Month: June 2025

In our lifetime, there have some pretty spectacular, dazzling days.

From the thrill of getting engaged or married; bringing home our new-born babies, or watching that first/second/third Nativity play, with our little boys playing a sheep, a shepherd or an angel; buying our first and second house; travelling the world or welcoming home our sons who have travelled the world; or celebrating the success of our sons’ business acumen, educational achievement or culinary expertise. All very, very dazzling days.

And yesterday was such another. The ordination at the Coventry Cathedral of my beautiful god-daughter, Liz. What an experience. We were all so proud.

Liz has worked so hard over the years to get to this day. She has suffered hardship along the way but, despite that, she has never wavered. She has faced her trials and tribulations with strength and humility, very determined to do what is right. And the event yesterday felt so right.

And I was blessed enough to not only be invited to the service with the Cross family, but Liz asked me to be ‘Stole Bearer’, too. Essentially, someone to carry her stole and drape it over her when the moment came.

The Bishop decreed that Liz was ordained. Stole Bearer to the fore.

What an honour and privilege.

Here’s a few photos of the amazing occasion: first, the whole clergy at the end of the service in the vast Cathedral, those stained glass windows shining brilliantly in the sunlight.

Then, with the Old Cathedral in the background, Lizzie with Bishop Sophie:

A lovely photo with the family: Pete and Dawn, Lucy and Jack.

…..and finally one of her with her godmothers (one of whom is grinning like a Cheshire cat…..).

Take care everyone. God bless.

It’s a fortnight since I did a bit of a Blog. At that time, I was very busy. Guess what? Nothing has changed. I am still very busy. I am absolutely packing it all in!

Meals out in fancy restaurants; open water swimming; church activities; a spot of gardening and taking part in the local Am Dram play which we did a weekend ago. It’s all very nice thank you – and the pleasure is all mine.

I had turned up at Centre Stage, earlier in the year, when the group was reading through the latest proposal. No harm in reading out loud, I had thought. But then I was offered a part. Oh…. hum…. well…… it was only a few words, a page at most, so I said ‘yes’. It didn’t look difficult and I got down to learning the words and thinking about acting.

A few weeks later, the Director contacted me. Could I do another part as well? I hadn’t bargained on that but, having perused the script and finding it was only a page, I said ‘yes’ to that as well.

And, as it turned out, it was all delightful – even acting with Paul Sullivan, with whom I’d sworn never to act again…… he’s always so funny and unpredictable that you never know whether he’s going blame you for the script being messed up!!

We had a good laugh about it, and every time we were on stage he’d grin, and then mutter in my ear, ‘I thought you said you’d never act with me again?’ Funnily enough, I thoroughly enjoyed it and no script was messed up while we were on stage!

The cast and crew involved in the play were very kind to me and looked after me wonderfully well. I managed to totter onto the stage and say my words without too much fuss and even enjoyed trying on the Scottish accent for size.

The play was a great success, with everyone playing their parts extremely well, whether it was front of house, on stage or backstage – so all in all, a very positive experience after what appears to be a ten year absence from the group. Gosh, I hadn’t realised it had been that long!!! Must pay my subs…..

Roll on a week later and what next? Ahhh…..it was the Yoga Retreat weekend. Oh my, it was so good. Jaime was an absolutely brilliant leader.

We were at Holland House near Pershore. Such a treat – the location was marvellous; the sun shone beautifully; the company was vibrant and kind, and the yoga proved blissful. Couldn’t have asked for more. Came home feeling great. Even the dodgy hip that I’d developed in the last few weeks, and that has required physio, couldn’t put me off! See what you think to this venue! Lush, innit?

We practiced our yoga in the Chapel…….. well, actually, in this photo we’re about to lie down to immerse ourselves in a Gong Bath. Not a lot of movement going on at all here…. a bit of snoring maybe, but all very peaceful, hehe!!

We did actually do lots of movement and went for lovely walks, but here’s another one of us, just having broken into consciousness after a meditation session in the glorious garden under the trees – ooh, it was lovely!

