A Long Day

I slept right through my alarm, and got up nearly an hour later than I wanted to. However, I still managed to get to St Luke’s at 8.20am to set everything up with Sheila ready for the 9.30am service, at which I was also serving as an acolyte. I had taken photos last week of how everything should look, which proved very helpful in checking what we had done. The service was going pretty well until the priest started preparing the table for communion. She came over to me and pointed out that there was no ‘host’ (the large wafer which gets broken and eaten by the priest - absolutely essential, you can’t do the consecration without it). To my horror it was the one thing I had forgotten to include in all the paraphernalia set out on the altar! The other acolyte had to go out to the vestry and get one while I continued to assist with the preparation of the wine. I was mortified, but we got sorted out and continued without anything else going wrong.

I had booked a table at the recently re-opened carvery at the New Times for 1200, to treat my friends Christine, David and Alison to a roast lunch as a thank you for helping me out when my boiler was out of action. I hadn’t been there since Mum and I went in early 2022 for their last day before closing, so it was a bit emotional for me. But I soon cheered up when I saw that the same chef was now back, and also one of the waitresses who used to work there before. I had to tell them that Mum had died, for which they were sorry, but it was lovely to see them again. The meal was great, and we had such a good time that we continued back at Christine & David’s house, enjoying the afternoon sunshine in their garden with tea and cake later on. I took some photos of their beautiful flowers but couldn’t decide which one to blip, so have put four more in Extras. Last year they won a trophy for the best garden in Tiptree - well deserved, as they work very hard to make it such an attractive place to spend time in.

A wonderful day, despite the hiccup in the morning.