Afternoon in Romsey

 

I had decided to dedicate today as a non-study day.  Having mowed the front lawn yesterday I decided to tackle the bank.  I got two swathes completed when the starting cord on the mower snapped and recoiled into the engine.  There is no prospect of repairing the mower without great cost – the guard is damaged, the self-propelling mechanism is broken, the front wheels are misaligned and now the cord is broken.  I decided to drive to Homebase and I purchased a better quality Qualcast push motor mower which is much lighter yet stronger than the old one as it has a metal and not a plastic casing.  I spent half an hour assembling it and after a few tries managed to get it to fire up.  It is a delight to use and I realise just how much I had been struggling with the old one. This afternoon, Sara and I drove to Romsey where Sara was to meet up with her old Jamie at Home manager to purchase some crockery.  I used the opportunity to have a look around Romsey Abbey – the first time ever and came across the grave of the Earl Mountbatten of Burma quite by accident in the southern transept when I suddenly became aware that I was standing on a large dark marbled stone – it was his grave.  Tonight we had a good House Group meeting – seven of us.  After the bible study we said Compline and shared pitta bread and wine with humous and olives.  It was a really good way to end the day.  I also heard this evening that both Liz and Michael had got through the selection day – there were six successfully candidates in all out of a group of nine.

 

Dealing with Bereavement

As I expected, it was hard to get up this morning.  Sara brought me a cup of tea and a bacon roll and I then snoozed again. Sara then went off to Morning Star I eventually awoke at 9.30 a.m. had a quick shower and drove down to St. John’s Church for Mid-Week Eucharist which was taken by Andrew.  Only five of us this morning.  The Team Staff met at 11 a.m. at Andrew’s house in Firsdown until 1 p.m.  This afternoon I mowed the front lawn and did some more general gardening.  Tonight I had the sixth session of my pastoral care module and we started to discuss grief and bereavement.  We will be having two sessions on this topic and tonight we looked at the different stages of grief. Most interesting stuff and very important if I am to undertake funeral ministry in the future.  Liz and Michael are waiting to hear whether they were successfully selected for lay ministry training following the conference day on Saturday.  We have been praying heavily for them and it would be great if they do get through.  We continued the session until 9.45 p.m. this evening and I didn’t get home until nearly 11 p.m.

Another Study Day

Another day in Sarum College today.  Sara proof-read my first assignment for the pastoral care module and I sent it off to my tutor this morning.  I worked on the first assignment of my “Being an LLM Module” and wrote the script for the podcast I am being asked to do – it will be based on the relationship between Adam and Nigel in the fictional comedy “Rev”.   This afternoon I received the marking sheet for my assignment back from my tutor – 62% - which thrilled me – 22% over the pass mark.  If I can consistently hit 60s I shall be well pleased.  I don’t expect to get into the 70s and if I did I would be regarded as “walking on water”.   I did some more weeding this evening and after a dinner of pork medallions and vegetables I drove over to Whiteparish for an evening social chat with Zoe, one of my support group members.  In fact, I didn’t leave her home until 11.45 p.m. arriving back home at midnight!  Sara and I stayed up a further hour chatting – so much so that I found it hard to go to sleep and was watching TV at 3 a.m.!  It will be difficult to get up tomorrow!

A Day at College

Sara attended a business women’s seminar this morning at the White Hart Hotel entitled Damsels in Success which is apparently for high flying business women who are very focused on getting the maximum from their businesses.  Sara thought that this might be a good seminar to attend to get Complex back on track with its marketing.  I spent the day in Sarum College and Sara joined me for coffee in the common room. I had a fruitful day – almost completing the annotated bibliography for my preaching module, completing the first of my two pastoral care assignments and completing my training rolling record following my monthly review with Nils last week. I had a call from the Alabare Chaplain to say that he was happy to include me on the Chaplaincy Team and later on today he phoned me again to discuss a problem which had occurred at one of the Centres which might require my chaplaincy skills.  After a day cooped up in the college library attended Evensong in the Cathedral and on getting home I went for a two-mile walk up to the Water Tower and back – in fact the walk Sara and I did on Saturday afternoon in reverse.  I also spent some of this evening weeding the front drive which has been populated by dandelions.

