September Itinerary

Won't be long now until I travel to Canada. But before that I have a school reunion. I am also looking forward to visiting Lee Abbey in Devon at the end of the month.

Here is the calendar of what I I'll be up to in September.

Spending time with mum.

When I submitted my plans for a Sabbatical, I included the fact that I would be spending time with my mum. I recognise that over the years that I have been a Salvation Army Officer, my parents sacrificed a lot, including spending time with me, especially when I was posted in the North of England.

Little did I know that when I submitted my sabbatical plans, that mum would need extra support, due to the fact that adaptions would be made to her home, to make it easier for her to cope with her day to day living.

So over the last two weeks we have visited some places we have never been before and other places that we frequent quite often when I have holiday during the summer.

The first visit was to the Mayfield Lavender Farm at Banstead in Surrey, this is only a few miles from mums, and was a good place to spend a Sunday afternoon. Mum spent time sitting in the outdoor cafe whilst I was able to take some photos.

After enjoying an ice cream, we then journeyed onto the Farthing Downs near Coulsdon, this was a place that we visited often when my nephews were small, as they used to enjoy flying kites. It is also a place where I have frequented when I wanted to get away from the busy-ness of Croydon.

One of the places where dad, mum and I have spent many happy hours in the summer month is Hove.  So on the Monday as work commenced on mums house, we spent some time in Hove. More often than not we are able to park in a disabled bay near Hove Lawns, we then walk very slowly to the cafe, where we have lunch and an ice cream, and then we make our way to sit on the promenade for an hour or so, before we return to the cafe for another ice cream before we make our way back to the car for the journey back to Croydon. Mum is struggling to walk very far nowadays so this means she can have a rest when needed.

The weather was fantastic, a lovely blue sky and the sun shone. So another photo opportunity.

We made another journey to Hove on Wednesday, but because of the beautiful weather, it was very busy so we were unable to park in our usual spot. So I decided that I would drive to Beachy Head. Unfortunately everywhere was busy and the journey took longer than normal, but we eventually arrived and were able to share in some spectacular views.

It is several years ago now, but there was one time I visited Beachy Head and witness the rescue services bring a body bag up the cliff, as you are probably aware there have been many suicides in the area over the years. I was really pleased to see that the Church is trying to assist with practical help through the Beachy Head Chaplaincy team.

The final journey of the first week that I spent with mum, was to Boxhill, near Dorking in Surrey. It is approximately 45 years since I last visited Box Hill. It is run by the Natioal Trust and we were able to have lunch in the cafe. I then took some photos and we concluded our visit with yet another ice cream!!!

I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to spend time with mum. Although the conversion of the bathroom and installation of a stair lift were not planned for during my Sabbatical, God's timing is perfect. After all if I was not on Sabbatical it would have been very difficult to give mum the time needed to help her at this time of transition.

So week one is now complete and in my next blog I will share with you what happened in week 2.

Friends, Southend and unexpected visitors!!!!!

I am grateful to God that throughout my ministry I have made some good friends.

One of those friends entered my life about 4 years ago when she arrived in Stanford le Hope as the new curate.

So it was good to be able to spend some time with Jokey on Friday 12 August.

We had a beautiful summer day in which we could spend some time together.

We decided that we would visit Thorpe Bay, we had a lovely walk along the prom and rewarded ourselves with fish and chips followed by an ice cream.

On returning to the car at about 4pm, Jokey decided that she would like to show me a part of Shoeburyness that she had found, it was once a military base, I have to say it was a good job that the army wasn't relying on Jokey's navigational skills!!! BUT after about 45 minutes we finally found the place she was looking for.

We also managed to find our way to the beach! It certainly was a beautiful part of Shoeburyness.

In fact for that afternoon it was our little part of paradise!!!

It also gave me an opportunity to learn a little about my new camera, and practice taking some different shots, and even use the zoom to its full potential.

We returned to Stanford le Hope by about 8pm, I then journeyed onto Waltham Abbey, after a cuppa  with my neighbour, I went in home to open my post and unpack.

Imagine my horror when I discovered some unwelcome guests, an infestation of flies in the lounge. I hoovered up what I could of the dead flies, and then spent Saturday morning on my knees moving all the furniture and sweeping every inch of carpet with a dustpan and brush, and hopefully they have now been eradicated!!!!!

If they have any sense they will have moved out, because if they are still there on my return home on Thursday 18 August from my mums then the next option will be a pest control company!!!!

UPDATE

I am please to announce that there was so sign of any flies on my return!!!!!

Forest of Dean, Lower Slaughter and the unexpected!!!

On Monday we visited Tintern Station which is now a Coffee Shop, lovely hot chocolate and a big chunk of homemade bread pudding in memory of my cousin's husband. Time to sit in the sunshine and appreciate the beauty surrounding us.

Then there was time to look around.

I was able to take some photos of the Circle of Legends statues, for more information about this click here: http://www.thecircleoflegends.co.uk/

We spent the afternoon in the garden, and then watched the Olympics in the evening.

Tuesday morning I left at 8:30am, journeyed to Lower Slaughter to spend a short time with some friends. I then travelled on to Aylesbury where I bought a new camera with some birthday money, before spending the night with some friends who lived near by.

Wednesday morning I travelled to mums. In the afternoon we visited the dentists for our regular check ups. This was the second visit within two weeks for me. Whilst I was at Beamish I discovered to my dismay that one of my teeth had broken. On returning to Croydon a visit to the dentist revealed that the tooth involved was a wisdom tooth and I would need to be referred to Kings College Hospital for its removal.

Imagine my surprise when I returned to the dentist for the check up, I was informed that the tooth needed to be removed sooner rather than later due to severe infection!!!!!! So the tooth came out and I received a present from the dentist of a 10 day course of strong antibiotics!!!!! Thankfully it has not been too painful and is healing well.

Thursday I spent the day with mum, helping with admin,shopping and other tasks that needed doing.

Forest of Dean and much, much more!

On leaving New Wine on Saturday morning, I travelled to the Forest of Dean to spend some time with my cousin. 

She has an absolutely awesome view from her front garden.

She also has a beautiful garden.

It was good to catch up and spend some time together.

Sunday we met up with my cousin's daughter and her family. We shared a lovely meal together, and then spent some time in the garden. Whilst at the pub there were two beautiful flower displays to appreciate.

I am thankful that during this time of Sabbatical, I have the opportunity to catch up with family that I don't see very often.

For the beauty of the earth, 
for the glory of the skies, 
for the love which from our birth 
over and around us lies; 
Lord of all, to thee we raise 
this our hymn of grateful praise. 

2. For the beauty of each hour 
of the day and of the night, 
hill and vale, and tree and flower, 
sun and moon, and stars of light; 
Lord of all, to thee we raise 
this our hymn of grateful praise. 

3. For the joy of ear and eye, 
for the heart and mind's delight, 
for the mystic harmony, 
linking sense to sound and sight; 
Lord of all, to thee we raise 
this our hymn of grateful praise. 

4. For the joy of human love, 
brother, sister, parent, child, 
friends on earth and friends above, 
for all gentle thoughts and mild; 
Lord of all, to thee we raise 
this our hymn of grateful praise.