The End Of The Year

It is time for reflection and sighing at the thought that the old year has nearly finished and the new year is about to begin. It has been a mixed year but good overall. Jonathan successfully did his Junior Cert. Jessica went back to college. I passed my exams and went into my final year of training. Mum has recovered in a way that none of us thought possible when she was so ill in hospital during the Summer. Jessica went on a whistlestop tour of California with a brief foray into Mexico. Jonathan and I saw the delights of New Brunswick in Canada and Montreal in Quebec. I saw Florence and Pisa during a study trip with the college. Wow we did a lot of travelling.
The curacy rounds have kicked off and there are 18 parishes and 14 of us. It was a good year to be looking in the Republic but I don't think the list suited those in the North as well. having said that, it is a challenging process and it has invaded my brain more than I thought it would. I trust God to sort it all out but I'm sorry that it is impossible for all to be settled about initially. I am also sorry that the process seems to be so hard on the class cohesion. Perhaps that will assist in the natural dispersion of us all at the end of the course. I wonder though where I will sent the class Christmas cards next year.
So what do I wish for the new year/ Jonathan's safe return from skiing in the States for the next week. Happiness and peace for the family. For Mum to be able to continue living at home. I wish you all the best the season has to offer and that you feel that God goes with you into the future

Curacy List

So here we are. After 3 years it is finally our turn to wait anxiously for news of where may be available to hang my cassock and set down semi-permanent roots. After 3 years of looking at my home and wondering how on earth I would try to pack it up (and even more importantly - how on earth I managed to collect together so much stuff!) I know that I will have to make decisions about the house but these will have to wait until I know if I can use it easily for any potential time off. Jess will live there and Jonathan will too eventually assuming that college and work in Dublin is on the cards. It would be good to still have a "my room" to retreat to.

I have lived there for 20 years and it will be odd to acclimatise to a new home. I look forward to the work and the challenge but the getting there will be an issue. I can see my self constantly finding that the thing I need is in the "other" house.

The other big question that needs answering is where Jonathan gets to go to school. Newpark has been very good for him and I know that he would be heartbroken without being able to finish it. At least he has his ski trip next month.

Those That Serve

I am biased. I have a brother who has been a member of the Garda Siochana for the last 20 years. I think that in any organisation there are those who are the rotten apples and those who do their job above and beyond the call of duty with compassion and empathy. I believe my brother Andrew is one of those. When visiting his home towm in the West Of Ireland I have always been struck by the warmth of greeting that he receives from so many people living within the district he has responsibility for. He takes an interest in his local community and is involved in projects for the elderly including accompanying them on an annual trip to Dublin, and many other things. I know that there has been many occasions that he has been unable to leave a problem at work and has felt frustrated that he couldn't do more for a grieving family or a child in difficulty. Quite simply, he is one of my heroes.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, he was out in the squad car on a call and arrived back to the small Garda station where he was the only Garda on duty to find that his own car had been vandalised. Vandalised so completely that it is a write off. All bar one of the windows had been smashed and the body work is also damaged. It would appear that this act of cowardice was personal. No other car was damaged in the area.

I think we take forgranted those in our uniformed organisations. We forget that we are protected at land and sea as we are so rarely worried by threats to our security. We, as a nation of increasing individualism, are so quick to stand up and shout when we feel that we have not been treated fairly and demand our rights but so much slower at saying thank you. Last week members of the fire service were injured trying to go about their business also. Are we shouting as loudly as we ought in their defense? We are not. Why?

So today, if you know anyone in these organisations doing their best in increasingly difficult circumstances and under increasing budgetary pressure, who is still willing to go that extra bit because we are lucky enough that they still care - don't forget to say thank you for a job well done. It may well have been a long time since they heard it.

Thank you Andrew!

Women In The Church

I have had the pleasure in my short journey into ministry so far to be positively affirmed as a woman. Last year at the Woman's World Day of Prayer, two Roman Catholic nuns made a point of expressing their delight that the Church of Ireland ordained women and their regret that this avenue was not open to them. Today at the tea following the Ecumenical Harvest Service I was approached by another Roman Catholic nun who said that she would be praying for me and that she was delighted that I was approaching ordination as she felt regret that she could progress no further with her own vocation, a doctrinal glass ceiling. It is both humbling and daunting to realise that I am regarded as a representative of my gender as well as myself.

It was with this in mind that I was very disturbed to read in the Church Times over the weekend about the Curate, Rev Yvonne Hobson in Cornwall who has received another death threat in a continuing campaign against her. The postcard that the lastest threat was written on was found in a Bible in her stall in the church. She had just returned from leave of absence following a series of threats last year which included a hate letter campaign. How awful is that? A person called by God to further the work of the Kingdom threatened by backward looking individual, too cowardly to engage publicly with what they profess to believe.

I am unfamiliar with the direct challenge to my vocation on the basis of my gender but I am conscious that I do not have the acceptance I would wish from all around me. I am saddened by intolerance and have spent time this weekend thinking about my own intolerances with interesting results. It is the kind of self examination that takes a lifetime of checking into rather than a weekend. I find it hard to deal with intolerance as it speaks of feeling superior to another individual or group. What a dangerous concept. Jesus mixed with those who society dismissed, He didn't see the labels given by others, so why do we insist in doing so, and worse, applying some of our own?

Tomorrow I hope to attend a debate in Trinity College on the subject of the role of women in the church held by the Theological Society. Funny how things come together when you're are thinking about stuff.

Heavenly Father spare us from the idea that we are any better - or any more called -than anyone else. Amen

Back To School

The Summer is over, the chance to manage my own time has gone, the routine has kicked back in. I am at the end of my second Pre term Week. Last week we did a module on marriage issues. It was a really peculiar place to be as I fell between the two states, neither married nor truly single. I could relate to some of it and not to others. Ironically the week we discussed it was the week of what would have been my 21st wedding anniversary. I wonder how different life would be if Julian hadn't died.

Week 2 held the thrills of youth work. I am relieved to discover that I don't need to have the zany hyperactivity of a Saturday morning children's entertainer to have a chance to succeed and that there are lots of resources out there to help me cope that don't involve copious quantities of Valium! It has been one of those weeks that need time to inwardly digest but the more I heard the term "unchurched" the more uncomfortable I became with it in the youth work context at least. I prefer "unsupported by the church" as it has less of a them and us feel to it and seems to draw gentler boundaries. Unchurched almost suggests blame for the condition to me but I feel that more often people do not realise that they can gain support for this life through the Christian community if it fulfils its true purpose. Unspoken and unconditional support that does not necessarily require initial contact to be so conformist.

