(I know, it’s the 6th of December. I’ve been busy. Okay?)
That’s me that is.
Well, quite a hectic few weeks in November. Last November (2023) I had a hospital appointment, the consultant examined me, made his prognosis, gave me some pills and said he’d see me in three months. A year later and the second appointment came through. This time I had to drive from Eastbourne to Hastings to see him. When I asked him about it, he was surprised as he had also had to drive from Eastbourne to Hastings to see me. No wonder the NHS is in such a mess. Anyway, he examined me again and discharged me back to the care of my GP. He said that he would telephone me in three months for an update following a blood test. I’ll probably update you on this in November 2025 or 6.
I’m still writing two books at the same time. Well, not actually simultaneously, that would be silly. I switch from one to the other as my mood and inspiration takes me. However this month I’ve made some real progress on both of them having written several thousand words for each. I’ve also written four short theological reflections and seven new poems. These can be found on the website.
We had a weekend in France, Riems to be exact, or is it Reims? Anyway, stunning city with a wonderful cathedral. I will insert some photographs here….
We visited the Christmas Market, bought some stuff, ate street food and drunk Vin d’hiver. (Mulled wine). A jolly good time was had by all. Upon arrival, and before I had had a chance to have a drink, I fell over in the bedroom we were staying in, head butted the wall, (don’t worry, the wall was fine), leaving skin on the paintwork and bashed my hip. This resulted in me limping for the entire weekend as it was jolly painful. My traveling companions were almost sympathetic once they stopped laughing. Back at Calais we visited the Carrefour Hypermarket where we purchased wine and champagne for Christmas and some wonderful French soft cheeses, hams and other delicacies. It’s actually illegal now, post-Brexit, to bring cheese or meat back from what we now call Europe. But hey-ho, they didn’t know. Ferry crossings both ways were relatively calm and no one was sick.
With the help of my daughter we retrieved the Christmas decorations from the loft. Two Christmas trees and seven huge plastic boxes of decorations plus several small boxes and a couple of sacks. I have no idea why we have so much. Every year we say that anything we don’t use we will get rid of. Every year we put it all back up in the loft.
After well over twenty years on the Leadership Team of our church, I finally stood down at the end of the month. I had mixed feelings about doing so, but having served so many terms, (you can only serve six years at a time, then you have to have a year off before being voted back on if nominated), initially as a Deacon and then on the Leadership Team I think now might be time to stand back and allow younger and more agile minds to take on the role. So, I will probably resist being nominated again this time next year, but who knows. It’s not really my decision, I’ll see where where God leads me. I am still going to be very active in the church, still looking after membership and also on an important committee looking into changing our church into a CIO. So, not completely stepping back yet.
Well, that’s about it for November. I actually did an awful lot more, but I don’t wish to bore you any more than I already have.
If you like what you read, treat me to a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/josephiu
Thank you.
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