Opening of SP2

An exciting day today with the opening of the new SP2 Community Centre at Fisherton as part of the expanded mission of St. Paul's Church.  Sara, Mary and I decided that we would go to St. Paul's this morning and join the congregation for the opening and blessing of this wonderful new £1.8 million facility.  We first of all attended a slightly shortened Morning Praise service at which the Bishop of Ramsbury preached an excellent sermon and then some 500 or so of us walked across the road to the new centre to witness the blessing/dedication of the building by the bishop and the formal opening by John Glen M.P. for Salisbury.  The facilities are wonderful and represent a truly missional approach to Christianity.  Sara signed up for the Alpha Course which St. Paul's are running from next week. I shall continue to worship here on those Sunday's when my duties don't require me to be in the Clarendon Team. This afternoon I watched some American Football with Thom - New York Giants at Carolina Panthers and witnessed the Panthers' biggest win.  Thom is a keen supporter of the Panthers as it is his grandpa's team in the same way that Grimsby town is his paternal grandfather's team.  Lovely to see such family loyalty.  I still don't fully understand the game of American Football but I do have a better idea and hopefully will be able to understand what is happening at Wembley in a week's time much better.  I spoke briefly on the telephone to Mum (she had an emotional time this week with having to attend the funeral of a close friend) and continues to be in a lot of physical pain. Such a pity she can't make my admission and licensing and 60th Birthday next week.  I ended the day in the usual Sunday manner - a few drinks with richer din the Lion's Head where I met a newcomer to the village who is an organist, former church warden and Freemason.  I shall invite him to our next lodge meeting.  

Quiet Day at Melbury Abbas

Today was quite literally a Quiet Day.  I was up early this morning, showered and dress and after some porridge for breakfast I set off on the 30 miles journey to Melbury Abbas near Shaftesbury for my retreat/quiet day with fellow Lay Minister candidates at a wonderful Grade II listed farmhouse with its extensive and quiet gardens containing many water features - streams, ponds, and a large lake.  We spent the morning reflecting on Genesis 2 (the Garden of Eden) and the passage where the first couple hid from God.  As I wandered around the garden I reflected much on this and when sitting down in a very secluded area of the extensive grounds reading my bible, two swans paddled across the whole of the lake to come and view me as though God's love was being sent across to me. During this time we were not permitted to speak to anyone else but at lunchtime we all made up for it with much chatter talking quite a bit about our different parishes and training incumbents. The afternoon followed a similar pattern - this time reflecting on a number of passages in the New Testament.  I stayed in the sitting room reading my bible and my daily devotionals with a few others, all of us remaining silent.  The day ended with some information being provided to us about the admission and licensing service on Saturday and we went away feeling quite refreshed.  I have to say that when I got home I did feel quite drained - not through physical exertion but the day had been quite mentally challenging - keeping quiet and reflecting for such long periods.  However, I do think that I would have enjoyed and benefitted from a longer session - perhaps two days.  Listened to the Liverpool v. Southampton match on the radio and the day ended perfectly with a 1-0 win for the Saints.

Happy 50th Birthday to friend Anthony

Off to Ambassadors' Business Breakfast Club this morning at the Grasmere House Hotel.  Not very many there this morning - just three tables - but an excellent presentation by Simon Ward on his photography business - very impressive with samples of his work and products.  Highly recommended for weddings and the like. After the meeting I spent an hour at Sarum College (and also did some shopping to buy our friend Anthony a big embarrassing 50th Birthday badge for tonight) before moving on to Alabare Place and spending three hours with the homeless in the Drop-In Centre.  Some interesting and useful conversations with a number of service users which indicated a possible need for a food outlet for them on a Saturday.  I will talk to Morning Star about this when I have an opportunity. Following my stint with Alabare, I drove to Stockbridge to pick Thom up and we followed his bus, after he got off, to its next major stop at Nether Wallop.  This is a much shorter journey from Winterslow and from next week we will arrange to take him and pick him up from there.  Tonight Sara and I joined our old friend and work colleague, Anthony, for his 50th Birthday meal with some other of his friends at Strada (the Italian restaurant)  in the centre of Salisbury.  A really lovely evening and so nice for Sara and me to go out together in the evening - we tend to be so busy with our own events that this is quite a rarity. 

