I've long wanted to climb Ben Nevis... and just about anyone I asked had already done this and had no urge to do so again.  I also wanted to find a way of marking the second anniversary of my cancer diagnosis that would raise money for one of the charities that I have been grateful for.  So, today I signed up for the Breast Cancer Care Ben Nevis Challenge which takes place in September (see widget thingy on the right sidebar).

BCC is a dedicated support charity whose leaflets are used extensively, and almost exclusively, by NHS GGC who undertook my treatment.  BCC provide many courses and events as well as opertaing a well-used online forum where people can give and receive support and encouragement or simply let off steam.  I used a lot of the leaflets and through the forums have 'met' and met-for-real many wonderful people.

So, the walk up Ben Nevis will be fun and a suitable challenge for second anniversary... much nicer to be facing a real moutain to climb this September than the metaphorical one two years ago.

One of the more entertaining aspects of PAYG is discovering the saints days, holy days and other special days that are marked.  Today is the RC festival of two Thessalonican brothers from the 9th century who undertook missions among the Slavic peoples in what is now known as Bulgaria.  No martyrdom so far as I can ascertain, Cyril is credited with the alphabet used in eastern European countries to this day and it seems the brothers were advocates of liturgy in the vernacular.

I don't think anyone has developed a card for this festival!  I presume it won't result in hikes in the prices of flowers or chocolates or strawberries, but the ability to read scripture in the vernacular, to pray in our native tongues and to hear of God's love in words we understand seems worth celebrating.  I think today I will take a moment to recall the work of the Bible Societies worldwide who still strive to bring these life-giving words to people of all languages.