Posting

Saturday 5th December, 2020

It rained for 26 hours starting early Friday morning. The weather forecasters, at least the ones on my iPad, got it right until today. The day broke wet and then dried so I could walk to Church. I took parcels to be posted. A wonderful reading from Isaiah again full of hope. A promise that God would reveal Himself and we would see Him face to face.

Buoyed up I headed off after a few distanced words and ribbings with the two others at the service. The post office had a huge sign...only three allowed in the queue inside the shop. So I stood outside cursing my politeness allowing an elderly gentleman ( in fact on consideration I think I was older but I never see myself as over 30, so vanity was punished! ) to go in before me. I waited 37 minutes as first a young lady piled 9 parcels across the post office counter. Then a man with long grey hair, a moustache and a Barbour coat took some time asking for specific stamps to Australia, Brazil, Columbia, New Guinea and other countries. He was followed by a kindly old gentleman who wanted to retrieve a parcel. The post lady took several long minutes to find it 'out back'. Then the man I allowed in before me. He wanted to send a parcel to Russia and also to send back 6 returns. Then myself with a friend's two parcels, not mine at all. One to Canada. I had to fill out a customs form. The parcel was weighed, 775 gms., and I was told the cost was £16.65p. The contents were valued at £6.50! The other parcel to Wales was £4.58 so long as it was not a dangerous one. I was quizzed. To cap the whole charade it poured with rain as I walked back with a Telegraph under my arm...for the Crossword, of course. ( Please note the word Cross! ).

I was not made happier when I read the newspaper!

At 13.35 I was out for a walk. Sun was shining even though the weather forecasters had said rain was highly likely between 13.00 and 17.00. ( They were wrong...no rain! ). It was a great stroll and I passed an old apple tree haunt and picked up two dozen mildly rotting apples which I will peel and stew later this evening, while my landlady watches Strictly Come Dancing. I am more in the mood for the Valhalla Murders at 21.00!

Then off on a virtual tour of Antonio Gaudi's Cathedral of the Holy Family in Barcelona. It was utterly fascinating. As a believing Christian I loved the symbolism, the approach, the dedication of the architect, himself a devout man. Sadly the wifi failed for seven minutes so more frustration. This was followed by the front door bell and the arrival of a bubble member. She redeemed herself, just, by bringing home grown Brussels sprouts, leeks and a delicious Foccacio bread ( is that the correct spelling? ).

Then I wrote two letters, well I started them. A little reading and discovering the basis of a talk given by Cardinal Pell in Rome. He is another hero of mine, like the Cardinal of Rwanda, who endured prison on a false charge of pederasty and came out full of forgiveness when proven innocent on appeal. Such men buoy me up by their deeds which fulfil their beliefs.

It has been quite a day. Ups and downs like every day. We just hope. Even if there is no God I am emboldened by human hope. Without it one would indeed be stymied. Like the weather forecasters I may be wrong or inaccurate but I believe ' All shall be well, all manner of thing shall be well' as Dame Julian of Norwich wrote. The skies may fall in and dump showers of cold water but they may also be sunny. That is life, the life buoyed up by hope. Cardinal Pell was so buoyed in prison. We are able to live fully in such a hopeful way.