Ministerial Formation

Another busy day today.  Sara took Thom into Stockbridge to catch his bus as Thom starts later today.  I did a little bit of gardening in the morning whilst it was dry and bright and then cycled to the Rectory for my monthly meeting with Nils, my training incumbent.  We had a very long and intense meeting this morning discussing the Team's dynamics, my future ministerial role within the Team and in particularly issues of an ontological nature (the study of "being" as opposed to simply "functioning").  Many, including quite a number of Lay ministers themselves, see their role as a functioning role whereas with proper ministerial formation which should be ontologically changed.  I'll let my reader look up the word for a much better description than I can give it!  Whilst in my two-hour meeting it started to rain really heavily and, thankfully, Nils lent to a rain jacket for my cycle ride back home. This afternoon I met up with Nils again at a meeting of the Team's Greater Chapter at the home of one of our retired lay ministers.  This is an opportunity for those ministers (ordained and lay) who are not part of the main Ministerial Team to have an input into the life of Clarendon's ministry. This evening I led our house group but instead of following the advertised programme the five of us present chatted about differences between the established and orthodox churches and the free and non-conformist churches.  This discussion arose out of my description of the form of service to be expected at my admission and licensing next week.  It appears that an understanding of the rituals within Anglican services is still well beyond many church goers and perhaps part of my ministry is to try and explain that in the context of spiritual and biblical thoughts and writings.

Chaplaincy Training

I was up early again this morning to take Thom to Stockbridge.  We encountered some heavy lorries again on the journey - especially a refuse lorry negotiating the narrow Warren.  We still arrived early and I was able to stop off and get a paper and rolls once more.  Back home I enjoyed a bacon butty before setting off for St. Francis's Church Hall in Salisbury to attend the last of my half-day training course on being a chaplain.  Today we undertook some exercises in listening and using Kolb's Cycle - all very familiar as much of the course has already been covered in my University module on pastoral care.  The course ended with lunch at 1.30 pm. when I had quite an interesting talk with an ordained minister in the UCCAW - the United Church of Christ Apostolic Worldwide or something similar. This appears to be a biblically based church and bases its apostolic succession through St. Thomas and describes itself as being equally apostolic as the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches - something roman Catholics would find difficult as they believe they are the only true apostolic church - through St. Peter.  As I said, a very interesting discussion on ecclesiology and theology.  I was back home at 3 p.m. and after a quick cup of tea with Sara, Sara was off to Salisbury to pick up Mary and take her to gymnastics and I set off for Stockbridge to pick up Thom.  I did, however, manage to have a telephone conversation with Mum this afternoon (she is full of pain and finding life hard) and also repaired the snicket on the side gate - which has been irritating us all for a while.  Tonight I had a bath and I am writing up this blog before going to bed.  I am hoping a few earlier nights will revive me as I do feel tired by the end of the day.  My emotions are running high at the moment as I near my ministerial licensing.  I am certainly looking forward to my retreat day on Saturday. 

A visit to Mompesson House

Fewer appointments today which made for a more measured day.  I took Thom to Stockbridge but this time taking the shorter route and we arrived well ahead of the bus.  This gave me time, also, to visit the supermarket and buy rolls and a morning paper.  After breakfast, and picking up the morning's mail, I drove into Salisbury where I picked up the tickets for the cathedral seats for family and close friends, and then on to Sarum College where I spent most of the day reading and catching up on paperwork in the lovely quiet atmosphere of the library room.  I did venture out at lunchtime to make a visit on Mompesson House, a National Trust property I had never visited before although it is only two hundred yards from the college, and ha da look around the five rooms open to the public.  I was impressed by some of the water colours and the square piano (dating from 1701).  I had a light lunch of a toasted cheese and pickle sandwich and a pot of tea under an awning whilst watching the rain come down.  At the end of my day at College I went across to the cathedral and enjoyed the choral evensong.  A lovely reflective way to end the day.  The reading was from the Book of Ruth which I had lectured on last week.  I enjoyed an early night tonight especially as I have to be up early again tomorrow to take Thom to Stockbridge.

