Today's BUGB e-news sweep reports the Papal visit to Scotland, identifying this as BUS 'territory' before noting that the Gen. Sec. of BUGB will be there in an official capacity.

Now I'm glad that Baptists are there... just that BUGB has to do it in BUS land makes me sigh.  Why, oh why, won't BUS join in ecumenism officially?  And why, oh why, can't the Fellowship of British Baptists be represented by the BUS Gen Sec. rather than BUGB?  So now we re-enforce the assumed 'norm' of BUGB for the whole UK and the ecumenical-stupidity of the BUS.  Sigh and double sigh.

To be fair, I don't know for certain that BUS aren't represented - but why would BUGB be if they were?

I love both Unions greatly, being part of each simultaneously, a more entertaining quirk of my church's identity, and each is being very good to me at the moment, I just wish this kind of niggly stuff didn't exist.

Evidently some bloke is coming to town today to hold an open air Mass in one of the parks.  As we understand it, he may be granted an audience with one of my peeps who is attending in an official, work-related capacity.

Others of us will be gathering in a warm room to share a Bible study on Esther and munch cupakes.  High Communion indeed.

I genuinely hope those who go to see the Pope are blessed by the event in Bellahouston Park; I know we will be blessed as we gather for study and prayer.

Oh, and while I'm at it, 10/10 to Revd Vincent Nichols for his warm and spirited defence of British diversity in the face of the gaffe by a vatican official whose name I can't be bothered to check.  I know many wonderful Catholics and enjoyed working with an RC priest in Salford whilst training and for them, I do hope the events of the next couple of days are a true delight.

Female, 47, lovely veins...

Evidently I have 'lovely veins' and I'm afraid this sent me into some strange thoughts on alternative personal ads or chat up lines.

My humour gets no better I'm afraid.

Just in case I didn't have enough to think about, the Scottish legal system decided it would be fun to pick my name out of their hat for jury service availability.  Unlike the English system (as I experienced 20 years ago) you aren't sent a fortnight in which you must be available, you are simply told they need you to be on standby for two years.  English law changed a few years back to remove the 'inelligiblity' of clergy for jury service; in Scotland I am eligible but have the right to be excused.

So, I am now awaiting a medical certificate from my GP to support my request to be excused - and will give them the double whammy that, even if I am fully fit within that time I'm a clergy-woman so am entitled to be excused anyway.

Wonder how many letters they get with two reasons to be excused?!