Sunday 18 July - Saturday 24 July
For Roger, Sunday to Wednesday were days 5 to 8 of the retreat and the programme was much as before. But already by the Sunday I had decided that moving to France might well be the best option, subject of course to talking it over with Delia and coming to a joint decison. On these last four days I was given some excellent decision-making stuff that only tended to confirm what I was already coming round to.
I had decided that we must meet Val and Linda, maybe over dinner, and find out more, plus I must talk to Bob Bates (Diocese of Europe in the Algarve). As it happened, when I talked to Delia she had been to church at Conas and Val and Linda had said that we should meet. Delia would go to their PCC equivalent in the week..
On Monday I called Rothwell Health Centre for my blood test results. Thyroid was 4.52 TSH level (OK range is 0 to 5.2). Cholesterol was 4, OK range 3.0 to 5.7. No action required.
Now Delia continues with what she did for the first part of the week.
Getting to church at Conas on Sunday took 25 minutes. There were 32 there, including 6 children, 4 belonging to a Dutch couple who live in Pézenas and came on bikes. The 2 older children on their own bikes the 2 younger ones on mummy's bike; one on the front and one on the back. A 17 year old girl visiting from Toronto sang during communion. No accompaniment; singing led by Alison (whose house we went to for the film evening). No sermon but printed reflection on the readings. Val invited church members to church in Montpellier next week, where he is to be visiting preacher and celebrant.
Now Delia continues with what she did for the first part of the week.
Getting to church at Conas on Sunday took 25 minutes. There were 32 there, including 6 children, 4 belonging to a Dutch couple who live in Pézenas and came on bikes. The 2 older children on their own bikes the 2 younger ones on mummy's bike; one on the front and one on the back. A 17 year old girl visiting from Toronto sang during communion. No accompaniment; singing led by Alison (whose house we went to for the film evening). No sermon but printed reflection on the readings. Val invited church members to church in Montpellier next week, where he is to be visiting preacher and celebrant.
I met Jenny, who did the coffee last time and read this time. Think she's training for lay ministry – she and someone called Mary. Jenny is married to Alan the treasurer. Tea party this afternoon at their house at Mérifons. I spoke to Alan, the treasurer, a bit, who told me about the hoops one has to jump through to become a formal church; ie have to register with French civil authorities (because of the financial/property aspects) as well as with church authorities.
Overheard Val saying he needs cover one Sunday and wondered if Mark (from near Copenhagen) might come. Also heard they had no-one to take the service when he was stuck in Genève because of the volcanic ash.
I left Conas at about noon.
Monday was Bishop's Committee meeting at Pouzolles, which was interesting, with useful insights into the Episcopal Church and church politics. That day I walked down, along and back up the old Alignan road, back along the side of the Cave and met Erica and John with their pretty dogs. My walk on Tuesday was the circuit past the cemetery, down the nice path, and back via the frog pond, taking about 40 minutes between 9 & 10. No frogs at the frog pond but little frogs hopping out of the way at the water near the mill.
On Wednesday I did the same walk as on Saturday but an hour earlier as it was a bit cooler. The meteo à la radio says temperatures are back to normal, ie 32-ish instead of 37-ish.
After French in the morning at Roujan, I had what was probably my first harpin bend driving experience since going to Greece in 1971, when I went to see Martine in Salasc. We had lunch at Le Festillou, which is open under new management after being closed all winter. It was much the same as before, ie bar/restaurant with good value, no frills, set menu. We had a salad, followed by steak/frites and peach melba for 12 euros each. We had apero and coffee at Martine's. We spent much of the afternoon in Martine's garden, on which she has made amazing progress, growing a huge range of vegetables. She has been getting up at dawn to water it. To do that she blocks a water channel in the road nearby which makes water flow into a concrete basin in the garden. She then uses watering cans. She said she's now thinking of completely remaking the garden this winter, creating a slope to make watering easier. She gave me a lettuce, some little yellow pear-shaped tomatoes and some red basil.