"The only way is ethics"

After last week's feeling slightly "down in the dumps" I felt a bit better today although that feeling of tiredness is still around and I think I need to get to bed much earlier.  This morning was another rush as I agreed to take Thom to Stockbridge to catch his bus for Winchester.  We left home late and I decided to take the faster main road to Stockbridge instead of going across country - big mistake.  A slow lorry on the main A30 had produced an enormous take-back of cars and it took a good five minutes to get out on to the main road at the Pheasant Corner.  to make matters worse the lorry was headed towards Winchester rand not Andover so we had to follow it all the way to Stockbridge crawling along at 35-40 mph.   As we pulled into Stockbridge Thom's bus was just indicating to pull away from the bus stop so I had to block its exit so that Thom could run and board it!  Another ten seconds and I would have had to have driven all the way to Winchester.  I came back with rolls and a newspaper from the shop in Stockbridge and had a more leisurely breakfast.  This afternoon I had to pay two trips to Salisbury Hospital - the first time to attend my "knee class" and after a short session at Sarum College library, I had to return to the hospital for a meeting of the Alabare Finance and Resources Committee held in their Finance Meeting Room.  The meeting went on longer than expected and I had to leave at 7 p.m. before it had finished so that I could drive over to Wilton for the fist of my sessions on Christian Ethics.  When I arrived I discovered that none of us could park our cars at the Diocesan Learning Centre because the combination lock for the car park had been changed and Stella had been given the old code!  A wonderful "Stella-like" start to the session.  We had a great meeting - so glad to be back studying  a fresh subject again.  There was an hilarious moment when I misheard something Stella said and gave the impression to her and the other students that I thought it was perfectly ethical, from a Christian perspective, for an adult to have sex with an animal! Stella retorted that they may have to take a re-look at my suitability for licensing!  There was much hooting of laughter and cracks, including animal noises during the session and I simply exploded with laughter.  I was actually saying that it wasn't ethical and that this was something I expected all Christians would agree upon (it not being ethical rather than it being acceptable).  It certainly lightened up the moment and the students have promised not to make animal noises as I go up the cathedral aisle!  An early night tonight - in bed by 10.30 p.m.

Monday 9th September to Sunday 15th September - Weekly Catch Up

This last week has been an extremely hectic, and in some respects, an emotional one with endless meetings and appointments, as a result of which I have only had chance to complete this blog at the end of the week – hence this is a weekly entry rather than the usual daily one.  Many of the things happening this week have been the subject of writings in my spiritual journal and not for public proclamation as quite a few meetings and experiences have been difficult for me.  Suffice it to say, at the end of this week I am now only two weeks away from my 60^th birthday and my licensing as a Lay Minister in the Church of England and each event has, in its own way, prompted me to be extremely reflective on my life – both past and future.  To live in the present has much to commend itself as often looking back to the past leads to rather subjective views of events – both good and bad – and looking to the future is towards hopes which might not be fulfilled or which might become frustrated.  Looking at the present helps us to deal with the person we are now and at the time that really matters.

Thom began at college in Winchester on Monday. He was feeling very apprehensive but had to admit, at the end of the day, to feeling quite grown up and realised that sixth form college is very different to school.  He seems to be as worried about his clothing as his academic ability but did admit that history seems very enjoyable and interesting. The week started slowly with a visit to the hospital for my knee class.  I felt that the exercise session was not long enough to do much good but I suppose it is really up to me to put in the extra effort to and extra exercise at home. 

Tuesday saw the first of four separate Church meetings – a Deanery Synod Standing Committee meeting at the Rural Dean’s rectory in Porton.  I ferried Nils our own rector to this meeting which largely dealt with issues surrounding the mission project and finances of the various parish churches.