Saints end the season 14th on Pentecost Sunday

Mary has had her friend Amy from Fordingbridge sleeping over – a really lovely girl and one whose friendship I hope will continue. They clearly get on very well together and have had great fun. Sara stayed at home this morning as I went to All Saints for the Morning Eucharist.  Being Pentecost Sunday we had a healing service and I took up my duties, for the first time, as a chalice assistant.  I had a fear of spilling the wine but didn’t need to worry as it all went quite smoothly.  As I arrived home Amy’s mother turned up to take Amy back home – she stayed for three hours!  She, like Amy, is a lovely person and it is easy to see why her daughter is so pleasant.  She is an intelligent and interesting person.  Thom and I left to go to Southampton before Amy and her mum left.  We arrived in the city and parked in our usual spot before going and having lunch at the central KFC.  It was good to be with old friends again at St. Mary’s.  Andy has got over his illness and thanked me for the card and good wishes we sent. We watched a fairly bruising match between Saints and Stoke city which end in a 1-1 draw and Southampton have finished 14^th in the Premier League – pretty much where they hoped to finish when the season began – above Aston Villa and Newcastle to name but two big clubs.  Wonderful atmosphere as the team did a lap of honour and appreciation.  Season ticket prices will be announced on Wednesday.  Thom wants to continue his support as do all those around us.  I think it will be difficult not to go for a further season – whatever the cost.  Sara is slowly resolving matters which have been bothering her.  She attended a wonderful Pentecost Party in the Village Hall this afternoon which I think has helped her.  Tonight, Richard and I when for our usual pub chat and sorted out the Hampshire cricket fixtures which we intend to go to.  I have a ticket for Sara’s Dad to come with me to one day of the County Championship game against Gloucestershire on the second day of his visit to the UK.   Late to bed tonight – 1 a.m. – following more chatting with Sara.  

 

Ministry Away-Day

Another early start.  Today is the Away-Day for the Clarendon Ministry Team at Whiteparish at the home of Alan and Sue. I have been delegated to provide the cheese and biscuits so went into Salisbury to buy cheese from the market where I know I can get decent quantities of good quality.   I picked up Elizabeth from Alderbury on my way to Whiteparish from Salisbury and we arrived at Alan and Sue’s in good time. We had a very intense but peaceful day with morning prayer, midday prayer and a Eucharist at the end.  It was very cathartic as we each expressed our ministry hopes and thoughts about the Team Ministry.  I came away tired and yet refreshed at the same time.  When I got home Sara and I went for a long walk across the fields to the Water Tower and back and I think helped each other with dealing with events and issues which have arisen over the week – we really must do this more often as it was so helpful.  A quiet evening this evening and a relatively early night – 11.30 p.m.

Test Driving the Kia Picanto

An early start today – Ambassadors’ Business Breakfast at the Grasmere House Hotel.  The hotel was very full and it was difficult to park but this didn’t manifest itself at the meeting which was not particularly well attended.  I had breakfast, did my 1 minute elevator speech and then slipped out before the speaker gave her 10 minutes presentation (on designing websites).  Sara and I had to be over in Eastleigh for 10 a.m. to test drive a little Kia car which Sara is thinking of buying.  We spent just over an hour at the Eastleigh garage and took the car for a spin around the Eastleigh/Chandler’s Ford and a short drive along the bottom end of the M3 skirting the northern suburbs of Southampton. Sara was working in the Lord Nelson at 12 noon and a quick drive back saw us having coffee back home at 11.30 a.m.  I dealt with some correspondence this afternoon and prepared for our Ministry Team Away-Day tomorrow.  It was quite a fine evening so when Sara went to do her duty at the Youth Zone Club this evening I did some weeding in the front.  This current weather of wet/warm has really made the weeds shoot up.  A quiet evening in tonight.

