Winter Wonderland - or Wasteland?

No doubt that the hard frost made Sutton into a veritable wonderland. M and I walked through Sutton Park, marvelling at the beauty. This view was on the way to Keeper's Pool, which today was frozen solid. The golden swan was waddling over the ice, looking very puzzled.

However, couldn't help feeling sad for those who had to sleep out in these temperatures. On way back from Marriage Enrichment, saw a man our age on a bench. Whatever the truth of his story, the fact is that he was definitely without a bed for the night, filthy, and in a bad way. Took us a long time to find him a place in a hostel in Birmingham - we'd almost given up and brought him home - could we have slept in our warm bed, knowing he might well freeze to death??

Hurrah for Focus Foyer, who made space for him (though officially for younger men) even if only for one night - had to be out by 8am. Praying he's found somewhere for tonight - relieved to hear that the City Centre churches are going to take turns opening their doors while the cold lasts.

Absolutely nothing in Sutton for folk like this, though...