 Wednesday saw me attending a Team Staff Meeting at Cynthia’s following Mid-Week Eucharist at St. John’s (which I did not attend this week due to other pressing matters).  I didn’t find it the most progressive of meetings but some of that might be due to feeling quite tired – I was certainly feeling tired by the time we had a Team Council Meeting at 7.30 pm where I attend as an observer until after my licensing.  I did go for a drink in the Lion’s Head with a couple of parishioners from outside of Winterslow to whom I had preached only a few weeks before and found this a very interesting and stimulating discussion.

On Thursday I had yet another meeting with the clergy/ministry team at an “away day” session in Whiteparish.  The events of that meeting are entirely confidential, as you would expect – but left me feeling quite drained – for the rest of the week.  The evening did pick up when I was the guest speaker at a meeting of Elias de Derham Freemasons’ Lodge in Salisbury when I delivered my lecture on the Book of Ruth.  There were several Grand Officers present including a delightful cleric from a church in Bournemouth who complimented me on such a good exegesis of this particular scripture and has promised to let me have some academic theological books for my continuing studies into Christian Ethics. The meeting was followed by an excellent dinner and I was given some flowers to take home to Sara.  Lovely people and a lovely evening after quite a hard and emotional day.

 On Friday I was back working at Alabare’s Drop-In Centre where it was relatively quiet.  One usual disruptive individual was on his best behaviour because of a court appearance.  I managed to chat to quite a number of service users and to a new student intern who is studying for a carer’s qualification.  However, I was still feeling somewhat under the weather and not “firing on all cylinders” today.

Saturday was a day when I was feeling most like doing nothing.  The weather has been unsettled for most of this week and so with a brighter day today I decided to mow both of the internal lawns and wash my car.  I think that the physical energy needed to do these things helped me mentally.  Sara and Mary went into Salisbury and then on to Southampton shopping; Thom was (ostensibly) doing some college work in his room (not as the case later proved) and I spent the afternoon watching the England v Australia One-day International cricket match from Cardiff.  A really wonderful game, with Carberry scoring 63 and England winning by 3 wickets.  Sara came home exhausted after a heavy day shopping amongst the crowds in Southampton and announced that she needed to go back tomorrow to complete her purchases.

I had a free Sunday again today – no services to conduct, participate in or preach at.  Sara, Mary and I went to St. Paul’s this morning and Mary has now joined their “Impact” Youth Group where she seems really happy and is looking forward to their Big Saturday Out when the youth go out into Salisbury and do good works – cleaning, tidying, gardening/weeding people’s gardens and the like. Really good mission work.  Sara and I enjoyed a great talk from Jon Langford, the young minister there, and heard a wonderful testimony from a member of the congregation who had been to New Wine and had tried her hand at some successful healing ministry with her plumber/heating engineer. I came away from St. Paul’s feeling uplifted – something I needed after feeling rather lethargic and in the doldrums for a good half of the week.  I am also looking forward to starting my studies again tomorrow.  This afternoon we all went into Southampton – Sara and Mary to resume their shopping and Thom and me to watch Southampton take on West Ham in the Premier League.  Not a brilliant game at all – a 0-0 draw which, at least, means another point and staying in mid-table.  I never really look forward to games when Sam Allardyce is the opposing teams manager – games against Bolton were equally dire.  The day, and week, ended up in the Lion’s Head with Richard who seems a little more positive now that Linda is almost settled in where she is going to go to do her curacy (still a big secret).

 

 

