Harvest Thanksgiving

 

Harvest invites us to pause. Before we rush on to the next task, the next worry or the next thing on our shopping list, we are asked to notice what we have received.

 For there is so much for which to be grateful.  The harvest of farm and of field is top of our minds.   I live in the countryside and see it growing.  And there are tins and packets in my kitchen which came from distant lands. 

Then there are the harvests of friendship, forgiveness, companionship, laughter, that carry me through difficult days.

Not every harvest is what we would choose. Some people come to this season carrying grief, loneliness, illness or financial worry.   Gratitude does not make all our troubles disappear. But even in difficult times, we may discover small signs of God's presence: a listening ear, a helping hand, a moment of peace.

 Our gratitude, too, should turn us towards others. If we are grateful for God's generosity, we can become more generous ourselves. If we are thankful for our food, we should care about those who go hungry. If we are thankful for kindness, we should offer kindness. If we are thankful for the gifts of creation, we should do what we can to protect them.  Harvest comes in many forms and we need to remember that the earth is not ours to exploit but God's gift to us, entrusted to our care.

 May the harvest of our lives be rich in gratitude, generous in love, and faithful in service.

 

 

 

 

Farewell April

Hasn't this been a glorious month weather-wise!  Well, maybe not where you live but in my corner of Lincolnshire it has been wonderful.  

April saw the end of the hibernaculum project for this year.  It was a great idea and I shall do something very similar this year.  And as the hibernaculum time ended (Easter Sunday) my Hare Days began.  The theme for this period is "Hare today, done tomorrow" and it is proving to be a much more active time than the relaxation of hibernaculum days.  Nothing much to show you yet as bags packed for the charity shop, bags for recycling and (sadly) bags destined for landfill, don't make for pretty pictures.  

For the first half of the month I was covering for a priest friend who went on an eleven week cruise.  I enjoyed doing my bit to help, which was quite demanding as it included Holy Week and Easter.  Another friend (who is to retire shortly) is rather ill so Plan B (aka me!) is again stepping in.  One day the congregations will say I am too decrepit to take services, but at the moment they seem happy to welcome me and I am happy to go.  I conducted funerals for a friend and for a cousin.  It's good to be able to do that one last thing for them by offering comfort to their loved ones. 

Only four days dog sitting this month but they were four very nice days.  Holly and I get on very well with each other.  

That was March, that was.

It's been quite a while since I did a monthly review of what's been happening in my life but, today is the day!

A huge chunk of the month (seventeen nights) was spent dog sitting.  Holly and I enjoyed a few cuddles but we neither of us enjoyed the flood.  However, the response by friends and tradespeople was wonderful.  Community is great!

I've been helping make up jigsaws ready for West Lindsey Open Churches in May when we are hoping to have a great display and sale.   It's been an excellent social activity for quite a few people.  

I've lead worship on four Sundays.  Yesterday we couldn't use the church building so we decamped to the village hall.  There is a loo being installed in the church so it was a very worthwhile move!

I conducted two funerals.  One lady was 99 and the other was 101. Each was a celebration of a life well lived.  

I've been out for quite a few lunches or tea and cake meet ups.  These are a great way for me to meet up with friends as we live in various villages so it make sense to meet in Brigg when we go shopping rather than make special journeys to each others villages.

I've completed two scarves which will be sent to the Salvation Army for the residents of its hostel.  I've again been commissioned as an elf for Santa as he needs three scarves for children.  

I've enjoyed my hibernaculum.  But it's been lovely to see signs of spring as well.

Maybe you would like to know what happened next.

 

I spent a week recovering from the journey before I was fit enough for surgery.  My left patella (knee cap) was totally shattered and was completely removed.  I was frightened that I would never walk properly again.

My right leg had been badly ripped in the accident and gangrene set in so the affected flesh was sloughed away and I was scheduled for a skin graft a week later.  Unfortunately I had brought an unwanted gift home with me - malaria!  I had to wait until that had gone before I was able to have the second session of surgery which involved collecting skin from my thigh and grafting it to my shin to cover the sloughed area.  

Then it was bed rest.  Total bed rest for a further month.  Eventually the plaster casts were removed and I was allowed to go to the hydrotherapy pool.  I was so excited.  A week or so of water supported exercise and other physiotherapy and I was allowed to walk for the first time in two months!  I was so excited.  I was shuffling along supported by two nurses and my Mother arrived to visit me.  She burst into tears at the sight of me.

I stayed in hospital for a while longer, learning to walk with sticks.  I had nearly three months hospitalisation all told.  Then home and working hard to build up my strength.  

