Boney M at Ely_Cathedral. Wonderful vibes. Can’t wait. #daddycool And before you ask, I think the BVM would LOVE it.

Basil doing what Basil does best PS he knows he’s not allowed to sleep on the sofa.

I think the viewer experience of #Wimbledon  is significantly diminished by the removal of line judges. No more folks of all shapes, sizes and ages, crammed into ludicrous stripey Ralph Lauren outfits, bellowing and avoiding 125mph serves. It was all part of the fun.

The star of the Siena exhibition depicts the biblical scene where teenage Jesus loses his family for days. This the moment of reuniting. Note Jesus’ crossed arms & grumpy face. Dad giving him the evils & Mary saying “literally what have you been doing?” Nothing changes!!!!!!!

I took Basil the Labrador with me to Durham, and we spent a lot of time in the cathedral on book research. He was immaculately behaved. Most folk were very happy to see him. A few made snarky comments about dogs in places of worship. What’s your view? Here he is with St Bede.

The Jesus prayer has been so significant to me over the years. Sometimes when I can’t pray anything else, it’s like holding on in desperation until things get better. And it works!

Just back from dropping Mrs D and Granny D at the airport. I’m home alone with Basil 🐕. *plays Iggy Pop very loud *makes enormous stack of French Toast *Considers beer *Realises it’s only 8 o’clock in the morning

My key ring

I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that the modern habit of storing everything in the enormous fridge (tomatoes, soft fruit, salad etc) renders it all absolutely tasteless. I can’t tell you how much better things taste at room temperature.

Me to a young colleague: “I’m sorry if that sounded bossy” Colleague to me: “You are my boss. Bossy is literally what you are supposed to sound like.”

As a Christian I am not morally opposed to assisted dying under any circumstances. But I am absolutely opposed to legislation to allow it being galloped through on a badly drafted private member’s bill. This is too important an issue to do it badly. Literally lives are at stake.

I walk past this doorway every morning. It’s on Coe Fen behind the Fitzwilliam. I know nothing about it…I’m guessing it used to be something to do with Peterhouse…but I think it’s beautiful and I wish it was better looked after. #cambridge

Truth 👇🏻

The Vatican announces that Pope Leo XIV will maintain an “active social media presence” on X and Instagram.

Pope Leo XIV quoting St Augustine of Hippo: "What I am for you terrifies me; what I am with you consoles me. For you I am a bishop; but with you I am a Christian. The former is a duty; the latter a grace. The former is a danger; the latter, salvation."

Proud Father alert- Master Didymus safely at Stansted having driven an aid convoy out to Ukr4ine, spending a couple of days there and flying home. Back to uni tomorrow. Amazing young man - takes after his Mother!

For the BBC to describe the conclave as not having yielded “a clear winner” or “a result” demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the process and what it means. It’s not a competition. It’s a process of discernment, for a job that no candidate should feel worthy of.

Today I am struck by the stark differences between how Popes are chosen and the process to choose an Archbishop of Canterbury. Which gives the Holy Spirit the best chance of working, I wonder? (I don’t pretend to know the answer by the way).

Well done, brave and faithful servant. Rest in Peace. 😔🙏🏻🕊️

Happy Easter everyone. Thanks for being there.

Yesterday for Palm Sunday we had not one but two donkeys, named Ronnie and Reggie after the Kray twins. They led the congregation in procession to the church. Brilliant fun.

Our marvellous curate has just had a baby so I just made these for him, praying a blessing at the end of each row. A rather wonderful experience. Actually they’re so cute I don’t want to give them away, but they certainly won’t fit me.

Five years ago today - at the start of the first lockdown - this fella came to live with us. Basil has basically been asleep ever since. But we love him. Note how he grew into his paws…. 🐾

So. Mrs D, expecting her son to be at the door just now, opened the door, arms outstretched to give him an enormous hug which would have been fine had it not actually been a Deliveroo driver.

I’m guessing Putin is literally sh*tting himself at this news.

Tonight on the way into evensong @Ely_Cathedral the altar that normally sits under the octagon has been removed, so I got to lie on the floor (in clericals - nobody seemed to mind) and take this picture of it. Evensong itself was utterly sublime.

Pondering. What happens when AI starts producing Christian books or even prophetic scripture? Is it possible that God could speak to us through AI? And if not, will we be able to tell the difference?

My 92 year old mother messages saying she needs my drainage rods to unblock the drainage outlet from her kitchen. No thank you, she doesn’t need help. She’s basically amazing (cycled 14km last weekend & sang alto at evensong with me yesterday). I do hope I inherited her genes!

Tune.

Still recovering from last night’s Shrove Tuesday supper fest. Duck pancakes followed by pancake pancakes. All quite pancakey.

Spring is a marvellous time of year for bald people. It’s the only time we don’t have to wear a hat. #cueballsRule.

Starmer’s doing well, no?

Lightbulb moment: nobody in the CofE hierarchy - from archbishop down to priests and readers in parishes is actually doing the job they thought they were called to do. Missional and pastoral work is a tiny proportion of the role nowadays. No wonder morale is so low.

I mean it’s an obvious point but the whole Oval Office press conference was a set up. It’s breathtakingly appalling. To do that to the elected leader of another country. Zelensky has absolutely sky rocketed in my estimations.

I find watching the US Vice President in full swing very triggering - and I’ve realised that it’s because he reminds me of the boys who bullied me mercilessly at school. That’s the point I guess. Side note: you never really get over being bullied as a child.

Morning everyone. Has anyone discovered a drinkable alcohol free wine? 🍷 Woukd you care to share the secret with the rest of us? #LentLooms

I’ve just spent 15 minutes trying to persuade Mrs D that President Putin has a daughter called Ra-Raras. She wasn’t having any of it.

Lenten preparations in full swing.

Had such a good time at Twickers on Saturday.

This little guy sits on my desk every day. I’m praying for him.

A purchase from Stamford - a Staffordshire figurine of John Wesley preaching, flanked by angels. It’s probably fair to say I love it more than others.

Fr Didymus outside the ruins of St Leonard’s Priory in Stamford this morning. Mrs D says my jumper is too tight and I look like a shirtless Donald Trump. Which is fair.

Just trying on my kilt to wear to the rugby tomorrow. It appears to have shrunk.

Gosh. I expect we’ll have a flipping bank holiday for Eastenders’ fiftieth.

Praying for Pope Francis this morning. A godly man.

Basil clearly hasn’t read the Valentine’s Day memo.

Fact. The media tends to give female politicians a harder time than male ones. I've noticed this for years. Trying being the female CEO of a company and see how the media treats you. It's real and it's grim.

Basically the valentine's card is the one time in the year that I write by hand nowadays. Blinking hell it looks awful. I used to have lovely handwriting. Though I say so myself. Anyone else feeling the same?

I'm beginning to wonder if Synod is actually structurally unable to function, and this is why it constantly seems to kick important decisions down the road.