Hope loves sniffing out squirrels in church!

🧵It’s been a few years now since I achieved my Level 7 MCGI in Leadership and Management through City & Guilds. It wasn’t really about the certificate — it was about recognising 13 years of real leadership. Most of those skills were learned in voluntary roles, leading teams of people who show up

I’m pleased to be joining this programme next month. 2yrs in to my current post, 10yrs of this journey, it’s pause, reflect on the barriers & enablers women encounter in leadership, & grow in confidence & resilience alongside a diverse group of senior women. windsorleadership.org.uk/women-leader...

🧵 “On the one hand, women are expected to exhibit the traits traditionally associated with effective leadership, such as assertiveness and decisiveness. On the other hand, as argued above, when women display these traits, they are often labelled negatively, as ‘bossy’, ‘aggressive’ or ‘unfeminine’”

Our beautiful Hannah Dunnett jigsaw completed over Twixmas

The Crib Service is my favourite event of the year, high energy and absolute chaos. It’s brilliant! It was so encouraging to see the numbers have doubled from last year.

The tree is up thanks to the 13yo! This year’s new ornament is a reminder of a rather fun time in January.

I love this definition. A great therapist I worked with would always get people to extend their ‘I’m tired’ sentence to ‘I’m tired of……..’. Try asking yourself next time you feel tired- what am I tired of? It’s often very revealing!

A bimble around the Beyond Van Gogh exhibition was more than enough exercise today. Followed by a delicious carvery at Buckfast Abbey. I’m tired and sore but so glad we went.

For the one we didn’t get to meet. July 2011. #WaveOfLight2025

12yo has sent photos from Iceland where he is on a geography trip. Nope, I’m not jealous. Well maybe a little bit!

Neurotypical expectations of pastoral care are a classic example of this challenge for autistic ministers.

27 staples removed! 21 from the top wound and 6 from the lower. I’m hoping it’s not too naive to think some movements will be easier now.

It’s been great travelling with our 8 Confirmation candidates. We have one more session before the service on Weds 26 Nov at 7pm but I hope our excellent conversations continue for a long time after that!

Another stunning day off in the Diocese of Truro, this time brunch and a dog walk in a forest.

A lovely autumn evening walk with the hound. The light was beautiful

And breathe! Two nights cocooned at Epiphany House are to be treasured - this is the last time for this course so I don’t know when I’ll get to do it again

Just in case anyone was wondering if I’d recovered from being called Reverend Lady yesterday!

Another stunning day off. This time across the border at Boringdon Hall. Seriously, being a priest in Cornwall is soooo tough. #MinisterCornwall

🧵I’ve recently had the privilege of taking part in a brilliant course for Oversight Ministers in Truro Diocese , developed in partnership with CPAS. The experience has been more than just informative—it’s been supportive. Throughout the course the learning has been enhanced by

A beach walk and a pub lunch. A day off in the glorious @diotruro.bsky.social often looks like this! It could be yours too, register for our Clergy Recruitment Day here trurodiocese.org.uk/2025/09/cler...

Clergy friends - come and see what’s happening in Cornwall (and 2 parishes in Devon!)

The 16yo and I snuck off for fish and chips at Lynmouth this evening. The waves were rather fun! Also lovely to make an unscheduled stop to see friends!

Holiday reading has arrived!

Thanks Miller & Carter Plymouth for helping us celebrate 16yo’s brilliant GCSE results!

Indeed

I’d like to see a ‘fitness to practice’ type approach that covers many areas not just safeguarding www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

A 5am wake up as the Coastguatd must be searching the river for someone / something in the Saltash area. They’ve been looking for over an hour. Prayers for all involved.

Leadership as a vocation shepherdinginsights.co.uk/2025/08/13/l...

"What do you do if you have a footfall of 30,000 people coming through your church hall every year, but tiles are blowing off the roof...?" Read the story from @churchofengland.org about St Martin’s Church in St Martin's Church, Liskeard, here: www.churchofengland.org/about/enviro...

Some people will have heard me talk about this before, the importance of Work-Life Integration rather than Work-Life Balance. shepherdinginsights.co.uk/2025/08/06/a...

"One of the biggest standouts that I think that any company could take away is, if your CEO, was also filling the role of safety officer, and lead engineer at the end, it's just too many," he said. "It's a consolidation of power that leads to no checks and balances." www.bbc.com/news/article...

At an attempt at work - life integration I took an extended lunch break and dragged the 12yo to a national Trust property for fresh air and food!

A gorgeous afternoon at Lerryn with some peculiar ice cream (salted caramel with rhubarb anyone?). My favourite bit was watching the big fish (trout? salmon?) swim towards the sea.

I have admin help this morning!

12yrs ago we met at baby massage, the ‘babies’ aren’t so interested in us any more but a girls’ brunch is a wonderful thing!

I don’t know the source of this quote but it certainly resonates! What will be your leadership legacy?

After three blissful nights of spa serenity, I returned home feeling like a new woman… until I looked up and thought, ‘Hmm, pretty sure ceilings aren’t meant to bulge.’ Fortunately, the Diocese Property superheroes are already swinging into action! 🛠️🦸‍♂️

It was such a pleasure to record this. If you are interested in exploring ministry in the Diocese of Truro, email [email protected] Listen to our conversation about Oversight Ministry and first time incumbency here: trurodiocese.org.uk/podcast-seri...

An evening on the beach is always a treat

Clergy who are discerning what’s next - I recommend this day! Come and see what it’s really like ministering in the beautiful Duchy of Cornwall. There’s almost certainly a pasty for lunch!

This was an absolutely joyous day! It’s so good to see how far the Benefice has come, this level of unity was unimaginable 15mths ago. Everyone has worked so hard to come together. www.cornish-times.co.uk/news/churche...

This week, I led one of the most heartbreaking funerals I’ve ever experienced. It’s left me feeling tender and reflective, so I’ve taken a gentle 48 hours to rest and reset. This morning, a quiet moment with a pot of tea, an interesting book, and the soft bubbling of the pond brought a

It’s not just me that’s pleased to see garden peas back in the shops!

Tonight was a glorious evening for supper on the beach and getting rid of GCSE revision notes. We were shocked to look at the time and realise it was 10pm and still light! #LongestDay