Current mysteries in the Vicarage: 1. The whereabouts of the clock pendulum and key. 2. Why my new laptop tells me it's installed Acrobat reader & the printer drivers, and then... hasn't. 3. Where the afternoon has gone.

Sparkly feet in church today! This morning's service included a thanksgiving for a child, whose young relatives brought glittery joy one step at a time.

Would recommend.

Happy to report that I have now thawed out in Pizza Express, in plenty of time for the train. Honestly, you know it's cold when even 15min on the Victoria Line in a coat still feels a bit parky

Well. @caledoniansleeper.bsky.social are running, hurrah. But I am now at least 50 min late for my planned rendezvous with Mr Batts-Neale, and completely freezing, after points failure meant train cancellation and delays on @greateranglia.bsky.social

Second day off today, and it will likely mostly be spent pacing around & looking at weather forecasts waiting to find out if @caledoniansleeper.bsky.social is running to Dundee tonight or if we will achieve a lifetime 100% failure rate of trains we're booked on being cancelled.

Third year in a row, so now a lifetime tradition: leftover Christmas pudding banana split. Just ridiculous, and splendid.

Here's Miss Climpson come to keep an eye on you

#clergymaltclub mince pie too courtesy of lovely churchwarden. Happy Christmas, everyone.

Getting ready for my first year of Sawbridgeworth's Carols on Fair Green later. Once my post-crib service cuppa has done its job, though.

Looking forward to 4 January 2026

The picture of a man trying hard to pay attention to his wife on her birthday whilst Joe Root was 97 not out (said man has already been out to fetch tasty cake and lovely flowers)

People have been telling me all autumn that the Festival of Light (held during the town's Christmas lights switch-on) is awesome. And I think I have to agree. Although I would quite like to never see a tea light again.

I find this train advertisement rather begs the question "If you are surprised by vegetables, what did you think falafel were made of?"

There was water dripping from the landing ceiling last night, so no water on in the house today. And I have broken my favourite teapot. Not the best Monday ever.

This morning we are on an architecture tour of the Barbican. Revisiting the version of myself that walked from Liverpool St, through here, on my way to work.

Successful trial of giving out hot chocolate drinks to people passing through the churchyard this evening. Quite pleased.

Slide through for a simple breakdown of the latest LLF update. 🚨PLEASE SHARE - setbacks like this show that we need as many people pushing for inclusion as possible #churchofengland #livinginloveandfaith #equalmarriage

Went to Brownies, was awarded a badge, discovered I still remembered the words and tune to Brownie Bells after 40+ years. Excellent evening of vicaring.

Tell me the central heating is on without telling me the central heating is on...

Overhead at Liverpool Street today: "I can't really take the train seriously going from platform 8 since it always and ought to be going from platform 9." Yep, I relate to that.

Making the most of a day off

Weather precluded planned rowing today but I walked in woods & saw my parents & brother which was good. Means no last chance to check gloves etc are OK ahead of next week's Great River Race though

A rather pleasing series of comments on my feed this afternoon

Celebrate with me, folks. Almost two months after we moved and the toolbox has now moved back out to the garage where it ought to be.

The line in this that stands out, a blinking indicator still going in the wreckage of the car crash, is that Citizen Church had staff costs of £300k a year.

Three days immersed in a community of people who dare to long for a world that embodies love, compassion, light and hope. Thank you @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social

Happy @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social Eve to all who travel tomorrow and thank you to everyone who's been there ages already making the place beautiful and ready

who posted a flowchart recently on accepting donations of things to churches? I saw it, laughed, scrolled on and now I can't find it - was it @gerrarrdus.bsky.social or @davewalker.bsky.social ? Did I dream it?

@watfordgap.bsky.social Sawbridgeworth, 23

Back to Wivenhoe this week for a combination of cricket, football and rowing which was rather lovely. Excited by chat about this year's Great River Race in September which I am a team member for.

First Sunday in my new parish, and rather joyful. A couple of moments in our worship this morning where the choir and I took each other by surprise... and it felt appropriate to preach a bit about the Lord's Prayer, such a foundational prayer, at the start of ministry here.

First night of the Proms. Splendid. Sancta Civitas - which I have only known as a chorus member - was more glorious and goosebump-inducing than I had hoped.

@robbsutherland.bsky.social and his first Synod speech...

And we're underway, for what will be my final York General Synod sessions.

Final day as chaplain @essexuni.bsky.social today. Five years almost to the day since I was licensed in the pandemic. Not an ideal start, and yet I built many good working relationships; had many one-off conversations and prayerful moments; met laughter & disaster. For all that has been, thank you.

Found a notebook with scribbles from a previous @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social - maybe three years ago? Some excellent notes to self. And also the line "inexplicably a man playing clackers"

Ah. Minor emergency here as we attempted to disconnect old dishwasher before it's taken away. I have now learned what can go wrong with old appliance valves, and Tim and the kitchen have dried out. I still haven't found the internal stopcock, though.

My last Sunday at St Mary's Wivenhoe today, including a joyous baptism and a sermon in which we all made (or attempted) to make a paper boat. One more week at the University, a preach on Sunday next week at Greenstead, and that's it for this chapter of life and ministry.

With a few weeks until a house move, this is very well timed.

Oh, if only this WERE a thing, wouldn't life just be splendid?

Last things before we move are beginning... Today was my last concert with University of Essex choir - a rather challenging but fabulous evening at Snape Maltings. Photo from beginning of this afternoon's rehearsal. That's our conductor, @benvonberg-clark.bsky.social looking serious behind me

Harker's Yard gigs all in row. Before a row. And after some oar-tangling turns, a couple of rows.

Looking for a cat carrier now the kittens don't comfortably fit in one together. Won't be buying this one - what did they DO to that poor moggster to get it in..?

Ah, Qoheleth, words for our time from Ecclesiastes at Morning Prayer today.

So many questions. But primarily where is this and can I go and shall I bring bee eye ess see you eye Tee esses for the dee oh gee? (my dog can't spell biscuit yet but I think he does know he is the dee oh gee)

This week it's the SU's SHAG week - sexual health and guidance - and today I am listening.

@rosamundi.bsky.social saw this and thought of you - would you want it?

On my way to Brentwood for a morning with other chaplains. So it's #trainprayer again today in 5 minutes - may I pray for you?

Always good to start the day being told I deserve to be run over and shouted at for 'deliberately cycling in front.' Official complaint submitted...