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...

Oh the JOY when one's dog behaves beautifully (immediate recall to whistle) in the vicinity of Unruly Dogs whose owners needed a hard stare.

How do you even do a 3hr Zoom call without sleeping cats for company?

We have upgraded to a bigger cardboard box.

Good morning, all. This hasn't happened for a looong time but this morning gives me #trainprayer. May I pray for you this morning?

Beautiful morning row today. Many layers, many geese, no ice on the water, atmospheric fog to end.

Living my best day off afternoon life. There is a hot water bottle under the blanket. (These kittens are Miss Climpson (tabby) and Lord Peter, who joined our home after the wonderful Charles Parker was killed by a car)

First time in a while saying evening prayer in a quiet room on a quiet campus - term starts on Monday so I am gradually gearing up to a more frenetic pace.

Been thinking about social media and whether I want to join in again or not... And I think I do. So have finally added photos to my profile, and written this, and now I am famous right?