... and today I effectively 'break up' from my College job until mid-August, having staggered my two sets of leave so that I get two half and three full weeks of rest, relaxation and refreshment.

It's really hard to believe I have now completed two academic years, and almost two calendar years in my bi-vocational ministry, and only now do I have any sense of starting to get the hang of it!  As I look back, I reckon I've done okay... I spent yesterday and today doing a lot of emails and admin tasks, along with a little bit of planning/organising into next academic year for my Vicar School job, and found myself thinking, yeah, I really am contributing something of worth here (I'm an ISTJ and an Enneagram 1, so being hard on myself is a 'go to', this is me being positive about what I've done!).

Another week of churchy stuff before my break, and some similar reflections there - yup, I and we are doing okay, lots of good stuff, lots to be thankful for.

Not going 'away away' this year, but lots of little things to look forward to including an overnight in London, a day trip to Bute (only me!), an exhibition at Manchester museum, and a day on the edge of the Peak District.   Just some space to slow down, rest, reflect, and be re-created feels like a 'good thing'... and whether or not the sun continues to glow, I am pretty sure that it will be good.