I worked in it preparing for tomorrow's tutorial. 

Meeting the Bishop

I took Mary to school this morning as it was raining quite heavily.  After returning for a cup of coffee and to deal with some urgent paperwork and have a shower, I drove over to Westbury to spend a couple of hours with my fellow LLM student, Ashley, going through my portfolio and catching up and exchanging ideas for our next module.  We spent a very pleasant time at his home going through our study papers over coffee and Irish bread and jam before I went into Salisbury to hand in my first portfolio and also buy a new car charger for my BlackBerry (I've lost or misplaced my original one).   I also called in at Sarum College bookshop to buy some course books for this term.  Sara was interviewed this afternoon for the position of Administrator for the Tuesday Friendship Club for the elderly.  She seemed reasonably happy with the way the interview went but later in the afternoon learnt that she had not been successful.  Quite a disappointment to me as I was sure she would get the post.  I took a photograph of the Moon with my new camera to try out the long exposure facility.  The result is shown in the blog.  This evening, instead of sitting through a Parochial Church Council meeting in the village I attended an LLM meeting with Bishop Graham at St. Thomas's House in Salisbury.  A very interesting meeting giving me an opportunity to chat to the Bishop quite informally and exchange some ideas on how to grow the church.  Tonight we had a Skyped conversation with Sara's Dad and Andrea and Sara has, I think, managed to complete her tax return with four days still to go!

First Portfolio Completed/The Mystery of the Paperclip

Another very busy day.  Up early this morning to take Tom to the village shop to pick up the newspapers for somebody else's round which he is doing today.  Tom has a day off school (another one of those Teachers' Training Days) so had offered to do the extra round.  I cooked an omelette for Mary and myself for breakfast which Mary really enjoyed.  Sara did her normal stint at Morning Star whilst I stayed at home and did some Complex work and prepared for my meeting with Nils this afternoon.  Lunch was a few prawns in vinegar which Leo, the cat, went crazy for.  After lunch I met with Nils to complete my "end of term" reports for the Diocese and to plan my service in Whiteparish on 5th February - where I am leading a BCP Evensong and preaching.  I need to get my sermon drafted by early next week.  Nils seems to have every confidence in me to preach and isn't too concerned to see my sermon before he goes away on retreat next week.  He did remind me that I should attend Morning Office at least once a week - I've slipped in that regard over the last few weeks.  He said that he missed my presence.  I will try and go tomorrow morning before I drive across to Westbury for a meeting with my fellow student, Ashley.  Tom was football training at Alderbury this evening so I drove him over at 6.00 p.m. It was pitch dark and despite the "floodlights" the ground was wet and slippery with much under repair and so the training was cancelled.  I did manage to get to Staples to buy a large box of colourful paperclips - a mystery, why is it that we seem to send out more paperclips than we receive?  Surely, the balance of paperclips in and out should be quite equal?  I guess we use paperclips for all sorts of other things other than clipping paper together! Finally completed my first portfolio this evening.  It was a very frustrating exercise as the page numbering kept going awry and causing me all sorts of problems.  I had to resort to hand writing the page number on some pages.  Still, it is done.  I'll be happy for a simple "satisfactory" pass.  Feeling quite tired after a very long day.

Preparing for the Curry n' Quiz Evening

I was up early and took Mary into school today as it was lashing down with rain this morning.  Both Sara and I stayed at home all day with Sara completing the parish magazine and starting on her tax return and me working on my portfolio and catching up on emails, post and bills.  Tonight we both visited Weight Watchers where I had put on another half an pound in the last two weeks.  Not too bad but I am acutely aware that I need to get back to tracking my points again - these dark days and increased work in the study are not helping my exercise regime.  Following the Weight Watchers' session, Richard and I met with Paula P in the Lord Nelson to plan out the Curry n' Quiz Evening in aid of the Calendar Girls's appeal.  This is to take place on Saturday but, unfortunately, there are several Burns' Nights activities that evening too which means that we think we will have lower numbers than hoped for.  We had a pleasant chat, after finalising arrangements for the Quiz and found that we were all the proverbial "grumpies" who hate bad English and the use of text abbreviations.  I am now looking forward to the Quiz on Saturday very much.

