The sun is shining, the weather is really lovely which can only mean one thing - yes, the schools here have gone back; in fact ours have been back a week, even as elsewhere in Scotland others continue to drift back over the next week or so.  Then the rest of the UK will join in.

It also means back to 'normal' at church.  This morning I've taken a couple of hours to sort and shift the "detritus" from seven weeks of creative activities in worship and underneath it all there was, afterall, still a desk, still a floor and still some chairs!!

Sitting down to choose four hymns, confirm two Bible readings, identify an "All Together" theme and start mulling a full-length sermon has had a pleasing sense of freshness.  I think that's quite important really... that sense of newness that I used to experience each September (very occasionally the last few days of August) when I returned to school after the summer break.  The new, pristine exercise books (aka jotters in these parts) waiting to be filled up with new endeavours.  The slight pinch of new shoes  on feet that had been in sandals for ages, and a feeling-too-tight collar after a summer of tee-shirts.  The sense of anticipation, nervousness, excitement and apprehension.  And perhaps above all, the return to routine, to a sustainable pattern of work, rest and play.

I've had a great summer, and am refreshed and renewed for what the autumn will bring and, indeed, is already bringing.  That makes me glad.  So, I guess I'd better get down to it! :-)