1. Blackberries
“Nobody in the lane and nothing, nothing but blackberries. Blackberries on either side …”
‘Blackberrying’ by Sylvia Plath
These words took me back to my first proper blackberrying since childhood, aged 62 in Weybridge the other week. Andrew and I were to cycle to Hampton Court for lunch from our little recreational rowing club after his lesson and I had a few hours to spare. I walked along a nearby towpath without any luck (chatting to my mum on the mobile, who thought it was probably too early even down South) when I saw two wholesome looking ladies walking their dogs and my inner voice told me, ‘I bet they’ll know where they are, and the good ones too.’ So they did, and a little while later I was in the lane behind St George’s RC prep school filling up my plastic container with blackberries as good as I’d ever seen. I had enough for us to pick at, have cream with, and to turn into a crumble (as the good ladies had recommended) better eaten cold in this weather.
In the darkly comedic ‘League of Gentleman’, which sends up the North of England rather too well and can have me bent almost double with laughter as a Sheffield ‘lad’, the job centre tyrant Pauline refers to its clients disparagingly as ‘blackberry pickers’, which made me laugh to myself at 11am on that fine Tuesday and feel a little self-conscious as a few others finally passed-by, my adding to the exchanged greetings (inevitable in polite Weybridge), ‘It beats work!’
I’ve had a lovely Summer not free from work, but without work being much of a priority as we’ve sorted our flat out long overdue a refurbishment. It’s been lovely, not least to have new ceiling fans being fitted in the nick of time. Andrew’s had a super time too, finishing his learn to row course on Tuesday and being invited to join the club. He gets his certificate and welcome in a few weeks at a little Pimm’s and strawberries event, when we’ll have to leg it from chapel after a quick coffee.
2. Sunday & Blackberries
We’ll be reflecting on the Blackberry on Sunday. I’m not sure where that will lead us to yet, but I’m looking forward to looking into the biology, history, mythology and folklore of this wonderful native fruit.
3. Bruce’s & Joan’s Renewal of Vows
Not a few of us were moved, and to tears in some cases, at the joyous occasion that was last week’s service including Bruce’s and Joan’s renewal of vows after 10 years marriage, in which with them we asked the Good Lord that they be blessed with yet more years of happiness. Their eldest daughter / stepdaughter Emma read Gibran’s ‘On Marriage’ (emphasising greater togetherness in a degree of separateness), and Andrew read Cooper-Clarke’s amusing ‘I Wanna Be Yours’ (emphasising the fun and blessed silliness in all good couplings) as he had at their wedding.
Our thanks to the Trustees for their generous provision of post-service Champagne, to Bruce and Joan for a generous donation to chapel funds and thank you card, and to Andrew for ordering, delivering, chilling and serving the fizz.
4. Anthony Sidford Bequest
Andrew and I were most moved to be told by Julia that Ant has left the Chapel a significant sum in his will. Given Ant was not a member, but a very occasional attender at chapel who was primarily my friend from LSE Law days, this was particularly unexpected and is even more appreciated.
I will discuss with the trustees and family an appropriate thank you in due course.
I am reminded by Sue, that if any of our regulars or indeed anybody else would like to similarly bless the chapel and would like assistance with that, this can be arranged via the chapel’s law centre confidentially and include detailed funeral wishes supported by the chapel.
5. Other News of Members & Friends
(1) Not just Andrew and I have made the most of the Summer. For example, Amanda and Julian P attended the Idler Summer Festival at Fenton House, Hampstead (where Richard and Heidi had their posh wedding reception), having a great time. The chapel subscribes to The Idler and on Julian P’s recommendation a few of us hope to attend in a couple of years’ time, ‘The Idler’ team having a break from this festival next year. Who will be the first lucky people to go on one of ‘The Idler’s’ gastronomic and cultural breaks overseas?!
(2) I was able to visit Koyejo last week and hope to see him again soon. He is in good spirits, getting his radiotherapy at last, and hopes to resume chemotherapy soon. Please continue to pray with me for his return to good health.
(3) I visited Cynthia, Tracey and young Mia this week. All are well, if Cynt is now in the final stages of dementia which, you’ll recall, was early onset. I talked to Cynt of my memorable 40th birthday trip by steam train to Lincoln, on which she and Kevin (our old organist) had joined Andrew and I. That was now a very long time ago. However, it happened, and forever will have happened, and how blessed we were. Our profound thanks to Tracey for all she has done and continues to do for her mum in their family home. I’ve known nothing like it in all my years in this job.
(4) Andrew and I have had lunch with Stephen (warden) and Jason (MD) recently, and on Sunday I joined Jason for a very enjoyable evening at the Proms watching Susie (our resident violinist who joins Jason once a month) play with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
(5) Jason has been appointed a director and trustee of the LDPA, our London District, and is already majorly assisting helping to lead on the recruitment of a new district minister and interim district minister.
(6) We see Ricky on Friday, mostly for a catch-up and also for a bit of IT and to discuss new noticeboards. Don’t worry, there’ll be no new noticeboards until you’ve all inputted and the trustees have signed off!
(7) Ali joins us for a long weekend from Chelmsford on Friday too and you’ll see her at chapel on Sunday.
(8) Sue joins us for a couple of days from Bexhill-on-Sea on the
bookkeeping and safeguarding fronts next week.
6. Newsletter, Harvest Festival & Recommencement of Concert Series
(1) Jason has sorted-out the newsletter for September, but for the addition of some poetry or a reflection from me, which he’ll send me in due course.
(2) Look out for the date for the Harvest Festival (including Brockwell Park walk and meal) and re-commencement of Jason’s and Ricky’s post-service Brixton Concert Series of classical, jazz and folk music, which kicks-off with a talented young Hong Kong pianist. Bring as many guests as possible.
7. Trustees
Andrew says, ‘We’ve not forgotten the long-term drain fix, and we promise not to move onto other jobs at the chapel until its sorted, save for a new meter reader installed and a new side door (which I’d like to be pretty mid-century funky with the congregation’s and your support) which we’ll attend to simultaneously with Fran before the Summer is over. More anon.’
Much love
Julian