Great Disappointment for Saints' Commentators

Today ended in a great disappointment.  I didn't sleep too well last night because Ginny, our ginger cat, decided that she would take up half of our bed (sprawling out full length) and Sara had to come across to my side and I found it rather stifling.  The weather has been unseasonably warm (especially when compared to the last two winters we've had) and we haven't used anything like the amount of wood as previously.  I spent today sorting through papers and in the afternoon visited Amesbury and Andover to take some rubbish to the tip and bank another £300 for the Calendar.  It was nice to get out and get some fresh air.  This evening Tom and I went to Southampton to watch Saints take on Leicester City.  A terrible game for Southampton.  Poor defence, poor midfield and poor strikers.  We lost the match 0-2 which means we are now plainly in second spot in the Championship after having been in top position for three months.  Indeed, with the defeat against Bristol City at the end of last year, we have just suffered back to back home defeats for the first time since 2008.  It is going to be tough for us to get back to top position especially as we have to play some top teams over the next few weeks including West Ham away.  A massive game.  We are suffering from injuries and suspensions and need to get another good striker signed up.  Tom and I felt quite down this evening as we returned to Winterslow.  We have become so used to winning at home.  Seems strange not to see our name at the top of the league.

Roast Beef Sunday

I attended the praise service at All Saints, Winterslow, this morning which was taken by Maggie and Debbie.  A really good service on the theme of "friends" and the wedding at Cana.  It was well structured and engaging but a little disappointing that the congregation was quite small.  Back home I cooked Sunday lunch - roast beef and Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and roast vegetables followed by apple strudel.  It seemed to be a huge success as not a scrap of food was left over - all the beef and vegetables were consumed and the kids really enjoyed it.  I drizzled the vegetables in olive oil and cooked some whole cloves of garlic which gave a great taste to the whole dish.  After lunch,  Tom and I watched some of the Manchester City v. Tottenham Hotspur's match which resulted in a 3-2 win for City (a penalty in the last dying seconds of injury time for City).  A great match to watch.  This evening I attended Salisbury CityChurch to listen to a talk by a 32 year old preacher and also had an opportunity to chat with Bev, Dave and Shaz from Morning Star.  Quite a long service - an hour and a half - but well attended (about 60).  I got back to Winterslow at around 8.30 p.m. and then joined Richard and James in the Lion's Head for our usual "end of weekend" drink and chat.  Another fully packed weekend gone.  Back to work tomorrow but with a football match to go to in Southampton on Monday evening - Saints v. Leicester - which we must win!

Another Formation Day at Sarum College

My second LLM formation day at Sarum College today.  The morning session was effectively a repeat of the Lay Worship Leaders' course which I did last year and I was exempted from attending this.  I took myself off to the library and spent the morning finishing off my portfolio which, apart from adding a couple of appendices, is ready to be printed and submitted to Church House to be marked and sent on to Oxford Brookes University.  I have to confess that I shall be pleased to get it out of the way.  Only another seven portfolios to go then before licensing.  Southampton didn't play today which meant, with a win by West Ham, the Saints dropped to second place in the Championship table for the first time since September!  They do have a game in hand, of course, and a win against Leicester City on Monday night (Tom and I will certainly be going to that match) will put them back on top again.  Cardiff City are now close on our heels having beaten Portsmouth in the final minute of extra time - only one point behind.  The race for the automatic promotion spots is now definitely on and Southampton will certainly see the pressure turned up during this second half of the season.  Exciting times ahead.  Tom's team won today.  Tom had a goal he scored disallowed for being offside but did assist the winning goal.   Feeling quite tired tonight so an early night, hopefully.

