FRIDAY

Go to bell ringers talk on hydro-electric power and am seriously impressed by the ingenuity and hard work of the Fursdon family aided and abetted by various local and international experts and the odd stick of dynamite.

SATURDAY

Unfortunately miss the guided tour, having stopped off at the Rugglestone for lunch. Nothing at all to do with the Doom Ale of course.

TUESDAY

Go into Widecombe school for assembly. Seriously impressed by the children too, when I talk to them about family history and then ask them how much they know about Jesus. In an age where many youngsters don’t even connect Christmas with Jesus, they manage to come up with most of the significant details of his life. Well done Widecombe.

WEDNESDAY

Stock up on bottles of San Miguel as nuns due to arrive for visit. Interestingly, despite the fact that they are Roman Catholic they seem to have no difficulty seeing me, even when I’ve got my collar on. Enjoy a light-hearted few days reminiscing about tree planting, discussing a variety of things like bishops, miraculous medals, and Dominican mystics, and trying to take photographs of seagulls standing in puddles.

MONDAY

With Lent approaching go in search of reading material. Head for Buckfast abbey book shop, knowing that even if temptation gets the better of me, at least I’ll have my 10% clerical discount. Come back with one Lent course booklet, a book on Michael Ramsey, and one entitled “What’s the point of being a Christian?” by Timothy Radcliffe, former master of the Order of Dominican Preachers. Couldn’t resist the connection, and having read some of it, glad I didn’t.

THURSDAY

Questions of existence come to the fore again at village coffee morning. Mysterious low flying craft have been heard in the early hours of the morning passing over Holne. Organist confesses to covering head with bed covers for fear of little green men appearing at window, and others report sightings of strange unidentified flying objects. Make note to suggest abstinence from strong alcoholic beverages during Lent including Green Ginger wine. At the same time, secretly wonder whether my collar might act as a Harry Potter style invisibility cloak in the event of a real extra terrestrial invasion.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Decide to put aside existential doubts and work on the basis that whatever I may or may not be, the important thing is to try to be real. So look forward to Lent as a time for a bit of honest soul-searching, a time to dig deeper into the point of being Christian, to learn more about Jesus in order to keep up with the children, to touch base with a few of those mystics, Dominican or otherwise, and to take more water with the alcohol. Inspired by St Dominic I have decided this year only to give up the biscuits!

May the rest of your Lent be holy and real, so that together we may be better prepared to grapple with the strange and wonderful mystery of the Resurrection.

Copyright © 2006 Corynne Cooper.

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