Jess is readjusting to life as a student and all that suddenly losing a full time job entails. Jonathan is mooching through life and playing hockey. We have just discovered that he can do one of his work experience modules with the Gardai in the West of Ireland, courtesy of my brother.
Mum is progressing well and leaves hospital on Monday after 3 and a half months. I hope and pray that things settle down well with the new care schedule and it allows her to remain at home in the long term.

Thats about all folks, the postings will be sporadic but I hope to continue them. Even if I'm the only one reading them!

Difficult Memories

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of my heart not only being broken but completely obliterated. On the 13th of September 1988 a policeman arrived at my door and tried to kindly break the news that my husband of 11 months and 13 days had died in a traffic accident on his way home from work. To say that I loved him is an understatement. To say that I have learned to forget him is an insult.

I always felt that WH Auden expressed loss so beautifully in Funeral Blues:

He was my North, my South, my East and West,

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;

I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

He did not choose to leave me and I know that he died loving me as his last words at the accident scene were for me. It is impossible to explain the grand passion that was our relationship. It had an intensity of feeling that still haunts me in dreams many years later. I had a feeling that we would not have much time together (a gift from God) and boy did we pack a lot in. I realise that I have written this much without speaking of Julian by name. He was a once off. He had a difficult adolescence and had lived quite a life before I met him. I was seen in some circles as his stabilising influence but I think that by the time he met me he was just ready to seek a sense of home and I was more than happy to be that home. I never doubted his love and felt bathed in its sunshine.

In the days after he died, I couldn't eat or sleep. I couldn't fathom the rest of my life without the love, care and light that he brought to me. The intensity of that pain is with me still in a reflected form. I still miss him with an ache that will only be relieved by being with him again.

Julian couldn't sing a note or hold a tune but he still sang to me Van Morrison's "Have I told You Lately That I Love You". Up at his grave in Enniskerry on Saturday I could still hear the song in my mind. I have loved, do love and will always love the man who promised never to leave me if it was his choice. He is buried where he asked to be laid at rest a couple of weeks before his death. I miss him.

I do wonder what our life would have been like if he were still alive and I am a realist and I also wonder what problems we may have had by now and if our relationship would have survived them. I will always wonder these things but there is one thing that I am sure of - we will have the chance to meet again in the life after this one when every tear wil be brushed from every eye. Thank God for the hope in the future. I still miss him.

I still miss him.

It's Getting Dark

Here's a picture taken in Castlebar in the West Of Ireland. It was elegant in it's simplicity.

I don't know why I always find myself blogging on a Sunday evening these days. Autumn is definitely in the air and the evenings are closing in. I don't like the dark nights and part of me closes in with them.


I spent the last couple of days in Castlebar on the occasion of one of my best friends Mum's funeral. David's Mum Mary was only 56 and died of cancer. The funeral was a peaceful tribute to a loving and vibrant woman, who I am sorry I never got to meet. She died in the gentle care of her family at home. Her long journey over, and the grief journey of her family continues. It has been a difficult time for them and a reflection of their love was seen in their care of her. Heavenly Father, grant them peace in their time of distress.


I realise that with the change in the evening light, the Summer draws to a close and with it the list that I set myself to do. It has, on reflection, been more of a wish list than a list of achieveables. I did inded get to IKEA and Jonathan now has more storage but less floor space in his room. I did manage to get the alarm serviced, the NTL TV cable fixed (an achievement in anyone's books), read a few books, fill the oil tank and do a little disseratation research. I even managed to get an overgrown toddler to tidy his room and clear out some space ( well have you ever tried to get a parent to stop hoarding and get rid of stuff they are unlikely to ever use? Every time my back was turned, Dad was trying to hide stuff to keep!!!!!!)


Mum remains in hospital but us improving steadily. She will stay there for another 3-4 weeks and is then for review. We are trying to get things in order to allow her to return home rather than into long term care but the Health Board mantra of "we have no budget available" is getting somewhat tedious. Dad is determined to care for her at home and despite all the beaurocracy it looks like this will be possible.


I recommend a great book I am reading at the moment. Jodi Picoult -My Sister's Keeper is another challenging medical ethic book. I think I already recommended Change of Heart by the same author. My Sister's Keeper is about a young girl who was conceived to facilitate her sister's recovery from leukaemia as a stem cell donor. She is tired of providing a spare parts service and sues her parents for the right to say no (i.e medical emancipation) to and further decisions to use her as a donor despite the fact that she is aware they are now looking to remove one of her kidneys to attempt to prolong her sister's life. It is extremely well written and explores an aspect of modern sibling donation I had not considered. If you want to borrow it, let me know.


That's about it. Jonathan's Junior Cert rersults are out on the 10th, I don't know who is bracing themselves more, me or him. Jess is off at Electric picnic, the last festival of the Summer and she starts back to college on the 15th and me the week after. Where did all the Summer go?????

Mudstock

Hello fans! (Anyone still out there since I got home?)
Another week has gone by and what have I got to show for it? Well I finished the first series of House, have done a bit of baking, sorted out and put away my study notes for this year and ordered more books I don't have time to read on Amazon (I just like getting the post). I went to the college library and got an impressive pile of books to start researching my dissertation. I need to make a start on it as I have no idea how my workload will settle with the possible needs around Mum's potential discharge in September.
So I had a lovely afternoon trying to establish the best definition of death. Not as easy as it would appear. I finally got it sorted and I realised that, of course, the definition would have needed to change on the 1960's with the advent of heart transplant surgery and bypass machines. I had the dissertation sorted in my head at the end of term but now realise I forgot the grand plan somewhere and need to re-establish the project's direction.
Jonathan came home from scout camp a day earlier than he should have. The torrential rain over the last 24 hours rained them out and the organisers of the jambouree requested that any that could leave should do so as the camp was completely flooded. He got home smelly and damp at 11 pm last night having had a whale of a time. He seems to have grown again, must have been all the rain.
Mum is doing very well at the moment and has always enjoyed the Olympic games. She will be in hospital for the forseeable future though she continues to improve. It will be a difficult transition home when the time comes and we hope that Dad will get a bit more backup from the health services when the time comes.
During this week I hope to reform the shape of my dissertation, do another but of clearing out, go to IKEA in Belfast, put my photos of Canada into an album and sort out Jonathan's school books, finish at least 3 of the 4 books I'm reading at the moment and try to cook a couple of new experimental dishes. That should take care of things and keep me out of trouble for a while.