Training Meetings

A day of appointments today.  My first appointment was with Nils at the Rectory for my normal monthly 1:1 training review.  It’s so hard to believe that I will only have another four of these before I am licensed by the Bishop and my meeting will be as a licensed lay minster and not a trainee although in reality my academic training will proceed for another two years.  A good meeting discussing pastoral issues and funeral and bereavement ministry.  I was back home for a light lunch of chicken soup and I also managed to mow the rear lawn – at last.  I still need to rake up the cuttings as I then had to dash off the Great Wishford for a portfolio mentor’s meeting.  This meeting last two hours, much longer than normal, because my mentor was accompanied by a Church of England inspector who is part of a team engaged in looking at different training regimes across the dioceses with a view to standardising them.  The importance of lay, as opposed to ordained, ministry is being realised and we briefly discussed opportunities for lay minsters – especially in the area of chaplaincies.  Tonight I attended a small party at the Lord Nelson for Ken, who had served on the Parish Council for 51 years and who was made a Parish Alderman (the first in the country). It was a great opportunity for old and new councillors to meet and get to know each other in an informal setting.  They seem to be a great bunch and I look forward to working with them.  Ken was given a certificate as Parish Alderman, a walking staff (as he has always been a great advocate of the footpaths and by-ways in the parish) and a fantastic map of those footpaths etc. drawn by Fiona Forbes which illustrations of important landmarks within the parish – churches, water tower, pubs and, of course, Ken’s own house.  Ivan and I stayed on until about 9 p.m. and then joined Sara, James and Rosemary for our house group which was being led by James. A very full and interesting day.  The essay still hasn’t progressed beyond my name!  I’ll have it done by next Wednesday – promise!

 

Training the Third Ear

More rain again this morning although much brighter in the afternoon and evening.  The builders arrived shortly after breakfast and Sara went off to do her usual stint at Morning Star.  She had planned to walk up there but the weather, once more, got the better of her.  I set off by car to Whaddon to attend Mid-Week Eucharist followed by a Team Staff Meeting at Alderbury Vicarage which today only lasted just over an hour.  I quickly called in at Tesco’s to get some cash for Sara before returning home. Builders were in full swing and installing the new lights in the new kitchen ceiling.  They look fantastic and, at long last, we’ll have some clear decent lighting – so pleased we decided to have these installed at the same time as the ceiling.  The afternoon seemed to fly by and it didn’t seem long before I was setting off to Seend for my fifth session on pastoral care.  Tonight we looked at non-verbal listening and undertook some exercises in this.  A couple of quite raw scenarios for people.  This is certainly an area which requires a lot of practice – especially the use of a “third ear” – i.e. we have two ears listening to the person and our own thoughts and a third ear trying to listen to God to find out what he is saying about the situation.  I realise that sometimes I can be rubbish at this and need to listen out for god’s word much more – training the third ear is something I shall be trying to do over the next week. 

Visit to Southampton

Although we are entering mid-May the weather has turned cold again and it rains nearly every day.  Up early this morning to take Sara to the Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton (Women’s Hospital) for further scans following her mammogram at Wilton.  We arrived at the hospital a little after 9 a.m. for a 9.50 a.m. appointment and had time to buy coffees and register.  Fortunately they were able to fit her in early and the whole process took about half an hour.  They discovered a tiny cyst which they were able to treat there and then and Sara was sent on her way with a clean bill of health.  Relief all round!  I have to say that despite all the criticism s of the NHS, they wasted no time to checking Sara out and I am encouraged by such swift service.  I am still awaiting my appointment for a course of physiotherapy for my knee but I am satisfied that I should not complain about any delay as I am not a priority case.  After the appointment Sara and I went to look at some Toyota cars as possible replacement for her Scenic Renault.   We are considering selling both our cars and replacing by a leasing arrangement.  It rained heavily from midday today.  The builders were back working on our kitchen – dust absolutely everywhere and with it raining and windy and having to opine the windows, it was quite cold in the house.  Impossible to work with the noise they are making. Tonight there were just three of us for pub theology at the Lord Nelson.  No food tonight just drinks and snacks.  We discussed the use of language in modern day worship and evangelism and I introduced Ian to Dave Hopwood’s works – especially The Bloke’s Bible – reading extracts as appropriate. I also managed to recover my fleece which I left in the pub on Friday lunchtime.