A day and an evening in Surrey

A really full day today starting with an Ambassadors' breakfast meeting overlooking Salisbury Cathedral at the Grasmere Hotel in Harnham.  Sold four Calendars and came away with another £35 for the breast cancer fund.  Back home I dealt quickly with some mail before setting off for Surrey to attend a meeting with clients and a telephone case management discussion with the Employment Tribunal in Croydon.  In total I spent three hours with clients which included a rather nice sandwich lunch (second meal of the day provided in the course of my consultancy practice!).  Following the meeting and hearing I drove to Dorking where I enjoyed a coffee at Costa Coffee in Dorking High Street and read some of my course reading for my college ministry formation day at Sarum College tomorrow.  A pleasant interlude to a somewhat hectic day.  From Dorking I drove along the A25 towards Reigate to the Arkle Manor restaurant where I was dining with some of my former work colleagues from Dorking.  Four of us had a really delightful dinner - excellent food and service which I can recommend - and chatted about old times and what we are all currently doing.  There have been so many changes since I left that I can hardly recognise the company I work for.  I realise just how much I have moved on.  Provided they continue to pay my pension to allow me to pursue my interests and new calling I am content.  I left the restaurant at 8.30 p.m. and gave my friend Anthony a lift back to his home in Southwater before driving along the A272 back to Wiltshire.  A lovely evening and despite all the travelling (something which I used to do almost daily!) a well worth trip back to old haunts.

House Group followed by Father Ted

Up early this morning to collect my car after its repair following my accident in Lincoln before Christmas.  The car had been beautifully cleaned and the rear bumper was brand new.  I still have a problem with the nearside front wheel which has been damaged by a pothole and consequently leaks air from the tyre.  I have ordered a new tyre and wheel which, hopefully, will be fitted next week.  Worked on the Surrey case this afternoon in readiness for the Tribunal hearing tomorrow. I also phone my former wife, Laura, and spoke to her for the first time in fifteen years!   We discussed what we wanted to do with the companies we still jointly own. A matter of fact but not unpleasant chat.   Tonight we had a good number attending house group where we continued our exploration of Paul's Letter to the Romans.  After the meeting James and Sophie stayed behind to watch an episode of Father Ted and have a glass of wine.  Sophie had never seen Father Ted which I told her (rather tongue in cheek) had been my inspiration for a call to ministry! Busy day tomorrow.

Dinner at the Red Lion Hotel

A busy morning.  After breakfast I attended the Mid-Week Eucharist at St. John's followed by the Full Clarendon Ministry Team meeting in the Team Office.  The two LLMs and I had lunch together in the Lord Nelson before I returned home to join Sara and our friend Jan for coffee.  I spent the afternoon working in the study and this evening Sara and I attended the Ambassadors' "Christmas" lunch event at the Red Lion Hotel in Salisbury.  Sara had grilled goat's cheese, fresh sea bream and pear in red wine with clotted cream, and I had a spicy prawn cocktail (containing Tabasco I think) and the other two dishes chosen by Sara.  The bream was served on a bed of vegetable "stew" with mussels which I enjoyed; but Sara would have preferred conventional vegetable.  A very pleasant evening talking to some new people who had come along as guests. It is not often that Sara and I get the chance to go out together without the children.  It made a very pleasant change.

Heavenly Skies

Another really cold and frosty start today - more ice scraping from the car windows.  It really is bitterly cold at the moment.  Another really fantastic sunrise - again I feel it necessary to publish the photo I took of it here.  Much more spectacular than yesterday's so it deserves to be published.  Not a particularly interesting day today - one spent at Sarum College putting together my portfolio for my theological reflection module.  I had a two hour break and went for a coffee and a chat with Sophie in the Cathedral's refectory.  Head back down to studying in the afternoon until around 6 p.m.  My lovely Accurist watch stopped a couple of days ago and I thought that the battery had stopped - a simple job to get it replaced.  I left it with the watch repairer in New Canal whilst I went to the bank to deposit another £100 (actually £96.50) of Calendar money.  When I returned he gave me the bad news that the mechanism which makes the hands move round was not working and that a repair could be as much as £120 - better to buy a new watch.  As it was a present from Sara I am rather sorry to let it go.  The original watch was stolen when we were on holiday in Greece and Sara replaced it for a birthday present in September 2000 when we holidayed in a 5-Star hotel in the Lake District (a replacement for our booked holiday to China).  We had planned to go to China that Autumn - trips to Beijing, Shanghai and Xian and had planned to walk the Great Wall of China.  In the end we had to settle for Hadrian's Wall as Sara was, by Autumn, heavily pregnant with Mary and a flight to China was simply not possible.  It really is amazing how the loss of a watch can invoke so many memories!   I remember promising Sara in our early days together that we would, one day, hold hands together at the Temple of Heaven at Beijing (where Heaven and Earth were believed to meet in Imperial Chinese Days and where the Emperor would intercede with Heaven for his people).  That promise I still intend to keep!

