A Bit of a Bash

One of the effects of covid has been fewer outings and get togethers.  There is an upside. It means that within the quiet beige landscape of our lives any celebratistands out like a faceted jewel gleaming in a precious setting.

I was so thrilled that all three children came and stayed for my birthday.  We pushed the boat out and went for two outings.  We spent Saturday at RHS Wisley where the Autumn colours were kindling along the avenues. Then on Sunday after church we visited the Royal Academy (belated) summer exhibition.  It is a measure of my euphoria that just for one brief moment I even considered buying something.  

We also caught up with our great friends Ethan and Dan at points over the weekend. 

And now it is over. But for a long time I shall be turning over the memory of this bright jewel until it becomes as smooth as sea glass in my pocket.

The Time of Year For Action

I remember my Latin teacher at school explaining that Autumn was her favourite time of year – it marked the start of the academic year and for her it was a time of new beginnings.

I agree.  In addition, Autumn russets are the colours which suit me.  Not only that, but I have an Autumn birthday. 

As the leaves turn gold and the clocks shift back, there is usually an anticipation of cosiness and hibernation.

This year, however, the UN’s climate conference, COP26, is about to take place in Glasgow, and it means we must not settle into the inertia of winter just yet. 

If we want to see more golden Autumns, it is vital that we try to influence the world leaders in any way we can to curb Climate Catastrophe. 

So get involved in signing petitions, campaigning and marching.  Politicians only act when they can see how important an issue is to their electorate.  Please help convince them.

Take part in the Global Day of Action, November 6^th.

https://cop26coalition.org/gda/

For readers in St Albans, Friends of the Earth is organising a peaceful rally, meeting St Albans Arena, midday Nov 6^th and marching to the Clock Tower for speeches.

Elsewhere, google or consult the Facebook pages of your local Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion.

The Best Medicine

We have felt blue and weary during the weeks surrounding Nigel’s sister’s death.

Fortunately for us, our old friends David and Carolyn did what they could to help.

Months before all this happened, Carolyn had booked a house in the Peak District where we were to meet them for a long weekend.  As the date approached, it seemed unlikely we would make it.

When the date for Sandy’s funeral was set for that Friday, it looked as if our trip was off.

Except that other family members were supporting Nigel’s mother following the funeral, so our presence wasn’t needed after all.

David and Carolyn gave up their Friday to attend the funeral and then went ahead of us to Derbyshire where they had dinner waiting for us when we arrived.  They took us on a long rainy, muddy walk on Saturday.  Then Carolyn and I found a creche in which to leave the menfolk (The Queen’s Head) and raided the charity shops of Bakewell – a form of retail therapy which is both green and socially responsible.

And we talked.  How we talked!

By the end of the weekend we were making silly jokes and laughing again.

That doesn’t mean we are now fine. 

But it was a welcome oasis along the path of bereavement.

Thank you to David and Carolyn for the gift of your friendship.

Some gladness in the goodbye

As I mentioned last week, Nigel’s sister Sandy died.

She had suffered for many years from anorexia and died well short of the years she might have expected.  Undeniably this has been very sad,

However, this week we have found so much in her life to be grateful for.

The reason has been the funeral.

People get excited about weddings, but to me a funeral is the superior rite of passage:

Paul organised the ceremony around the grave.

Afterwards at the church, Pascoe and Benjy read lessons, Jo and Nigel remembered the amazing things Sandy had achieved in spite of her difficulties.  Perran read praising emails from colleagues in the NHS where Sandra did very effective voluntary work.

Carenza read a letter from a new friend whom Sandra had made in hospital the very day before she died.  Abbi sang a beautiful song anticipating Sandy’s future life in Heaven.

Women from Sandy’s church served the tea afterwards.

Friends and relatives got together and reminisced about Sandy and caught up on family news.

God Himself contributed rainbows throughout the day and especially at the interment.

 

As a churchgoer, I find myself at funerals fairly regularly, especially those of elderly members of the congregation.

It is always a chance to appreciate the life lived, to give thanks and to start the process of healing. 

But the best thing is the intense spirit of goodwill which, for a few hours, glues together a temporary community made of the disparate band of friends and relatives who loved the person who died.

 

 Photo by Andrew Johnson on Unsplash