Playing with Credit

A colder day today.  The main object of today was to complete my sermon for tomorrow morning and I spent some time in the morning in getting something down on paper.  I also strolled down to St. John's Church to see if there were any Parish Magazines there yet but couldn't find any.  I called in on Klynn and Susan and gave Klynn our tickets for the Saints v. Chelsea game on New Years Day.  We had a long chat over coffee and chocolate mints.  This evening, after having re-read and made some alterations to my sermon, we played a new board game which I had bought for Christmas Day which didn't get played.  It is an American form of Monopoly called Charge Large but more complicated as it allows people to purchase properties and companies on credit.  Quite a good game to help the children understand the need to be cautious with credit. I went to bed quite early this evening reading my Rick Warren book.  Up early tomorrow to take Thom to the shop to help sort out the Sunday papers.

Back to normal - Sort Of!

I have just realised this morning that this is the 1601st post on this blogsite - how time has flown!  Back to work today with a visit to the Drop-In Centre on chaplain duties.  Really very quiet today with left-over turkey ham made into a pie for the service users (and staff - myself included) with mashed potatoes, carrots and Brussels spouts.  That at least sorted out my lunch for me.  Whilst in Salisbury I also tried to sort out Thom's new phone - registering it on my Sure Signal box but will need to ring their customer care line direct from my mobile. I also visited two banks to put Thom's paper round tips in his account and also some money into my own.  This afternoon was spent at home working through some ideas and research for my sermon on Sunday - I am preaching at the Team Eucharist service in Alderbury.  Tonight Sara and I went to an evening drinks and canapé pary at Klynn and Susan's.  It was a beautifully clear night and I ended up explaining to a variety of other guests what stars could be seen - and in particular, and surprising them, by telling them that the brightest object they could see was Jupiter - high up in the constellation of Gemini.  We stayed until about 11 p.m. when we walked back by torchlight.  A lovely evening and much enjoyed by all, I think.

Boxing Day Movie Fest

Sara got up very late this morning - 10 a.m. and the children also laid in for a while apart from our great nephews who were up and watching TV and playing on the Wee quite early.  I was up first and organised breakfast for them and they stayed with us until mid-afternoon.  We snacked on ham and left-overs from yesterday.  Sara's niece called with her friend to pick up the boys mid-afternoon.  I have to confess that I spent most of the afternoon in our bedroom watching two Star Wars movies, two Carry-On films and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  An day of chillaxing knowing that I would be working on Friday.  Sara finally joined me at around 10 p.m. and I watched the Cardiff v Southampton game on TV - a marvellous 0-3 win for Saints which consolidates their position in the top half of the Premier League table.  Nothing really to report today as I spent all of it at home - not venturing out.  The weather tonight turned really unpleasant again and I had to dismantle the flag pole yet again as it was leaning precariously in the heavy wind.  Back to work tomorrow and must also get money and arrange airport car parking for our Marrakech trip.  After a really hectic Christmas period we need to relaxation in the Sun.  This awful weather is really not helping matters and continues to make us feel quite lethargic.

Christmas Day

We arrived back from the cathedral at around 1.30 a.m. and then watched "Men Behaving Badly" on the TV for an hour - we didn't actually get to bed until 3 a.m.  The children didn't wake too early, thankfully, but we were all up by 7.30 a.m.  I made tea for Sara and myself and put some brandy in mine - we don't have any whisky for our traditional whisky cuppa.  We all open our stocking presents and then went downstairs for breakfast - bucks fizz and ham and egg - followed by the big present unwrapping session.  Mary was delighted with her iPad and Thom with his new iPhone.  Just before midday, we drove into Salisbury and visited the drop-in centre and met the volunteers, staff and a few residents.  The volunteers were busy preparing the Christmas Lunch for the residents and odd homeless person who would be dropping in for lunch.  It took me back to the Christmas of 1995 when Sara was peeling Brussels sprouts in the building next door and it was her actions that day which led to me ask her out to lunch - a date which led to our marriage and wonderful relationship over the last seventeen years. We picked up Sara's niece and children at around 1.30 p.m. and drove them back in two cars to Winterslow.  I cut some wood and lit a large wood fire and the grand nephews opened their presents. We ate around 4.30 p.m. and the day was exceedingly hectic with the five children running around.  We were both quite exhausted after Sara's niece left with three of the children leaving two of the boys behind to stay overnight.  Went to bed feeling incredibly tired.

Christmas Eve

That hectic day before Christmas Day has arrived with its accompanying frantic wrapping of presents and icing of the Christmas cake - not to mention remembering to take the turkey out of the freezer!  Sara worked hard today in the kitchen preparing as much as she could in advance of the arrival of her niece and five children tomorrow.  Thom and Mary spent most of the day in their rooms or watching TV.  This evening, Sara, Mary and our friend Linda M and her son Joe, joined us at Salisbury Cathedral for the First Eucharist of Christmas - often known more commonly as Midnight Mass.  A truly magnificent service as only the cathedral can put on with fantastic organ music, including the Toccata and Fugue from Vidor's Symphony for Organ at the end.  This is always a wonderful way to start Christmas Day and we are so lucky to have this wonderful cathedral so close to us.  A great feeling of what Christmas is all about and plenty of incense to fill the nostrils with a sacred feeling for the celebration of the coming of Christ into the world.  Happy Christmas

Everyone!

Bad Storm and Flooding

What an incredibly appalling day, weather-wise, today.  The day started wet and windy and didn't get any better - in fact this evening we experienced gusts of wind at 70 mph which took out one of our fence panels behind the shed but, mercifully, left everything else intact.  The day was gloomy and I spent the morning in the office working exclusively on a tribunal case for a client - writing letters and emails connected with it and reading the pleadings from the other side.  Nothing much new and pretty much as expected.  The children spent the day either in their rooms or watching TV and none of us ventured out until this evening when, with good intentions, I set off to attend the carol service at West Grimstead Parish Church (I had promised the congregation that I would pop in when I preached there last week).  To start with the journey was fine - some small pieces of debris from the forest trees on the road - but just after I turned off at East Grimstead I was confronted by what I can only describe as a river - being unable to turn round I slowly drove through what must have been a foot of water.  I made a note not to return that way.  I actually arrived at West Grimstead but found the road under the railway bridge had been closed by the police - there must have been about four feet of water under the bridge.  This necessitated in me having the turn round and go back to Winterslow via Farley - the alternative route would have been through West Dean which would have meant me having to drive through the "river" again and I had heard on the radio that the railway was badly flooded there too - so much so that no trains were running between Romsey and Salisbury.  I arrived back home at around 7.15 p.m. and decided I was staying in.  The wind and rain pelted the house all evening and until about 3 a.m.  It does leave one feeling incredibly miserable.