Ancient Buildings

Mary stayed with her friend, Lucy, overnight in Salisbury and is going shopping in Southampton today. Thom and Sara were up early this morning to do his paper round and I got up to print off the service sheets and a copy of my sermon for this morning’s service.  Fortunately the service at West Grimstead wasn’t due to start until 11 a.m. so I had plenty of time to get things ordered and prepared.  After a series of evening out or busy I was feeling a little tired so was grateful for not too early a start.  This was Sara’s first visit to St. John’s Church at West Grimstead which dates from 1291 and is the oldest church building in our Team.  There was a congregation of 16 this morning which was a decent number for this very small parish (only 150 houses in total) and the service seemed to go well.  I preached on the Book of Philemon and I seemed to be received well.  It was a simple service and as I do more of these so my confidence grows.  Quite a number of members of the congregation were asking and assuming that I would be going on for ordination and seemed a little disappointed when both Sara and I told them that that wasn’t something envisaged – especially with young children.   This afternoon I took myself off to Motissfont Abbey to view the original Shepard drawings for A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh books.  I was also fascinated to see how the Tudor manor house had been incorporated into the old dissolved abbey from where it gets its name.  I was surprised to see Nils, our Rector, and family also at the exhibition – there is just no way of getting away from the church sometimes.  Tonight, however, I joined James, David and David’s son Harry as the quiz team for the pub quiz in aid of the friends of the village school.  There were some teams of school teachers so it was going to be interesting pitting our wits against the teachers.  We also heard that as we had the reputation of always winning the questions would be difficult for us.  However, true to form, we won again (with a 13 point margin).  So, it was back home again with a bottle of wine.  The end of an extremely busy week with so many engagements.  Hopefully next week will be a little quieter but it looks like some more legal work has just come in which will require a visit to Dorchester shortly.

 

Masonic Dinner in Calne

I spent much of today working on tomorrow’s service – especially writing the intercessions and the sermon – a study of the book of Philemon.  Mary spent the day with her friends and Lucy and Izzy at the ice rink in Basingstoke and Thom watched the Luton v Grimsby Town game on the TV this evening – a boring 0-0 result by all accounts.  The weather turned dark this afternoon with claps of thunder in the distance.  Sara and I left home at around 5.30 p.m. to attend a dinner for reigning Masters of each lodge in Wiltshire hosted by the Provincial Grand Master as the Executive at Calne Masonic Centre in the north of the county – a good hour’s journey across Salisbury Plain.  We had an excellent meal of fresh cream of mushroom soup, topside of beef – rare in the middle, with lovely vegetables – crushed hash browns, cauliflower cheese, carrots, peas and roast potatoes followed by fruits of the forest pavlova and cheese and biscuits.  Sara and I were honoured to be seated on the PGM’s table and I was called upon to give the toast to the PGM which he responded with a lengthy speech about the Teddies for Loving Care appeal and other issues.  This was followed by quite an unorthodox demonstration of masonic cathedral building and design from the Provincial Grand Chaplain/Orator, Dr. Tony Milsom, a professor of mathematics whose love and enthusiasm for maths is quite incredible. Unfortunately, during this demonstration our hosts wife, who had been sitting next to me, was taken ill and eventually taken to hospital with what turned out to be a nasty viral infection.  It did bring the proceedings to an abrupt halt although the evening had almost finished.  Sara and some of the ladies were shown around the lodge room before we left for home around 10 p.m.  Driving back across Salisbury Plain we encountered some dense fog and had to drive extremely cautiously.

 

St Trinian's Night

Up early this morning to go to Ambassadors', although I had to stay at home until Mary had left as Sara had taken Thom to Winchester as a "dry run" on the bus for his college next week.  'There were not many at Ambassadors' this morning and the ten minute talk was from a business machines (photocopiers and printers) engineer/consultant.  After leaving the Grasmere Hotel I called in a the Bookers Cash 'n' Carry to pick up some orange juice and beer (including a case of Betty Stogs for Richard. I drove over to Westbury for morning coffee and teacakes with Ashley and provide dhim with some material to assist him in completing his portfolios.  Sadly, he will not be licensed with me in a few weeks time and will need to catch up on his outstanding work - hopefully before another year has passed. He is going to come to my licensing ceremony and buffet luncheon afterwards together with his wife (Sharon) and daughter (Verity).  I arrived back in Winterlsow after a short shopping excursion in Warminster at around 2.30 p.m.  Sara and Thom had had a successful trip to Winchester and Thom seemed to be confident in knowing where to get on and off the bus for his college. It transpires that he hasn't to walk as far to the college as we thought as a bus stop before the terminus in Winchester is closest to the college. Tonight Sara and I went across to the Village Hall to a joint 50th Birthday party with a fancy dress theme of St. Trinian's.  Sara and I were dressed as school teachers complete with mortar board and gown.   There must have been well in excess of 150 people there with masses of food, fireworks and a live band.  Unfortunately the band and the music generally was far too loud and it was impossible to have any decent  conversations with anyone all night.  I did go outside on  a couple of occasions but later in the evening it started to rain heavily - so that was no longer an option.  Sara and I (and Mary who came along a little later) left at about 10.30 p.m. with our ears ringing with the loud music.  Guess we are getting old - not really my kind of thing.  Tomorrow night we are going to a much more sedate occasion - a dinner for all reigning masters in Wiltshire and their partners at Calne Masonic Centre. I am to propose the toast to the PGM apparently.

