2024
31st August
"And now, the end is near And so I face the final curtain..."
As another Frank once sang, far better than I could 😉
Well maybe not the very final curtain. Perhaps there might be a few curtain calls in the future. We shall see 🤔
I started the website back in 2018 as part of all we did to celebrate our 150th Anniversary. At that point is served as a way to publicise the monthly events we did and to reach out to a wider community. The decision of the PCC was vindicated as the website was so well received and liked, almost immediately it went live. However, it really came into its own during the Pandemic Lockdown. It was one of the many ways we tried to prevent people becoming isolated and to still feel part of the church family and to reassure everyone that the church was still very much alive and was just waiting to burst back into life, once things became easier. I put a short act of devotion on the website each day and a longer one on Sundays. We were also able to keep people aware of the ever changing regulations regarding churches and what we could and could not do. Since then the website has gone from strength to strength and I feel it is right for me now to step away and let Chris make it even better and more part of what his vision for ministry is all about.
I've really enjoyed doing the website week by week, despite the occasional technical glitches, which certainly darkened a few Saturday mornings over the years, especially when I was a bit pushed for time because I had a wedding looming that day, or something else which needed my urgent attention. Please do remember that I received so much support from so many people over the years, who helped to make the website what it has become. I would like to give a special Thank You to our intrepid Parish Photographer Andy, who recorded so many events over all these years. Without his devotion to duty this would have been so much more difficult and much less fun. But generally today, I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you, for your support and encouragement from the day this website entered the cyber world. It has meant so much to me.
And so, from the Chateau of Contented Retirement I bid you Adieu but not Goodbye. Sigh... (well there had to be a final one didn't there 😏)
Stay well and safe everyone.
24th August
The weather held fair for the Barbecue in support of our two charities last Sunday and a good time was clearly had by all. As Chris has posted lot's of brilliant photos here I will just add one to the collection.
Here Her Majesty, the Queen of Caldecote, is having to be restrained by one of her Ladies in Waiting from assaulting the Paparazzi (me) as she suddenly became very shy about having her photo taken. Sigh 🙄 Some people just don't mellow with age. I believe that over £700 was raised for our two charities which is absolutely wonderful.
Apart from a trip to the dentist, not much has happened here this week. Oh, I did have another birthday 😖 Not something I particularly want to remember at my age, although Judy did remind me that this particular birthday is State Pension Day so that was some consolation. Untold wealth will now start pouring into my account in September and as Judy said I can now enjoy thinking about how best to squander it and fritter it away. Liverpool memorabilia comes to mind 🤣 Talking of the world's greatest football club, I feel I should mention that we started our campaign in the Premier League for the new season successfully, beating Ipswich 2-0. This was a great relief, as a close friend is an Ipswich supporter and I would never have heard the last of it had we lost. Part of the enjoyment of winning last Saturday was that we knocked Manchester United off the top of the table and were top ourselves, even if only for a few hours. Hopefully we will win again tomorrow against Brentford.
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for all the cards and gifts that I received this week. It was incredibly kind of you all to think of me.
Just a reminder that today's offering is the penultimate one and next week will be the last, at least for a while.
Stay well and safe everyone.
17th August
Having seen this yesterday I now realise that this is the root of all my problems. I have clearly been suffering from this for years. I shall seek counselling. Thankfully this does not extend to Dragaonflies.
I was rather pleased with this photo of a Common Darter that I took recently. Talking of Natural Wonders did any of you manage to see the Perseids during the week. I spent some time in the garden here at the Chateau watching for them and managed to see quite a few. The light pollution here at the Chateau is quite bad, so I certainly didn't see them at their best. Ahh... such happy memories of lying under the stars at the Castle in days gone by, when they looked so spectacular. Sigh 😪
It's a big weekend. Liverpool's Premier League campaign starts again at lunchtime today, as we travel to Ipswich. I have a close friend who is an Ipswich supporter and life will be unbearable if we don't win. Especially as another team, who will remain nameless, are at the top of the league after last night's game. 😠 Double sigh.
Tomorrow is the Parish Barbecue in support of the charities that we are attached to and I hear a lot of people are going, which is wonderful. Should be a lovely afternoon and the weather seems set fair.