Autumn Days

Massive apologies to all you regular readers of this blog.  Unfortunately, ever since my return from Grimsby and Cleethorpes I have been feeling somewhat "under the weather" - not helped by the appalling weather which we have been having recently.  Following my return we celebrated Mary's 13th birthday with her and Sara going to a wonderful performance of The Nutcracker ballet at Andover.  She also had three friends staying over - all sleeping together in the lounge - just think of it - four teenage girls in one massive sleepover!  The house looked as though we had had a rave!  Things have been hectic with trying to balance the writing of hundreds of Christmas cards, reading and writing theological essays, preparing and delivering a sermon at West Grimstead and also preparing and leading the Christmas Carol service at Alabare Place - a great success by all accounts - the actual service lasting about 30 minutes with mince pies etc. afterwards.  Sara and I also joined the rest of the Clarendon Team ministers for a really enjoyable Christmas lunch at the Milford Hall hotel in Salisbury.  I arrived for the lunch having spent the morning at Alabare's new headquarters on Churchfields Estate where the Bishop of Salisbury blessed the building.  I was truly bowled over by the wonderful facilities including a Quiet room and resources for the chaplains which I can use if I wish - I might certainly do so too.  Every day it seems we've had high winds and torrential rain.  A trip to West Dean with our curate, Andrew, to attend a house group meeting ended up as a major expedition after we encountered a massive tree across the road in Tytherley Road.  This required a large detour around West Tytherley.  We had a good meeting in the end and it was a wonderful opportunity to observe somebody else leading a house group.  During this period I also ventured up to Guildford to assist a friend/client with an appeal against employment sanctions brought against him.  This meant two train journeys each way and when we arrived at the venue for the appeal it was to discover that the person chairing the appeal was not available due to his wife's ill-health.  This appeal will now be postponed until January 7th when I will go up to Guildford again.  As I write this Thom and I have been to watch the Southampton v. Tottenham Hotspur game which ended in a 2-3 defeat for the Saints but still leaves them in 9th spot in the English Premier League.  This evening Thom and I watched the all important New Orleans Saints v. Carolina Panthers.  What an exciting game that proved to be with the Panthers winning by a touchdown in the last 56 seconds of the game to win 13-17!  An amazing win which has secured them a place in the Super Bowl Play-Offs. Thom was really excited although didn't see the final touchdown as he had walked out for a comfort break thinking that the game was all over with a new Orleans win!   Well there has been much going on and again I am sorry for all of you (and in particular you Andy Haylor (our friend at St. Mary's) as I know that you enjoy the blog and I did promise to give you a mention!  I will do my best to keep you all up to date.  I also have 2 assignments to complete for my University course.  I just need to get going and feel incentivised!  I think my photograph encapsulates the weather well - a wet miserable autumn.

A day in Grimsby and Cleethorpes

Woke up at 6 a.m. this morning, realised that I was in Grimsby and promptly went back to sleep.  I awoke again at 8.15 a.m. and made tea for Mum and me.  After a lovely breakfast of smoked haddock and poached egg I drove into Cleethorpes planning to buy 5lbs of sausages from Petit's only to find that the shop was closed!  I bought a birthday card for my sister Heather, wrote it and posted it together with other cards and letters at the Cleethorpes Post Office.  From there I drove to Auntie Mim's via the other Michael Barratt's (my cousin) dropping in a card.  Mim was her usual lovely self and we passed a very pleasant hour or so chatting about family matters and she kindly wrote something in my licensing book which Sara is compiling.  After a very light lunch of ham rolls, Mum accompanied me as I drove around Grimsby delivering some more Christmas cards. We stopped off at the Post Office on Convamore Road for Mum to pick up her pension money and I was dismayed to see that St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was closed and dilapidated.  Tonight I returned to Michael's to pick up a family heirloom - a wonderful canteen of cutlery which had been a wedding gift to Michael and Leone from his Uncle Jack (my grandfather's elder brother).  He was anxious that it should pass to the next generation and then on to Thom.  It is about 100 years old.  Tonight, also, I took Mum to the Trawlerman pub in Cleethorpes for one of their excellent £3.99 carveries - lovely turkey and beef that melted in the mouth.  It was then back to Carr Lane to watch the Royal Variety Show.   

King(s) of the Jungle

Another early start to the day but feeling quite unwell with a heavy cold and not looking forward to the long journey up to Grimsby today.  Thom had a double paper round to do today and I was up, showering and packing for the journey.  Sara ironed me a few shirts and completed the wrapping of the Christmas presents to take up.  Unfortunately by the time we had finished all the tasks it was nearly 10.30 a.m. and Sara and Mary were too late to go off to St. Paul's as originally planned.  I quickly cleaned the car and packed it up before leaving at around 10.45 a.m. for the 250 miles journey up to Humberside.  I had a really great journey without any delays.  The only ones I had were of my own making - stopping at Tesco in Andover for a couple of items and fuel and at Morrisons in Grimsby for some flowers for Mum.  I made a couple of phone calls before arriving at my mother's at around 4 p.m.  In actual travelling time the journey took around four and a half hours - a really good time and a relatively easy journey.  A relaxing evening watching reality TV - Dancing, X-Celebrity and Jungle.  The former two I only glanced at as I was reading the local newspaper and doing the puzzles in it.  I was interested to see who would win Jungle and was not at all surprised that it was Kian.  He and David Emmanuel both deserved the honour and two nicer members of the original twelve couldn't really be found.  Had a relatively early night tonight going to bed at 11 p.m.

Saints hold City to a draw

Up very early this morning to a grey drizzly day and a drive to take Thom to the village shop to pick up his newspapers for his round.  I must confess to driving in my pyjamas being fully sure that in the darkness nobody would spot this!  Breakfast consisted of bacon and sausage rolls and I spent the morning on some Complex work before Thom and I left home for Southampton  at the Saints match against Manchester City.  We arrived in Southampton to find our usual free parking space taken so had to drive to Brighton Road and park in the deserted garages which we have been told we can use.  We walked briskly from Brighton Road to our normal chippy where we were greeted as the regular customers we are.  The proprietor was wearing a Saints shirt and now has a season ticket.  Over the years he must have made thousands of pounds from Southampton football matches so I guess the least he can do is support the club.  We enjoyed a great match.  although Saints went down in the 10th minute a wonderful goal from Osvaldo just before the end of the first half secured Saints going in at half time on equal terms with the "mighty" City.  Southampton had a much weakened team thanks to several injuries and especially an inexperienced goalkeeper.  However, they managed to keep the ball out of their own net but equally, despite many close shaves, couldn't get in in City's net. Full time 1-1.  For most of us that was nearly as good as a win - to hold the team in third place to a draw was quite an achievement.  Tonight Saints remain eighth in the table.  Due to our longer walk back to Brighton Road, much of the traffic had dissipated by the time we regained the car and we drove out of Southampton fairly traffic free.  We stopped briefly at Romsey for some cat food and were home by 6.30 p.m.  I showered and changed and drove into Salisbury for the festive dinner at the New Inn for staff and volunteers at Alabare Place.  I met Cliff Topping a famous artist who gives at lessons at the Centre as well as another art teacher who is also an LPA at St. Thomas's.  As Alabare Place  is within the parish where he ministers he and I, as the chaplain, need to meet to discuss roles and responsibilities.  A really enjoyable evening which included good talk and a three course meal - prawn cocktail, roast beef etc. and lemon cheesecake.  I am coming down with a terrible cold and felt really grotty as I went to bed tonight.  I've got a long journey up to Lincolnshire tomorrow where I am staying with Mum for a couple of days - back down to Wiltshire on Tuesday afternoon when I am leading the carol service at Alabare Place.