Beautiful Sunrise

Another incredibly cold start to the day - thick frost/ice on the ground and cars and the most wonderful sunrise which I recorded on my new SLR camera.  The result simply doesn't do justice to seeing the real thing.  Today I drove into Salisbury to take my car in for repairs following my accident in December in Lincoln.  I picked up a Vauxhall Meriva hire car in "chilli red" as a replacement.  It took about half an hour to deal with all the paperwork and receive instructions connected with the hire car and I didn't get back home until after 11 a.m.  This afternoon I went into Andover to deposit another £120 or so for the Calendar.  With donations in direct through the hospital's "Just Giving" page, we have raised over £14,000.  Less than £1,000 to go to buy the biopsy machine for the hospital.  Fantastic!   We had a scare this evening when, after much protest, Mary got around to cleaning out the hamster's cage.  The hamster escaped and with two cats on the prowl we nearly had a fatality.  Fortunately the rodent was found in the back of Mary's wardrobe and returned to captivity before either of the cats was aware of a meal on legs!  I had a short meeting this evening with Roger to discuss menus and ideas for the Lord Nelson's Titanic Evening in April.  Should be a great evening.

First Sermon at All Saints

A very important day indeed in my ministry training - delivering my first full sermon before a congregation - and in my home church too!  I arrived at All Saints at about 9.10 a.m. and Nils and I had a short chat and prayer time in the side chapel before the beginning of the service.  The church was well attended today and included one or two who are not normally there.  It was decided that I would deliver the sermon from the floor of the nave, just below the chancel and below the pulpit - and not in the pulpit itself.  That was my choice - I really felt that I wanted to be on the same level as those I was talking to.  I had woken up this morning with a heavy cold and headache and was very conscious of my rather deep gravelly voice.  The church was quite cold too and I hoped that people would not interpret any shivering with shaking with nerves.  I had well rehearsed the sermon and felt that I gave it clearly and competently - whether the congregation would find it enlightening, only time would tell.  I spoke, apparently for twelve and a half minutes - a little more that my previous nine minutes of rehearsal.  This extension was probably due to my speaking a bit slower and adding a few ad-libs here and there.   After the service quite a number of people did congratulate me and I am sure most of the congratulations were indeed genuine and not said simply out of politeness.  Richard and Mandy were there as my official support group and will give me fuller official feedback shortly.  We had a late roast chicken lunch this afternoon and after watching the Newcastle v QPR games I watched the film McArthur starring Gregory Peck, upstairs in the bedroom. Sara watched The Devil Wears Prada starring Meryl Streep with the kids.  I rang Mum this evening who seemed to be in good spirits and later went down to the Lion's Head where Richard debriefed me from his notes on my sermon.  His views were very encouraging and I feel my calling confirmed to the ministry of preaching and teaching and not sacramental.  Klynn joined us for a couple of pints which was a pleasant surprise.  Still feeling under the weather when I returned home walking through the dark cold night with the winter stars shining brightly - and a glimpse of Mars as it rises in the east.

A day Interpreting the Bible

A very long day today at the Diocesan Education Centre where I began my third module for the Foundation Degree in Ministry.  The session was taken by Debbie who is a recently admitted licensed minister in my own Clarendon team and with whom I shall be working very closely once I am admitted and licensed myself. Sophie was also studying this module - Interpreting the Bible - as a "lay interested person".   We started at 10 a.m. and went right through to 4 p.m. with a short break for lunch which was on a packed/bring and share basis - Sophie having forgotten to pack hers!  I listened to the Saints game on the car radio on the way home - a 0-3 win for Saints against Nottingham Forest.  West Ham also beat Portsmouth at Fratton Park and with a defeat for Middlesbrough at home and a draw for Cardiff leave Saints and The Hammers four points clear above the play-off zone.  Tonight I had a lovely soothing bath and tweaked my sermon again - reducing it to A5 size for easy handling in church tomorrow.  Reasonably happy with it.  I feel a heavy cold coming on, though, and hope that I will feel well enough to deliver it at All Saints tomorrow.  I have dosed myself up with whisky and hope that will help.  Mustn't have a hangover though.  Learned today that the husband of one of my former colleagues at work has a terminal disease. Similar age to me - how tragic.

