Look at the picture books - people and places
It may be the beginning of another year but this is being diarised with a great deal of hindsight. Knowing that, thanks to Covid and our desire, born of age, not to put ourselves in unnecessary danger, we have stayed at home. Google Timeline shows a map - or satellite view as here - of every excursion. When we do not venture forth it has no option but to show us at home.
There was only one highlight this month.
Paul was jabbed on January 8th!
- and Pat on 30th.
(perhaps that's two highlights and that's without mentioning a routine visit to the dentist).
Early in February we had a workman call. At least she told us she was a workman and was therefore entitled to enter. It was Suzanne who had come to film another video for Tot's Praise. Of course during the pandemic there were many interviews on the tv all enabled by Zoom. We soon learned that if it was to be taken seriously the interviewee had to be in front of a bookcase. So, out of the sitting room and into the study!
Blockley occupancy has taken a knock with Covid but at last we have some folk who have been able to make it - as long as they quarantine for 2 weeks. No problem with that. Phil and Silvie Good, CMS partners in Lebanon, have arrived for an unknown length of stay, anticipating they could be with us until September. Within a few weeks they had set to in the garden and it looks as though much good (pun) might come of it.
A different Easter, the Lord is risen indeed but our Church family celebration is constrained by You Tube.
Our biological family - just Pat actually - is constrained by her own tube. See the pic for the splint she is now wearing having examined the patio at close quarters. The Covid rules have changed again and we can now have two people - suitably distanced - in the garden. Simon and Anita planned to come in the afternoon and arrived shortly after the descent. It was in 2018 that Pat's other wrist was broken when Paul pushed her off the end of a travellator at Gatwick.
The Duke of Edinburgh died on the 9th at age 99. The press certainly enjoyed his gaffes but much more important than that are the thousands who have befitted from his Award scheme and so many other causes he patronised. And his evident love for and deference to the Queen was wonderful.
It is 30 years since we were ministering in Egham and nearly that long ago that Paul was recalled from Wales to take Andrew Seager's funeral. Now we return to Egham for Delia's service and afterwards to the Royal Oak in Thorpe. A few mourners we remember, who were then young things are now approaching retirement. There was only one erstwhile more senior colleague and she was wheel chair bound and bereft of much memory.
June also saw party time starting again - although we had to be in the garden. The first gathering celebrated the birthdays of Adrian, Simon, Timothy and Phil.
The second was for twins Lucie and Max.
Another month of great excitement. The pictures tell it all. First of all a magnificent achievement. After some time (a bit much to say years but certainly more than 12 months) Pat has finished a jigsaw donated by Yvonne Collins from her house clearance. 2000 pieces - actually only 1997 - now all in place. Next the new teeth that Paul acquired recently. A real mouthful covering a thousand taste buds. (By way of an excursus do note that reference to Google is particularly useless in this respect. Kidshealth.org says the average person has 10,000 taste buds. Onhealth.com says between 2000 and 4000. Wikipaedia says 2000 to 8000 - and all these seem to refer to the tongue and ignore the palate which is where dentures interfere with taste. Right?) Of much greater importance was the fact that Belinda was accorded 1st class honours - a degree higher than her ability to catch the mortarboard. Many congratulations on the former achievement.
Suzanne came again to video more talks for Tot's Praise. And she came on Pat's birthday. Typical and thoughtfull Suzanne: she brought a cake complete with a modest number of candles (and, again typically Suzanne, she helped to eat it.)
And then, celebrating Pat and Anita, the first party of the year which we were allowed to be indoors - although we still spent most of it outside. No pictures.
Covid took a back seat as we drove to Cumbria, to HPB Merlewood overlooking Morecombe Bay. A very different seascape.
We had booked this holiday 2 years ago and it didn't register then that it was School and Bank Holiday season. Chaotic traffic. Accidents and consequent jams. These days we've calmed down a bit and don't have to spend every second of holiday time around and about and so what with not always brilliant weather and no peace on the road we stayed in about every other day. We used the buses quite a bit, dashing for the front seat on top. Not such a good idea one day when we nearly succumbed to the window-magnified midday sun. Another day, in the car, trying to avoid a pile-up somewhere, we took to the back lanes - great progress to start with but others had the same idea. Literally hundreds of others. In the end we had to reverse up hill on a single track and park in a field until the traffic had cleared. One young man walked a long way to the next main junction to prevent any further vehicles accessing 'our lane' so that we could escape.
Covid had dictated that many venues had to be booked and that even included National Trust car parks. Picture here from Fell Foot, a NT site.
Covid was the year of the mask and at Cartmel, in the priory, there was a wonderful exhibition - here Pat is examining one pillar full.
There are very few National Trust buildings in Cumbria. One exception, which we were able to visit, is Sizergh.
We left Merlewood on Friday to arrive at Rosedale on Saturday and so we spent the night at a Travelodge. The charge was something over £100 night but we had booked months before and it only cost us £40: what joy! There was a restaurant and breakfast was not just full English but very full and as much as desired. Excellent value.
Earlier in the day we had visited Brimham Rocks. Spectacular.