Alabare Carol Service Preparations

Early morning start at Ambassadors' Business Breakfast with Hugh Vivian talking about the use of "silence" (and active listening) in the business environment.  Very clever presentation with the first two minutes being a silent PowerPoint presentation.  This meeting was followed by a quick trip into town for some more Christmas shopping and a cup of coffee at Waitrose where I met our old friend Louise in the coffee queue.  She is still trying to move house.  We exchanged pleasantries and then I drove to Alabare Place where I was on chaplaincy duty as usual.  Not many in today but it still seemed to be quite hectic.  Had long conversations with a couple of the drop-in guys and also spent quite a bit of time finalising the annual carol service with the manager.  We've got four lessons and four carols - a cut down version of the traditional 9-Carols service.  I think that we have now finally "cracked" it.  I also had a telephone attendance with one of my clients in preparation for an employment tribunal in March.  Andrew, the curate, and I went for our long overdue beer together and we spent a pleasant evening with him telling me all about his recent experiences in the Sudan.  It's amazing how little we in the west know of the situation down in the south and the sparseness of medical care.  The Diocesan Medical Link is a vital resource in the combatting of disease.  Andrew has many more stories to tell which he will be doing to different audiences over the next few months. Fascinating stuff.

Nelson Mandela "Madiba", RIP

A blustery day today with terrible winds and tidal surges along the east coast threatened over the next twenty-four hours - similar to those experienced in the dreadful tidal surges of 1953.  Much damage in Scotland already and Norfolk and the low Fens expected to have it really bad.  I went shopping in Andover this afternoon to get some additional items to take up to Lincolnshire and picked up Thom on the way home.  This evening news broke that Nelson Mandela had died in his home in Johannesburg at the age of 95.  The whole world is in mourning for him but there are also wonderful celebrations for the life of a great politician and human being.  A remarkable man who has left his mark, not only on South Africa, but as a symbol of what can be achieved peacefully with the right attitude.  I shall fly the south African flag at half-mast for the next few days as a symbol of personal respect and affection for this great man.  Having read Desmond Tutu's book "God is not a Christian" recently, I really can connect with what was achieved in bringing about the dismantlement of the Apartheid system.  It is interesting that only five days ago I mentioned him at the St. Paul's bible study meeting as a modern day "Joseph".  RIP, Nelson (Madiba) Mandela.

Villa take three points off Saints

Sara took Thom to the bus this morning leaving me with some time to pray and reflect.  I spent the day at home whilst Sara was out working.  She has found a potentially new client for us through one of our former colleagues at FP.  Tonight I drove to Winchester to pick up Thom from college and we joined the heavy traffic down to Southampton for the game against Aston Villa.  It took us about an hour to drive the thirteen miles or so between the two cities.  I parked the car at our old car park near the Employment Tribunal offices and we walked to KFC in the main street for dinner.  We noticed quite a few Villa fans around in the city centre although, because it was so cold, there were probably many more we didn't recognise because we were all bundled up.  We arrived at St. Mary's with about 45 minutes to go before the kick-off and speculated about the transfer window with Andy.  Southampton played extremely well with 77% of the possession with several attempts on goal.  Aston Villa, on the other hand, had only about three shots at goal all of which reached their mark.  Gazzaniga, our third goalkeeper, simply didn't do much more than pick the ball out of the back of the net.  Despite all the possession and two excellent goals from Saints, Aston Villa went back to Birmingham with the three points.  Saints have now lost three games on the trot and tonight are eighth in the league table.  Thom and I returned home gutted and I really didn't feel at all cheerful when I went to bed tonight.  This is not the first time we've witnessed a 2-3 home defeat at the hands of the Villa.

Sara finishes the Alpha Course

I took Thom to the Wallops this morning returning for breakfast.  This morning I attended a Staff team meeting at Pitton and this afternoon worked at home with Sara picking Thom u from the Wallops.  Tonight I attended the Winterslow PCC meeting at St. John's when Peter Ostli-East came to facilitate a discussion on Mission in the Church as understood by the parish and by the Deanery. I found his presentation very sound and following many of my own ideas especially after having studied the topic and completed a University portfolio on it.  It is encouraging to feel that much of the theology and practice which I have learned have been translated into ideas which can be used.  It was a very long meeting and I didn't get home until 10.15 p.m.  In fact, Sara had arrived back home just ahead of me from her last session on the Alpha Course at St. Paul's.  They have been so impressed by her devotion and interest in the Course that they have now asked her to consider becoming one of their Assistant Leaders for the next course they are doing.  She is also enthused so much as to be signing up for their next more advanced course - Christianity Explored - on which I may probably join her.  I am already picking up some fresh ideas for our House Group.

More Ethics

These days are really short and with heavy cloud cover it never seems to be daylight.  I am definitely missing the Sun unlike Thom, who tells me that he likes long dark nights.  I went into Salisbury late this morning and had a constructive meeting with my University tutor - I still have two assignments to complete before Christmas on Christian ethics which I am finding a more difficult subject than I had anticipated.  Following this meeting I filled the car with fuel at Waitrose and bought myself some lunch an excellent Thai green curry.  Worked at home this afternoon preparing for two further meetings this evening - a rehearsal for Wednesday's lodge meeting (I am not attending it but need to hand over the secretary's paperwork for somebody else to do my job on the night) and then on to Sarum College for my last session on Christian Ethics - this time the ethics of love.

I shall miss my fellow students on this course but having completed the 10-weeks course I can now proceed to complete my assignments and portfolio.  This has to be my major work up until Christmas.  I arrived home at around 10.15 p.m. and watched "I'm a Celebrity" until bedtime.

