100 Pieces of Magrat

What an interesting way to spend a rainy afternoon/evening!

Here is the result: my list of just less than 100 items/possessions that I'd rather have with me than not. Of course, we/I have lots of other great things, but these are the ones that 'spoke' to me today. And yes, I know a bag of bits isn't strictly speaking one item, but it's my list and my rules! :-)

I also decided that furniture, household linens and supplies, and kitchen-ware didn't have to be included. And this will make for such a quick start as & when we move to our retirement flat by the sea somewhere, sometime...

I've added the reasons why by request :-)

A Hundred Pieces of Magrat

1. 3 rings, specs/sun specs (worn all the time)
2. Wallet of ID/essential docs (birth cert, marriage cert, passport, bank stuff, certs)
3. Laptop + charger
4. Kindle + charger
5. Phone + charger
6. Camera + charger
7. Toothbrush + charger (in bag of toiletries)
8. Hair brush & dryer + adapter
9. Bag of cosmetics 
10. Bag of nail stuff 
11. White name candle holder & candles (First present from Wm)
12. Book 1 - The Religious Experience of Mankind - Ninian Smart (The book from the first year Religious Studies undergrad. at Lancaster back in the mid-1970s)
13. Book 2 - Rock of Doubt - Sydney Carter (Yes, it is ok to doubt and question!)
14. Book 3 - Winter Solstice - Rosamunde Pilcher (The best novel ever)
15. Book 4 - Holy Bible - George Lamsa trans. from the Peshitta
16. Book 5 - Poems - Gerard Manley Hopkins (Beautiful genius poems)
17. Book 6 - Four Quartets - TS Eliot (More genius)
18. Carved wooden bear book ends (brought back by maternal grandfather from the Black Forest)
19. CD: Lovely in the Dances (Songs by Sydney Carter, sung by Maddy Prior et al)
20. CD: George Harrison (Always my favourite)
21. Bread board & bread knife (Board was part of kit at uni, knife inherited from maternal grandmother)
22. Orange coffee pot (Another part of uni kit!)
23. Tree of Life trivet (from Bea) & coasters (6) (From J&M)
24. Bird mug set (3) (Given to, and inherited back from, mother)
25. Cherry cup & saucer set (2) (My favourites!)
26. Bowl set (3) (Inherited from maternal grandmother)
27. Cream/brown insect plate set (8) (Found at The Hearth)
28. Cream teapot & milk jug set (Simple & practical)
29. Willow pattern tea cosy (Gift from Wm)
30. Serviette rings - pair (wooden one that I've had for ever & silver one that was my father's - part of a wedding present given to him & mother but I don't know who by)
31. Italian biscuit tin (from Lidl about 10 years ago - nice biscuits, pretty tin)
32. Tea caddy (bus) (Cute)
33. Tea caddy (herbs) (Mother kept my Earl Grey tea in it)
34. Ikea cutlery set (Simple & practical)
35. Ikea wine glasses set (6) (Simple & practical)
36. Plain glass tumblers set (French - Arcoroc) (6)
37. Wooden handled small knife set (3) (Inherited from mother)
38. Picnic set (Brilliant wedding present from W&S)
39. Tap/hat stand (Quirky!)
40. 'Live well, love much, laugh often' sign (and I have)
41. X-stitch sampler (made by me in 1994)
42. Brigid's Cross (from our Bethrothal & Wedding)
43. Wooden heart (made by Wm)
44. Wax picture (made by me, given to Mother, inherited back)
45. Klimpt apple tree print (Best painting ever, and reminds me of the beautiful carol by Elizabeth Postern 'Jesus Christ the apple tree')
46. Anglepoise lamp (Another bit of uni kit)
47. Small red Persian rug (Brought back from Isfahan by Uncle Brian)
48. Anderson blanket (my clan!)
49. Pen mug (from the Heron Cross Pottery in Staffs.)
50. Jug vase (Mother's)
51. Rider Waite Tarot deck (Used it since 1973)
52. Guitar (16th birthday present from parents)
53. Dandelion paperweight (Given to and inherited back from my father)
54. Mini chest of drawers (where mother kept her sewing kit)
55. Toys (Bears x 3, doll x 1, horse & cart)
56. Small flowery rucksack (Can't miss it!)
57. Sika + plant pots (& plants?)
58. Bamboo wind chimes (they sound nice)
59. Wooden twirler (cleverly made & good energy)
60. Small wooden box (Paternal grandmother's jewellery box)

61-100: 3 month capsule wardrobe 

Things: possessor or possessed?

So, the end of May, and we've been here at Karningul for eight months. And yes, it is still raining... but we do now get warm sunshine too, in between the torrents! The final flat-pack is flat no longer, so there is nothing in boxes that shouldn't be - at long last. And the garden is beginning to take shape, not only in terms of the chicken run and the fruit trees, but the patio is currently piled with wood for the raised herb beds, a pergola, and an abri - a covered area next to the existing wooden garden shed, so William has somewhere out of doors to work. The original idea of getting a second shed, to act as a tool store and work shop, has been ruled out due to the rain. There's still a lot to do, of course, and we're waiting for various quotes from various workmen & suppliers.

