Our pancakes tonight: spinach wraps with roasted red pepper and kimchi sauce, from Tim Dpector, Food for Life Cookbook.

I wish I could google Ash Wednesday services near me (Durham city). Family arriving 11am, so I need a service no later than 10am. And the Durham Cathedral service at 7.30am is too early.

I have been sorting out my teas. Some packets I’ve had for years. Decided I really needed to drink what I could, and compost what I didn’t like. Some teas I tried and just didn’t take to. Basically, I don’t like flavoured teas, tho I take Earl Grey occasionally when I’m out.

The Transfiguration window @ St Philip & St James Witton le Wear, where I was presiding and preaching this morning.

This morning I am taking the service at Witton le Wear where John Stackhouse, 7x gt g’fr, was curate 350 years ago.

I have discovered my new favourite tea bag tea: Cartwright & Butler English Breakfast. Given some for Xmas. just ordered more. I drink loose tea in the evening / night / when I take tea with me to an event. But I start the day with t-bags. PM: green / white / oolong / herbal tea bags.

That was a lovely sermon on BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship on waiting, the kind of sermon I wish I had given.

St Mary le Bow Durham is up for sale. My 6x gt g’fr’s younger half brother’s wife was baptised there 1695. Her fr Peter Burrell = Deputy Registrar of Durham Diocese, buried in churchyard 1720. Her g’fr, mother’s fr, Lancelot Hilton, also buried there, tho born in Hilton Sunderland (Hylton Castle).

What spiritual/ devotional podcasts would you recommend for someone to listen to during lent?

Arnison Centre Sainsbury’s doesn’t do Benedictine. I’ll have to go to Burnley.

It’s not a task I resent (most of the time); Not a task I’m wanting to give up. It’s a service I do. It’s an offering …. To my husband, to the world, to God, A mindful gift. Because I can.

One of today’s tasks left me feeling miserable and dejected. Following which, I did find the Save the Parish website helpful. But the task made me feel More alienated from the CofE than ever.

Went to Durham Cathedral as I’m not taking services today. I wouldn’t have come out through the snow at all if I didn’t have to pick up urgent meds for spouse from Boots, as the insulin pens he has aren’t working properly. There was a puddle all around me as I melted.

It is dosette box day. For the next hour, I will be sorting spouse’s meds for the next fortnight. He has 23 tablets a day.

Still reflecting on 2025. Surprised to find my greatest regret. Feeling sad.

I had no idea of what would light me up in 2025: discovering my 7x gt g’fr and his sons, deepening friendship with old uni lecturer who has taught me so much and led me on unexpected paths. So 2026? Let it come! No Resolutions, but an openness to the future, to the Spirit, to the Universe.

Yesterday, my grand daughters, 10 & 11, were having a discussion about trans substantiation.

My sister made me a new bed jacket for Christmas. It is very cosy.

Third course: beef

On Christmas Day we have one meal in 4 courses. We had soup first (celeriac, chestnuts, champagne), then fish ( gravadlax, smoked salmon pate, trout eggs). We will have beef after the kings speech, then Christmas pudding this evening some time.

Turbot and Borlotti beans with sweet potato mash: Christmas Eve at Dunelm Mount.

I have unwrapped the Gravadlax after 4 days curing. And had a little taste … delicious!

Played 2 rounds of Doninion with son, using a new extension set. This game is different every time you play.

John Coward (1832-1917) ran 3 local gas companies, a JP, poor law Guardian, councillor, prominent Primitive Methodist, so a significant person in Durham City. What’s more, he built Dunelm Mount, our home for 40 years. He is buried in St Cuthbert’s churchyard. The gravestone needs restoration.

I spent the morning The Story Durham (county record office) researching John Coward (that’s another story) and came across this snippet about St Nic’s Durham. It amused me.

Durham Cathedral from the riverbank.

The gardens of heaven. Durham Lumiere 2025, palace green, elysium garden

Lights shining in the darkness. Lumiere Durham 2025, cathedral cloisters.

Even in November as we await the first snows of the season, flowers bloom, feverfew to heal our aching heads and hearts, sheltering under the lamp post.

The widowed 2nd wife of my 7x gt g’fr was sued for dilapidations by the new Rector of Boldon Edmund Tew in 1735. Clergy had to maintain their own accommodation. It went to a Consistory Court.

I see trains go over the Durham viaduct every day. I can watch them from the bay window in my gran cave. And I find myself praying for them, almost automatically, making the sign of the cross in my head as a blessing. Now I know why, and will do it more consciously.

My g’dr’s (10 yo) audit of her Halloween haul:

Sometimes the universe offers a precious and unexpected gift, like this oak leaf with Silk Button Galls from the wasp Neuroterus numismalis. Isn’t it beautiful?

A day in Leeds with friends, not a city I know well, but it is rather splendid. For nostalgic reasons, we went to Leeds Market, where Barbara Quigley had taken us winter 73/74 during a power cut in the 3-day week, and I bought fabric for my wedding dress. (Yes, I bought fabric)

Waiting for Choral Evensong @ St Cuthberts CofE Church Durham, with Hild & Bede College

Here are the pots I made, back from firing.

Am in Durham for 3 appointments (incl flu jab, too young for Covid jab despite being a cater) so having lunch in between: Thai Som Tham Salad (only 1 chilli) with coconut water to drink.

And to complete the anniversary celebration I went to the Hild & Bede Choral Evensong at St Cuthberts Church. The choir is very good this year. Now I am drinking gin with Campari and tonic and waiting for dinner to cook.

Who is this saint steadfastly keeping watch way above the reach of iconoclastic reformers?

It now costs £2 to leave a candle burning for my frail spouse. I know it says donation … but that’s some pressure.

25 years ago, Durham Cathedral was covered in faux spider webs. At the rehearsal, there was a guy walking round with an owl on his arm. I fully expected to be presented with a sorting hat. Harry Potter 1 was being filmed.

Sitting in Durham Cathedral, praying and remembering my ordination as deacon. I read Bp Michael’s charge before i came out: Formation, Transformation, Reformation. The cathedral is full of tourists wishing I would move, bcos I impede their photographs.

Tomorrow, 8 October is the 25th anniversary of my ordination as a deacon. I have no appointments (tho desperate for a haircut). I will have a Quiet Day of reflection and go to the Cathedral.

For those local to Durham and follow my family history discoveries over recent months, I will be telling the story of my 7x gt g’fr and his 3 sons at: The Parish Hall Framwellgate Moor (In front of St Aidans Church) Mon 20 Oct 2.00pm All welcome. Honestly, it’s a great story. Do join us.

Just musing on the number of words now that begin E- (mail, commerce, etc). Remembering from family history that I had a great uncle Ewald, pronounced E-wald. And wondering what that was the electronic version of. Uncle Ewald was born in Saltburn and lived in York.

Branch fallen from Ash tree. Look at the wonderful patterns from the boring beetle

Avenue of Himalayan Birch. Lots of fungi to be found there

Went on fungus foray @ Durham Botanical Gardens with Durham Wildlife trust Botany Group: Shaggy scaly cap Tan Ear Liberty Cap Amanita Muscaria

The potter lives at Westerton. 100 yards or so away is this ancient observatory, built 1765 by Thomas Wright astronomer. He identified Saturns rings.

in June I went on a pottery day and made 3 pots? The follow up session in July for decorating and glazing had to postponed until today. So here are my 3 pots, decorated and glazed, tho they won’t look anything like this when fired. I will go back in 2/3 weeks to collect the finished pots.