Finally from me today, I see that there were birthdays celebrated last Sunday.
Many Happy returns to Ray and Jill. Good to see another amazing cake.
Stay well and safe everyone.
10th August
Butter wouldn't melt would it... Her name is Poppy and she lives next door. What a sweet, adorable little cat you are thinking. Unless of course you were the House Sparrow that she was eyeing up, sat on the fence at that moment. Then you might not be quite so keen. Let me tell you a story about Poppy.
It was about 1.30am on Wednesday morning and like All Saintly (did you notice what I did there 😉) people I was fast asleep. I woke up a little after hearing a thud, but was still very groggy indeed. Wondering what was going on I suddenly heard the tinkling of bells in my bedroom. I'm embarrassed to admit that my first thought was "Is this Christmas? Is that Santa's sleigh?" Far too much exposure over the years to Lindsay's Christmas obsession. Who else has already started watching Christmas films?? Sigh. I digress. Feeling like I had finally gone totally insane, I managed to open my eyes and there was Poppy sat on the floor next to my bed. Looking up at me. She decided to explore the bedroom and the bell on her collar started ringing again. As I struggled into full consciousness and managed to get out of bed she made a quick exit the way she had come in. Through the bedroom window, down onto the conservatory roof and then off to enjoy the rest of her night. This is the second time this has happened, but, at least, the first time I was still awake and that made a difference 😡
Although not strictly a Cathedral I have been instructed to include the following photo.
This is Cheltenham Minster and the latest venue for Lindsay's Round England Cathedral Crawl. Looks rather lovely in the sunshine 😊
Stay well and safe everyone.
3rd August
A very brief offering from me today. I imagine from now onwards that Chris will include news from. Church on his page, so I will limit myself, for these last few weeks, to what has been going on here at the Chateau and in my life (such that it is) and any other oddments that come to mind. Having become a professional and dedicated layabout over the last year, I have had plenty of time this week to watch the Olympic Games and it has been absolutely wonderful. I have honestly seen some of the best and most thrilling sporting events that I can ever remember, especially if you are a Team GB supporter. The Men's Mountain Bike, the Women's 4 Double Sculls, the Men's Triathlon come to mind. Just amazing stuff. I've been very glad of this, as I've had little energy to do anything else other than sit in front of the TV and groan gently. I've decided that I just don't cope with the heat nearly as well as I used to and trying to sleep at night has been a true nightmare. I am considering having shutters fitted to the Chateau. A couple of friends have called to see me and they have been suffering in exactly the same way. Probably many of you have had similar experiences.
Talking of oddments, Lindsay has been on her travels again and we have another Random Cathedral Picture.
She has been away visiting a friend and called in to see Gloucester Cathedral, which looks very magnificent indeed. While she was there she also became an Olympic Champion 😳
Apparently the other competitors were so far behind that they didn't even make the podium. She wouldn't reveal to me which sport she had been competing in, but I suspect we could all guess... 😉
While all of that has been going on Jill has been on child beating care duties. I wonder how that has gone 😱
Stay well and safe everyone.
27th July
I hope you have all had a look at the new page for his own blog that Chris has set up. I just want to reiterate what he says there. When we spoke, I had already decided that I wanted to retire Home Thoughts From Abroad. I have happily done this now since the interregnum started, but a new Lord and Master has arrived and it is important for the parish to look to the future now under his leadership. This will give me a chance to fade away into my dotage gracefully, but will be very happy to make the odd guest appearance if and when required. It's been a fun 6 years or so since I set up the website and I know how important this has been to many of you during this time. I'm so pleased that Chris will take this on and make it better. More importantly than anything, of course, I can happily vegetate in the sunshine, secure in the knowledge that Liverpool Football Club will still be at the heart of parish life.
Only really one thing for me to report on this week and that is the continuation of the 100th Birthday celebrations of the Queen of All Saints. Her birthday had already been celebrated at church the week before.
However last Sunday, the actual day of Betty's Birthday, many of us were invited into her regal presence at Shuttleworth House for the official celebration. Very lovely it was too.
