Lunch with the bishop
Well, almost. Actually since there were around 300 of us, all crammed into two huge marquees joined into one in the bishop’s beautiful garden, I didn’t say more than two words to him or his wife.
Never mind, Ed and I had a lovely time, meeting up with old friends and enjoying the lavish buffet provided by the bishop.
The occasion? A Eucharist in the cathedral followed by lunch in the bishop’s garden, for all the retired clergy in the diocese, their spouses (spice?), plus all clergy widows and widowers.
It was sad to meet up with some newly widowed spice, especially as their husbands who died were only around my age (that’s young, honestly), but an excellent service in the cathedral where the preacher (one of us retireds) memorably smashed a clay pot onto the floor of the sanctuary from the ten feet or so height of the pulpit. The point being that we’re all cracked pots, or possibly crackpots.
The marquee was set out with round tables seating eight, and we were fortunate enough to have a lively bunch on our table, so enjoyed lots of fun and laughter over our meal.
In the evening our choir had a concert, so it felt like a very full day, but one which both Ed and I greatly enjoyed.
Sadly it’ll be two years before the next bishop’s-lunch-for-retired-clergy, so hopefully we’ll all meet up in some other way before then, before we’re all the wrong side of the grass!