Yesterday sixteen of us gathered in the manse garden for an evening of food and fellowship, gathered around my new fire pit (I bought it a while ago when it was on offer, but this was its first 'outing').

It was a lot of work to get everything organised and set up (including ensuring that the living room was clean, tidy and welcoming, should anyone prefer to be indoors, or if it rained - neither happened).

Stepping back and watching, it was lovely to hear the sound of conversations and laughter, to be immersed in wood smoke, to feel the ambience of fun.  Some folk quietly took on washing up mugs and cutlery, others oversaw the toasting of marshmallows, and all ate our fill of homemade soup and jacket potatoes (many with the triple topping of beans, cheese and coleslaw!).

As they slipped away in to the dark to go home, someone said, 'when's the next manse gathering...' so I guess it was a good night!