Sex

Having got your attention, I will just waffle on as per usual. Admit it though, for just a brief moment you thought you had wandered into an alternate universe! :-)

I was watching House MD on my laptop a few minutes ago and I realise that the medical team on it aren't that good because they get the obscure diagnosis wrong at least twice before they hit on the correct one and manage to administer the right treatment. When they are trying out the various life saving medications, they are always an interesting colour and always have to be administered by IV. I think they should be told to hold off until they get to their 3rd diagnosis sorted and then solve the case. While I am on the subject of TV programmes - How come nobody has realised that wherever Jessica Fletcher is, someone will die? I don't actually watch "Murder She Wrote" but you all know what I mean. And another thing - how come the word "MURDER" always sounds more seriously fatal when said in a strong Scottish accent? Try it!!!!!

I was preaching and thaking the service in Kilternan today. The people in Kilternan are really the lovliest people and the most supportive group. The Gospel reading was from Matthew, the feeding of the 5000 (Men, as the women and children weren't counted). I had sought the assistance of 4 members of the congregation last week for this week and they were fab and helped with my sermon today. They were willing to tell the story of how God is palpable in their lives. We heard of everything from the humble runner bean to cosmic dust. Fabulous.

I have been reading a lot of different bits and pieces over the last while. I have just finished the light and fluffy "Book Club" by an Irish author, but previouslyto that I read Judy Picoult's wonderful "Change of Heart" a story about a death row prisioner who sought to donate his heart to the sibling of the child he was guilty of killing. Read it if you can, dark and uncomfortable but well worth the effort. I am also reading Gerald of Wales Medieval description of Ireland and Gene Robinson's autobiography "In the Eye Of The Storm". I still have such a big pile of books I want to read this Summer - there's not wnough hours in the day.

Just for your entertainment I post picture of Abner the Sailor Dog.

Odd

Isn't it strange, I was thinking to myself how little I have done and how I don't have anything to report as life is really revolving round the hospital and home and then I relised that it isn't strictly true. Mum is holding her own and being very well cared for in Tallaght. jacq and I are aware that nurses make the worst relatives to deal with but the staff have been very kind. She seems to be making steady progress but thoughts of her coming home are a while off yet. We hope and pray that she will see enough progress to make the transition home when the time comes.

I went to see then new Batman movie on Friday night. While I had mixed feelings about the movie - the acting standard of some of the major actors was pretty crap, including Michale Caine, Maggie Gyllenhal and the guy that played Harvey - it was worth sitting through for the sheer stand out quality of Heath Ledgers performance. I was determined not to be influenced by the fact that he had died but the way he played the joker was truly worthy of an Oscar. I had admired his skill in Brokeback Mountain but this really upped the ante. Wow. Such a shame a talented guy was consumed by his own darkness. RIP

The other thing I did this week was attend a criminal court to support someone called to give a character witness. I was struck by the similarities between court and church. Both assume a basic knowledge of the language involved, both have special clothing worn, both have justice at their focus. It was a fascinating opportunity to be a fly on the wall in the workings of the law.

With a bit of luck this week I will read some worthy books, get the parcel of peanut butter chips I posted myself from Canada (note to those in college with me: don't mock it, you will be eating the cookies I make, you know you will!!!!!),try to start my finess regieme, and startr the long awaited house clearance in preparation for next year. That should be enough to keep me out of trouble .........briefly. I have included another photo of Canada- not because I am there still but because I haven't found many people to bore with them yet. These lupins grow wild on the side of the road - everywhere. They are beautiful.

Friday's Problem

Well as if all that is going on here is not bad enough, I have a further problem. There I was sitting on the couch, it being a Friday night and all that, working through a few magazines I had to catch up on and then it happened.........I miss Canada - already!!!!!! It is the fault of the Canadian Living magazine I brought home. I was looking at the recipes and generally mooching through the magazine when I realised that I was already planning my next trip and I don't even know when I will have time off to go again. I love Ireland and really don't want to live anywhere else but Canada is a truly lovely country and looking through the photos I took make me realise how much I like it. The lack of traffic, the people, the healthy living! I know that it is a pretty inhospitable place in the Winter and I have only seen it during the Summer, but that's ok, I can go back in the Summer - rent a big campervan and take to the highway.

Muriel, if you are reading this in St John, you shouldn't have been so nice, you only encouraged me! Jonathan wants to come back too. I think Canada is in real trouble now. Greg, my placement Rector has suggested a parish swap for the Summer some time in the future, I would love to - though I need my own parish first.

Mum was a bit brighter today and the consultant in pleased with her progress. She is on bedrest and having a blood transfusion today and that should help perk her up a bit more. In the meantime, please pray for Mary and her family. Dave, one of my dearest friends - a lovlier person it would be hard to meet - will lose his Mum over the next week or so. Pray for peace for Mary and her family. Thank you

Tallaght Hospital

Despite the decision not to be in Tallaght Hospital this Summer it seems that fate had different plans. Since I have come home I have been in the hospital every day. the maon advantage of this is that I know my way without thinking and there are lots of people to say hello to. My day begins with a cup of coffee with my friend mags and then up to Mum til lunchtime. Things are stable at the moment and we will just have to wait and see what happens. In terms of the treatment Mum has received, it has been first rate despite our concerns about bed availability etc. The doctors and nurses couldn't be more kind and Mum is Mum, gentle, patient and unbelievably accepting of the latest thing that has been thrown at her.

At least at home the washing has beeen caught up on and though the house needs a good clean, Jess, Jonathan and I made it safely home from our various travels.

Update

Hello all,
The blog semed to end abruptly and the reason for that was that we got flights home a day ahead of schedule as Mum was no better and I couldn't feel happy being away any longer. Anyway home we came to be met by traffic standstill on the M50 due to a coach fire. There was no diversion in place so having been without sleep at that stage for over 24 hours, Jacq who kindly came to collect us, headed towards town and I eventually got out of her car onto the luas because traffic in town was at a standstill, and arrived in Tallaght hosp 4 hours after landing in Dublin! have I missed the traffic????? Mum is currently holding her own and life is on hold while we wait to see how her treatment goes. So if I am not on line or in touch I am sure you will understand. I would be glad to get the odd text though, just to say Hi. Thanks.

Heatwave

I don't know if the news of the heatwave has gone beyond Canada but the temperature to day was above 32 c and according to the news it would have felt more like 40 with the high humidity. not the day tp walk around the Giles Villeneuve grand prix Circuit in the heat of the midday sun. Well a fan's gotta do what a fan's gotta do! We then vvisited the biosphere for the ecology exhibition and the Museum Stewart where we heard some bagpipes - can't get away from them. Have only just cooled down and no sunburn, thank goodness.

