18th March A lovely change to the norm

 


Last night I had a rare treat; dinner with a couple of people where I wasn't 'the minister in the room'. For that very reason I am usually reluctant to accept invitations for meals out, mainly because I am never quite sure who it is I am going as; friend or minister. And so it is often easier to avoid the invitation in the first place or if asked to find a pastorally sensitive way to decline.

Last night the invite was from a former colleague, who has been a retired minister in this psrt of the world since I arrived in Nottingham, and his wife and so all the role play was removed from the conversation. And is was a really nice evening full of chat, food, wine and just being able to be ' off duty' in other people company. Yes of course our respective vocations cropped up, in fact he was formerly a minister in the circuit where I am going, and indeed they lived in the manse where I will be living. Albeit the fact that it has been extended and remodelled since their departure.

They have now asked if they can come to visit and I have said 'Yes' between the 10th and 14th of September which I guestimate is the time span between having finished all the unpacking, got the place all spick and span and the place then rapidly degenerating to look as if has been burgled. 

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