Dorset Masters' Lodge Meeting in Poole

Today was hotter than yesterday with temperatures approaching 30 degrees - really hot for September.  The weather didn't help the fact that I had to dress up in my full Masonic regalia for a meeting at Branksome Masonic Centre, Poole of the Dorset Masters' Lodge and luncheon.  I set off for Poole at 8.45 am and arrived at the Centre in Poole at around 10.15 am, having driven past the Centre once.  I was given a place of honour in the lodge and at the top table for the luncheon as well as a ticket for a free drink from the bar (a light white wine spritzer).  The meeting mainly consisted of a really interesting lecture from a Gosport Freemason on the making of an Afghan Mason - which was the story of the initiation of the Amir of Afghanistan in 1907.  According to the lecturer, the Amir's initiation into Freemasonry produced a wonderful diplomatic understanding between the united Kingdom and Afghanistan such that when the First World War broke out, Indian troops could be sent to Gallipoli and other theatres of war in support of the Allied Forces without fear of insurgence from Afghan rebels on the border.  The main architect of this was a British diplomat named McMahon who is better known for the drawing of the McMahon Line to mark the agreed border between China and India.  I sat with Mike Codd, the former Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire and Isle of Wight who was a also a former British Airways Jumbo pilot. we had a number of interesting conversations.  My car was absolutely boiling hot when I was ready to leave and had to open all the doors and in order to cool it down before setting off back to Salisbury. I decided to drive through the centre of Bournemouth and follow the old trolleybus route all the way to Christchurch and then on to Mudeford where we used to spend our Whitsun holidays as children.  The tide was up and there were many people in the water enjoying this late summer sun.  Tonight we had six of us for House Group and we enjoyed watching a bible study talk on DVD from Gerard Kelly followed by a short discussion on 1 John afterwards.  James stayed behind for a pint of Doombar (which was also, incidentally, being served down at the Branksome Masonic Centre) and a catch-up chat. 

Feeling Sleepy

I was up reasonably early this morning although I hadn't slept particularly well because of the heat.  Mary was up early, quite surprisingly, and was ready for her first day back at school in a new year (Year 8). Sara did her usual stint at Morning Star and I decided to miss going to Mid-Week Eucharist at Whaddon and went straight on to Elizabeth's in Alderbury for a meeting of the Clarendon Ministry Team. Our meeting lasted for an hour and a half and we mainly spoke about what we had been doing over the summer break and dealt with a few issue surrounding the Team's strategic plan as well as some housekeeping issues.  Following the meeting I went shopping in Matalan for some shirts and pants and also called in at Sarum College to return some library books and take out a couple by tom Wright for use in my sermon writing for Sunday - still not sure when I'll get around to writing that as I am out every evening now for the rest of the week. I also called in at the farm shop near Tesco for some peaches and nectarines.  Finally, I visited Waitrose's coffee shop for a free coffee and a yum yum and to top up the car with fuel - I now have a strict policy of never letting it drop below half a tank - that way I always know I have plenty of fuel in the car.  The car temperature gauge showed 27 degrees Celsius this afternoon.  I had a short nap when I got back home to make up for my lack of sleep last night.  Afterwards, I put some beef burgers (home made) on the BBQ for the family and afterward went for a nice long bike ride into Bentley Wood and eventually came out on Weston Lane - a five miles trip. Tonight I decided to blitz updating my blog and writing up the service for Sunday at West Grimstead. This will be my last service before being licensed. All subsequent services will see me wearing my ministerial  scarf.  Feeling a little apprehensive about it all today and really wondering where my ministry will lead me.  I am still reflecting upon the quite intense discussion I had with Klynn yesterday.  Will probably sleep in the family room tonight where it is a bit cooler and after I have worked on Sunday's service.