"Minister of Transport (Bus Shelters)"

A day in the village today.  It was hard to get up this morning – too many late nights I think.  My new resolution is to go to bed earlier and get up earlier.  Reading my tweets, it’s amazing how many more people are up before me.  Must get into a better habit!   I have almost forgotten how I used to get up so early and then over to Dorking several days a week.   After my devotions and a shower I spent the morning on paperwork – particularly reading the papers and preparing a file for tonight’s Parish Council meeting.  Sara had a dentist’s appointment in Salisbury and then spent the morning visiting the high street banks looking for the best deal for bank accounts for the children where they can use debit cards.  Currently I have all their money in one of my accounts with the Halifax following Sara having closed their own Halifax Saver Accounts.  Having completed my paperwork, I had intended to mow the rear lawn but it started to rain just before I was going to start – so that was the end of that good intention.  Tonight I attended the Annual Parish Council meeting and the Council meeting that followed that.  Somehow I managed to get myself elected as Vice Chairman of the Council – amazing – the first time I’ve ever been appointed to public office without an election (councillor) and the first time I’ve actually been in “government” – I spent  11 years in opposition on Brighton Borough Council although was Vice-Chairman of the Airport Authority and Raceground. A very interesting meeting.  My portfolio is transport – so I have a responsibility for bus shelters and bus services in the village!  Interesting times ahead.  I am looking forward to it.  It is an interesting fact that my political career started with a bus shelter.  Is this how it will end?

Pub Quiz - Pipped at the last minute!

I attended All Saints Church this morning – twice in one week – which becoming unusual as my role as a trainee LLM takes me across the other parishes of the team and seldom in my home village church.  I acted as sidesperson and read the second reading this morning – from Acts where Paul and Silas are thrown into prison and them subsequently released through an earthquake.  We had a baptism this morning and so had a larger congregation than usual – 52 of which about 20 formed the baptism party.   Not very high numbers then for the ordinary congregation.  This afternoon I did some gardening at the front of the house and was going to mow the rear lawn when the rain started – on specks at first but then coming down in heavy torrents.  Thom and I watched the sports channel this afternoon and Southampton managed a 1-1 draw against Sunderland which has secured them for a second season in the Premier League.  They would need to lose something like 13-0 against Stoke to go down, always assuming that Wigan beat both Arsenal and Aston Villa.  Highly unlikely.  Tonight Southampton are 14^th in the League.   Watford secured their place at Wembley in the Championship Play-Off Final and Salisbury were promoted to the Blue Square Conference.  Next year they will play Grimsby Town – a fixture which I hope will not clash with a Saints game.  Tonight, Last of the Summer Wine came joint first in the pub quiz at the Lion’s Head and lost on a tie-breaker – the birthday of Jack Nicholson.  We were 10 years out and the winning team just one!  In a way, I am pleased that we didn’t win the tie-breaker as it meant that we did come top (as usual) but somebody else had the chance to take away the wine.  Not sure that all the members of my team agreed especially as there were a few questions we would have got right had we not changed our mind.  Never mind! 

