Hopefully it is obvious that I have had a very happy life! Out of so many great days our wedding day has to be the happiest closely followed by other weddings especially Louise and Tom and Dennis and Ann Marie. The births of the children especially Bruce. Our 3 grandsons and I recall many happy days playing with them and especially steam train rides! Reunions - arriving in Hobart and Ann and Paul's wedding, Sydney, Mark and Sarah's wedding. Music has been such a joy. So many wonderful Chorus concerts especially Fidelio in Orange, Giulini concerts. Playing the organ so many times and the sense of achievement when all went well. Singing "If with all your hearts" and "We'll gather lilacs" and the concerts both here and in Australia. Holidays and travel - Iguazu falls, Okavango and seeing the leopard and her cub, the Sea of Galilee, Lindisfarne, Victoria Falls, Alaska, the lists just goes on and on! Great ceremonies especially ordinations of so many. And perhaps more importantly the quiet communion and the silence. The amazing experiences of Mt Sinai and the church of the Holy sepulchre. Catenians have given much pleasure especially the provincial weekend on the Isle of Wight and getting motions passed at Liverpool conference. Sad that Norwood circle closed but life goes on. It looks like Dulwich circle will also close.
Saddest day must be Mum and Dad's funeral, the funeral of Liz's Dad, saying goodbye is hard. The day I left Johannesburg, the departures from Hobart and Sydney. Leaving Addiscombe was very sad. The end of Heythrop. Some funerals have been sad. The loss of a friend like David Barrett is hard.
I have often been moved to tears especially by opera e.g. Madam Butterfly and films e,g, The Alamo and theatre e,g, Othello at the Globe. This is a good thing - tears help a lot.
Some of the happy occasions have been bitter sweet.
I suppose it is when God seems closest and Love takes over. Love is expressed in a hug or a smile. a whole world can be there in a single moment. Julian of Norwich speaks of the whole world in a hazelnut. Always be thankful.
This time of lockdown is so strange. All the usual things have gone to be replaced by a programme of services on the screen and operas on screen. I have cleared out so much paper from the past - so many organ recitals and services. I have kept programmes from exciting events like the Olympics and Paralympics in London but I have to ask "Why keep this and not that?". Perhaps it is to do with memory. Some things I have found I cannot recall at all, others remain vivid.
What am I missing? Hugs from the family, conversations, singing together, playing the organ, above all Eucharist. I confess the second part of Mass seems remote at the moment. St John's holds a special place in my heart. Who knows how long we will be at home ? It could be months before it is safe to return to "normal". Our great National institutions like the Royal Opera House, Royal Academy and the Globe are under threat. The many art galleries I have visited have given me so much pleasure. And zoos and wild life parks are always happy places for me especially Whipsnade and Taronga. Monasteries I really like are Belmont and Worth. York Minster has to be the "gates of heaven". Westminster cathedral always gives a thrill! We will be back!
Saddest day must be Mum and Dad's funeral, the funeral of Liz's Dad, saying goodbye is hard. The day I left Johannesburg, the departures from Hobart and Sydney. Leaving Addiscombe was very sad. The end of Heythrop. Some funerals have been sad. The loss of a friend like David Barrett is hard.
I have often been moved to tears especially by opera e.g. Madam Butterfly and films e,g, The Alamo and theatre e,g, Othello at the Globe. This is a good thing - tears help a lot.
Some of the happy occasions have been bitter sweet.
I suppose it is when God seems closest and Love takes over. Love is expressed in a hug or a smile. a whole world can be there in a single moment. Julian of Norwich speaks of the whole world in a hazelnut. Always be thankful.
This time of lockdown is so strange. All the usual things have gone to be replaced by a programme of services on the screen and operas on screen. I have cleared out so much paper from the past - so many organ recitals and services. I have kept programmes from exciting events like the Olympics and Paralympics in London but I have to ask "Why keep this and not that?". Perhaps it is to do with memory. Some things I have found I cannot recall at all, others remain vivid.
What am I missing? Hugs from the family, conversations, singing together, playing the organ, above all Eucharist. I confess the second part of Mass seems remote at the moment. St John's holds a special place in my heart. Who knows how long we will be at home ? It could be months before it is safe to return to "normal". Our great National institutions like the Royal Opera House, Royal Academy and the Globe are under threat. The many art galleries I have visited have given me so much pleasure. And zoos and wild life parks are always happy places for me especially Whipsnade and Taronga. Monasteries I really like are Belmont and Worth. York Minster has to be the "gates of heaven". Westminster cathedral always gives a thrill! We will be back!
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