Martine has been too busy with her garden, improving her piano playing and planning Violette's wedding (at Salasc with reception at a country house somewhere nearby in May) to practise her English. Therefore, she preferred that we speak only French. This was fun but quite wearing. Antoine, Martine's younger son who has just finished University, was due to be on a bus from Montpellier that stops on the main road above the village. We went to meet him in Martine's new car (probably not brand new but nearly) but he wasn't on the bus, or answering his mobile. Martine left him a message asking “where are you; when are you coming home?” I came home at about 6 pm looking forward, with mixed feelings given that it involved driving to Nîmes, to getting Roger back in the morning.
After French in the morning at Roujan, I had what was probably my first harpin bend driving experience since going to Greece in 1971, when I went to see Martine in Salasc. We had lunch at Le Festillou, which is open under new management after being closed all winter. It was much the same as before, ie bar/restaurant with good value, no frills, set menu. We had a salad, followed by steak/frites and peach melba for 12 euros each. We had apero and coffee at Martine's. We spent much of the afternoon in Martine's garden, on which she has made amazing progress, growing a huge range of vegetables. She has been getting up at dawn to water it. To do that she blocks a water channel in the road nearby which makes water flow into a concrete basin in the garden. She then uses watering cans. She said she's now thinking of completely remaking the garden this winter, creating a slope to make watering easier. She gave me a lettuce, some little yellow pear-shaped tomatoes and some red basil.
Martine has been too busy with her garden, improving her piano playing and planning Violette's wedding (at Salasc with reception at a country house somewhere nearby in May) to practise her English. Therefore, she preferred that we speak only French. This was fun but quite wearing. Antoine, Martine's younger son who has just finished University, was due to be on a bus from Montpellier that stops on the main road above the village. We went to meet him in Martine's new car (probably not brand new but nearly) but he wasn't on the bus, or answering his mobile. Martine left him a message asking “where are you; when are you coming home?” I came home at about 6 pm looking forward, with mixed feelings given that it involved driving to Nîmes, to getting Roger back in the morning.
Thursday was a travelling day for Roger. The morning started with a 7.45 am Eucharist, then we could all talk again. Just with casual chatting I found two other Anglican priests. I left at around 9 am and the journey was not easy, lots of traffic and stops. I bought sandwiches at a motorway service station again and took them to Mum's house to eat, arriving there at something like 12.30 pm. Then I called to see Aunt, who happened to have Aunty Betty from Duston with her.
After that I went home to Rothwell and talked to Pam, who again invited me to eat, this time with her and her friend Julie. I also left a message with Amanda (her husband Richard, who was in one of my Confirmation classes, died at the beginning of July) and later went to see her. Julie (I later learned) has had a nose reconstruction, but I didn't notice anything at the time except a really nice lady. I called in at the Rays' house but nobody was at home. So I went to bed early because the next morning was to have a very early start.
After that I went home to Rothwell and talked to Pam, who again invited me to eat, this time with her and her friend Julie. I also left a message with Amanda (her husband Richard, who was in one of my Confirmation classes, died at the beginning of July) and later went to see her. Julie (I later learned) has had a nose reconstruction, but I didn't notice anything at the time except a really nice lady. I called in at the Rays' house but nobody was at home. So I went to bed early because the next morning was to have a very early start.
The alarm was set for 4.00 am on the Friday and, by arrangement, I phoned Pam who was to take me to Luton airport. We left Rothwell at 4.30 am and arrived in good time for my 7.05 am flight. Everything went very smoothly and I was very pleased to see my wife again after what we think was the longest separation since we married.
On Saturday morning we went to Pézenas market, where a section of the market was a "Marché des Créateurs", and bought two paintings from and by Patricia Bosi from Cessenon-sur-Orb. This was with the gift from our friends at Rothwell church. We also did some other shopping in Pézenas. Here are the paintings on the floor of our middle room (the floor tiles are 12 inches square):
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