During the retreat, I had time to think about the passage of time and how things change as we encounter different experiences in life, too. It was good to explore how I feel and look back on what we fondly call ‘the journey’ since John died. I am calling it a ‘safari’. I mean, you never know what you’re going to come across next, do you? Growling tigers one minute or peaceful open water the next.

There’s a comfort in knowing I’d had the ol’ man’s company for so long. The conclusion of the Maya Angelou poem, ‘When Great Trees Fall’ says it all.

And when great souls die,

after a period peace blooms,

slowly and always

irregularly. Spaces fill

with a kind of

soothing electric vibration.

Our senses, restored, never

to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be

better. For they existed.

In my heart, it feels like he’s always with me, encouraging this new life. “Don’t stagnate, live,” is what I hear. So I’m living.

Take care everyone. God bless.

I seem to be very busy. I have filled my days with all sorts of goings on, including the open water swimming that I talked about in the last Blog. I wasn’t sure how long I’d keep it up for – but I’m still going!!!

I’ve found new venues – Kington Grange near Claverdon, and Lake Windermere, where I swam for a whole ten minutes in blustery conditions with my dear friend, Sue Wakeford; and I’ve been back to Lavender Hall a couple of times, as well as Cliff Lakes, and also to Saxon Mill. Here I am, looking pretty smug in front of Guys Cliffe in the River Avon yesterday….. at eight o’clock in the morning!!!

And here we are, Sue and me, getting ready for our swim in Windermere, cheesy grins to the fore!

I spent a few days in the Lake District with Sue and Rod over the Bank Holiday weekend, and golly, they don’t half know how to look after me! Such exquisite hosts. I had the best time eating all the best food that Sue prepared as well as dining out on fish and chips. We walked along the Ulverston Canal – the shortest and deepest canal in the UK, I understand; and visited the birthplace of the Quaker movement, Swarthmoor Hall. Loved that – really interesting. Another cheesy grin photo!!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I’ve been looking after the grandchildren, one way and another; chatting ten-to-the-dozen at the French Conversation group; playing table tennis and still loving that; and helping out at the Mums ‘n Tots little playgroup at church.

We’ve had family times too, with meals and get-togethers whenever the mood has taken us, which has been lovely. Paul and I took the two oldest grandsons to see Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Hippodrome on Wednesday afternoon, which was fantastic. We all enjoyed it very much. I mean, just look at those boys! All as excited as excited as can be!

These are not the only things I’ve been up to in recent weeks – there’s been a visit to Oxford with Ann Flintham; a trip out for lunch with Alison and Sally; visits from Pete and Fran, Michelle and Tim and, of course, George and Sue, who stayed for a whole weekend. All marvellous and wonderful things which have uplifted me no end.

So, all in all, things are going on okay. I am thankful for the continued support of wonderful friends and family, and wonder whatever state I’d be in now if it wasn’t for the amazing thoughtfulness of all those brilliant people.

I hope I’ve given a little bit back along the way though, being there for Pete and Dawn while Pete recovered from an operation. That was all very exciting, if a little (understatement) stressful, with carer shenanigans for Dawn, and a rush back to the hospital for Pete to check all was in order. Fortunately, that episode is well on the way to being behind them and ‘normal service is now being resumed’. Phew.

I say ‘phew’ because Peter is now back to his cooking best and I was invited round for an evening meal last week. An incredible beef in wine sauce, with all the trimmings. Excellent.

And there was nothing Dawn and I could do but lend a listening ear to Carol, as she and John closed the sale on their apartment in Spain and vacated it for one last time, a couple of weeks ago. The end of an era but what happy, happy times John and I had there with them. So grateful for all of that.

And there we are, folks! Still not back to blogging regularly, but I am starting to read, so things must be looking up. I’ve read three or four books recently, and have now accumulated a very large ‘TBR’ pile…… that’s going to keep me busy, if nothing else does!!

Take care everyone. God bless.