Weather? What Weather?
Just before twelve, on Rogation Sunday, a group from St. Mary's assembled at Adventurer's Farm for an open-air service. The knack of alighting from a car with the umbrella already up proved difficult for a few who had not mastered the art earlier.
The service was held in the shelter of a barn which was open on three sides to keep one well aware of the hazards of a career in agriculture. The Rev. David Lewis spoke to us and expertly led the unaccompanied singing, his strong tenor in the lead as, dripping, we followed.
At the close we moved swiftly as if pursued from the shelter of the barn to Janet and Jim Willmott's house for the barbecue. Extensive building and refurbishment was in progress so there was no furniture nor flooring to spoil as we trudged in from the pouring rain. The kitchen is lovely, the fridge spectacular and the cooker and the oh so silent dishwasher superb. A circle of chairs was set out in each room and it was not long before Janet and Jim served up a meal fit for 45 kings - beefburgers, sausages, chicken and a variety of salads and rice and, best of all, warm bread. Silence fell as the Rogation Day barbecue was consumed enjoyably by every single person. A choice of delicious deserts rendered each of us replete, content and silent.
As for the rain, what rain? it just didn't come into it. We were warm, comfortable, well-fed and dry. Thank you, Janet and Jim, for your hard work and your hospitality, from each and every one of us. We can scarcely wait for 2007.