Lost on Archer's Gate

A very cold morning - heavy ice was encrusted on the cars which needed quite a lot of de-icer.  I took Mary to school this morning and then return to do some Complex work in the study.  I went over to West Dean to try my sermon out on Sophie and her dogs!  Quite pleased with it but still needs to be fine-tuned.  I called in on Sara at the Lord Nelson and had a glass of lime and soda with her.  I also spoke to Roger about some suggestions for the Titanic evening in April.  We agreed that I would go round to his house on Monday evening with some White Star menus.  This afternoon, after some more work, I drove over to Amesbury to pick up some Vie jewellery for Sara to exhibit to her customers.  I had to pick it up from the new Archer's Gate development and the directions I was given left much to be desired.  I spent a good fifteen minutes following them and getting utterly lost.  It was only after asking at the shop that I found anyone who could give me directions - and then they were vague too.  Must teach Sara the difference between right and left!  Or is it right and wrong!  Worked on my Night Sky article this evening and am getting pretty up to date with my paperwork.  That will all change tomorrow as I have a full day at college - starting my next module - Interpreting the Bible.  It should be a bit easier, I hope, than theological reflection.  Only one essay for this module but I will have to do a presentation in March.  I have a sore throat and feeling stuffed up as I  write this.  A cold on the way?

Church Meeting in the Pub

Another day mainly at home.  No appointments today.  I dealt with another lot of paperwork including writing up the minutes of the last meeting of Sarum Lodge and preparing the agendas for the next meeting. Sara and Sophie went into Salisbury for coffee with a former FP colleague and to collect calendar money from the shops selling the calendars in the city centre.  This evening I attended a Team Council meeting as an observer where, amongst other things, the proposed new worship rota was discussed.  Richard took the rump House Group at his house and he and Sophie joined James and I for a drink in the Lion's Head after our respective meetings.  A bit of pub theology I guess! We stayed in the pub until nearly midnight chatting about all sundry things.  Richard is off to Bradford tomorrow to pick up Jonno's car which is costing a huge amount of money in insurance becasue of its location in that Yorkshire city. A late night.

A Quiet Day at Home Reading

A day spent at home.  The weather was bright and sunny in the morning but turned cold and overcast as the day progressed.  I worked in the study, reading, for most of the daylight hours - on Complex work and generally tidying up.  Sara, as usual, went to Morning Star and I visited Truffles' to deliver a couple of calendars and had a mid-morning pot of tea and a chat with one or two people there.  I had a long telephone conversation with one of my former work colleagues who is finding the work there something of a strain.  I was able to sympathise and provide some pastoral care - a good practice for my ministry - and hopefully gave them a little comfort. Afterwards,  Sara and I watched a documentary on the passion of Christ followed by a couple of comedy programmes - Not Going Out and The Young Ones.  A relatively early night tonight again.

In the Dentist's Chair - Again!

I went back into Salisbury this morning and worked in Sarum College for a couple of hours.  I had hoped to park at the college today  but by the time I arrived, 10 a.m., the car park was full and so I had to pay to park on the fourth floor of the shoppers' car park.  I tucked myself away on the second floor library room and started to plan my portfolio.  I also had to deal with a tribunal matter for a client which at least earned me some money this morning.  At 12.15 I arrived at the dentists' to have my teeth cleaned and also to have a filling.  I was in the dentists for about an hour.  Although my mouth felt swollen from the anaesthetic, I had a coffee and and a danish pastry at Cafe Nero, primarily to take away the horrible taste in my mouth.  I eventually managed to get my car out of the car park (the ticket would not be validated) following a visit to the ground floor office.  I had a meeting with my training incumbent at 2 p.m. and was slightly late for this.  He was also running a bit late so it worked out well for us both.  I showed him my draft sermon and ran through it with him.  He suggested a few tips for Sunday which I will work on and incorporate.  I finally got home at 3.30 p.m. and had a cup of tea with Sara.  Sara had spent most of the day cleaning the carpets with the industrial cleaner she had borrowed.  She is still not feeling very well and I tried my hand at some of the cleaning too but found the machine difficult to operate.  I made a curry for us tonight.  Feel like an early night again.