Syncronised Swimming

So Jonathan and I set out today to the Olympic Stadium built when Montreal hosted the 1976 games. It was suitably impressive and in the pool area we got to see some of the Canadian team training for Beijing later this Summer. I can tell you that none of the dive team seem to be afraid of the highest board, and the syncronised swimmers were able to point theire toes with straight legs out of the water, again, and again, and again and again......

Off then to the cleverly reused cycling track to see the animals of the rainforest and St Lawerence basin and the arctic. I know, and not one of them on a bike. We also travelled on the cablecar to the top of the tower to look around the city. It was very hot today too - 32 C, which is a lot more than they have had at home.

We headed off to the cinema this evening to see Wanted with James Mc Evoy and Angelina Jolie (though Jonathan would have put the stars in a different order I'm sure). Excellent movie, if a little blood thirsty. Jonathan tells me that though a 13 rating here it is a 16 rating at home. I can see why!

While we are over here looking at penguins and city panorama, I am conscious that my Mum has just been admitted to hospital in Tallaght. Canada is a little further away than I would like. Home overnight on Thursday via Heathrow. I look forward to being back in Ireland despite the excitement of travel. Jess arrived home safely, and then she's off again at the weekend to Oxegen. Maybe next week we will all meet up!

The Jazz Mass and A Montreal Delicacy

Such a treat, I realised yesterday that the British Grand Prix could be viewed on the TV in the hotel and I set my alarm for 7 a.m and enjoyed the success of Hamilton and the McLaren team. Such a start to the day! I headed out to the local Anglican church which happened to be Christ Chruch Cathedral. It was a Jazz Eucharist to tie in with the Jazz Festival on this weekend round the corner from us. The service was pretty straight forward but in addition to the usual stand up-sit down conventions, we had to respond to the gestures and sit down and stop singing halfway through the hymns to allow for improvisations. and then stand up to sing the last verse when the music stopped wandering around aimlessly - you can tell I am a jazz fan. Thus, All Things Bright and Beautiful, Amazing Grace and What a Friend we have in Jesus had a jazz makeover, I think that it worked up to a point but was unsure about the round of applause started by a member of the congregation before the final blessing.

We set off later than usual to follow a walk suggested by a guide book. There was very little to see really other than 2 homeless guys with their shopping trollies hurtling through the street of a quiet hippy suburb, thier worldly possessions pulled by a team of dogs. The dogs then proceeded to fight so we left rather quickly.

For dinner this evening a taste of Montreal - vegetarians look away now- a smoked meat platter for me. The guide book said it was the thing to eat and let me tell you it come sexactly as that - a large plate of warm brisket beef smoked but not roasted etc. Only for the glare of our elderly waitress, I think I would have eaten none but didn't manage very much. As Jonathan, wise beyond his years, pointed out - "Mum these local dishes are always bad news". How right you are son!

The von Trapps

Following the success of our expedition yesterday in achieving the impossible and actually getting out of Hangar 16, we decided to up the ante today. Following a trip to the Mc Cord Museum of Canadian history and a look at some amazing Inuit art we set off up a mountain. incidentally Inuit means "people/ human beings" and it has replaced the title eskimo which meant "raw meat eaters". The art was fabulous and the museum was different enough to make it worth the effort.

We set off to nip up to the top of Mont Royal for the amazing view. The guide book said that about half way up the hill we would spot 200 steps that would half the time it would take to go to the top. So we set off up the steps.........I can hear the von Trap family singing............oh no that's just the sound of my wheezing as Jonathan went up the steps like a mountain goat! The first thing I saw when we got to the top was an ambulance - I'm not joking! There must be a real need for it at the top in the heat if it is stationed there. The view from the top was truly amazing and when my colour had returned to normal and I stopped "glowing" from the beads of sweat, it really was quite pleasant.

We meandered back to the hotel to rest and did a little bit of shopping on the way. A quiet evening and a movie on the TV and then to bed. The British Grand Prix is on the telly here at 7.30 a.m so I will set the alarm for that. Go Mc Laren!

Jonathan's Blog

I am getting Jonathan to dictate this as he has been quiet up to this point and I feel its about time he did a bit of work! So here you go:
Hello everyone,
First full day in Montreal. Breakfast at the hotel was plain and simple- not my style. My wardrobe is full of American Eagle clothes.
Churches, churches, churches, my mother isn't trying very hard to hide her obsession with church. We went to Notre Dame Cathedral and discovered that such a hard core church - Roman Catholic- was designed by an Irish Protestant. It was such a sight that I wanted to go back and see the church while it was having a light show, because between the complete unsubtlety and it would give teenagers heart attacks rather than elderly gents because the inside was sharp in contrast to a moose's antlers. Another attraction that we visited was The Labryinth where the staff were very eager to help - wink wink nudge nudge. After an hour in there I could hear my Mother's grinding teeth behind me, half an hour later when Mum asked to get out through clenched teeth, help came...... and brought us about 20 feet in the right direction, and said carry on. After about 20 more minutes of trekking around the plactic wasteland we eventually reached the exit where we saw 10 portraits and weren't allowed to leave until we had solved the problem of the maze. By this point Mum was looking for a bottle of Southern Comfort for some comfort. After I had eventually worked out who committed the crime, my prize was a piece of elastic that said well done. Mum was rocking in the corner looking to leave. We escaped. Jonathan

Back to me again -
After a lovely simple and fat free breakfast at the hotel we kitted Jonathan out for school. then off to see the lovely St Patricks Basilica which I thought was overboard until I saw the Basilica Notre Dame! Wow, if ever there was a need for sunglasses......... You should see it, it is WAY over the top! We headed off to a brief exhibition of the history of Montreal and then to the park for a picnic - whether we picked up the ants there or later we will never know.
Then as Jonathan mentioned we headed off to Hanger 16 for an afternoon of fun wandering round a warehouse of plastic sheeting of different colours to try to find our way through a maze that seemed to have been set up by a group of sadistic toddlers. The staff were unhelpful when asked for the way out- we were adults therefore we had to work it out for ourselves!!!!! Much grinding and gnashing of teeth. Oh what a kerfuffle and joy abounded when we finally saw daylight again......and we paid for the privilege?!

The desire to live having been sucked out of me, we headed back to the hotel to lie down and then went out for a nice Italian meal and a glass of red to get over the trauma. Goodness, tomorrow is another day.