Melksham Convocation

I hoisted the Wiltshire flag and John H came to call for me at 9 a.m. to drive me over to Melksham to attend the Wiltshire Provincial Grand Chapter Convocation.  We had a good journey over, using my familiar route to Seend,   We arrived in good time and was able to grab a cup of coffee at Melksham House before the meeting began.  I met up with the Royal Arch Executive from sussex and we exchanged pleasantries before the meeting.  The meeting commenced at 11.00 a.m. and didn’t finish until 1.30 p.m. – much longer than we thought.  We didn’t stay to lunch but stopped off at the Millstream Pub in Marden just off the Devizes to Upavon road.  There we had baguettes and chips – I had crayfish tails in sauce and John had ham and mustard. Both excellent, especially when washed with some Wadsworth IPA.   I arrived back home around 3.30 p.m. and then, after a quick cup of tea, drove into Salisbury to meet our old friend Anthony for a coffee and a chat in The Boston Tea Party.  We sat and chatted for an hour or so getting up to date with each other’s news.  He has quite a bit of holiday to take and I suggested that perhaps we could arrange to go up to Liverpool at a similar time to see our respective friends up there.   I arrived back home at about 7 p.m. and Sara and I spent a quiet evening in.  Sara was working in her study and Mary and I watched some psychic/haunted documentaries on the Bio Channel. 

Ploughman's Lunch

Thom had his drama examination today and was feeling quite nervous as he left for school.  He has to give a 4 minutes presentation of a monologue he has written and has chosen a piece about a young kid from a deprived area who has been given a chance to better his life by being offered a place in an American Football Team.  A good piece.  He later came home to say that he felt he had done well and some of his peers remarked that they thought his was the best monologue of the 30 which were given.  This morning, I accompanied Sara to a meeting of the Winterslow Lay Pastoral Assistants at Cynthia’s.  This was after a false start as Sara had thought it was taking place at Dennis Barnes’ house where he has a garden party this afternoon in aid of the purchase of a new chasuble for All Saints.  After the meeting, Sara was working at the Lord Nelson and with our kitchen out of action (the builders are here for a third day today) I had a ploughman’s lunch in that pub.   I worked in the study this afternoon filing some important documents with Companies House and writing some letters.  It is not easy to work with all the disruption from the kitchen.  The builders left at around 5 p.m.  A quite night in this evening watching a documentary on the History of the World with Andrew Marr.  Went to bed at 11 p.m. but found it hard to sleep – Sara’s snoring has kept me awake so I am writing up this blog at 2 a.m.!

Ascension Day

The weather certainly seems to have changed for the worse.  Overcast and rainy today.  Steve and Peter are busy in the kitchen making an awful amount of noise as they put the new ceiling in and re-wire the electrics for the new lighting. Sara and I decided to have lunch out today as we really can’t do anything in the kitchen with all the dust, noise and work going on.  We went to the Hampton Inn at Bishopdown and had one of their special lunchtime curries.  Back home this afternoon it was difficult to do any work with the continuous noise so spent the afternoon reading. Pie and chips for dinner tonight from the Laverstock chippy.  This evening I attended the Ascension Day Team service at All Saints.  Not well attended by the Team – only congregation came from Winterslow, Pitton and Farley and there were only 4 Team Council members present to be welcomed.  A good sermon from Elizabeth and a pleasant service.  I counted about 25 people in all.  Difficult to know what will make the Team more inclusive.  Early to bed tonight.  I have started to read Dave Hopwood’s “Blokes Bible”.  I have already read his second volume (“The Road Trip”) and thought that I should read his original book.  Hopefully I’ll get some inspiration for our Pub Theology.

 

Champneys - Day 3 - More Dead Parrots!