For the next thirty five years I was able to walk and run fairly normally.  But as time passed my legs complained and I had to use first walking sticks, then mobility scooter and walker.  My left knee joint has been replaced.  I have an adapted bathroom and ramped access to my home.

However I am profoundly grateful for what I can do, thanks to the skill of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and so many more.

"She hasn't got a family"

 

My nephew on one of his vintage Minneapolis-Moline tractors

I've just had a few days in Worcestershire visiting my nephew.  I decided that it would be too risky for me to stay with him as his house has a lot of stairs and, sadly, my legs continue to deteriorate.  Instead I booked into a hotel and just spent Saturday and Sunday with him.  Saturday he cooked a lovely barbecue and Sunday I took him out to lunch.

Carrie and I over sixty years ago

Today is my cousin Carrie's birthday.  She lives about half a mile from me and two or three times a year I need to phone her for urgent help.  Last month I took her, her brother and another cousin out for lunch as all three of them have birthdays in May or June. 

My Father (centre) with his parents and siblings

Several of my cousins are generous with their help and support.  I'm really grateful for each one of them.  I've heard people say of me "She has no family" but that simply isn't true.  Originally I had twenty nine cousins (my father was one of eight siblings, my mother one of four) of which sixteen remain and I had one sister who left one son (my nephew).

My Mother (left) with one of her brothers and her sister

I value my family.  I work hard to stay in contact and good terms with them.  I send them all Christmas cards although several never respond.  I have no brothers, sisters or children but, when the chips are down, I have family I can rely on.

Thank you, each one of you.

In praise of Dave

 

Smart meters have been a bit of a saga for me.  I'm quite motivated by "numbers" so I wanted them.  

My first one was fitted about six years ago when I was with Eon.  It wouldn't "talk" to EDF when I changed so it was changed to new ones which would talk to neither my supplier nor my in-home display.  And EDF couldn't fix it and refused to replace it so I had a dumb meter.  Eventually EDF was so bad I complained to the ombudsman and got some compensation but no new meter.

A few months ago I changed to British Gas.  They have been very keen to sort the situation.  The electricity meter was swapped before Christmas but there was a problem with the gas meter.  Today Dave arrived.

What a perfect gent Dave is!  He arrived with overshoes and immediately showed his identification.  He chatted but left me to eat my breakfast in peace.  He noticed that there was a bag of rubbish waiting to go to the bin and took it there for me, realising that I might be worried for my safety in this ice weather. There was a considerable problem in changing the meter but he persevered and it is now up and running.  He not only explained the in home display but he also told me about the app and gave me useful energy saving advice.  A wonderful ambassador for his company.  

I know we all have problems with different suppliers but wouldn't it be wonderful if they all employed Daves?  

The 1994 cohort

The Bishop of  London

"The 1994 cohort" doesn't sound very exciting but it's a group to which I am very proud to belong.  It means the thousand plus women who were ordained in 1994 after a very long wait to become priests.

My personal thirtieth anniversary was back in April but the C of E has had various events over this last year commemorating the contribution of women (both ordained and lay) to the ministry of the church.   On Friday the 1994 cohort was invited to join in the national celebration in London and over a hundred of us accepted the invitation.  Since 1994 many of those thousand women have "been promoted to glory" and others are too frail to make the journey to London.  

A "Popemobile" to take me across King's Cross Station!

My good friend E, (a priest of a mere twenty years standing!) came with me and helped me and without her I wouldn't have been able to go.  We travelled by train and taxi to make things as easy as possible for me.

First I went to Lambeth Palace (the official home of The Archbishop of Canterbury) where "the cohort" was treated to a wonderful afternoon tea.  Then coaches took us to St Paul's Cathedral where the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, presided at a memorable Eucharist.  

Thirty years ago we were  regarded with a great deal of suspicion by both clergy an laity.  It would be hard to imagine the C of E without its clergy women today.  Thanks be to God!

T is for Technology

 

“One day there will be a telephone in every major city in America.”

 I love that quote from Alexander Graham Bell.  He was such a brilliant man, so forward thinking, and yet even he could not foresee the future.

 Every generation has seen technology move on a little bit more.  My grandmother regarded telephones with suspicion (although she gradually saw some of their advantages), and my mother refused to have anything to do with computers.  So far I’m OK with most “new technology” although the time may come . . .

On Friday I had cataract surgery.  My eyes had been digitally scanned to check the size of the cataract and the size of the lens so that the first could be removed and the second replaced as accurately as possible.  Information about me had been sent digitally so that other health issues could be considered (e.g., the medications I take regularly).  I received a digital print out regarding aftercare. My next-of-kin's mobile number was readily available in the unlikely case of difficulties.