I am having problems with my email so if you are looking for me, best to log a comment to this or send a message via facebook. Thanks. X

Montreal

What a send off we had today- I think that they were afraid that we wouldn't go! Al and his wife collected us and brought us out to brunch where we were joined by Muriel and Joanne. After a trucker size breakfast it was off to the airport. They very kindly stayed to wave us onto the plane as the departure was at risk of being fogbound. It was quite emotional to say goodbye as we were truly blessed and cared for by the people on the placement.

Arrived in Montreal and travelled to the hotel - Square Phillips - another hit for the site www.tripadvisor.com where I found the recommendation. Smack bang in the middle of the city. We are on the 10th floor so its lovely and quiet. We unpacked and headed out to investigate our surroundings. We are just off the main shopping street and they are all having sales!!!!!! Oh no, there goes the weight of the cases........ We had a great dinner - the most tender steak I have had in a long time. We will head out to start the touristy things tomorrow. A week here then home for a rest!

Abner the Dog and the Bald Eagle

This morning having mastered the art of a huge washer dryer I did a bit of washing and dried it off and then realised that in the process that the clothes must have puffed up as it came to packing the cases, it appeared that there was less room all of a sudden. I don't remember going shopping to that degree and we still have to go to Montreal! I really have done little shopping but we got Jonathan some clothes in Old Navy so his case had held my robes on the way over so space is limited. I have a ryanair mentality to packing these days. Jacq - if you are reading this, I didn't use the skirts at all! Sorry!

We were picked up by Eric at lunchtime to go to his sailboat. I confess that I was more than a little concerned and was afriad that I would disgrace myself by throwing up on my kind hosts or falling over board if the boat tilted. In the end after a tour of Erics church which reminded me of CORE in the city centre, complete with immersion tank for baptism. When Val, Erics wife came back, we headed for the boat. With huge trepidation we left the jetty in the 27 foot boat and there was a digital reading for depth. A river that is 110 feet deep in parts!

I take it all back - I spent a most pleasant afternoon on the river. The sail out to a island for an offshore mooring was gentle and fast with very little up and down going on. Abner the poodle had his own little life jacket that he wore - wait til you see the picture! While moored and having a glass of home made red wine, I suddenly spotted a large bird. A bald eagle!!!!! Wow, what a sight a bald eagle in full flight. It settled in a tree on the island and there he stayed til we left. Jonathan also had a great day and I couldn't help thinking about how much he has had a chance to experience on this trip also. Val said to him that she couldn't think of any real reason why he couldn't apply to be a counsellor in Camp Medley next year.

We are now back at Greg and Vanessa's house finishing all the packing to head off in the morning. We are to be collected by Al and I think a couple of the parishioners are hoping to join us for brunch en route to the airport. St John is far away from home, yes, but the warmth and genuine hospitality we have experienced is extraordinary and something I will hold always. We will try to blog from Montreal.

Camp Medley and Canada Day

So 2 days in one and its late already! Camp Medley turned out to be ok and there was a bit of downtime involved though a lot of small talk with the cousellors who were between 16 and 22 years of age. I don't think that they had any sort of an idea of what we were supposed to be doing there but we joined in the activities as best we could. The camp wasn't busy and they had less than 1/3 capacity so I think they were a bit bored themselves. The time passed relatively quickly and we were collected at 11 today by the lovely Tom and Muriel to celebrate Canada day with them.

We headed back to St John with a picnic on the way. The camp is a 1.5 hour drive away but the scenic route took longer. We headed into town and joined in the festivities. We got free Pepsi t shirts one courtesy of a quick moving Muriel, and went to the flea market- no fleas though. We were taken to the New Brunswick Museum and the Loyalist house, one of the oldest in town. It reminded me of the Rectory in Birr and had many of the same features.

Then back to Muriel and Toms for dinner. What a treat awaited us. Jonathan and I were given a lobster each and taken through breaking it down for eating, quite a skilled job, Jonathan enjoyed the chance to attack something with a lethal looking knife but I have told him that he will not be eating like this at home! We headed back into town but because of the fog there was no fireworks so it is now past midnight and time for bed. Sailing tomorrow and packing and then off to Montreal to rest!

A Wonderful Gift

So today is sunday, amazing that it sometime comes round so quickly sometimes, especially when when you are preaching! I preached twice and it seemed to go well. I wasn't run out of the church anyway. After the service there was a cup of tea downstairs and a cake decorated in white and green icing in honour of their Irish visitors. They went to the trouble of getting a message put on it in Irish. I only got there when the cake had been half eaten but Jonathan tells me that the message was "Best wishes". As part of the coffee time they presented me with a prayer quilt for Mum and said a prayer of dedication over it before giving it to me to take home. Well as you know I am a real tough nut until they mentioned Mum and then I managed to choke out a thank you and how impressed I had been by the quilt ministry before I became overwhelmed and had to shut up!

It seems that the way has been opened for future parish swaps perhaps over a Summer at some stage. Not just me by the way, if any of my classmates etc are reading this - there are apparently a number of clergy that would be interested in a holiday swap. It's all happening in New Brunswick.

Greg and the family have gone and we said goodbye at the church. I commented that they were very trusting to leave us in their house with 4 days to clear the joint but they have even trusted us with the cat. We spent the rest of the day with the Campions. originally from Enniscorthy and Kilkenny. Fully Irish and no explanations required. They are truly delightful and just what I needed. After a glass of wine and lunch, Mrs Campion said that I must be tired from meeting people all week and tucked me in for a nap. She woke me up about an hour later and I discovered that Jonathan had been given free reign of the TV - which he hadn't had the opportunity to watch for the last 10 days - and they had checked out the TV guide and found the Euro 2008 final was on. How happy was he!? Go Torres............ It was lovely for him to have a chance to chill. Following an extremely relaxing afternoon we had dinner with them and Jennifer their daughter dropped us home.

So tomorrow we head off early in the morning when we are collected for the run to Camp Medley, which sounds like an placename from the Simpsons. We don't really know what awaits us there but we will be there for about 24 hours before being collected again and brought back to St John. Its about 2 hours away inland so its quite a trek but in for a penny etc. This means loyal readers that there is unlikely to be a blog tomorrow night - try to contain the disappointment. Off now to pack the bug spray. X

Flip Flop Heaven and the Leprechaun Snowman

Hello loyal readers, tired of my trip yet? You haven't had the pleasure of the thousands of photos that are still to come! I haven't got the cable with me to connect the camera so no drip feeding them it will be all or nothing!