Onward to HPB Rosedale on the North York moors. A number of public roads - the steepest in England - marked at 33.3%. Our little car just about made them but we steered clear when the roads were wet. We stayed mainly in the spectacular countryside as buses didn't reach Rosedale but we did take a return trip on the bus from Whitby to Scarborough.
A five minute drive from Rosedale and a little walk brought us to this. And what is it? What a history lesson we had - the whole area was the centre of the ironstone industry - of which we had never even heard. It's claimed that one fifth of the whole world's iron came from here at one time. Almost all that is left is the remains of several of these enormous kilns.
Nunnington Hall was the closest National Trust property. There was an exhibition by Gillian Tyler and a series of miniature rooms. They say that all the instruments can be played.
St Peter and St Paul, Pickering. Amazing wall paintings commissioned in 1450.
Belinda and Annie celebrated their birthdays together at Fosters.
Timothy Fisher from Wycliffe Bible Translators, Germany, asked to stay at Blockley. Phil and Silvie Good didn't have an exit date and, come to that, Timothy didn't have an arrival date. Problem! Problem solved by inviting Timothy to test out the refurbished annexe at Fosters. As it happened he flew in on 27 September and the Goods flew out on the same day but the die was cast and Timothy stayed with us until 13 October when he returned to the States.
As mentioned Phil and Silvie Good flew to Morocco on 27th to take up a new job acting as, I think it was said, as a go between betwixt local folk and an American Christian outreach. Doubtless we will learn more. They had a good time at Blockley and so did we as they built us splendid steps to access the back garden - plus as few other things including the purchase of items for the house. The steps are first class as can be seen fron the picture.
Suzanne has kept Tots Praise running throughout Covid and lockdowns on the basis of it being a support group and therefore legitimate. In the main only the Carers have gone but this term we are all on board again and the numbers are building up. During the 'close' period we have continued the video talks.
Wisley has decided to scrap its buggies and has bought an electric bus. It's not nearly as easy for
the driver to relate to the visitors, the mechanism to load wheel chairs is very heavy, there is a step to help passengers board but it is too
low and the vehicle itself is too large for the paths - leading to it being crumpled on a corner stone the first day out (not by me).
Altogether it leaves much to be desired!
The end of October sees a Taste of Autumn at Wisley.
Lola's stage Acadamy took part in a concert in Guildford Cathedral by a troupe called G4 consisting of 4 singers who might be soundworthy with the right accoustics but in the cathedral with the set up they arranged it was awful. Not only that but they entirely blotted out the children from the Academy. Shame.
Christmas Eve this year we were guests of Anita and Simon. The first time we have ever been away from our own home over the Christmas period in 62 years! On Christmas Day we again entertained Tony and Michael but this year no Peter who died just 2 weeks before on 10 December - aged 99. It might be true to say he was beautiful as a young man - a Fl Lt and navigator in Lancasters in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was awarded the DFC and bar and although he had to be pressed to talk to us about his exploits there are several web pages.
The second picture is from 2018; meeting with his pilot, Australian Edgar Pickles (died 2019), for the first time 72 years after their last tour. They took part in Operation Hydra on Peenemunde (V2 research centre and rocket factory). 596 aircraft took part in the raid including Peter's Lancaster (1 of 324).
Boxing Day saw the whole family arrive at Fosters after a walk by some
All peace and quiet until it comes to the cake bashing bit when the children line up to take turns with the mallet. The cake is made of stern stuff - nonetheless great to eat - and it takes all 4 to achieve breakthrough.
Right at the end of the year we had the sad news that Tessa Wright had died. We have known her and Walter for around 64 years from our time in Bournemouth when they were friends and then together in our Young Marrieds Group. They were married two years to the day before we were. Paul is Godfather to Steven who was with his Mother-to-be in the maternity home on the day of our nuptuals. Interestingly Walter was not only at our wedding but also at our wedding reception - presumably awaiting a phone call! In those days Tessa was still taking organ lessons. In the following years she was, at least at one time, organist to seven choirs at once and she played for her church for decades.
And so the year draws to a close. A very different year. And at the end we learn of a new Covid
variant - Omicron. Paul's mobility has got worse throught the year and the medics, both NHS and private, have nothing useful to say.
The
penultimate image indicates that Paul has been buggy driving for some time - even now with a bus they are still calling it a buggy. To round things off
he volunteered for 31st December. As the bus was put to bed, or recharged as they say, the Wisley show called Glow lit up. Thousand
upon thousand of lights in the Garden. Coloured fountains in two lakes. Flashing laser beams. The Alpine meadow covered with alternating coloured
lights. Great bowls of
changing colours on the Green and 10 ft stars on Seven Acres. Massive trees rainbowed against the sky. The final image
is Wisterea Walk wrapped in lights and hundreds of hanging strands of lights inside to push through. Overall a wonderful
and brilliant show around the Garden that Paul thought he would walk. Difficult.
He was even overtaken by small children still in nappies, just about walking. But he can still visit a lot of the Garden as he
drives the bus! Still hoping to be back on the treadmill at home in 2022.
For those who are still reading we offer you God's richest blessing - and not just because you have made it thus far! Please join with us in remembering the words and works of our Lord - as stated by St Matthew in the passage we read this morning - as we all enter a new year wherein our every thought and action will both mould us and impinge on someone else: 'Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God'.
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