 

Another great win for the Panthers

A bit of a lie in this morning.  Thom was up early to do his paper round but Mary was dead to the world.  Sara and I went to St. Paul's on our own this morning and were treated to another excellent talk from Brian Meardon who also officiated at the Eucharist. Sara introduced me to some of her leaders on the Alpha Course and we stayed behind for a quick coffee before going to Waitrose for some essential shopping.  This afternoon I returned to Klynn's for the interview for the Advent Calendar.  Lunch consisted of the pizzas bought at Waitrose and this afternoon I finalised the service and sermon for tonight's Evensong at Whiteparish.  I watched the first half of the Chelsea v Southampton game and when I left for Whiteparish, at half time, Saints were one goal up after a 13 seconds strike from Rodriguez!  There were seven members of the congregation for tonight's service but they seemed to get something from the service and my sermon and were very warm and welcoming.  It was a cold dark December's evening and I was not entirely surprised that so few had decided to venture out for Evensong in a fairly cold church.  Back home, I watched the Tampa Bay v. Carolina football game which Carolina Panthers won comfortably.  They seem to be on  a role.  It was lovely to sit down in a warm room with Thom and have a glass of Budweiser beer whilst watching some American football.  Carolina's wins (6-27) helped to sweeten the bitter pill of Southampton 3-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea. I went to be quite early but watched "I'm a Celebrity" and read some more of Rick Warren's book.

Meeting friends in Chichester

I may have missed having an  English breakfast at Ambassadors' yesterday morning, but I certainly didn't miss two bacon butties, coffee and orange juice at St. Paul's this morning.  I decided to join their Men's Bacon, Butties and Bible group today as a means of enjoying some bible study from another group to my own house group and to meet some of the men who attend St. Paul's.  I was made to feel extremely welcome and the study was well put together and presented.  I was pleased to be able to contribute something and was thanked for doing so.  Of particular interest was meeting Chirs Reynard again.  I knew him when I lived in Brighton and he had then become the chaplain at Salisbury General Hospital for about ten years.  He did come and preach to us once at Winterslow.  He has a connection with Alderbury and we had a really useful chat.  He is running a scheme similar to Morning Star down in Dorset and I would be interested in learning more.  I was very impressed with the group who hope I will join them again in January.  Southampton were not playing this afternoon and we all drove over to Chichester as a family to meet the children's godparents, Paul and Sian Russell and their son, Simon.  We spent a pleasant lunchtime and afternoon at the Chichester Harvester catching up.  This evening Sara and I watched the first episode of Channel 5's new series "The Bible" and afterwards the rather different "I'm a Celebrity  Get me Out of Here". Eventually went to bed well after midnight (just like last night!) 

Working at Alabare

How quickly the week has flown - Friday already!   At first I thought that it was Ambassadors' breakfast this morning but realising that it was the fifth Friday in a month could relax.  I cooked myself an egg and bacon breakfast to ease my disappointment!  I did a long stint at Alabare this morning - 11.25 am until 2.45 pm - and met a new volunteer.  I wrote up a suggested liturgy for the Christmas Carol Service and sent it to the manager of the Centre who is currently on holiday.  After picking up some contact lenses for Sara, I drove to the Wallops to pick up Thom.  his bus was very late this evening and I had to sit in the car for nearly half an hour waiting for it to arrive.  This evening I went around to Klynn's - ostensibly to be interviewed for the Winterslow Advent Calendar but after a bottle of red wine and a couple of glasses of single malt whisky between us, decided that we had better do it another day! We had a very interesting chat about many different things and it was good to catch up.  I really miss his company but our paths cross so infrequently these days. Signs that Comet ISON (or at least parts of it survived the encounter with the Sun) have been greatly exaggerated and for all intents and purposes, ISON is no more.

Comet ISON breaks up

The days seem to fly by so quickly and I think it isn't helped by the fact the daylight hours are so short - no longer is the sun up than darkness descends again and this never helps my moods - I think I must be a SAD person. Apparently this also affects my cousin, Lynne, and I think Thom, so we must have a Barratt SAD gene somewhere.  I spent the morning in Amesbury having coffee at Costa with John A. We discussed his impending second degree ceremony and had a really enjoyable chat.  After he left me I had another coffee and read some more of Rick Warren's book. I tried to have a quick look around Amesbury Abbey after coffee but was very disappointed indeed to find it locked.  Having visited most of England's cathedrals I want to visit as many abbeys as possible.  I think that it is really unfortunate that our places of worship are closed - I wonder what Archbishop Justin thinks about it.  This afternoon I did a little work (Thursdays is generally my day off) and started to put together Sunday's service.  I am finding the evening's lectionary readings quite difficult and made those the subject of our house group this evening. Duncan is also having to preach on Sunday so the exercise was helpful for both of us.  A pleasant evening around the log fire grappling with Isaiah and Matthew.  I would really like to see the group grow so that it can split into two.  So good to have two house groups going in Winterslow if possible. Went to bed after midnight again although I did have the good intentions of going earlier.  A disappointing end to the day with the break-up of Comet ISON as it entered the Sun's corona.  It seems that it has been largely destroyed and so will not be gracing our skies around Christmas.

Theocurry in Westbury

The day started with a meeting with Nils at 10 a.m. followed by a meeting with the whole Staff Team at Andrew's.  I left the meeting early and drove over to Westbury for lunch with my student "buddy", Ashley and we enjoyed a curry at the Tale of Spice 2 - our favourite spot for lunch and a chat about each other's studies and work in our parishes.  On my way back home I called in at Waitrose in Salisbury for a coffee with Sara and Mary before they went to Mary's gymnastics class in Wilton. I went on to pick up Thom at The Wallops.  This evening I returned to Salisbury to join Sara and Mary at St. Paul's Church for a welcome evening and to learn about some of the work they are doing and plan to do in the future.  It was a very inspiring talk by Jon and Andrew but a little disappointing that of nine people expected only five of us (in reality only 3 as we represented one family) actually turned up.  This evening I went to bed relatively early and read some of Rick Warren's best selling book to get some ideas on mission/outreach. 

The Church and Social Awareness

I was up very early this morning - about 5.30 a.m. and went outside into the frosty morning to try and get a glimpse of Comet Ison.  Still nothing, although the sky was really crisp and clear.  I took Thom to the Wallops this morning with the car registering an outside temperature of -1 degree Celsius - freezing.  I had time for a bacon butty and a shower before driving into Salisbury to pick up Jane, one of our Non-Stipendary Ministers, at the London Road Park & Ride.  We drove to Durweston near Blandford for an all-day conference on the Church and Social Awareness.  A really good, thought-provoking day with a keynote speech from Alison Webster, the Social Awareness Co-Ordinator for the Oxford Diocese, Colin Brady her equivalent in the Salisbury Diocese and Elizabeth Perry, formerly of Christian Aid  who spoke about the church being globally aware of issues.  I really enjoyed the day.  At one point Bishop Graham came and spoke to Jane and myself about our Team and what we were doing and he was glad that I was still tweeting - we follow each other. Some great ideas were discussed and with the responsibility for outreach within the Clarendon Team I need to see how we can incorporate them across such a large and diverse area of parishes.  Sara attended her penultimate Alpha Course session at St. Paul's this evening and is really enjoying being a membe rof that church and is meeting many new Christians.   