Last day of my "retreat" - so sad.  It is never long enough.  The weather turned cooler and wetter this morning and the sky overcast.  Had a swim, steam room and plunge pool experience this morning and a leisurely time reading my devotionals over a cup of tea in my room.  Had a later breakfast than normal as I knew I wouldn't be getting much lunch today.  After I had packed, checked out and packed my car I sent another hour or so in the piano lounge reading more of Adrian Plass's book and drinking coffee and hot chocolate.  I finally left at around 12.30 p.m. and was home just before 2 p.m.  Peter and Steve had arrived and were working on the new kitchen ceiling - dust and plaster everywhere.  We shall have to get takeaways or go out for meals over the next couple of days.  More problems with Mary and her school friends  -the saga continues and Sara is going to talk to the school to see if all this unnecessary "bitchiness" can be stopped.  Why are teenage cars so horrible to each other!  Maybe I'll learn something tonight?  Left home at around 5.40 p.m. and drove to The Bell at Seend where a group of fellow students had agreed to have a meal together before tonight's pastoral care tutorial. Tonight we were discussing listening skills and had a quite a laugh with some of the role plays we were asked to do to understand how to listen better in pastoral situations.  I had to pretend to be someone who was mourning over his dead parrot!  Bearing in mind that I had brought the Monty Python dead parrot sketch into my last sermon it was so difficult to keep a straight face - especially as in The Bell I had told my fellow students all about my sermon on Sunday.  Great fun.  Such a good crowd to be studying with and makes all the hard work that much easier.  Watched an interesting documentary tonight on Hitler's early years of power from old newsreel films - many of which I had never seen before.

Champneys - Day 2

First full day at Champneys as well as being the 98^th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Lusitania.  Woke up with the sunshine streaming through the chink in my curtain.  Went down for an early morning swim and shower – decided to give the steam room and plunge pool a miss this morning.  Usual “healthy” breakfast – put as I enjoy the food here so much it tends to be eaten in excess which probably makes it unhealthy!  After breakfast went for a long walk through the forest and then up the hill to the communications mast which overlooks the Forest Mere Estate.  Wonderful view today with such a beautiful landscape.  The only blot is the sound of gunfire from the Borden Military Ranges and frequent yellow signs warning the unwary about unexploded shells and other armaments in the vicinity.  Eventually the sounds of rapid small arms fire ceased and as I returned back to the lower reaches of the forest near to Champneys the sounds of aggression were replaced with the sound of a cuckoo.  Summer is really here.  The sun is shining but the weather is not too hot.  A lovely lunch in the Terrace Restaurant – coronation chicken salad and broiled salmon with mushrooms and vegetables followed by Champneys’ Mess – fromage frais with smashed meringue.  Had a little nap after lunch and then to my thalassotherapy session – in the pool all on my own – which was lovely.  Felt very refreshed and de-toxed afterwards.  Went for a stroll around the grounds before dinner – hundreds of rabbits on the lawn to add to the geese.  Dinner tonight (in the Terrace Restaurant) was grilled spiced prawns followed by pork fillets on a bed of sliced apples and celery with seasonal vegetables.  This was followed by a parfait with fruits of the forest an caramel.  Read some more of Adrian Plass’s book after dinner and then retired to my room to watch I Claudius followed by a documentary about the artworks of the early Roman Emperors.  So nice to just chill out for a couple of days.  Will buy Sara a Loyalty Voucher.  She most certainly deserves it after all she has had to put up with recently – from many different sources.

 

Champneys - Day 1

Sara was up early this morning to take Thom around on a paper round he is doing for somebody who is on holiday this week – some extra cash for him.  I had good intentions of getting up really early this morning but I was still aching after all the grass cutting and lawn raking from yesterday afternoon’s work.  I worked this morning in the study – updating my blog and paying some important bills – including the cost of the flight tickets for our October break.  Beautifully sunny this morning, if not a little too hot for my liking.  I packed for my two-48 hours retreat at Champneys.  Although it is not a retreat in the literal sense of the word, it affords me the opportunity of having a break from the world, eating healthy food, reading scripture, walking, communing with nature and generally feeding my inner soul.  Always makes me feel good about myself and gets me away from the rat race. I eventually finished my packing (the one thing I really hate about going away) and set off for Forest Mere near Liphook a little after 1.30 p.m. arriving at Champneys at around 2.40 p.m. (the Radio 4 afternoon play “The Interrogation” was still in full flow as I pulled up).  I checked in, booked dinner for 8 p.m. and changed my thalassotherapy treatment from this afternoon until tomorrow afternoon.  I went for a swim, steam room and plunge pool before an enjoyable dinner of mackerel on rocket and couscous, rump steak with Hollandaise sauce and roast potato wedges, followed by mango foam.  Read some more of Adrian Plass’s hilariously funny “Adrian Plass and the Church Weekend”.  Even funnier when you think that some of the characters can be identified with people in your own church. Watched a fascinating TV programme this evening about a London cabbie who tried his hand at driving a taxi in Mumbai.  He was astounded by the traffic and more particularly, the dreadful poverty which abounds the city.  An awful city of contrasts where the highest valued property in the world exists alongside the worst poverty. Makes me angry and feel there must be something which we can do.  Didn’’t sleep too well tonight –very hot and kept thinking I was driving a taxi!   

