25th August A little trip back 'home'

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With only one service in the diary today it gave me the chance to spend 24 hours back 'home' with a lightening trip to Wigan. 

The purpose of the trip was two fold. For the past 12 months one of my colleagues here in the Nottingham North East circuit has been Rev Peter Powers who it just so happens has been appointed as superintendent of the Wigan circuit. For those with little prior knowledge, this is where I candidated for the ministry from, many, many years ago. 

So as Sunday was his welcome service it seemed a good opportunity to be a friendly face in the crowd and also to see how many folks remembered my familiar face. As it turned out only about half a dozen but given the many of the various congregations were 'elderly' when I left n 2006, and even living in the Promised Land has limits when it comes to like expectancy, perhaps that was only to be expected.  Still it was good to be there especially to see Peter sat behind the drumkit bashing out the backbeat like a clerical Charlie Watts.

The second purpose was to check on my sister Pauline, this being the first time I had caught up with her face to face since the funeral of her husband Dave just before the summer. It was good the catch up, and the two dogs Dante and Doza obviously hadn't been loved since I had lasted been there. 

The big news was that she is looking at selling the house and moving elsewhere. I didn't press as to the reasosn but I imagine it can be both a comfort and a challlenge living somewhere on your own which so many memories. I don't think she is in a rush to move but surveying the waers just to see what is out there.


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