Yes, I know some  technology is intrusive and annoying, and that the human touch is mich more important, but for the most part I would say T is for both Technology and Thankfulness. 

PS.  Thank you for all the kind comments on my last post.  I am fine and tmy eyesight continues to improve.

S is for surgery

 

This is just a very quick post as all I want to do is sit with my eyes closed!  I had cataract surgery this moorning and all went well.  Thank you Jack for taking me amd a huge thank you to the team at Goole Community Hospital who took care of me. 

W is for Worth it!

 It's been sad to see several bloggers decide not to post anymore but it was kind of them to tell us and not leave us wondering what had happened to them.  

I've been blogging on and off since July 2014.  I've two blogs and the other one is "off" even more than this one!  I only post if I have something I really want to say.  Blogging is a creative outlet for me, the only regular outlet I have for writing.  It's a way of recording some of the events of my life in an orderly manner.  I can float my hopes and dreams.  I can make friends through reading and commenting on other people's blogs and appreciating their comments on  mine.

Because I only write when I have something special to say, I take very long breaks and it is always hard to get back after a break.  

But I enjoy other people's blogs and this is my contribution to the blogosphere.  Like all bloggers I love reading comments.  Non bloggers may not know that we can see the number of visitors we have (but not their identity) and I find it amazing what a high proportion of visitors have no inclination to comment.  I wonder why?  Is it too complicated?  I know some blogging platforms are more complicated than others.  Are they deterred because some blogs (not this one) don't publish comments until after the blogger has approved them?  Personally I delete comments which are obviously intended to advertise betting or escort services but very rarely anything else but other bloggers have had big problems with inappropriate comments so pre approval is understandable.  

For it is commenters and fellow bloggers who make the effort worthwhile.  Thank you for reading.    

Yes,  it is definitely WORTH IT!

Life's little pleasures: coffee

 In several years I have written January posts about life's little pleasures and I want to do that again this year.  

At the moment I am enjoying two small pleasures which I enjoy almost every day - a cup of coffee and some thinking time.

I sometimes kid myself that the first coffee of the day is essential but I know I am kidding myself.  All I need is a drink of water, but I am able to have a rich, freshly-made cup of black coffee.  Many people can't afford the coffee or don't have time to make it or enjoy it.

I have three cups spaced through most mornings but it's that first cuppa which is the most special.  There's something comforting about the smell, the warmth, the taste which sets me up for the day.  I can sit and ruminate, plan the day. remember yesterday and just let my mind wander as I sip my brew.  

It's good to start my day with an attitude of gratitude.  

L is for Looking back and Looking forward

The first New Year after I started this blog I used this well-known quote.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.

 That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.

 From 2015 to 2018 I had the same New Year resolution

In 2019 I amended it to

Be even more awesome than last year!

2020 I seem to have ignored the new year!

Back at the beginning of 2021 I found this quote from Tennyson

"Hope Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering ‘It will be happier.’" 

At the beginning of 2022 my quote was from Ann Frank

"What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't even happened yet.”

I love New Year!  I know it's fashionable to poo-poo resolutions but I enjoy the planning, the permission to make a new start.  I have been truly blessed in 2022 and I'm looking forward to 2023.   I hope you will be too.

If you think the "Looking back, looking forward" (Janus) at the top of this post is a little unusual, you are right.  It shows Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine, implacable opponents over the poll tax.  22nd November 1990 was the date Mrs Thatcher resigned.  The carving is on a half timbered building in Shrewsbury.  

St Peter's, Normanby le Wold. Treasuring.

I've been to the highest point in the wolds today, to the tiny village of Normanby.  These villages with a population of about 60 are quite common in this part of Lincolnshire but each has its own church which is treasured by its community.

I feel very treasured by the congregation here.  During the pandemic, when I was fairly rigorously isolating, they made it possible for me to celebrate the Eucharist on Christmas Day.  It was the first time in over nine months that I could do so.

There has been a church here since before the Doomsday book of 1086 but the present church is much newer, dating from the thirteenth century.  By 1867 it was very dilapidated so it was "restored" and a new chancel built.  It's open daily for visitors, often people walking the Viking Way.  I helped to provide some benches so that walkers could take off their boots and have a good look around without fearing of leaving muddy footprints!

It is cleaned (and loved!) by a wonderful lady and she is a treasure!  During the pandemic I was one of a group of well wishers who assembled (socially distanced of course) to sing Happy Birthday when she was ninety.

H is for Home

Home is my favourite place anywhere!  There is nowhere on earth I would rather be,   Here I can really be myself.  I'm happy to show you the outside of my house, but inside it's home, my personal space and I share only very small areas on my blog.

It's where I can totally relax, where I can sit and think.  

