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This week’s been panning out wonderfully. Monday was really hot, and I can’t remember too much about it. Tried to sit out in the garden for a bit but it was too hot. Did housework and gardening I think.

In the evening we (photographers’ club) went to Garten-on-the-Wold to a Norman church. Every surface was decorated. The only church I’ve seen that is more highly decorated is St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. And that’s the truth! It was a beautiful evening, and we snapped gravestones and inside the church. Will add them to my main website.

We then went to the villlage pub, which was an experience and a half. It was tiny, and there was one punter when we arrived - two when we left. The landlord was so glad to see us, and kept reading us jokes from an enormous tome. His stock really needed replenishing. We kept asking for things (like coke) and he was out of stock. In the end we had to ask what he did have!

On Tuesday evening, I went to the Scripture group as usual, but forgot there was a special series of talks on the sacraments, by Fr. Michael. It was really inspiring, and I hope to attend all the course. Father’s talk reminded me of the inspiring stuff I heard nearly fifteen years ago when I did a diploma in pastoral theology. It made me homesick for the time when I was really involved with the church, and I had some influence in changing peoples’ attitudes to God, hopefully for the better. So many parents on the First Communion course said that they had not thought about religion since they left school, so obviously their thoughts hadn’t grown as they had matured. They were surprised that the Church had moved on and that their secret opinions were not too heretical after all!

Anyway, back to Father Michael. He spoke about our dignity, as sacraments (signs) of God. We are made in ‘his’ image. All creation mirrors his glory, but we, unlike the animals etc. can reflect on it all, and consciously give glory to God for it. It was so inspiring.

Oh oh, I can feel a poem coming on with word plays about reflecting and images.

Today I went to Flamborough with my birding group. We saw puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes, gannets and others. More photos for the website when I get round to it.

In between my excursions I have been sorting photos. Most of them are in albums, but I do pull some out sometimes and don’t return them. For example, when I was looking for photos for Martin’s ‘This is Your Life’ book. We also have all Betty’s (John’s mum) photos to slot in. John is great at remembering dates, so between us we are gradually conquering the mountain.

Tomorrow is free, so we may go to Hornsea Freeport and buy Ali’s birthday present. Then have fish and chips in Hornsea. Friday should be fun. The creative writing group has finished for the summer, but we are meeting up at Burton Agnes (old house) for a wander, a coffee, some writing and lunch. (Not sure of the order)

The only bad thing so far this week (I’m talking personally, not of the wide world!!!) is that I put on half a pound this week. As I lost three pounds last week I can’t really complain. I also won the raffle there for two weeks running. Last week it was all the ingredients for a potatoe based pizza and very nice it was too. This week it was an assortment of ’slimming’ foods. All good stuff except the dried apricors which I dislike.

Night, night!