AKMA’s Random Thoughts

I missed yesterday, yet again, but (a) my run was not especially distinguished in any way; (b) we had a very favourable report on Flora’s recovery from abdominal surgery, so good news for the ladies; (c) pleasant, relaxing lunch and afternoon; (d) made my way in to Oxford, did a couple of errands and met Nick for dinner at Mission Burrito; (e) went to the Waterboys gig at the New Theatre, where Margaret met us and all had a splendid rocking time; (f) home at a reasonable hour on the X3 with Martin and Catherine from the parish.

The show: Fantastic set — they’re just a powerhouse live act, yet they interacted ably in sync with the videos/image projections during the ‘Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper’ portion. They obviously love playing live, and you can tell they’re seasoned professionals. I’m embarrassed to admit I never noticed, from recordings, that Mike Scott is a terrific guitarist. Songwriting and arranging, sure (‘Genius, hurrah!‘), but I was taken aback to see him tearing into the performance and shaking every ounce out of each song. Brother Paul & James Hallawell duelled brilliantly on keys, and Aongus Ralston & Eamon Ferris kept the rhythm tight + hot. Margaret, Nick, and I unanimously felt it was a top night all around.
(Sugarfoot opened and I’m eager to give a careful listen to their studio work, and they and Barny Fletcher contributed backing vox throughout. Memorable night, wish I’d lingered for merch…)

Yesterday didn’t quite go to plan. The funeral was as desired, and I rode to the crem in the hearse, all well. The Committal at the crem was duly brief, and all were stricken; and the hearse brought me back to St Helen’s. The catch, though, is that the church had been locked up while we were at the crem, with my jacket and keys therein.
Well all right, I walked home and I figured that I’d come in for Morning Prayer tomorrow and wait for the caretaker to open the church and the vestry. Margaret (refining the last stages of her Ethics seminar paper for today at Christ Church) had pizza and caught up on Doctor Who.
Got a good night’s sleep, had my morning run walk (my muscles and joints were stiff — every stride sent jolts up to my spine), coffee and fruit, showered and dressed, went to Morning Prayer but no one with a key came to church or office, home for coffee and toast, off to a home communion, sending an email to the parish office en route (thinking I might borrow a key to liberate my jacket on my way home, got an email saying they were leaving early, I assured it was okay, they offered to pick up my jacket and take it to me at the care home! Then home to shoo Margaret away for her seminar.

Sarah was a life (or at least ‘jacket and keys’) saver — thanks!

I didn’t run this morning, since we had much-needed steady, gentle rain. Morning Prayer, hot breakfast, then Staff Meeting, then a funeral and committal at the crematorium; possibly a round at the wake; then home to close my eyes and let stress ebb from my sinews.

Yesterday’s run went pretty well, a good steady pace. I had coffee and fruit, showered and dressed, came home for coffee and toast, and read and wrote and marked (not just marking, but the soul-deadening process of registering tutorials and marks online) and caught up on email and worked on a funeral homily. I finished up at dinnertime, then rushed off for a DCC meeting, which ended at 9:30 in the evening. The Devil’s workshop didn’t get a look-in.

This morning’s run was adequate, though my joints were stiff and legs were heavy. Then coffee and fruit, shower and dress, coffee and toast, listening to Prof. Wil Gafney give her first two Bampton Lectures at the University Church (my plan to attend went off the rails; I’m determined to catch her second two lectures). Working while I listen.

I’ve been busy (not surprisingly). Yesterday began with an almost-good run, then I did some reading, answered emails, had an afternoon Marriage Consultation (initial paperwork), then Brendan and Rosie (and most importantly, Edie) pinged us to ask whether we’d like to join them for an afternoon chat, since they were in Abingdon checking out the house where they’ll be living next year. Then back home, Margaret working intently on her paper for the Ethics Seminar this week, then dinner and Eurovision while she continued pre-seminar-ing and I caught up on marking and rested from my labours.

This morning I alternated walking and running, as my legs simply balked at giving a full run, or even ‘jog’. Then off to St Nic’s for the 8:00 service, then on to St Helen’s for the 10:30 service, and now I`’m home and tying down loose threads from the past few weeks.

Good run this morning, coffee and fruit, shower and dress, Morning Prayer, home to wrap up marking, Oxford to agree marks, then New Testament seminar, home for the weekend.

Flora had mroe extensive surgery than we’d expected; she had cysts all through her uterus, and the vets removed the uterus and the overies to excise as much of the cyst-sites as possible. She had been at risk of pyometra, which at this point should not be a problem. She had not been spayed by the Dogs Trust (from whom we received her) because their vets had suspected that she had a problem with insufficient blood clotting, such that they didn’t want to risk surgery. Out current brilliant vets didn’t see the problem; they removed some growths last year, and were expecting just to neuter her yesterday, but uncovered more than they had anticipated. She’ll be checked this afternoon, but everything should be much better than before.

Slow but adequate run, coffee and fruit, shower and dress, Morning Prayer, and a fruitless bus ride (coincidentally with Bradley) in to Oxford to find a new black linen blazer. Honestly, what’s wrong with the world that an entire complex of high-end and everyday clothiers could show me not one black linen jacket? Add to that the obvious cost-cutting with regard to staffing (at one point, there was no emloyee on the shop floor at all at a familiar High Street chain? Not one.

Home for lunch, and I fell into reading Ian Leslie’s John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs, which Alan Jacobs put me onto. Marking. A much-needed second cup of coffee.

I’m hoping that today goes more easily than the last couple of days. I noted my Monday timetable; yesterday (after an adequate run, fruit and coffee, Morning Prayer, coffee and toast) I had an interview for a couple of hours, then home for lunch and then out for funeral planning.

Today I had a satisfactory run (hip-lifter muscles have been reluctant for both the last couple of mornings), coffee and fruit, showered and dressed, Morning Prayer, public office hours at R&R including a long friendly pastoral conversation, and will be off for staff meeting in a bit. Marking is next on my long list…

Adequate run this morning, coffee and fruit, shower and dress, Morning Prayer, office hour at R&R, back home with the ladies, work on Sunday’s sermon, pastoral meeting at the church, back home, meeting at Costa for wedding planning, back home for dinner, and over to St Helen’s for the ceremony of Mayor-Making. Home. Sleep.

Satisfactory morning run, coffee and fruit, Morning Prayer at home, printing and stapling service books for the baptisms this afternoon, shower and dress, print and revisit homily, second cup of coffee before 9:30 Mass at St Michael and All Angels’ — then I’ll come home for lunch, and over to St Helen’s for baptisms. Toward the end of the day, home. I’ll probably be wiped out, but not because of a virus as last week (was that only a week ago? Seems longer than that) but with a day’s work well (I hope) done.

Yesterday was a big walking day — eight miles, which is double my ordinary — so my legs were in no way willing to extend themselves for a morning run. I walked most of the way, with some tentative brief intervals of jogging, and stopped in at the Cooperative on the way home to pick up some eggs. Once home, I enjoyed a very welcome hot breakfast and cup of coffee, spent the morning reminiscing with Margaret about Father Guido Sarducci, then turned my attention to tomorrow morning’s sermon.

Another good morning run — not exactly enjoyable, cos it’s chillier than I’d like, and it took a while to get limber, but it was good insofar as I made a steady, ‘normal’ pace. Grapes and coffee for breakfast, shower and dress, Morning Prayer, home for another coffee and, probably, toast, and work through the morning. New Testament seminar this afternoon, as Alex Muir has a talk about James and Hebrews, two of my favourites.