Justification for War? An Ethical Problem

Sara took Thom to the Wallops this morning but I got up early all the same.  Each morning I have been hoping to get a glimpse of Comet Ison but without any luck - either it is cloudy or the Sun's rays are too bright.  It certainly doesn't seem to be visible with the naked eye.  I had hoped for a day at home today until it was time to go off to college this evening, but as Thom had forgotten to take in his West Dean assignment I had to drive into Winchester to take it to him at college.  I used the opportunity to do a bit of Christmas shopping in Aldi's on Stockbridge Road.  This afternoon I worked in the study until it was time to pick up Thom from the Wallops. Tonight I attended the penultimate tutorial on my Christian Ethics Course - the most interesting so far - the ethics surrounding a "just war".  Enjoyed a cup of decaffeinated coffee with Sara before going to bed.  A really cold and frosty night.  hopefully I might get a glimpse of Comet Ison tomorrow morning! I received a text this evening from my cousin Elaine in Grimsby that my Aunt Ivy, her mother, had been taken extremely ill with lung and bone cancers and is in St. Andrew's Hospice in Grimsby.  I sent a message back with my thoughts and prayers. 

Leading and Preaching at East Grimstead

A bit of a lie-in for a Sunday as I wasn't down to take a service until 11 a.m. - at East Grimstead.  After waking and having a cup of tea, I finalised the service and sermon and printed these out to take with me.  Thom and Mary stayed at home but Sara accompanied me to East Grimstead where I presided over an All Age Worship Service with the theme being Christ the King. A copy of my sermon can be found at http://pulpitmichael.blogspot.com. As usual it was a small congregation but a dedicated one and there was a great sense that those there had attended out of a wish to be there and not just a duty.  The service was followed by coffee and biscuits and some interesting theological chats.  We were also blessed with the presence of the "singing dog" who joined in in all the choruses.  Sara and I left East Grimstead feeling that our presence had been helpful to the worshippers and that both they and us had got something from worshipping together this morning.  The afternoon started with a delivery from Tesco following which we had a generally lazy afternoon watching an Agatha Christie Poirot episode on TV. Thom and I watched the Carolina Panthers take on the Miami Dolphins at Miami which resulted in a very narrow win for Thom's team - the Panthers.  I joined Richard C at the Lion's Head this evening for a couple of pints and a catch-up.  The Lion's Head is now so quiet on a Sunday evening that we are thinking of decamping (or is it decanting?) ourselves and changing our pub night to Friday at the Lord Nelson.  It will only be about six months before he will be leaving Winterslow with Linda who will be starting her curacy in Poole.  We have agreed that we shall try and get to Cornwall again in January if the weather is kind enough. 

Men's Annual Breakfast

Up early this morning.  I made another attempt to try and find Comet Ison but without success as the weather was cloudy.  I went across to the village Hall for the annual Men's Breakfast where I was met by my guest, Richard B from Guildford - a close friend of Klynn's.  We had a very good breakfast (there were about 30 men present) and a good speaker in the form of Peter Poulter, a former Moderator of the Methodist Church who talked to us about rural church ministry - particularly in North Yorkshire and the north East of England.  Very interesting leaving us, who do rural ministry, with much food for thought. After the meeting (at which I am convinced I left my fleece) Richard came back and we spent a couple of hours in family room going through his employment issues.  Sara left to go to an pick up Mary and do some shopping in Salisbury and Richard B and I went to the Lord Nelson for lunch, watch the Rugby Union World cup semi-final between England and New Zealand (which England lost by two points) and to have a general chat.  Richard B left for Guildford about 2.30 p.m. I spent the rest of the afternoon watching the sports channel and this evening writing my sermon for tomorrow.

An Unpredictable Day - but not quite as it was 50 years ago

Woke up to find that England had collapsed in the first innings against Australia.  Although Carberry had put on 40 runs, England were all out for the paltry total of 136 and Australia had embarked on their second innings.  I took Thom to the Wallops this morning and Sara went off to work.  There was no Ambassadors' business breakfast this week and I drove to Salisbury at around 11 a.m. to do my stint as chaplain.  My work there was cut short this morning when I received a phone call from Sara to tell me that Mary was not feeling well and wanted to be picked up from school.  I hastily packed up my things and first of all drove over to Waitrose to fill my car with fuel and to buy an Indian takeaway for dinner.  Whilst there I received a further call to say that Mary was feeling much better and didn't need to be picked up - we feel this had something to do with the fact that she was due to go to a party this evening!  I bumped into Sarah, the curate's wife, and we chatted in the car park for a short time about Andrew's time in the Sudan.  I decided not to return to Alabare Place but went back to Winterslow instead.  Sara's car was not at the pub, nor at home so I rang her to find that she was at the doctors' surgery following one of her patron having collapsed at dinner - an elderly lady of 89.  I returned with Sara to the pub and waited with her whilst the paramedics and ultimately the ambulance arrived.  My day, so far had become quite disjointed.  I did some work in the family room this afternoon and this evening Sara and I watched some programmes on Kennedy's assassination which occurred 50 years ago to this day.  It is quite interesting to go back and reflect upon my life over those 50 years - from a moment in time I can remember quite vividly up to the present time.

Carberry in the First Ashes Test

A day mainly at home today.  Sara took Thom to the Wallops for his bus and then spent the morning first with her niece at the gym and afterwards at work at Fugglestone Red.  I popped over to "Truffles" for a coffee and to read my devotionals, but spent most of my hour there chatting to David M, the Baptist deacon. I spent some time this afternoon on Complex work for a couple of clients and began to write up the service for Sunday - Christ the King.  I managed to find an excellent website with special resources for this celebration and once the hymns and reading were sorted out I was able to populate my service template.  I just now need to write the intercessions and my sermon.  I picked up Thom from the Wallops this evening and made a large wood fire - the weather is beginning to turn bitterly cold. We had a full large house group this evening - seven of us - and we watched the first introductory video for the Alpha Course with Nicky Gumbel.  I think that the warm atmosphere with the fire had dried out our brains a bit as no one had a great deal to say afterwards.  I watched the first hour's play of the first Ashes Test match from Brisbane tonight.  England managed to bowl Australia out for 295 with the last two wickets falling in the first few overs of play.  Hampshire's Carberry ran out the last wicket.  England started to bat well and when I went to bed England were 28 for no loss with Carberry and Cook batting steadily.  Australia looked to be in a weak position.

Supporting Morning Star

I am pleased to say that I am now back on track with my postings and realise the importance with my journaling - not just for the amusement (?) and entertainment (??) of my readers but also for my own self-reflection and record of my life.  Today was not the most stimulating of days.  Sara took Thom to the Wallops for his bus to Peter Symonds College in Winchester which meant I could have a bit of a relaxing morning to begin with and Sara went off to Morning Star to make the sandwiches for the Wednesday Banquet Run.  I attended Mid-week Eucharist at St. John's Church, the first time for several weeks, which was taken by Cynthia.  Following the service I drove to Pitton for the coffee morning at Pitton Church which was held in aid of Morning Star.  I spent about an hour there before driving to Booker's Cash n' Carry for some essential supplies (including Doombar bitter).  Sara was out all day until about 6.30 p.m. so I had to pick Thom up at the Wallops and prepared supper - spaghetti bolognaise.  This evening Sara spent a couple of hours with the new editor of the Parish Magazine assisting in the handover of the editorship.  She seems to be quite resigned to handing over and now sees it as giving her an opportunity to do other things.  I decided to have an evening off and watched TV and read up in our bedroom whilst Sara had her meeting.  I have had a busy few days this week with Complex work and now need to think about preparing for Sunday's service at East Grimstead.

