Whatever has happened to the Summer. This time last week, or maybe just a little bit earlier, we were basking in Mediterranean style sunshine, or even Singaporean, if the humidity is taken into account. Now, only the green trees indicate that we are not in the middle of Autumn.
Yesterday, I attended a memorial service for a lady whom I had known (only slightly) since her her teenage years, at one time being at discos I was hired for at the local village hall, and later, as an employee for the local arts organisation at which I was, and am now again, a volunteer. Being at St. John’s Church, I was called upon to ensure the best possible sound from the mixing desk. Thus, I didn’t feel as if I was intruding on what was a very full service. I’m not sure what I was expecting; as one-time Churchwarden, I had been in attendance at one or two memorial services, and several funerals. Even if I did not know any of the family of the deceased, these were always poignant occasions; the one this Saturday, particularly so.
This morning, I was back behind the mixing desk for a Gilbert and Sullivan inspired Sung Eucharist with much of the music written by Arthur Sullivan. I like Sullivan’s music, but perhaps not the libretto to Onward Christian Soldiers, which I quite liked when attending the equivalent of Sunday School at primary school age. Ye gods! St. John’s, Brooklands, now in Greater Manchester, had four services each Sunday, Young people’s service at three (pm) being one of them. Onward Christian Soldiers was always popular with a certain group of misbehavers drowning out Percy’s organ playing with the a mischievous stamping of feet on the uncarpeted floorboards! It’s a good job we wear face masks in Church these days, I couldn’t keep a straight face as the refrain in between each verse reminded me of that miscreant stamping of feet! To make it even funnier, organist Michael Williams let rip, particularly in the last verse, “out-Percying” the long since late Dr. Percy Penrose, organist and choirmaster of St. John’s Brooklands…and that would take some doing!
Lunch with Roger followed the now customary post- Eucharist coffee at 6 The Square. (The coffee, that is; lunch was at the Lone Star Restaurant which these days really needs to be booked in advance.) Although it had warmed up this afternoon, neither of us felt much like walking, and our weekly exploration was postponed to Wednesday.
After the recent Festival, life feels suddenly peaceful and I now feel ready for a brief change of scene. A few days down south, maybe, or I might splash out on one of those post pandemic jaunts along the U.K. coast on a cruise ship…or both! Or, maybe, I will merely wait until next year, for the “biggie” to Japan, Canada and the U.S.A.
Many thanks for reading. Sorry about the lack of pictures this time! David, 20.22hrs August 1st….already!.
David's Cruise 