So, AKMA, how did your retreat go? The retreat was lovely — Aylesford Priory is a splendid place for spiritual meetings, retreats, or what you will, though rooms in the Old House can be inaccessible indeed (I expect the rooms in the conference area are accessible). Mysteries of the Rosary were explored, Masses were celebrated, Offices were said, rosaries were prayed, and a fine opening dinner at a Turkish restaurant and a closing night out at the Little Gem (somewhat to the astonishment of the regulars, especially at the clergy women in our group) all contributed to a refreshing encouraging, and mostly holy retreat.
I returned directly to Oriel, where I arrived in time for the pre-pre-pre-dinner drinks (pre- with the theologians at Brendan’s study, pre- with the philosophers at Oliver’s study, we missed out a round of pre-, I think, in Third Quad, then to Fresher’s Dinner with all the rest. Alex, Mimi, Anna, Ottavia, Jesse, and Ashley all seem to be as promising and agreeable a cadre of Orielenses as we expect.
I didn’t run while I was away, and I didn’t run this morning, as Margaret had washed my hoodie while I was away, and I didn’t know where to find it, and I was not going to run in 1° weather in just my t-shirt. Margaret and I breakfasted at R&R, and I caught up on email and worked on oddments (including Sunday’s homily) the rest of the day.
And so to begin streaming Slow Horses (the most recent series, we’ve already watched the earlier ones).