 

 

A Big Catch-Up

An enormous apology to all my regular readers.  I know a number of you have been concerned that there have been no postings here for a while.  I am very fit and well but since returning from the Bahamas on 3rd November I really haven't stopped.  Work for Complex Services Limited has suddenly taken off with another employment tribunal looming and some work for a UK subsidiary of a USA company. I also had to prepare and present at my Ambassadors' Breakfast Group - on the topic of legal pitfalls of social media for employers.  Coupled with catching up on my other mail, paying bills and taking the Remembrance Day Service at West Grimstead as well as a special Deanery Service for Morning Star (and now preparing for another All Age Service next Sunday), I seem to spending all my time in the study or on my laptop - not a good thing.  I can't believe that Christmas is only just around the corner and I have two University assignments to complete before 10th December too!

 

Life is so interesting though.  Sara is now doing some work for one of my Ambassadors' colleagues, has given up editing the Parish Magazine and is attending an Alpha Course at St. Paul's Church, Salisbury, where she is now a regular attender.  Mary has also joined the Youth Group there and I have become an Associate Member of that church, attending services there when my duties as a minister in the Clarendon Team permit. It is good to attend St. Paul's as I have a responsibility for outreach (evangelism) at Clarendon and St. Paul's is very much an evangelistic church.  Some great ideas being tried out there which I hope to be able to bring to the parishes out in the sticks.

 

Today (Wednesday) I met with a couple of clients who I met through St. Paul's at their SP2 coffee shop.  Excellent coffee at a much reduced price compared with Costa. My work as chaplain at Alabare's .drop-in has also kept me busy and I have been asked to put together Alabare's carol service in Salisbury.

 

The moral of all this is to be careful what you pray for!  God has certainly put me in a position where there is no way I can feel "retired".  In fact, I am sure that I was much less busy when I was in full time employment for a large financial organisation.  Each day is full of richness.  Even Southampton Football Club are now 3rd in the Premier League!

 

Talking of sport, Richard and I went to the Lights Theatre in Andover last Tuesday for "An Evening with Blowers" - Henry Blofeld of Test Match Special (TMS) fame telling anecdotes about his life as a cricket commentator.  A wonderful evening.  I could have listened to him for another three hours easily.  A great institution.  I wonder whether TMS can continue to attract eccentrics like "Blowers", "Johnners", "Tuffers" and the like in the years ahead.  I do hope so otherwise the game will certainly lack something.  I have renewed my membership of Hampshire County Cricket Club and certainly hope to improve on my attendance next year.  A few county games will make for some quieter afternoons.

 

I must return to my journalling on a regular basis.  We all had an absolutely wonderful time on Paradise Island and now we are well back into the real world.  I really do not like these long dark nights and look forward to the time when I can again say - the nights are getting shorter.  We have, however, had some wonderful sunrises and sunsets and I have put one of those on this posting - taken with my Canon EOS camera given to me as a retirement present by Friends Provident.  Enjoy the picture.

Holiday in the Bahamas

This blog entry will be upgraded each day, hopefully, to record our time spent out in the Bahamas from the moment we left home until our return. Instead of individual daily posts it will consist of one post added to from time to time on a rolling basis.  Hopefully, photos will also be added as when they become available.

Friday 25 October 2013 – A frantic day as is usual when preparing to go on holiday – in fact, although I really love travelling and seeing new places, as I get older I hate all the upheaval which packing brings and always feel quite stressed.  Sara is the complete opposite so at least we do complement each other.  I took Thom to Nether Wallop and it was expected that Sara would pick him up but as you will read things didn’t work out quite that way!   Sara and I spent the day sorting out the house – I cleaned the car and also picked up all the dropped apples as well as picking off the tree some good ones which are now stored in buckets in the cool of the garage.   I had done quite a lot of packing the night before but today I had to hunt around for various leads for the different appliances which we were going to be taking with us – cameras, phones, laptops etc. etc.  Eventually I felt that I had done as much as I could.  I agreed to go and pick up Thom this afternoon from Nether Wallop but had been there about 15 minutes when Sara turned up to tell me that Thom’s bus had broken down at Up Somborne, only 5 miles from Winchester.  I hadn’t taken my mobile phone which necessitated Sara having to drive to Wallop to tell me. As her geography/map reading is bad, I agreed to go and find the broken down bus and retrieve Thom.  I had to take narrow country lanes and negotiated tractors until I eventually found the disabled bus and Thom all on his own apart from the relief driver.  Apparently a replacement bus had arrived a short time after the breakdown and all the students, except Thom, had been transferred.  If only he had told us that a replacement had arrived I wouldn’t have had to have driven nearly to Winchester!  This problem put us an hour back and we didn’t leave for Heathrow until about 6.30 p.m.  Fortunately the traffic was not as bad as I had expected, although it was still pretty busy around the M25 and we found our hotel with no problems. We had an enjoyable meal with a bright enthusiastic waitress called Nanci serving us.  We slept well but conscious that we had to get up at 6 a.m.

Saturday 26 October 2013 – I woke at 5.30 a.m. and after tea and repacking the clothes we had used the day before and overnight, we left the hotel at around 7.15 a.m. arriving at Heathrow Terminal 5 at around 8  a.m.  having found the car park and handing our car over for the week for safekeeping.  Check-in went smoothly as did Security apart from my Kindle causing the authorities to search my hand luggage.  This was only a small glitch in the proceedings and was handled sensitively and with courtesy.  Our flight boarded pretty much on time although we were somewhat late in taking off and the journey across the Atlantic to Nassau took nearly 10 hours in order to fly more northerly than usual to avoid a huge storm in mid-Atlantic which is heading straight for the British Isles.  It is expected to land tomorrow and cause considerable damage at home.  There is nothing we can do about it – my flag pole has been dismantled and we’ve had new stronger fencing installed.  The longer journey did have its compensations as we flew across to Canada (Newfoundland) and then down the eastern seaboard of the USA enabling us to catch glimpses of Boston, New York and other familiar locations e.g. Wilmington before flying out to sea from the north Carolina coastline and out through the Bermuda Triangle to the Bahamas crossing over Grand Bahama in the process.  We arrived at Nassau’s brand new air-conditioned terminal at just before 4 p.m.  The ground crew were unable to unlock the plane at first because they couldn’t find the key!  After completing immigration cards (not available as usual on the plane) we went through the usual checks and questions arriving eventually in the baggage reclaim area where our cases were the last on the belt!  After collecting these we then took an expensive taxi ride to Paradise Island along the brand new dual carriageway road which runs from the airport, past Lake Coyningham to Goodman’s Bay.  It is then a matter of the usual slow grind through downtown Nassau.  We were in our apartment overlooking Nassau Harbor by 6 p.m.  Thom and I went to the off licence and grocery store for some essentials – including Sands’ beer and later Thom and Sara went and picked up a huge pizza from the Marina for our supper.  I also made some hot dogs and this evening Thom and I watched the third game in the World Series between Boston Red Socks and St. Louis Cardinals which resulted in a narrow win for the Cardinals who are now 2-1 up in the series.  Sara went to bed at around 9 p.m. but I forced myself to stay up to watch the ball game although I eventually fell asleep before the end.