Morning Worship at Whiteparish; Greyhounds at Poole

The morning started rather cloudy and overcast upon waking this morning.  Sara and I drove Dean Hill to Whiteparish to take the Morning Worship service at All Saints Parish Church.  A good crows this morning - 32, with a choir.  I had some banns of marriage to read out and then on with the service.  Great hymns - especially the final hymn "Oh for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" that great Wesleyian hymn which was sung with gusto.  My sermon was preached from the pulpit and the congregation seemed quite attentive. I really enjoyed taking the service and there was plenty of joy and feeling of a spirit-filled church this morning.  I enjoyed chatting to some really lovely people over coffee and felt that they had got something out of the service.  Back in Winterslow, Sara took delivery of groceries from Tesco and I went over the road to meet briefly with a fellow-elected new parish councillor.  We talked about where we saw our respective positions on the Council and issues that are likely to come up.  I have no hidden or personal agenda, I told him, simply wanting to see the best for the local community whether that is popular or not with some elements of the village.  Some development is likely to be essential if the village is to maintain its diversity and services.  We don't want the village to become "dry bones" as in my sermon!  This afternoon I mowed the bank again - such hard work when we get sunshine and rain - and I managed to completely fill the garden waste bin with the clippings from this one lawn!  This evening, I took Mary down to Poole to enjoy some greyhound racing and true to form she had a winner in the first race - a small win (£3.05 for a 50 p stake) - but a win all the same.  I had nothing.  It was nice to spend an evening out with my daughter. I spent quite a lot of time with Thom at sporting events but not much with Mary.  She gave me a big hug at the end of the night.  That's really all a dad could ask for!

Hull Promoted; Saints in Trouble

Up very early again this morning.  Thom was on his paper round and I drove into Salisbury parking my car at around 7.20 a.m. and walked to the Guildhall.  As I left Winterslow the weather had been quite bright but I noticed a few drops of rain as I drove through Firsdown and by the time I arrived in Salisbury it was raining quite heavily.  Fortunately I had my hat and pac-a-mac with me and so was prepared for the weather - English summer at it best of course!  It was raining quite heavily as the various items for sale were pulled out of the car and arranged, under plastic sheeting, in an attempt to keep things dry - although many - including books, did end up soggy around the edges.  I was amazed at how many ordinary folk had gathered around the stall in the hope of getting a bargain early and even more amazed at what items seem to sell well - many of which I would have discarded at the Council tip!  The rain did stop before I left and the selling was in full flow.  I reserved a crab on the fishmonger's stall and went off for a coffee and a bacon sandwich at Carwardine's the coffee shop by St. Thomas's Church.  I picked up some salad, fruit and cheese at extremely good prices and returned to the car laden with plastic bags.  Sara and Mary went off to the Cuckoo Fair at Downton this afternoon where the Streetz Cheerleaders were performing.  I had planned to visit the Fair myself but spent the afternoon writing my sermon for tomorrow.  After I had completed the first draft, I watched the Sports News with Thom and we followed the fortunes of the teams as the promotion and relegation places were finalise din the Championship.  Hull City were narrowly promoted to the Premier League while Wigan beat West Brom and Southampton lost to Tottenham Hotspur which puts Southampton very much back in the danger zone for relegation.  Tonight Sara and I went to the Lion's Head for an hour and Sara kindly proof read my sermon.  The pub was deserted with only about four people in it.  Saturday night is clearly no longer a good night to go out for a drink - people tend now to stay in on Saturdays and watch TV.

