After months of hard work, we’re thrilled to be able to share our new festival location for 2027 with you. To those of you who have begged for our new home to have plenty of green space, great transport links and delicious, locally-sourced food and drink, we hope you won’t be disappointed.

Today I learned that if you have trashed the touchscreen on your phone you can plug a USB mouse in and activate things that way. Learned it about 8hrs too late to save me lots of faff, mind.

If you were going to drop and smash your work mobile phone, today wouldn't be the best day, would it...

@nationaltrust.org.uk Could you at least wait until after Easter before sending me an advertisement for a Christmas 2026 event...?

So many things still to do this evening but I guess some of them will just be done standing...

As I was saying

I cannot recommend enough adding @bcpminuscontext.bsky.social to your collection because about twice a day there are created the most marvellous coincidental comments on adjacent posts...

Here's Bunter the birthday dog enjoying his treat, being closely observed by Lord Peter, who doesn't have a birthday until August

I do love @bcpminuscontext.bsky.social

When you buy @timbattsneale.bsky.social a second hand 1970s textbook for his birthday and you are both equally delighted to discover it came with its original library ticket... That's probably a sign we're married to the right person.

@ruthh.bsky.social let's see what the @churchofengland.org IWD prayer is for tomorrow...

Thank you @revrachelmann.bsky.social for putting this in my feed this morning. Much laughter at the breakfast table.

Rest day afternoon in full swing here

Happy Valentine’s Day, from us to you. Tag your exes. Xoxox

4.20pm and I'm just sitting down to do what I'd planned to start immediately after lunch.

There has been rowing today, which makes everything better.

I now have the answer. Shiny new laptop has an ARM processor which apparently means Nothing Old Works With It. Possibly including me

Thought I had seen it all in terms of theatre-going entitlement but this evening the person sitting next to me physically moved the older man in front of her, holding his shoulders and straightening his leaning head out of her eye line.

Do I know anyone who can explain to a tired priest why a her new laptop won't install either Adobe Acrobat or the correct printer drivers? Lost about 2 days in the past fortnight ferreting about for solutions. Gained about 2lb from necessary chocolate consumption

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.