We had a relatively quiet day today in terms of placement. Jonathan and I were picked up by the lovely Muriel and taken to do as much shopping we could in 3 hours - we hadn't had the opportunity to go up to now as there was always something on. So off to Old Navy to begin kitting Jonathan out for school etc as he doen't have to wear uniform any more. We got a few its and pieces but for some unknown reason he doesn't seem to want to try on the things I choose for him. The flip flops were on special offer at a dollar a pair with a limit of 5 pairs. I am sorted for the forseeable future.

We then mooched into a craft shop and went into the Irish Craft Shop to freak the owner out as only a very small proportion of the goods on sale would ever have been connected to our beautiful land. You could buy a cadbury flake for 2 dollars - about E1.50 We go the most wonderful Christmas tree decoration to mark our visit- some of you may not know that we pick up a tree decoration from every holiday. This authentic irish snowman is awesome! I can honestly say that I have never seen the like at home. Wow, truly special.

So home to finish the sermon for tomorrow and then what a surprise --out for dinner. this time a t-bone steak barbequeued and thank goodness, salad and NO CAKE! Praise be! Most of the people who took us out during the week have threatened to give me feedback on the sermon tomorrow. I look forward to it. After church when the Mc Mullins have left, we are to go to the Campions for the rest of the day, their son Peter is the chaplain of Kings Hos school in Dublin. The home to an empty house and the cats.
Bye

Good evening!
This will probably be quite a short blog tonight as it is late and there's not much to say. Up this morning and went with Jonathan down to the local dollar shop to get a load of gear so that we blend in on Canada Day on Tuesday. I have a funny feeling though with the maple leaf neckerchiefs, the hats, the socks and Jonathan's giant flag, that we will look like Irish tourists and just end up being regarded as quite simple by the locals!

With 2 dozen Tim Horton doughnuts under our arm we set our for the parish youth trip to New River beach an hour or so out of town. Well us and the Mc Mullins and one other family and a lone youth we picked up. It was pleasant to walk on the beach and the expected rain didn't materialise and the barbeque was good. Jonathan was in swimming for most of the time. I went beach coming with Patti and her daughters and she found me a silver dollar shell. There is apparently a legend on the internet about it so I must check it out.

It appears that though I knew the rector was heading off to do his naval service on Sunday, his family are joining him - musn't have got that email! Ah, so that explains why we are going to the diocesan youth camp Monday night {no internet, no blog} are being entertained by a parish family on Canada Day and taken sailing all day Wednesday and dropped to the airport by the lay reader on Thursday!!!!!!! We are continuing to stay at the Rectory and minding the cats.
That's it folks. Time for bed, I need to tidy up my sermon tomorrow for Sunday.

Fiddlehead Soup

I know, I know, you are wondering how I keep coming up with such wonderful titles for my blog entries.

Well this morning I waqs round at Joanne's house for a cup of tea. As is the way here it wasn't that simple with the wonderful hospitality. She was to bring me back to the church in time to get organised for the funeral. She showed me round her lovely home and showed me her quilting room. The church where I am on placement has a prayer quilt ministry. There is a group of ladies who get together and make these beautiful quilts as gifts for the sick. The quilts have individual designs and a cross on the back. i have photos but unfortunately I didn't bring the cable I need to load them up so you will have to see when I get home. The ladies leave various ties loose and there is a meditative time when these are tied and the persons tying them each say a prayer for the recipient - who they will know something about. The 3-4 ladies who stitch the quilt together give a guarantee of daily prayer for the individual for a year after the quilt in handed over. It is a real gift from a church community to the sick. The quilts are the size of a single bed and so beautifully made. It is truly special. They were amazed I couldn't think of anyone who quilted in Ireland. Anyone know of an Irish quilting group?

So Joanne thought that an early lunch was the way to go instead of a simple cup of tea and had made a local dish, fiddlehead soup. To the ignorant, like myself, a fiddlehead it the very top of a fern just before it unfurls. these are taken here and cooked in various ways including being deep fried. Soup was made with these, a little onion, sweet potato and a smidgeon of garlic. The end result when purified is like a broccoli soup. It was lovely.

The funeral went without a hitch. There was a tenor soloist who sang so effortlessly and beautifully at the end I thought I wouldn't hold it together. It was sad but a celebration of life. Harold's family honoured his desire to be an organ donor and there were 8 organs harvested. What a legacy.

This evening we were taken out by Julia and Neil and their friends Bruce and Carol. Bruce is currently the head of the Church Army in Canada. It was a lovely evening and Neil was very kind to Jonathan especially and has given him some scouting memorabalia from his own collection. We met their dog, Molly- a beagle, and they took us round the sights as we haven't really done much of the touristy things. So we have seen a little. It is a very provincial city but despite the oil refinery and paper mill in the city centre it is nonetheless very nice.

I am ready for bed. Just to add HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA! We rang her and she is having a lovely time and has just arrived in San Francisco.
That's enough for today. X

The Ring, the Cakes and the German

Jonathan had an all night Lord Of the Rings session last night with 2 of the kids in the house. They tanked themselves up on junk food in an effort to be so hyper that the night would pass in a haze of sugar. Well it worked up to a point and there is a dispute about who actually managed the whole night without sleep but they all looked a bit rough this morning. I tootled down to the local coffee shop for a fix this morning. Partly in a effort to work off some of the backlog of food and partly because I have become seriously decaffinated. It was the most glorious day and the temp went up to 27 C. It didn't really feel that hot though.

We headed off for lunch and had a delicious meal with cake to finish and this time though Greg was laughing at me for having to eat so much he got nabbed to stay as well. Vanessa has suggested that we start to ask for slices of things to bring home so she can have some too. Jonathan who was sleep deprived functioned sufficiently to have seconds. Home then for a few minutes and then having dropped Jonathan off we headed for the funeral parlour where we met with Harold's family and said that we would call back later for prayers. It was a little odd to meet with a family for a funeral visitation when the deceased had already been cremated and the urn was on the table beside a photo of him. We went back this evening and I went too at the request Harold's Mum who really is a very gracious lady. The funeral is tomorrow at which I am assisting and it may well be a full church. The fire dept limit for the church is 335.