Working on my first sermon

Up early again this morning and after dealing with some important mail I drove into Salisbury (via the Park and Ride) to spend the day at Sarum College studying and drafting my sermon for Sunday's Parish Eucharist. Sara came into Salisbury shortly after me to visit the dentist to have a new crown fitted.  After the dentist Sara came up to the library in Sarum College and we went off together for a coffee at the Cathedral Refectory.  Sara didn't look too good at all.  Her mouth was sore and she still looks drained from yesterday's bout of illness.  I returned to Sarum College and spent another five hours in the library researching and writing my sermon for Sunday.  This evening was spent filling in training assessment forms for Church House.  A bit like filling in appraisal forms for my previous employer.  It really has been a day of paper, paper, books and paper.  This will be a short blog tonight as my eyes are really sore and I can't wait to go to bed - to sleep.

My First Service at West Dean

A really important day in my ministry training today - my first fully-led church service.  After a breakfast of bacon and black pudding - I went to All Saints, Winterslow for the Parish Eucharist, led by Nils and Andrew,  and to see Maggie admitted as the new church warden in place of Richard.  Sara, Tom and Mary came on later with Tom helping out at Junior Church as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.  I left church immediately after taking communion and drove over to West Dean Church (the church were Sara was commissioned as an LPA) where I was to lead Morning Worship.  I arrived about fifteen minutes before the service was due to begin and discussed logistics with Alan, the churchwarden and Jane, the organist.  Nils arrived just before the service was due to start and with my support group, Sara and family and Sophie there were about 20 in the congregation - a really good number.  I most confess to feeling rather nervous as we started but my confidence grew as the service progressed and everything seemed to fall into place.  Sara said that I did seem very professional/ministerial and formal, a view echoed by Sophie, but for this particular church I feel that is no bad thing.  I felt very similar to how I feel when I go into court - "in the zone" as they say.  I am sure I will feel more relaxed as my ministry develops.  Everybody was very kind.  Next week will be a bigger test as I deliver my first sermon - and in my home church.  This afternoon, as relaxation, I watched the Manchester City v. Manchester United cup tie which was an exciting game ending with a 2-3 win for United.  niPeterborough lost to Sunderland and in the Fourth Round Draw Southampton have been picked to play Dagenham & Redbridge or Millwall away.  I shall not be going to that game anyway as I have a training day at Sarum College on that Saturday.  Not an exciting draw but one we can win.  Sara felt poorly this afternoon - back ache and headache so spent a good deal of the afternoon on the sofa watching TV.  I phoned Mum who seemed in good spirits despite spending tomorrow in hospital having tests.  My sister Heather had been to visit her today with my niece Hannah.  I think that has raised her spirits.  Tonight our team won the Pub Quiz again with a resounding 19 points lead!  Another bottle,of wine was brought home.  Sara was feeling better this evening and we end the day watching the film Grumpy Old Men with Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau.  I stayed up further to watch Sky at Night hosted by a very aged Patrick Moore discussing the planets in other solar systems.  some interesting material for my next magazine article.

Sent to Coventry for a win!

Sara took Tom on his paper round this morning so that he would be able to leave with me in good time to spend the day with me in Coventry where we were going to watch Saints play Coventry City in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup at the Ricoh Arena.  We set off at 9.30 a.m. arriving in Coventry at 12 noon.  After being told that it would cost us £10 to park the car in the official car park we drove round the street near the ground to find a spot in Beacon Road where we could park for free.  There is a one-mile exclusion zone around the Ricoh where only permit holders can park but we discovered the odd length of road, here and there, just outside the zone which didn't have double yellow lines.  We asked a couple of locals who confirmed that we should be okay.   Leaving the car there we walked the mile or so back to the Arena and had lunch at the Pizza Hut close by.  We had an excellent lunch of pasta (not pizza) and salad and were served by a very pleasant girl.  In fact the whole dining experience there, overlooking the Ricoh, was very good.  The service was excellent and the food hot and tasty.  We were amazed at the number of Saints fans around compared to those of Coventry City.  We certainly seemed to be the dominant side.  After visiting the club store to buy the customary soft toy for Mary (she now has a substantial number of teddies and other soft toys from different football clubs) we watched a great protest going on outside the shop and around the Jimmy Hill statue.  The fans are most unhappy about the owners of the club and the way City is being managed.  We left the protesters and entered the stadium.  We took our seats just as the whistle blew for the kick-off.  Southampton were truly awful in the first half and went in at half time 1-0 down.  The second half, however, saw a much better performance and the game ended in a 1-2 win for the visitors.  Much relief.  The team consisted of a number of reserve players and their inexperienced showed.  Still we came away with our club's name going in the hat for the 4th Round Draw.  Salisbury were beaten at Sheffield United and Swindon knocked out Wigan.   Our car was perfectly safe when we returned (having saved ourselves £10 which went towards our lunch) and we left Coventry at about 5.45 p.m. having first of all tried to stop off and look at the Cathedral - the one way system and parking restrictions defeated us.  We arrived back in Winterslow at 8 p.m.  A really enjoyable day out despite the poor football in the first half.  Up early tomorrow to lead my first full church service.

