Encounters

I've written "Encounters" as the title of this latest blog.  It's time I re-encountered the blogging world.  I've had lovely letters and emails recently following the death of my dear mum and that makes me feel closer to so many people.  Thank you.

Now over a year since my last blog - at least at this rate I know I will not have time to write that lengthy novel about life in Suffolk so that's one thing ticked off the list. 

I've had two encounters this week - the first with a 'cellist, Jamie Walton, who is planning to make a film based in and around Blythburgh Church as background to his rendition of the 3 'cello suites by Benjamin Britten.  He will appear in the film himself playing in different corners of Blythburgh Church.  Those of you who know it will immediately appreciate what this might be like!  Jamie and his film-maker came for a look at the potential and I was privileged to be wandering round the church looking at it from the eyes of a film-maker with the beautiful phrases of snippets of the Bach cello suites flowing from his cello.

The second encounter was a conversation with Basil, a large dark horse who lives in a nearby field.  He, and his rider, happened to be passing my house just as I got out the car.  Basil will, as his custom, be walking up to the war memorial in our churchyard on the stroke of 11am on Remembrance Sunday to pay his respects to those who died in the Great War - horses and soldiers alike.  I couldn't bring myself to see the film War Horse but its appearance has had its impact in society's memory of this dark period. 

I don't need to look for work here - these beautiful encounters just come my way. 

A day off tomorrow.....

What a nice thought!  I might just manage a day off tomorrow if I can get just some Harvest thoughts together for the next two weeks - two Harvest services per Sunday for the next two weeks coming up.  It is fascinating to actually watch the harvest being taken in and the colours of the fields changing.  Jack has been thrilled by the muck-spreading - baths essential! 

I have started to tackle my garden which has been kept relatively well groomed.  I have some wonderful bushes but little in the way of perennials except for large clumps of well rooted perennial forget-me-nots which will require a lot of digging out.  I am getting used to screeching to a halt as my car passes another little table at a house entrance selling plants or vegetables - a fraction of the price of the garden centres.  British prices have certainly risen in the lat 9 years which is not surprising but still comes as a bit of a shock when trying to stock a garden. 

My brain needs of a bit of a break right now as I am taking in so much new information.  I am still also working out how to make sure that people are receiving this blog but I think you, dear reader, actually have to click on "follow" to receive any new posts.  I think that's how it works anyway.  I have had one major success in that I can now access my voicemail on my new blackberry so there is hope!  Only attempt one new thing each day! 

It's taken me about 15 minutes to work out how to actually post a new blog. I've managed to update my profile and discover that 21 people have read my first blog but it did take a while to find out how to send you more - tiny icons are quite important, one discovers!  Comments would be appreciated, then I know who's reading!

More "firsts" - this time in the shape of the famous 37th Grand Henham Steam Rally this weekend - two days stuffed full of steam engines in all shapes and sizes, vintage cars and motorbikes, stalls for the mechanically minded (tools, tools and more tools.....a day for nerds in the most positive sense - an opportunity to discover just that widget you had been looking for), arts and crafts, Suffolk fudge, strawberries and the famous Wangford pantry which apparently went through 4,000 tea bags in the course of last year's rally.  My job? - to bless the steam engines - as I said to the crowd (of thousands), this did not feature in my theological training - but an opportunity to bless and celebrate the amazing community spirit in this event organised by a small group from some of the tiny villages in my parish. I have added various pix but they don't do justice to the scale of this event.  Nice weather we get in Suffolk!

This was Sunday afternoon, followed by Sunday morning and two morning services, including my first Eucharist in the beautiful church at Blythburgh - wonderful luminous space and again, a very warm welcome from the small congregation.  Each congregation has its own personality, all very different. You could do a good Myers-Briggs on communities as well as on individuals here.

Enjoy the pix - I am enjoying country life! 

Another First

I have now told too many people that I would like to start a blog so here goes - my first blog post!  Really wondering who might be interested in reading my random "Sole Thoughts", written from the Sole Bay area of North-East Suffolk where I have been living for less than a month.  It's a way of keeping in touch after so many kind words from people on leaving Luxembourg to work as Team Vicar in the Sole Bay Team of Churches.  At the moment I feel that I am spinning between several planets as I venture into my four new parishes - all completely different but equally full of interesting people.   Beautiful landscapes, huge wheat fields now harvested, broad, blue and very high skies, intriguing notices in front of people's houses - e.g. "Beware - wild guinea pigs!" and ladybirds galore.  Already given up thinking I am getting old (which is nice) as the eldest member of one of the parish councils is 91 - hopefully I will be able to keep pace with some amazingly energetic 80 and 90 year olds.