Glorious Summers Day - at last

An early start this morning - Ambassadors' Business Breakfast Club in Salisbury.  Glorious weather with a superb view of Salisbury Cathedral from the function room where we had our breakfast - I can't think of many better ways to start a summer's day.  Not too many people at the breakfast this morning.  We had a talk from Sandie who has added Smart Hearts to her chiropractic practice.  I found her descriptions of veins and arteries a bit much after a cooked breakfast!  I drove straight back home after the breakfast and worked on the service for Sunday which I am taking at Whiteparish.  This evening I took myself for a stroll in the village to deliver a few envelopes and ended up having a quiet pint in the Lord Nelson.  I was joined by Jeremy and Sue and Nick and Leah who bought me another pint and we chatted for an hour or so before I walked back home whilst it was still light.  A relatively early night tonight as I have promised to go into Salisbury again early tomorrow morning to help set up the church's tabletop sale on the market.

A visit to Sherborne

 
I think summer must have arrived at last – a really lovely sunny day today which is just what Sara and I wanted as we decided to make today a “day-off” – or at least most of it.  After seeing the children off to school and having prepared a small packed lunch we set off to drive the forty or so miles through the Wiltshire and Dorset countryside to Sherborne – a town I have driven past on my way to and from Exeter but never stopped off and looked around.  Sherborne has the only English cathedral which has been demoted to a parish church – rather than the other way round.  Back in Saxon times it was the seat of the Bishop of West Wessex which included the current dioceses of Salisbury, Exeter, Truro and I believe Bath  and Wells.  These new diocese were created in Norman times and Sherborne was incorporated into Salisbury Diocese and the cathedral converted into an Abbey.  The Abbey Church was saved during the Reformation, after the dissolution of the Abbey by being purchased by the townsfolk for their parish church – which is its status today.  A wonderful piece of architecture, and truly a church of cathedral proportions.  Sara and I enjoyed looking around it and the town which I can only describe as a life-sized model village – beautiful buildings and interesting shops in the High Street.  It would certainly be a good place to bring David and Andrea if we have time when they come over from the States.  Back home, I confess to having a little snooze before preparing for house group this evening.  Only four of us tonight – there was an LPA meeting which kept away one, Sara was busy with Mary’s homework and Jane has only just got back from Australia. James, who is usually very regular in attendance, has his parents coming over tomorrow and had things to do in preparation.  We had a fairly low-key discussion tonight which suited me well as I was quite tired.  All in all, a lovely day with lovely weather.

Travels around Wiltshire

A glorious warm sunny day again today.  Sara did her usual stint at Morning Star whilst I dealt with some urgent correspondence before I drove over to Warminster and Westbury.  In Warminster I bought some fresh cartridges for the office printer from The Ink Shop and did some banking after which, having filled my car with fuel from Morrisons (the cheapest I’ve seen in Wiltshire), I drove to Westbury for a meeting with a fellow student and client.  We talked business over a really enjoyable lunch at the Tale of Spice-II – a really excellent prawn balti with nan bread – I would certainly recommend it and apparently it has a very good reputation and has won many awards.  The meal was even better for having been bought for me by my client!  I returned to Winterslow at about 4.00 p.m.  and had about an hour before going into Salisbury for an important meeting of Sarum Lodge – the initiation of a new candidate.  An excellent evening – with nearly 40 brethren present from all over Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset.  The ceremony went extremely well and I enjoyed my part in presenting the new candidate with a lapel badge and tie and also giving the toast/speech at the dinner afterwards.  Having worked hard to get the candidate prepared I felt great pride in seeing it all come to fruition.  With three Grand Officers present, including the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, it was important that we put on a good show.  We certainly did.  Felt quite tired when I eventually got home as it had been a really long and fully packed day.  Tomorrow Sara and I are giving ourselves a day off and plan to visit Sherborne in Dorest.