Yesterday, 1st February, was St Brigid's Day and also Imbolc, the pre-Christian festival to mark the start of spring in these islands.  Snowdrops (photo take in Glasgow two years ago) tiny, fragile, yet resistant herald the lengthening days (Lent is just around the corner) and bring a smile to those who see them.  There are many to be found near where I live, and I love their gentle presence.

Today, 2nd February, is Groundhog Day, Candlemas, and The Feast of the Presentation.  It is a cold, bright morning here, so any groundhogs would definitely find a shadow... and I have to admit my cosy bed was hard to leave!  Candlemas, the day when a year's supply of church candles would be blessed.  The Presentation, a strange ritual of cleansing after childbirth that continued in some parts of the church right until the mid twentieth century.  And a celebration of the faithfulness of old people, Simeon and Anna.

Today, 3rd February is the anniversary of my cancer surgery, and a reminder of how blessed I am to have benefited from world class healthcare free at the point of delivery.  Still a NED, having beaten a lot of odds, and thriving rather than surviving, I am, indeed very blessed.

Life is full of good things, and festivals official or otherwise, it is good to celebrate.

Yesterday, I took a quick trip to Warrington (only 20 minutes on the train) to catch up with my Walking Buddy for the day, which was really lovely.  We had a wander around the town centre, beginning with this car park... which is here the church I was a member of used to stand.  The building and the church are no more - the latter outlasted the former by a year or so, but for various reasons it was agreed to close and disperse its folk, most of whom found 'homes' in other churches.

We tried to work out where the baptistry used to be, and reckon it was roughly level with the window in the centre section of the adjacent building... it was here I was baptised as a believer in 1997, and from here that I was 'sent' to train for ministry in 1999.  Quarter of a century later (eek!) so much has changed yet in it all God remains faithful and dependable.

I treasure memories of WBC, just as I treasure the memories of HBC1 (Dibley) and HBC2 (The Gathering Place), and give thanks for all that each has given me.

A verse from my baptismal hymn feels quite appropriate...

Lord of the years, in living power remake us

Self on the cross and Christ upon the throne

Past put behind us, for the future take us

Lord of the years, to live for Christ alone!

It's way too early, but one of the daffodils at church has decided it wants to bloom.

At my the Gathering Place, we used to have tubs of daffodils too. After we moved out, vandals smashed the tubs leaving the bulbs scattered across the ground. With resilience and defiance, the daffodils flowered year on year. In 2019 (?) I rescued the bulbs and handed them to the person with the greenest fingers to take care of... although they came up blind the first year, as far as I know, they are still there, a symbol of hope, resurrection and new life.

I hope the frost doesn't finish off this early daffodil, and that it brings joy to all who pass by.

A Lent Lily at Epiphany...

Wow, here we are in 2024!  I'm not quite sure how that happened, but happen it did.

After a very full first four months in my new roles, I enjoyed a week off, including three nights away in the Lake District with one of my 'oldest' friends - we have known each other about 40 years.

The photo was taken early this morning - Sophie and Sasha (who have shared my life for very nearly nine years now!) decided that (a) I needed a lie-in (they weren't wrong) and (b) I wasn't to be permitted to go away again for a while.

Tomorrow I am officially back at work, and there is a lot to be getting on with... even whilst on leave I have had a few essential emails and phone calls to handle.

I'm looking forward to discovering what 2024 will bring, and to sharing that with those kind enough to follow along with this blog.

Having two jobs, one of which means not taking holidays during term time, and one that means working major festivals (and hence many Bank Holidays) is an interesting challenge.  But, having completed Advent and Christmas, I am now enjoying an 'octave of annual leave' - or eight days off in plain English!  Given two days were Bank Holidays for one job, but work days for the other, I have no idea which days belong to which job.  But I do know that it works out roughly as two Bank Holidays, one regular rest day, and five days to be split between the two jobs...

More interestingly, having a proper break means that finally, only a year after it was given to me as a 60th birthday gift, I am working on this fun 'wasgij.'  I am looking forward to a couple of nights away with one of my oldest friends, lots of lie-ins and some much needed rest!

Oh yes, and today Blog Spirit reminded me it was time to renew my subscription - and this year I didn't hesitate - the blog is back!