This morning I discovered I had mislaid my diary - a small (A6) black book about 5mm thick and of no commercial value whatsoever. But without it I was lost - I knew I had no meetings today but, good disicple that I am, not a clue what lay in store tomorrow or beyond without checking this little treasure. I wouldn't say panic ensued, but much parable-like (parabolic?!) high and low searching went on before deducing that it wasn't in my house but had been left behind last night at GB after I'd been temporarily distracted during my clearing up. Thankfully after an unscheduled drive to and from that church, my diary and I are reunited and I know what is happening in my little world.
What did people do before diaries? Did they have good memories, less meetings or both? Did they mark notches on sticks to tell them when it was Sunday and time to ring the bells for services (presumably the lack of bells in non-conformist traditions, even after they become tolerated and legal so didn't need to hide, reflects to some extent the point in history at which they emerged?).
It is a tad disconcerting to think that my life is, in some senses, in the 'hands' of a little black book - and not the type that ministers are meant to have surgically attached!