Sunday 27 October 2013 – First full day in the Bahamas and we decided to make it a fairly lazy one.  We have no internet connection and want that to act as a bit of a holiday in itself – although I do wonder how the storm has or has not affected things back home.  Thom and I went down to the Pools in Atlantis this morning and Sara and Mary were to go to the supermarket to buy all the essential groceries to enable us to keep the holiday as cost effective as possible – eating out is so expensive with four of us.  In fact Sara and Mary arrived about an hour later to say that they had missed the bus to the supermarket.  I went to see the concierge and established that the main supermarket was only about twenty minutes’ walk away over the huge bridge which spans Nassau Harbor but that it closed at 3.30 p.m. on Sundays. Sara and I decided to walk the distance and bring the groceries back in suitcases which we could wheel.  The journey out was fine – light empty suitcases and after walking over the bridge we were at the supermarket within ten minutes – very easy.  The reverse was a bit of a nightmare.  The groceries we bought were extremely heavy – including a gallon of orange juice, a heavy water melon and a bag of potatoes.  The trundled back very slowly and the high bridge was a “killer” and as I write this on the following morning my lower back is hurting.  The decided that this was not an experience we would want to try again and it reminded me of those charity stories about women having to walk several miles with pots of water on their head – also in the searing heat.  Tonight we ate fried chickens’ wings with fresh corn and potatoes – very enjoyable and all the more so because we know what we had to do to get them.  We had also brought back a lot of cans of drink and in this heat it is most important to drink plenty.  Mary, Sara and I played with the “wobble ball” in the large pool by the apartments.  It was “chilly” tonight as the temperature has dropped to about 70 degree F.  Thom and I watched the fourth game in the World Series which saw Boston equalise the series by winning 4-2.  The teams have now won two games apiece.  It certainly looks like the Series will go its full length.  Tomorrow I guess we will stay around the resort especially as I haven’t been on any of the water rides yet.

Monday 28 October 2013 – Woke early this morning with the sun shining into our bedroom.  I had a good night’s rest in the large kingsize bed which we have in our apartment out here. The weather seems much cooler today – not the usual high temperatures we are used to.  I watched the mail boat come into the harbour and dock opposite our apartment – the bay being quite busy today.  Just one ocean liner in today – Azure of the Seas.  Sara and the kids went across to Atlantis after a large breakfast of American pancakes, frankfurters and fruit.  I stayed behind for an hour and wrote up the first three days of this blog from my recollections since leaving home.  We have no internet connection and this is quite liberating.  It will also mean that this blog is not likely to get posted until after our return to England.  As I write this up I am sitting on our balcony overlooking the harbour sipping Canadian Dry whiskey and feeling like Ernest Hemingway.  After my journalling I walked across to Atlantis via the aquarium and joined the family for the rest of day enjoying the slides and water rides and also had a lovely dip in the ocean whose water was much warmer than the pools.  I really enjoyed the Rapids and the Tidal Wave but did manage to crack my head against the wall just where the wave machine is at its most powerful. Later on I was also tipped over and found my head on the bottom of the canal. Still, that’s all part of the fun of Atlantis – there has to be that slight element of fear in the rides.  Tonight we ate beans and rice and then went out to the Marina for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.  I had a particularly interesting combination of banana yoghurt with peanut butter.  It may sound disgusting but out here it seems perfectly normal.  I watched the fifth game in the World Series which saw Boston beat the St. Louis Cardinals by 3-1.    So far it has been an extremely low scoring series.  A break from the baseball tomorrow night.

Tuesday 29 October 2013 – Woke early again but had a really enjoyable lie in with Sara. After finding out about the times of the church services in Christ Church Cathedral, Nassau, I decided to spend the day in downtown Nassau and not on Paradise Island. After watching an incredible piece of American daytime TV called the Maury Show (Jeremy Kyle style) I set off for Nassau via ferry.  The ferry has now gone up to $8 return fare but still with the “cabaret” entertainment from “your friendly tour guide who doesn’t get paid by the captain”. The patter has actually changed from previous years – the Bridge Suite is no longer the “Michael Jackson Suite” but Stevie Wonder did still once stay there (“or so they told him”) and it appears that Nicholas Cage is no longer one of our neighbours.  Conch is still “Bahamian Viagara” but there was no mention of the absence of “hanky-panky” at the Yoga Retreat – although it stills remains in existence.  Four liners were in today – Carnival Sensation, Carnival Expectation, Majesty of the Sea and Disney Dream and as usual we passed them close to as we entered the dock at Nassau.  On disembarking the ferry I walked up to Bay Street and to the Effy jewellers where they had been advertising free semi-precious pendants. In fact the pendants were indeed free in a pack with two earrings.  Sara wanted one of the brown tanzanite pendants so I bought a pack for $10.  Unfortunately the Pompey slave Museum is currently closed for refurbishment and so it will not be possible to take Mary there tomorrow as she has wished.   I went into McDonald’s to use their free wi-fi before going on to Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican/Episcopalian) to attend Holy Communion in the chapel.  There were only three of us in the congregation but Revd. Father Colin Humes conducted the short service including a short homily on the parable of the mustard tree.  He asked me to read the set intercessions which I was pleased to do.  The other two members of the congregation were tourists from Spain and couldn’t speak much English.  After the service we had a long and interesting chat about things both theological and Bahamian and struck up a good rapport.  We parted agreeing to keep in touch via Facebook and I discovered later in the day that he had done just that. I had lunch back at McDonald’s and picked up my email using my BlackBerry.  I went up the hill to the General Post Office and bought stamps for some postcards and letter we want to send.  It was then time to return to Bay Street where I wandered around the various souvenir stores close to the ferry dock and liner terminal.   Tonight after a supper of pasta for the children and tuna salad for Sara and me, we played a few hands of gin rummy until going to bed quite early.  No baseball tonight.

