It's past midday so I'm not allowed to play any April Fool jokes.  Instead here are two things that you possibly wouldn't have believed had they been posted before that time...

Firstly, the News of the World worthy one - "Baptist Minister in Topless Photo Shoot" - or, alternatively, my plastic surgeon wanted some 'medical photographs' (not sure how they differ from any other sort) before radiotherapy so that she can observe how irradiation affects the work she's done.  Should said photos ever appear beyond the vaults of NHS GGC I know precisely which heads will roll!  In an odd way, it's good to be part of someone's research that may one day help other people.

Secondly, twice this week I've had to evacuate a public building due to a fire alarm going off.  Wednesday evening at my exercise class, and this morning the coffee shop in a well known bookshop.  Neither time was there any evidence of a fire, so the local fire service will charging a fair old whack for their troubles (evidently £250 per appliance per call out).  Better safe than sorry anyway.

I could, I suppose have invented a third odd event and asked you which was the false one, but my brain is too straight forward.

Anyway, happy April, and I hope that wherever you are today is a good one. 

... is a slow process!  Still at it but getting there.  Surprisingly I am quite enjoying reading my stuff and concluding I'm cleverer than I thought!  Have excised around 500 redundant words (in one passage) so far and have identifed one bit of similar length for a possible rewrite... but overall its 'no bad'!

If you have (or sign up for) access to audiopot you can hear this year's short reflections for Lent produced by GRF based on the C of E Lent material Exploring God's Mercy (also here). 

A combination of words and music - not too many words and lots of reflective space with the music.  Titles to date are...

Lost and Finding the Way

Trapped and Set Free

Sick in Soul and Healed

Storm Tossed and Comforted.

One more still to come...

C of E study title: Living the Fruitful Life

More busy Gatherers (and a few other readers) at work, so I guess this is a kind of advert!

(I did wonder about the inavertent (?) pun in the third title though... soul and healed.... sole and heeled?!)

Some Gatherers are directly involved with this and sent me a press release type thingy.  If you in/around Glasgow you may be interested...

Poverty Truth Commission (16^th April 2011)

‘Nothing about Us without Us is for Us’

 You are invited to the Closing Gathering of Scotland’s first Poverty Truth Commission which will take place in Glasgow City Chambers (George Square, Glasgow) on the 16^th April from 2 – 4pm (doors open at 1.15pm).  

For the last two years, Scotland’s first Poverty Truth Commission has brought together two groups of people: people who exercise power and influence in Scottish society and people who live every day with the struggle against poverty.

On the 16^th April, members of the Poverty Truth Commission will share what we have learnt together and what we believe needs to happen now.

It will be an inspiring and challenging afternoon. We will communicate through drama, film, music and the spoken word. We will share what we have learnt from one another. We will present our challenges to all parts of Scottish society.

To register, please contact the Commission on info@povertytruthcommission.org or 0141 248 2905. Pre-registration is important as places are limited. You can find out more about the Commission and its members at www.povertytruthcommission.org.

There is something almost poetic that my hospital treatment draws to its close in the spring - my final 'nuking day' is mid-May by which time the trees will be green and we will have already enjoyed rhodedenrons and cherry blossom.

I am now almost eight weeks post surgery and pretty much back to normal energy and strength levels.  My concentration has recovered (phew!) and I spent most of yesterday working on the faffy parts of finalising my MPhil submission (yes, I know, it's dragged on interminably but I have a good excuse!).  I actually enjoyed writing the extra, administrative, pages and proof-reading my paper (well the part I got through) and concluded I was quite clever once upon a time.

I was intrigued by the 'six week' recovery that was - and usually is - cited for major surgery, thinking it seemed a rather arbitrary figure.  At about two weeks I could not imagine being anywhere near fit at six weeks, but the truth is that I pretty much was... arm movement almost normal, energy levels good, concentration recovered.  All of which makes weeks 7 and 8 - the gap before nuking starts - all the more precious and special.  A bit of gallivanting (or gadding about, whichever expression you prefer); a bit of thinking and editting of an academic paper; a bit of pausing to admire the view.

There is a sense of spring awakening after winter... I will soon have to start combing my hair (shock horror!) as it grows back steadily... I am walking further and exercising more determinedly... I am longing to get back to work as my mind is filling with ideas...

I am fortunate, in a perverse way, that my 'journey' has largely paralleled the seasons and by summer I will be free to enjoy the sunshine (albeit with lots of sunscreen and long sleeves ever after).