Back home from Sussex

Woke up early in Hove this morning - 7 am.  Still very dark outside despite the street lighting.  After making myself a cup of tea I went back to bed and didn't wake again until 8.30 a.m.!  I had a coffee and banana on toast for breakfast.  Peter and I chatted for about an hour and I left when his granddaughter came over with her father Barry.  A good journey back along the coast road to Chichester and then along the A27/M27 back to Winterslow.  Sara was just about to leave for her lunchtime job at the Lord Nelson when I arrived back. I dealt with some mail and Complex accounts, wrote a thank-you letter to my hosts in St. Leonards before setting about the final preparation for the Morning Worship service I am leading on Sunday.  I needed to write up my introduction, the Collect and other parts of the service which are not included on the general service sheet. Having done that, Sara helped me reduce the resultant sheet into A5 for insertion in my leader's folder.  Sara and I ended the day by watching the last two concluding episodes of GBH.  Off to The Ricoh Arena in Coventry tomorrow to watch Saints take on Coventry City in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.  No Ricky Lambert as he is suspended following the disastrous game at Brighton.

Titanic Talk in former Swimming Pool!

Another long day today.  I spent the morning in the study working on some Complex work.  Sophie called round at lunchtime to see Sara and I ate a quick bowl of chicken soup before leaving Winterslow to drive to Hove where I arrived at Peter's at 2.30 p.m.  After a cup of tea and a change into my formal masonic dress, Peter drove me over to St. Leonard's near Hastings, picking up one of the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters for Sussex, Tony Davies and his wife in Eastbourne.  We arrived at the St. Leonard's Masonic Centre at 5pm. for the East Sussex First Principals' Chapter meeting which started at 5.30 p.m.  The building is a former Assembly Rooms and the lodge room itself a former swimming pool. How appropriate for a talk on Titanic.  After about an hour of formal business, the ladies were invited into the lodge room to join the men where I gave a one hour illustrated talk on "Freemason on the Titanic" which, to pardon the pun, seemed to go down very well.  The talk was followed by an excellent dinner (pate, chicken and mint chocolate cheese cake) where I was the guest of honour together with the Deputy Provincial Grand Superintendent and the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies - both of whom I know very well from Brighton chapters.  We all sat on the top table. It seems that my talk inspired a lot of conversation around the diner table and was deemed a success.  I was pleased as Peter had recommended my talk to the chapter and I really felt that I could not let him down.  After dropping Tony and Pat off in Eastbourne, Peter and I return to Hove where I spent the night in my usual room in his house.  We chatted for about two hours before going to bed and had a glass of one of my favourite wines - a Shiraz produced by Robert Moldavi's Woodbridge winery in the Napa Valley, California.  After speaking briefly to Sara on the phone I went to bed, quite exhausted but also delighted that the evening had gone so well.

Preparing for my first full service

Up really early this morning to attend a dental appointment at 8.10 a.m. in Salisbury.  My dentist has just returned from an exotic holiday in Slovenia and decided that I need another filling and an assault by the dental hygienist - so more money flowed out of my wallet!  Whilst in Salisbury I had my hair cut, banked another £284 for the Calendar, as well as some personal banking, and called in to see an old colleague of our from FP days who wanted a Calendar.  I arrived back home at around noon for a hastily eaten home made soup and a roll before doing some Complex work and then spending an hour and a half with my incumbent in the rectory where we discussed the arrangements and logistics for the service I am taking at West Dean on Sunday.  Came away feeling just how little I know of theological and liturgical matters.  The learning process is never ending.  I finished off some more Complex work this evening whilst Sara attended an LPA meeting in the village.  Feeling very tired tonight - especially as I have re-started the Weight Watchers' regime with a vengeance. 

