Sunday thoughts

On a Sunday, I always turn my thoughts to spiritual matters. Today, however, I found myself rushing along on practical matters with the spiritual just hovering along underneath. I avoided the church service online; I decided against joining in a wonderful celebration of our church having been ‘seeded’ 150 years ago; and I metaphorically walked on by, when I should have sat in quiet contemplation.

I am not sure why I wasn’t ready for the spiritual today. My mind was elsewhere. So no ‘Sunday thoughts’ today. That sometimes happens – but tomorrow is another day, and maybe it’ll come to me then.

I did, however, watch ‘The Chorister of the Year’ on BBC at lunchtime, and thoroughly enjoyed that. The contestants are such stunning musicians and singers at such a young age that I am always amazed at their talent. And I love to watch the programme because it always reminds me of John’s Mum. She, too, loved to hear the angelic voices piping into the rafters.

So, what were we doing all day? Well, John was extremely tired today and, no sooner had he got up, than he fell asleep in his armchair this morning. He fell asleep in the armchair this afternoon, too, and watched TV for most of the day. We especially enjoyed the Grand Prix, which was a ‘stop/start’ affair and exciting overtaking manoeuvres. No walk today – the ol’ man simply had no ‘oomph’.

I faffed about with Christmas cards this morning before I sat down with our Sunday breakfast treat – a pain aux raisins – and settled to watch last night’s episode of ‘I’m a Celebrity’. I had just finished my bun when the doorbell rang. It was Harriet – on her way to collect Freddie from his sleepover at the Sutton Sleaths. “Have you got a sack truck?” she asked. “Paul has just talked to John about it?” Oh, right.

Being as I was still in my dressing gown…… I ran upstairs to quickly get dressed and ask John where said sack truck was. John gave me specific instructions on how to find the sack truck, and I handed it over to Harriet as she disgorged a couple of items from the boot of the car for us to keep at our house.

Erm…..oh….. well…… yes….they will come in useful for looking after the children, I guess. Paul and Harriet had been emptying the loft of their old house in readiness for an exchange of contracts this week. They sent a photo of their hard labour…… Crikey! Rather them than me! And I can see why a sack truck might be needed!

I went back to watching TV after Harriet left and started watching ‘The Long Call’, before I went back to the Christmas cards. I think the programme might be good – anyone watched it?

Of course, I had Mum’s cards to think about as well on the Christmas card front. Earlier in the year, I had sent ‘change of address’ cards out to several of Mums friends and relatives. However, there were several people I hadn’t notified, and I suddenly realised these people were on her Christmas card list and they needed to know. All good, except I thought I’d make life easier and print address labels off from the computer. Ha! Spent three-quarters of an hour trying to get the blooming printer to work!!!

Ah, well, I had had a very pleasant hour beforehand, chatting to Michelle. I had heard via the grapevine that she had started a new job, so I was interested to know more. We had a lovely chat – so very nice to catch up. Zoom is brilliant, isn’t it? Not as good as face-to-face but such a godsend.

I have been monitoring the Omicron progress and the scientists are pretty convinced that this variant is highly transmissible. I am not sure of the veracity of one report from Norway which suggested that people caught the virus after using a room that had been vacated by a group of 150 people who were infected. The suggestion being that the virus hung about in the air as a result of stormy weather, causing the ventilation system to possibly invert, thus keeping aerosols in place to accumulate…….. I shall check that one again, but I really hope it’s not true because, if it is, there’s a worry in schools and universities particularly.

Today’s figures are still too high for comfort in my opinion: 43,992 people infected; 54 people died in the community; and 812 people admitted to hospital.

Sometimes, it’s all rather overwhelming, isn’t it? I wonder if this is why the spiritual was an undercurrent today – I am thinking about how to keep us all safe.

In the meantime, I know we must take care of yourselves when we feel like that. Here’s another Charlie Mackesy reminder of how to do it……. spot on.