Dinner this evening was courtesy of Isle, a German born lady who had the Lutheran minister there as well. He said the grace in a kind of sing song voice that I really only existed in odd tv programmes- I was afraid to look at Jonathan. Dinner was extensive and the lady herself was a very germanic woman and I was very glad I ate all my vegetables and ......no thank you I won't have a slice of cream cake........gosh all your own fruit in the inside, how lovely...............and low in sugar..................well I wouldn't like to offend you...............just a sliver then since you obviously went to all that trouble...............thank you, but that looks looks like a whole slice. And then to the end of another day, full and tired. And we've been here less than a week?
til tomorrow then. X

Too Much Pie

Well hello faithful readers!
I missed a day there. I had the morning and afternoon off yesterday and hung round the house with Jonathand and the kids during the torrential rain and went out for a walk as soon as it stopped. There is a small mall near the house and joy of joys there is a Dollarama - everything for a dollar, or if you are really pushing the boat out there is a much more upmarket option where you can spend up to 3 dollars for a single item. As there is a tax of 13 cents to the dollar, it can get pretty expensive but I reckon most of you are worth 3.39 so its looking good for a pressie! There is also a drug store which sells everything from magazines and deoderant to chewing gum so that took me half an hour to negotiate. All in all it was a busy morning.

In the afternoon when Greg came back we established that Jonathan was indeed expected to Barb's house for dinner so off we set. Though not enamoured by an evening with 2 older ladies and his mother, he rallied well and by his second dessert and his 3rd peanut butter square, he was positively chatty! To do him justice , he has been very good. barb ad her friend Patsy turned out to be real characters and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit. barb belonged to the Red Hatters Club a social group for older ladies based on the Jenny Joseph poem Warning. Look it up on line if you don't know it, its brilliant. I knew the poem already but had no idea the group existed. Check it out on Wikipedia.

Today I went with Greg to morning prayer, then to do a funeral prep visit for Harold's family. I will be reading the lessons at the event on Thursday. He then dropped me into the city centre to meet Archdeacon Stuart Allen who I was originally on placement with. He's a really funny guy and the church warden joined us. He was very warm and I had no difficulty realising why he and Walton got on so well together. I had a club sandwich and a slice of the homemade lemon pie - this is relevant- Greg collected me then off parish visiting. They were a lovely elderly couple who were anxious to entertain us properly so we had to sit down to tea and a big slice of pie, precut and ready to eat. So 2 slices within 2 hours. On then to house number 2. What a lovely thing to do, to set up drinks and snacks for us, no really you shouldn't have gone to all that trouble........gosh and melon and cheese on crackers and strawberries and cake and choc chip cookies........all for us????? So here I am 3 hours later and I can't lie down and it really is impossible to refuse everything put in from of you. Oh Dear. I am not getting much exercise and I have at least one meal date courtesy of enthusiastic and very welcoming parishioners every day before I leave and some days I even have 2. I will arrive home twice the size I left.
After a very very small dinner here we went down to the cove for a swim. I didn't get in I would just have sunk.
Til tomorrow then..... X

Sunday, Sunday

Well today was Greg the placement rector's birthday and we had 10 minutes to guess what he might have liked from the shop. thus sorted we got a safe card last night and signed it up. I was ready to go at 7.45 and Greg and I headed off to the cuurch and met with the terrible 3 from the nursing home and lunch the other day. Priscilla having hugged and teased Greg til he blushed sat down, her work done for the day. The 5 of us had Morning Prayer and then got quickly robed for 9a.m. Communion and as soon as that was over it was straight through for the main service of the day. I administered the chalice at Communion and read the epistle and the prayers at the service of baptism at the 10.30 service which lasted and hour and a half as it was including end of year presentations to Sunday school and those graduating college and senior school from within the parish. The church is probably a little bigger than Kilternan and mainly wooden, it is really very pretty. The congregation are so welcoming and so many people came up to me and said- You are coming to our house for dinner. By the time I get home I will be adding an extra seat beside me to accomodate the excess flab! Jonathan is expected by most of these people so he may have to come along. He is really being superb and charming and patient with all that he is having to do as a result of my placement.

After lunch when we were joined by Greg's Mum and Dad who had travelled from about 60 miles away for his birthday, they stayed for the day. Greg and I headed back to the hospital where we arrived in ICU to find that Harold is officially braindead and arrangements were underway to harvest the organs. His partner came in to see him before signing the necessary consent forms, the doctors having done their job in fulfilling the legal requirements. It was awful but there was no point in staying as we weren't needed so we headed out to his Mums house to briefly touch base with her. The funeral will be later this week.

St John is a town that has massive industry and there is one major oil refinery processing crude right in the centre of the city. There is a fog that rolls in from the bay in the Summer and today it was particularly bad in the city - not out where the rectory is. Pollution is generally not too bad but I could taste the fog today.

We will be here for Canada day and there are plans afoot to bring us into the city for the celebrations. One of the parishioners has bbeen assigned this task. We were talking to her today and she is intending to let us decide what we want to select from the available entertainment. Greg leaves to do navy chaplaincy duty on Sunday so we will not see him from then but he has set up the schedule to cover it.

Following dinner with the family including grandparents inlaws and cousins, here I am blogging before bed. Jess was in contact from California by text and seems to be enjoying herself. Off hospital visiting most of tomorrow and that includes one in Fredericton abbout 1 and a quarter hours away. and dinner out tomorrow night. Love to all X

Sunday Sunday

Well today was Greg the placement rector's birthday and we had 10 minutes to guess what he might have liked from the shop. thus sorted we got a safe card last night and signed it up. I was ready to go at 7.45 and Greg and I headed off to the cuurch and met with the terrible 3 from the nursing home and lunch the other day. Priscilla having hugged and teased Greg til he blushed sat down, her work done for the day. The 5 of us had Morning Prayer and then got quickly robed for 9a.m. Communion and as soon as that was over it was straight through for the main service of the day. I administered the chalice at Communion and read the epistle and the prayers at the service of baptism at the 10.30 service which lasted and hour and a half as it was including end of year presentations to Sunday school and those graduating college and senior school from within the parish. The church is probably a little bigger than Kilternan and mainly wooden, it is really very pretty. The congregation are so welcoming and so many people came up to me and said- You are coming to our house for dinner. By the time I get home I will be adding an extra seat beside me to accomodate the excess flab! Jonathan is expected by most of these people so he may have to come along. He is really being superb and charming and patient with all that he is having to do as a result of my placement.After lunch when we were joined by Greg's Mum and Dad who had travelled from about 60 miles away for his birthday, they stayed for the day. Greg and I headed back to the hospital where we arrived in ICU to find that Harold is officially braindead and arrangements were underway to harvest the organs. His partner came in to see him before signing the necessary consent forms, the doctors having done their job in fulfilling the legal requirements. It was awful but there was no point in staying as we weren't needed so we headed out to his Mums house to briefly touch base with her. The funeral will be later this week.St John is a town that has massive industry and there is one major oil refinery processing crude right in the centre of the city. There is a fog that rolls in from the bay in the Summer and today it was particularly bad in the city - not out where the rectory is. Pollution is generally not too bad but I could taste the fog today.We will be here for Canada day and there are plans afoot to bring us into the city for the celebrations. One of the parishioners has bbeen assigned this task. We were talking to her today and she is intending to let us decide what we want to select from the available entertainment. Greg leaves to do navy chaplaincy duty on Sunday so we will not see him from then but he has set up the schedule to cover it.Following dinner with the family including grandparents inlaws and cousins, here I am blogging before bed. Jess was in contact from California by text and seems to be enjoying herself. Off hospital visiting most of tomorrow and that includes one in Fredericton abbout 1 and a quarter hours away. and dinner out tomorrow night. Love to all X

