Today (I learned at church) is Education Sunday, so we had a sermon and prayers about schools, teachers, governors, higher education and pre-school tots.
It’s also the feast of the Presentation in the Temple, when old Simeon and Anna recognised Joseph and Mary’s baby as a special child – that fitted in quite well with Education Sunday, since all children are special.
But it’s something else as well, Candlemas, where years ago all the candles to be used throughout the year in church, were blessed.
We didn’t have any blessing of candles, but with the recent snow, we did have a very icy journey to church, which is up a narrow country lane and in a field. Ed was worried we’d be stranded if the car wheels refused to grip, but all was OK and we reached home again safely. Took a while to warm up, though. The cold seeps into your bones in these medieval stone churches, despite the infra-red heaters on the walls.
By the look of the snow still adorning our grass, I’m thinking, no golf again this week. But at least we have a warm house and plenty of blankets.
I don’t generally post many YouTube videos, but this one is too good to miss.
The young mother says: Even had I thought of trying to get my boys to do this I probably couldn’t have. Neither were coerced into any of this and neither were hurt (for very long anyway). This was just one of those moments…
“>Charlie bit my finger again
Enjoy!
Fortunately all went well the night we attended our daughter’s pantomime, but on the opening night they had a near disaster – “>Sarah’s fall
Our daughter is the other one in the clip, with ‘T’ on her chest.
You’ll be pleased to hear Sarah was shaken but not stirred! She was fine – but didn’t repeat the antic in future performances.
Do you find it can be difficult to get back in the swing after a break?
Ed and I haven’t played golf since before Christmas, but this week decided it was time to get back in the swing. Literally, in this case. He played on Tuesday, I played today. We both enjoyed it, but neither of us was particularly keen to start. Early mornings and cold weather tend to put us off.
Last week we drove down to Swindon, to see our youngest daughter in an amateur pantomime (King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.) She was part of the comedy duo, a new part for her. She loved it, and was really good. Since a whole row of family members came, it was lovely to catch up with everyone.
We stayed overnight in a Travel Lodge in Swindon. That was less amusing. For a start, when we arrived we discovered to our horror that there was no car park. We were expected to use the multi-storey over the road, which was only £1.50 overnight, but then charged by the hour from 6.00am onwards.
Then we’d just got off to sleep nicely when we were awoken by the fire alarm. Terrible screech throughout the building. Presumably there was no fire, since it went off in a couple of minutes, when we were thoroughly awake. Never mind, we managed to get back to sleep, only for the alarm to go off again about an hour later. I have to confess we were less than happy and won’t be returning there!
Now we’re at home for about five weeks before the next jaunt. Nice to be home, isn’t it?
We had a really good organist at church this morning. It seems to be a different organist every week, so not surprisingly, some are better than others. I think they work a rota between themselves, which spreads the commitment a bit.
It was a great pleasure to listen to today’s organist, and at the end of the service he played a lovely piece of modern music which was new to me, so I asked him about it. It was called, “Processional”, by William Matthias, a Welsh composer (I’d never heard of) now deceased.
I shot home, looked it up (with great difficulty) in iTunes, bought it for 79 pence and transferred it (with even more difficulty) to my iPod Nano. This version is from St. Paul’s Cathedral and is great.
Not that I’m a particular lover of organ music. My father was an organist and very classical in his tastes, throwing up his hands in horror at the merest suggestion of pop music, hence I grew up without any real musical leanings. I’m only just discovering my own musical tastes – and that because I no longer care whether anyone else likes the same piece or not!
So I’m sitting here, iPod firmly clamped in ears, listening Karl Jenkins, “The Armed Man.”
A perfect Sunday afternoon!