Shuttleworth provided a fitting setting for such a special and wonderful day. Here is yours truly with the Birthday Girl.
Another happy reveller insisted she had her photo taken.
And in. the great All Saints tradition, there was inevitably yet more cake.
It was all really wonderful on a lovely sunny afternoon. It certainly seemed as though Betty enjoyed every moment of it. What an astonishing achievement this is and the second of our parishioners to reach the remarkable age of 100 years old in recent years. We all hope that she will enjoy many more of them.
Stay well and safe everyone.
20th July
I think I have finally got over the disappointment of last weekend's football debacle 
and confidently expect to be contacted by the FA and soon appointed as the New England Manager. Like so many people I knew exactly what we should have done to beat Spain. If only they had listened to me. Sigh. During the week I have been drowning my sorrows by watching the closing stages of the Tour de France, another sport that I love, which has been great fun.
On Tuesday I had coffee with Chris, who now knows all your ghastly secrets and met Tracy, Dexter and Tess. My meeting with Dexter was err... bracing 
We talked about many things and Chris is now editing this website. I am going to carry on with Home Thoughts From Abroad for a little longer. Haven't really heard anything from Church this week so I will leave you with the following cartoon which Lindsay sent me and made me smile.
Stay well and safe everyone.
13th July
Even as I write, the Tall Churchwarden is being sworn in as Churchwarden in Keysoe. She will now finally be compliant. Chris was apparently heard to remark "for the first time ever." I would have to say that this echoes my experience as well. Sigh.
Lindsay also felt that it was important that you are reminded of who is in the final of the Euros tomorrow night against Spain, so she sent me a picture of her Lair.
Clearly she has memory issues, but I'm glad she has found a way to help herself. I'm sure all right-thinking people will be glued to their TVs tomorrow night, supporting England and cheering on our inevitable triumph.
For me, the most important and significant event of the week was the funeral of Richard Tyler, who we have all prayed for over recent months, at Northill church on Tuesday. The service went really well and Sue was very pleased with it. It was interesting to learn that Richard had turned his thoughts to the order of service for his funeral during lockdown. Certainly the service reflected Richard's love for his family and his lifelong involvement with church music. I am sure that you will continue to remember Sue and their family in your prayers.
After the service, at the reception in the Village Hall I was able to meet Chris for the first time which was lovely for me. We managed to have a brief chat and are getting together for a coffee next week. He has asked me to give him the lowdown on all of you. I shall look forward to this... The awful truth can finally be told. He he he.... 😈
I also received a photo from Clive and Trevina of Durham Cathedral during the week, to use in our Random Cathedral Photos series.
A rather vertigo inducing shot, but a really good one. I must however chide the aforementioned parishioners for not trying harder. With great self-sacrifice I trecked all the way up to Durham earlier in the year just to get you a photo of this Cathedral. I do think Clive and Trevina could have tried a bit harder and been more original, but I suppose it's the thought that counts. Sigh. 😊
Please do take a look at the Latest News page, if you haven't already, as what we are collecting for the Need Project has changed and you will find all the details there.
Stay well and safe everyone.
6th July
So there you all are!
What a happy Band of Pilgrims. The Parish Photographer was apparently mercilessly nagged and this roused him from his lethargy and he sent me some pics, at last, for which, as ever, I am very grateful. These included the one of the Birthday Girl from the week before. We can also see the gorgeous cake.
Thankfully there were no candles for her to deal with, so little danger to life and limb. The only other bit of news from church that I have picked up during the week is that there was a PCC Meeting on Thursday morning, which would have been Chris' first. I do hope that all went well.
When I vacated the Castle I thought that was the end of free Air Shows for me, which I have enjoyed so much over the last 20 years or so. I always thought this was one of the definite bonuses of living at the Vicarage in Caldecote. As it turned out I could not have been more wrong. I was utterly amazed last Saturday to see this in the distance.
And then this right over the garden here at the Chateau.
The very best views of the Red Arrows that I have ever had. As the day unfolded, I also had distant views of a Typhoon Eurofighter and slightly closer views of what I think might have been a Spitfire. It felt like my own private Fly-Past. I feel very lucky indeed!
Stay well and safe everyone.