The good, the bad and the ugly

To say that I am being given a serious placement is an understatement. Jonathan and I were taken out for lunch by 3 lovely elderly ladies yesterday, a lay reader from the church Betty, her sisterPriscilla and Alice the organist. They took us into St John for lunch and a little wander round the city centre which was almost traffic free and it would have been lunchtime! We were dropped off and then I went with Greg to a nursing home where betty and Priscillas Mother was celebrating her 106th - not a typo- birthday. Well since I had only ever previously met a lady of 102, this was going to top that. To cut a long story short, despite being poked and prodded by her daughters the birthday girl didn't wake up to perform. At one point Betty even suggested that her mother may be dead! Not sure of the pastoral response to this, there was a brief pause before all present burst out laughing aside from the birthday girl who thankfully continued breathing but heavily asleep.

Today after a trip to the local farmer's market I went out to lunch to a couple of parishioners and the were so welcoming. I will have to diet when I get home I have so many lunch dates booked. Ed was in the airforce and his wife of 54 years Fay was so nice. When Greg came to collect me he received a call about an urgent hospital visit. Since the others were going on to a pool party we left Jonathan behind and headed to the hospital. He is very determined that I shadow him where at all possible. The family graciously consented to me being present while they waited to see their son/partner/brother in the ICU. He collapsed earlier today and has had a massive brain haemorrhage. I was with them as they went in to begin to say their goodbyes. He is in his early 50s and there is no hope of recovery. He is on life support as they hope to harvest his organs but Greg has just come back from the hospital again and apparently as there is still minimal brain activity they can't proceed for the moment. Please pray for Harold and his partner and family as they wait for the inevitable to happen.

The ugly - there are moose here and apparently they have a reputation for wandering onto the road during the day and charging at cars at night. I don't know why I thought they were extinct. I have been told they look like cows on stilts and extremely ugly and stupid. These unfortunate creatures also suffer from a brain worm on occasion and they go completely mad, rampaging round the country. I would really like to see one before we go home but I don't think its likely. Poor moose. I think that the idea of whale watching and the water park have gone by the wayside too and have fallen victim to the schedule. I am glad we will have a few days off in Montreal before we come home.

Hi from St John!
As you can see we are live on line so should be able to continue boring/entertaining you. We arrived to be met at the airport by Greg who took us the 15 minutes to his house to meet his wife Vanessa and their 3 kids Samantha 15 Ben 13 and Maddy 11. The seem like a lovely family and their home is very homely. After dinner they took us on a quick tour round the area and though it is a city; it is full of trees and an awful lot of water. Not having adjusted to the time changes yet we went to bed at a very unsocial 9.30!
Their kids are on their last day of school so they have gone out to that and due to that we are just hanging round the house by ourselves getting acclimatised. Greg has just called in to give me a schedule of my placement and it is packed with visiting; marriage prep; suppers; lunches and a veritable whirlwind of activity. Apparently Jonathan and I are to be taken sailing as well and those of you who know me well will know I normally avoid any contact with boats. I will smile and embrace the experience.......! Other highlights include the youth camp over night and a fun day out at the beach with the youth group.
The weather is about the same as home except more humid and I am told the squirrels are red. Jonathan is quite chilled about the whole thing as you would expect and last night we met their cousin Matthew who is his age and will be hanging round as well so I feel that he is sorted when I am out and about.
Event though Greg says his church is middle of the road iut would appear that is is quite high church by our standards. He has morning prayer every morning at 8.30.
Thats about it for the moment
x

Hello from the Holiday Inn Airport hotel in Montreal. I have just discovered wi-fi in the hotel room. We have an eventful journey from Dublin. Our flight was delayed and we would have missed our connection at Heathrow. Then they bumped us up to the previous flight and that was delayed. We hit Terminal 1 with 45 mins to get to terminal 4 and when we legged it through the arrivals area a fire alarm went off and they attempted to send everyone out of the terminal and wouldnt let us use the lifts to get to the train to terminal 4.
As a result of our dash we will be representing Ireland in the Olympics in the catch the flight despite the odds 500 metre sprint!
The flight was calm and British Airways are good to go with as we had plenty of grub; and seat back tvs showing a big range of stuff. Even more amazingly the suitcases made it too.
It is now 2.50 a.m at home so it may be time to go to sleep. On to St John tomorrow. Will hope the internet is available there too. Night!

Getting Ready

Well Hello Everybody,
I am sitting at the dining room table getting sorted for the big trip. I have two suitcases ready to be closed and sealed so that the nice people at Heathrow can lose everything for me. I will let the cases go at Dublin around 11 a.m tomorrow and start looking for them around midnight in Montreal. I have learned that hope is eternal! Jonathan has finished his exams and so neither of us have to study.
I have been doing a little reading in preparation of the placement and I have discovered that we Irish are a very generous nation, bringing cholera to the Canadians in the 19th century. I hope to pick up something more socially acceptable in duty free as a gift for my placement rector. About the only real information I have about my placement is that I am going to do an overnight at their diocesan youth camp. Jonathan fell around the place at the thought of it until I reminded him he would probably come with me, now its not so funny. I may have to get used to children other than my own sometime I suppose!
I have never been away from home for this length of time before. I am not the most adventurous person so if it works out I may lose the run of myself completely. Jessica has gone to California and a text a few minutes ago suggests that there is a pancake house in down town Los Angeles about to have its "all you can eat" menu severly tested.
I sign off with a request that you keep us and especially my parents in your thoughts and prayers as I step forward into the wild blue yonder. Thank you for all the encouragement. Hopefully I will have reasonable access to the internet when I am away to keep y'all updated on my placement and Jonathan's heartbreak tour.