Taking my bike for a walk!

Sara went off to chair her Ladies Who Latte this morning in Salisbury. Following the exercise in the hospital gym yesterday, I decided to get out my bike, pump up the tyres and go for a spin in Bentley Wood.  As I rode along Witt Road I met up with Klynn and Susan taking their dog, Otis, for a walk to  Bentley Wood. I joined them and as they took their dog for a walk, I took my bike for one!  We walked quite some distance and chatted about how I saw my ministry developing and how the Baptist Church was anxious to do more outreach and ecumenical events.  Our chat ended up over coffee in their kitchen.  I arrived home at 11.00 am much later than I anticipated and well behind on my timetable to deal with mountains of paperwork. This evening I attended a meeting of Stonehenge Chapter where Bryant from Devon gave an excellent talk on the Prophecy of Jeremiah and the history of the Babylonian Exile. This was followed by an excellent dinner of poached salmon and watercress sauce followed by profiteroles and ice cream and cheese and biscuits. There were quite a number of people there who had been present at my installation at Devizes on Friday and I received more words of congratulation.  

Knees Up!

Another busy day today with the sun shining and the temperature very hot.  I did a shorter stint at Alabare Place today - just from 11 am until 12.30 p.m. although I did get into conversation with quite a number of  service users who are getting used to seeing me around and who now often pick up on earlier conversations which we have had - all very rewarding. I had to leave early because I had a hospital appointment up at Salisbury District Hospital's physiotherapy department where I joined an osteoarthritis class which consisted of a short lecture about the condition itself and then some time using the gym equipment - all quite gentle exercise.  I realised that my knee condition is quite mild compared to others and I was able to use the equipment quite easily. I must get back on my bike if the weather gets cooler.  I have missed my rides into Bentley Wood this year. Tonight I attended quite a long meeting of the Winterslow Parish Council looking at three planning applications which we agreed to support and made a decision to go ahead with the installation of a Jubilee Clock at the Village Hall.  Finally got home at 10.30 p.m. for a gin and tonic before bed.

Going to the dogs

I attended All Saints, Winterslow this morning to give the shortest reading I can ever remember - Proverbs 25:6-7 - my announcement of the biblical reference took longer than the reading itself!  I stayed for the gospel reading and the sermon from Andrew - a good sermon on the topic of humbling oneself - and then slipped out to be picked up by Sara to drive into Salisbury with Mary to attend a much livelier service at St. Paul's (Mary had asked if she could go to St. Paul's again after a positive experience there last week and I thought it would be nice to go as a family). The contrast to All Saints was quiet stark - from 23 members of the congregation in a "traditional" setting at All Saints to about 230 with Spring Harvest type songs and a worship band. A great number of children were there too. Mary feels much more at home here - she doesn't want to go and won't go to All Saints) and Sara has decided that she will be bringing Mary on a regular basis to St. Paul's so that she can join the youth group.  In fact Sara wants to be a regular worshipper herself at St. Paul's and may join their Alpha Course. A very friendly welcoming atmosphere and I had the opportunity for a long chat with the rector, another Andrew.  When I am not on ministerial duty within the Clarendon Team I shall also join Sara and Mary at St. Paul's. Back home we had a BBQ using some beef burgers bought from Lidl on the way home from church and tonight we all went down to Poole to enjoy an evening at the dogs. It was a profitable evening for once too!  Sundays are free admission and Thom won £10.00 and Mary £15.00 tonight and I had a small £5 win.  Nothing great but much better than normal.  All we paid for during the evening were a few drinks.  A warm barmy evening with even barmier dogs!  As the first race began at 6 p.m., and we stayed for just 10 races, we were home by 10 p.m.