Rogation Sunday
The get-off-to-church routine was not the same today. Usually it's a matter
of getting the children shoe-horned into the car, stuff the little blue
envelope with something and off we go. But this time it's the first outing
of the season for the cool box, stuff things to barbecue into that (and the
little blue envelope still comes too) and scurry off down to Adventurer's
Farm.
We did this last year and it was delightful: a small service in a green space next to a field. This year the weather held for us again, and we celebrated how lucky we are to live in such a fertile and green part of the world. We sang All Things Bright and Beautiful acapella (that's "without anything to sing along to") remarkably tunefully. This year there were no passing aircraft and the horse joined in, quietly and politely standing attentively in the adjacent paddock so close behind Elisabeth Everitt I thought it would give her a shove - but no, this was a church service after all. Just a short one - then off we all went to roast our fingers upon the barbecue and have an entertaining time watching the children throw themselves into the pool. They had the decency not to take their clothes off, too, which added to the fun. A lovely lunch was had by all - many thanks due to all the preparers - and the only mutters of regret was that we'd done it so well two years running and we'd not publicised it more. We should put something in the Crier, someone said. Whatever happens next year, I know Barb's fantastic brownies will be remembered for many a day...long after the faint cries of "ow" from the men burning their fingers at the barbecue will be forgotten.
Be there next year!