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!