Meanwhile, last evening we lit what may be the last fire of the season down in the snug, and, while eating pizza and chips, watched Bettany Hughes' 2015 programme on the Buddha - one of her 'Genius of the Ancient World' series. It was easy watching, if not containing anything new. The part that has stuck in my mind is her interview with a Buddhist monk about the eight possessions he's allowed. He actually named only seven: three robes (lower, upper, and double or triple layered outer robe), a needle & thread (to mend the robes), a bowl, and a razor (for shaving his head). He didn't mention the water filter/strainer - necessary to ensure nothing living is killed. Another list also includes the belt used to fix the lower robe around the waist. Monks may also be authorised to possess toiletries, medical requirements, housekeeping materials, official documents, protective materials (umbrella/parasol, insect repellent, sun cream, pair of sandals, and so on), items required for travel and for telling the time/date, rosary beads, books, basic furniture, and practical items such as a pair of scissors, a cup, a padlock.

All this reminded me of a novel I read last summer: A Hundred Pieces of Me, by Lucy Dillon - the first  that I read of her series set in the same small town, and I recommend them all. The main character in A Hundred Pieces of Me has just moved from a spacious family house to a new apartment - for which she has far too much stuff. As she unpacks the many boxes she decides to keep only a hundred things - the ones that mean the most to her - and sell, throw away, or give to charity all the rest: de-cluttering with a vengeance.

As the story goes on, various other themes emerge, and while I love the story, I was frustrated not to learn what all the 100 things were! But it made me think, what 100 things would I keep? Having completed the units I was writing for the seminary, I have some desk-time on my hands, so shall have a go at my list... Watch this space for the result... Will number one be an umbrella??!

Gardening for land and soul

Now that spring is here, and already hinting at summer to come, we're out in the garden most days, not, at yet producing anything worthy of next week's Chelsea, but getting lots of hard basic work done: cutting the grass, the hedges, the banks, clearing the ditches, setting up the sechoir parapluie (rotary clothes line) and the parasol, and, yes at last, getting my hands on plants (after a visit to Rostrenen market yesterday) and potting up some trailing geraniums, alyssum and campanula. The little front garden is looking almost pretty.

The hens continue to amuse us, although we don't like the pecking order Mrs Fluffybottom maintains, with poor Chickpea at the bottom - and they continue to provide us with an average of 2 eggs a day - so lots of baking, omelettes, and yummy poached eggs on toast for breakfast!

And, along with all that, and dog walking, and all the usual daily stuff, I'm also making time to write some study units for the interfaith seminary through which I got my doctorate at the end of last year. It's a challenging thing to do, and stretches me in ways I don't always expect, and I'm very glad to be doing it. I'm also making sure that I answer all my own questions, write the essays and do all the exercises, not only to make sure they all work and make sense, but to continue my own personal spiritual development and ministry (over 28 years since I was ordained. Wow.).

A propos of which, I wrote the following that last weekend, as an expression of my image of ministry - well, my sense of and call to ministry anyway, which is a quirky but enduring thing :-)

My Poem of 'Mini-yes-try'

Yes, I am small, small on my own, just mini-me,

not huge or tall or strong or brave,

but frail and faulty, faltering and doubting,

vulnerable and hurting, leaping without looking,

making it up as I go along;

but small is not frightening, not threatening,

to those who feel even smaller,

who hide their smallness and their fear,

and you will speak, through me, please Godde,

the words they need to hear

and touch the hands that need to hold:

a mini-me can find the ones who hide,

who need an ear, a hug, a love, a smile, a laugh,

someone to walk beside.

So yes, I will say Yes to your call, although I am small,

a Yes to take me who knows where

to stand alongside who knows who,

but I will go, although the way I do not know

and sometimes I get lost and take the longer path,

but you will bring me home;

and on the way there will be joy, and views of beauty,

and above the stars will shine and sing,

and sometimes too there will be love.

And yes, I will try,

and when I fail and fall then you will hear my cry,

and know that once it was I who said Yes,

and you will find mini-me again

and set me back on my small feet

to take small steps - but never alone,

for where I go you go,

and where you go, I will follow.

Something to listen to!

Ascension Day: Thursday 10^th May

Some beautiful Gregorian Chant for you to listen to, on this day of the mysterious ascension of the Lord:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G2j5qktpE4

Viri Galilaei, quid admiramini aspicientes in caelum?

Alleluia: quemadmodum vidistis eum ascendentem in caelum, ita veniet,

alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Omnes gentes plaudite manibus:

jubilate Deo in voce exsultationis.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto

Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper

Et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Ye men of Galilee, why do you wonder, looking up to heaven?

Alleluia, He shall come back as you have seen Him going up into heaven,

alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

O clap your hands, all ye nations;

shout unto God, with the voice of exultation. 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now,

And will be forever. Amen.