It's where I can plan and dream about the future, and reflect on the past.

It's where I can welcome others.  When people come I can share who I am and who they are.  

It's where I can weep and where I can rage, if that's how life grabs me.  And then I can dry my tears and recover my composure at my own pace.  

It's where I can truly explore.  I don't need to go anywhere else to learn about the world, new skills or new experiences, unless I want to. 

When I leave these four walls I am secure in knowing that back here my home will be waiting for me.

To be homeless, to be a refugee, to be on the streets is unimaginable misery and those who have no real home are a worry to me, as are those whose home is a place of fear or abuse.  

Thank God for my home!

Rascal!

 No, I'm not talking about Jack today but rather about the new Rascal in my life.  I hope Jack doesn't get jealous!

For the last twelve years I have used a Trundle Truck or, if you use official terminology, Mobility Scooter.  My TT means freedom to me so when mine became very unreliable, I had to have a new one.    

So, forward The Rascal Vista.  Like all scooters, it is quite an expensive bit of kit, so I am deeply grateful to the many people who, over several centuries, have given money for grants to help elderly clergy in the Diocese of Lincoln.  Many of them would never have seen a trundle truck ever but I hope they would be glad to know that they have given freedom back to me.  I've never applied for charitable funding before (I've always seen myself as a giver rather than a taker) but a scooter which suits my needs is around £2000 and I need a new one every 5-6 years so I decided to go for it.  

And it is wonderful!  I've been shopping this morning without any fear that I would be stranded if the trundle truck broke down.  And I am able once again to plan days out this summer.  Fantastic!

Thanksgiving

 A Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers!  We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here but it sounds a lovely festival.  I hope you all have a lovely day.

Or should that be I hope y'all have an awesome day?  (I do my best.)

Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers!  

And quite apart from the fact that I hope you have a lovely day, you have given me the nudge to do a gratitude post.

I'm grateful for problem free (so far) surgery and recovery.  I was worried before this op as so many people seem to struggle with recovery after knee replacement surgery but I am already managing some walking without sticks.  I'm having the clips removed today so it's probably good that I'm writing this before any discomfort that may cause.

And I'm grateful for several beautiful days lately.  My sitting room faces east so I've watched some lovely sun-rises.  The afternoons have been sunny and as my conservatory faces west I have been able to take advantage of natural heating just by opening the door from the house to the conservatory.

And I'm grateful for the benefits of modern technology, especially food preservation.  I know that might sound a weird thing for a gratitude list but I was able to freeze home cooked food a few weeks ago so I am able to have home cooked food now, even though I don't want to stand at the stove and stir.  I have food kept fresh in the fridge all the time nd I have a plentiful supply of tine when I need them.  Its easy to forget what a boon food preservation is but at times like these I couldn't manage alone without it.

And (I think!) I am grateful for Jack.  Yes, I AM grateful for (and to) Jack.  He's come today to sort things out in the garden for me  and he will take me to the Health Centre.  He's quite impressed with how well I am doing abd even more impressed that he will get home made leek and potato soup for lunch.  It's good to be able to impress him.

Home

 

Home again!  I had surgery Saturday and came home this morning.  All is well.  I am in far less pain than I expected, except at night.  My nephew has come to keep an eye on me.  God's in his heaven, all's right with the world

Thankfulness

 I'm quite busy at the moment as I prepare to go into hospital for the knee replacement.  And I have so much to be thankful for!  

Today is World Gratitude Day.  And I am so grateful for all the love and care I am receiving right now.  My nephew is coming to spend a week with me which will be quite difficult for him and I am very grateful.

He will have to go into work one day while he is here but the friend I phoned to ask her to come that day not only said "yes" but also. "I'm so pleased that you asked,"

Annie-the-Home-Enhancer has agreed to come more often until I can do more things for myself.  Jack too, will be keeping an eye on me - and I'll bet no-one is surprised at that.

I'm grateful for the skill of the surgeon and the rest of the hospital team and I'm also grateful for our wonderful NHS.

Thank you!

At Last!

To be replaced with chocolate - please!

 "The letter" arrived yesterday!  I will be having surgery on my knee in less than three weeks.  I will be going as an NHS patient to a small private hospital in Grimsby and I expect to be there just one or two nights.  

I am inundated with offers of help.  I am so lucky!  I have offers to take me to hospital and to fetch me home.  Someone will sleep here to make sure I am OK.  Jack and Annie (my home enhancer) have both offered extra help.  Others will shop, cook and odd-job for me and I suspect I will be checked on so much that I will be lucky if I get any sleep.  

And I am so grateful!  Grateful not just for the offers of practical help but also for the love and care behind them.    I am truly blessed.