Confined to barracks

I was woken at 4.30 a.m. today by howling wind and rain.  Looking out of our bedroom window I saw our flagpole swaying excessively in the high winds and so I ventured out into the darkness and wetness of our garden to dismantle it - before it dismantled itself through our bedroom window!  Absolutely awful weather this morning.  As I write this tonight, the flagpole still remains horizontal on our rear lawn for fear of further high winds.  A lot of people have missed it today - after all it is a village landmark - but hopefully they will realise that it is only a temporary disappearance.  The news reported deaths and destruction throughout the UK (particularly in the north) with winds of over 100 m.p.h.  I only ventured out twice today - once to go to the village shop for some light bulbs - the sky has been so dark and overcast that I needed a stronger light bulb for my study - and to go to Weight Watchers where the damage done over Christmas was revealed.  It's back to the strict point-counting again.  I must try and make sure that I don't allow this excessive work to interfere with a good exercise regime.  Today was not a good day to start exercising though - the weather kept me indoors and so I set about tidying up the study and dealing with all those bits of paper I've been putting to one side - especially the bills.  The whole morning was engaged in this activity and this afternoon and evening I have been working for clients. Ginny joined me for a time and stared frustratingly out of the window at the wet and windy weather.  I felt quite depressed at one point today when I seemed overwhelmed with so many tasks to complete. Paying the credit card bills didn't help either. However, having dealt with the two big client matters and giving myself more space in my study has made me feel a bit better.  It's now 10 p.m. and I shall go to bed soon to consider and reflect upon the church service I am taking on Sunday.  Up early again tomorrow with a dental appointment at 8.10 a.m. in Salisbury.

Big defeat for Saints at Brighton

Yet another Bank Holiday today - but the last of the current series - tomorrow is definitely back to work.  Tom is also back to school tomorrow although both Sara and I (and Tom) thought he had another day off.  I took him over to his friend Doug's house in Middle Wallop to spend the day there and then drove on to Amesbury to visit Lidl's and Tesco for some urgent shopping.  After completing this task I drove briefly into Salisbury to deliver a Calendar to Hilary, our former colleague at FP who has now also retired and enjoying life as a recent grandmother.  Back home, with the weather dry and the sun shining I tackled pruning the crab apple tree on the back lawn. It has grown up substantially over the summer with all the rain and its tall branches and twigs now catch my flags when the wind is blowing (as it usually does) from the south west and I am hauling them down in the evening.  Later in the afternoon I listened to the Brighton v. Saints match on the radio.  This was the match I had tried to get tickets for last Thursday.  I am so glad that I failed to get them - the result was a terrible 3-0 defeat for the Saints with Ricky Lambert being sent off for violent conduct and now having a three match ban.  Following the match I went back to Middle Wallop to pick up Tom and after filling up with fuel at Andover returned home.  Another quiet night in tonight with a bath and an early night.

A GBH Fest on New Year's Day

Despite only 3 hours sleep last night, I was awake at 6 a.m. and made tea for Sara and me.  Sara was still sleeping when I woke her up with her tea - as for the children, they were both definitely well in the "land of nod".   The family were due to act as sidespersons at All Saints church this morning but in the end only I arrived to undertake this duty which I shared with Sophie.  Only 29 in church today so it wasn't too onerous a job.  Cynthia led the service today.  Another quiet day at home.  Sara cooked pork chops for dinner and we watched several episodes of GBH which had first been screened in the 1990s and which Sara had never seen - despite it starring tow of her favourite actors - Michael Palin and Robert Lindsay.  Richard, Klynn and I met in the lion's Head for a few beers tonight and a good old chat - we really enjoy our Sunday evening jaunts down to the pub - a nice way to start a new week.  Back home, Sara and I watched another couple of episodes of GBH (it becomes compulsive viewing once you start) over some cheese and biscuits before going to bed at 1.30 a.m.  Once this long holiday period is over we must both get into a routine of getting to bed early and rising early.  I have quite a lot of paperwork to deal with over the next few days - my Titanic talk, my portfolio and my service preparation.