Today I've made arrangements for Saxo to be taken away and scrapped and, being worth her weight in pounds sterling, to be donated to BMS World Mission.  I assume that prior to squishing, she will be stripped of all saleable parts, being an automotive organ donor.

I've also signed up to membership of City Car Club so will be able to hire a smart new car that isn't necessarily small and dark blue whenever I need one.

Definitely the end of an era - I've owned four cars in my life, three of which have been dark blue super-minis.  I hope this change in the equilibrium of the universe is not catastrophic!

Farewell Saxo... if folk religion can be applied to cars, then Corrie, Molly and Annie will be waiting for you at the rainbow petrol pump!!

Life is very full at the moment.  Lots of interesting and important things in my diary, lots of doors opening, lots of things to think about.

Today I am doing some catching up, arranging to scrap my car via 'Give a Car', tidying up my submission for the NZ conference proceedings, realising I still have a very thick book to read and review, preparing a seminar/workshop and a 'news item' for next weeks conference.... or at least making a start on all of the above!

And I woke up with a sore throat, sniffles, sneezes and shivers... the tell-tale signs for my annual alliterative ague, or common cold, that regularly strikes somewhere during September...

This is an historic week in which historic events take place, and the forecast for unseasonably warm weather reflects the metaphorically rising political/social temperature (complete with fear, hope, anxiety, excitement, vitriol, tenderness, wisdom and foolishness, in any combination or permutation).  Not the easiest week to be a true pastor, a kenotic, servant leader - thank goodness for the studies I'm doing in Philippians which offer a different way of thinking!

If praying be your thing, please pray for those of us in Scotland charged with making this decision which, irrespective of outcome, will shape the history, not just of these islands but beyond.  Maybe this prayer, which we used yesterday, is a good start...

God be in our minds, and in our reflecting;

God be in our vision, and in our imagining;

God be in our gathering, and in our listening;

God be in our relationships, and in our discussing;

God be in our nation, and in our deciding.

Rev Alison McDonald Convener, Ecumenical Relations Committee, Church of Scotland