Wednesday 30 October 2013 - We had to wake up early today to attend an Owners' meeting at the offices of the timeshare we are staying in.  The presentation - advertised as 20 minutes lasted an hour and twenty minutes and was, as we had surmised, a sales opportunity to see if we wanted to add to our existing timeshare.  We did want to discuss options for moving our weeks into another season but the cost for us at the present time would be prohibitive.  We listened to and noted the options, took our free gift (a professional photo opportunity) and politely left taking American muffins for the children.  We then all went to the water park and spent a few hours on the slides and Sara plucked up the courage to go down the Abyss - a steep slide in darkness from the top of the Power Tower - about a 100 feet drop.  She had to admit that it wasn't as bad as she had thought.  Thom and I came back to apartment early and went onto the internet - him to do some college work and me to pick up any essential work emails.  Nothing too onerous thankfully.  Tonight we had supper in the apartment - hot dogs and burgers and I watched the final game in the World Series - Boston Red Sox winning 6-1 at Fenway Park to win the series 4-2 and become "world" champions.

 

 

Holiday Preparations

A day at home apart from a short trip to Nether Wallop to pick up Thom from the Winchester bus at 5.30 p.m.  Spent the morning doing some gardening - picking up the numerous apples which have fallen off the tree and picking others to store in the garage.  They are the best crop I can ever remember from our tree and have grown to become green and rosy red and very sweet and crisp - a joy to eat. It will be fun to dip into the garage and help ourselves from our own grown apples.  I also tidied up the lawn and, hopefully, gave it its last cut of the year.  After yesterday's torrential rain the weather has been much milder and drier today.  Sara spent most of the day ironing and I went into the loft to get the various suitcases for our trip across the Atlantic. This evening we started the task of choosing clothes and putting them into the suitcases.  I checked the hotel and flights and cannot check in until tomorrow. A violent storm is predicted at the weekend - described in the Daily express as the worst storm in 26 years.  As a precaution I have dismantled the flag pole and it can remain in that condition until we return.  Klynn came around this evening and has taken our season tickets for the Fulham game.  So glad that somebody is using them as I hate to think of them sitting on my book shelf untouched when somebody could enjoy a Premier League match.  The house is in quite a mess this evening but hopefully all the necessary paperwork on my desk will be in some order by the end of tomorrow.  A response to a settlement letter which was due today was not forthcoming and so it seems that I shall have an Employment Tribunal to handle on my return.  At least the fees will defray the cost of our expensive holiday.  Really looking forward to a few days away from the law, the church and general domesticity - and also the English damp weather. 

Ministering to the Homeless

The usual start to the day - up early, cup of tea, trip to Nether Wallop with Thom.  Sara did her stint at Morning Star, making sandwiches for the banquet run whilst I stayed at home to await a parcel - some clothes for Thom to take with him on holiday.  I also checked on details of our flights and currency situation.  I went into Salisbury this morning and did an hour's stint as chaplain at the drop-in centre.  Very quiet today which gave me an opportunity to read a couple of interesting articles in Christianity magazine about some of these dubious prosperity TV preachers/evangelists.  I become very sceptical about those who have so much money and private jets.  Whilst their meetings are free to attend the offerings made seem to be obscene and I think their whole philosophy is based on very dodgy theology.  As I left the Centre I met one of my "client's" friends who would later be eating the sandwiches which Sara has made this morning.  I recognized the New York Mets logo on his baseball cap and asked him if he really supported the "Mets".  He was astounded but pleased that I recognised it for what it was, and not a Yankees' hat as so many had. He did indeed support the Mets as he had lived in the states for many years and had a family in Florida.  We struck up a conversation about American baseball and football and I have to thank Thom for giving me this interest which proved so useful in gaining the trust and respect of one of those homeless people to whom I am now ministering. It goes to show that no knowledge is wasted, After my stint, I visited M&S and topped up our dollar currency and also went into Vodaphone to check the situation regarding the cost of phoning and receiving calls from outside Europe.  It was recommended that I switch off the mobile phone but use free Wi-Fi wherever possible.  Our apartment has Wi-Fi so we should be okay if I take my small netbook with me.  I shall do this in any event so I can continue to write up this blog and journal. torrential rain again this morning (which followed on from the violent thunderstorm we had yesterday evening).  Tonight I attended a special committee meeting of the Parish Council to discuss budgets.  This will go before the full Council next month but it does appear we shall have some spare money which we can put to use in some special way.

Paperwork

Another early start with me driving Thom to Nether Wallop.  My original intention had been to join Nils for Morning Office afterwards, but I received an email to say that he couldn't attend which was just as well as Mary missed her school bus this morning and I had to take her into Salisbury where I got stuck in heavy traffic. Back home I had a cup of coffee and took a shortened form of the Office and read my devotionals. Sara went into Salisbury herself to visit her niece and go to the gym and I worked in the study ploughing through papers and writing letters and dealing with finances. Paperchasing I call it.  I had been expecting to go to Southampton to see a client today but the meeting did not happen although I was ready and prepared should that be the case. Sara had to attend Mary's tutor's evening at her school at teatime where she was delighted to hear that Mary is progressing really well and is ahead of her targets.  We are both very proud of her academic achievements so far.  This meant a bit of a rush for Sara tonight as she was being picked up at 7 pm. by Linda G to go to the Alpha Course at St. Paul's.  Mary has now finished school for the half term and spent the evening watching TV.  

Winchester

The weather remains warm but very wet.  I took Thom to Nether Wallop as usually in very wet conditions. Thom had forgotten to ask for any money for his lunch this morning and when he asked me just before he boarded the bus I had to tell him that as I had come out without my wallet I couldn't give him anything.  Fortunately we are going into Winchester later this morning and could take him some emergency money.  The wind was blustery and instead of hoisting the White Ensign to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar as I would normally have done, I actually dismantled the flag pole to protect it - in fact it will probably remain dismantled for a couple of weeks.  Later this morning Sara and I drove into Winchester to meet up with an old friend of Sara's Mum and her husband who is a lay minister in Winchester Diocese. We met in the coffee shop of C&H Fabrics in the High Street for morning coffee and then went on to the Refectory by the Cathedral for lunch.  I had an excellent vegetable curry with Sara enjoying some excellent salmon fishcakes.  Although the refectory isn't quite as ambient as the one in Salisbury the food is considerably cheaper and more extensive.  We chatted about many things connected with the family and, not surprising as two lay ministers inn ecclesiastical setting, about our ministries and church in general. After lunch we went our separate ways and Sara and I visited the City Museum and enjoyed looking at the Roman exhibits.  We also visited Waterstones and bought some guides to Marrakech for our forthcoming trip.  We picked up Thom after college and returned to Winterslow.  This evening I attended the sixth of my sessions for the Christian Ethics module and  we spent the evening looking at Utilitarianism or ethics based on doing what is better for the greater number of people rather than on Christian principles and considering whether utilitarian principles can ever be applied.  Quite heavy stuff which I will need to read further in the text books.  I need to start thinking about planning my two assignments for this module which, I have to confess, I haven't found easy.  Back home, Sara and I talked to David and Andrea in the USA via Skype about family news.