Clapham Calling

Recycling junk

I just found my old blog and thought I would send some of the old stuff over here!

From my old blog Events at a funeral

Last week I took my second West Indian funeral. I thought after all that happened at my first funeral the next would be less eventful.

As I waited for the coffin to arrive at the Church a phone call came to say that the horse drawn coffin was running 20 mins. late. I knew this would have a knock on effect to our very tight time frame. It would turn out not to be a problem at all. The service went well and we managed to keep everything going including the viewing. Until that is another phone call this time from the cemetery to say that as they were digging the grave a water pipe was hit and the hole was rapidly filling with water. It wasn't to be a burial at sea so a new grave had to be dug this meant there was no rush for us to get there in fact they wanted us to go slowly.

Once there I wanted to use the toilet but as I tried to unlock the door it wouldn't open. No matter what I tried nothing worked. I did have my mobile so I thought that I could ring Abigail and ask her to look up the telephone number of the cemetery on the Internet then I could give them a call to say I was stuck in their toilet. I prayed and tried the lock one last time, it worked, what relief!

At the graveside, just before the committal (that Pastor Paul Read was going to do) the funeral director came to me and said "we must release the doves now" I replied "what doves?" It turned out that the family had arranged for three doves to be released but they didn't tell us. As it was getting dark and cold the doves might have refused to fly off. They did but took a very short flight path back to their boxes. Then hail fell hard for 15 minutes, long enough to soak me right through. At the reception there was industrial sized heaters that I warmed myself on. In five minutes my suit was dry but steam poured out as though I was on fire. As I sat down at the table a plate of curried goat arrived in front of me. Being a Pastor means you don't have to queue for food - I can cope with that, just.

January 30, 2008

As I waited for the coffin to arrive at the Church a phone call came to say that the horse drawn coffin was running 20 mins. late. I knew this would have a knock on effect to our very tight time frame. It would turn out not to be a problem at all. The service went well and we managed to keep everything going including the viewing. Until that is another phone call this time from the cemetery to say that as they were digging the grave a water pipe was hit and the hole was rapidly filling with water. It wasn't to be a burial at sea so a new grave had to be dug this meant there was no rush for us to get there in fact they wanted us to go slowly.

Once there I wanted to use the toilet but as I tried to unlock the door it wouldn't open. No matter what I tried nothing worked. I did have my mobile so I thought that I could ring Abigail and ask her to look up the telephone number of the cemetery on the Internet then I could give them a call to say I was stuck in their toilet. I prayed and tried the lock one last time, it worked, what relief!

At the graveside, just before the committal (that Pastor Paul Read was going to do) the funeral director came to me and said "we must release the doves now" I replied "what doves?" It turned out that the family had arranged for three doves to be released but they didn't tell us. As it was getting dark and cold the doves might have refused to fly off. They did but took a very short flight path back to their boxes. Then hail fell hard for 15 minutes, long enough to soak me right through. At the reception there was industrial sized heaters that I warmed myself on. In five minutes my suit was dry but steam poured out as though I was on fire. As I sat down at the table a plate of curried goat arrived in front of me. Being a Pastor means you don't have to queue for food - I can cope with that, just.

One more time

Ok I am sure I have said this many times before but I am giving this blog some much needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I have the defib. out so lets charge it up and spring this back to life.

 I admit it I have been lured away by facebook and twitter - its just that a blog is more of a singular - solo endeavour, social networking sites are better for interaction. So as with all my previous efforts this blog is going to have have all manner of things in it about my family our Church and those things on the internet that really grab my attention from what really is a sea of mediocrity. 

Here we go again.

 

On Holiday

I am now on Holiday until 2nd August. This blog has suffered because I just haven't had the time for it. I hope to get back to it with details of our adventure to Holland and then Belgium.

I need a break too - but not that type!

I was in charge of picking up Caleb from school on Monday. I had hoped by taking Jacob and Micah with me it would mean Abigail could have some much needed time to herself, it wasn't to be. I was trying to keep an eye all 3 at once. I made the mistake of allowing Caleb to go to the other school playground by himself. He got onto the monkey bars but fell off them awkwardly and landed hard hitting his head and as it turns out breaking his left arm in two places.

 

All the mothers rallied round us to help. I couldn't think straight but managed to focus enough to hear them all say to not take him to

St. Thomas

but St, George. It turned out that we should have stuck with the saint we knew best.

 

Caleb was very nervous because he had to go to the theatre to have his bones manipulated into the right place. The small op went ok and he seems to be recovering well. We picked them both up and they are exhausted. Abigail slept beside Caleb much to his relief but woke her up at

5.30am

.

 

He must have his arm in a cast for 4 weeks and we are on holiday in 3 weeks time so sadly he will not be able to do any swimming at the seaside or centre parcs.

 

 

I want to thank Lee and Sandy for baby sitting so I could get to the hospital. My mother for looking after the boys so I could take a funeral of a baby today and all friends and family who prayed for us. God is indeed good!

 

Life is never dull.

 

 

Here are some pictures while waiting to bring the patient home. They are from my phone hence the poor quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

A busy day ahead

Tomorrow is an action packed day for me. First of all I am taking Caleb and Jacob to school. Straight after I need to take a bus to an appointment at St. Thomas Hospital (the number 77 bus takes a great route along the Thames, taking in views of the house of Commons, The London Eye and even Lambeth Palace!) I will need to move very quickly to officiate at a funeral. On return home I have to oraganise a copy to be made of a Wedding Certificate. The day will be rounded off with an Elders and their wives social at our house. In-between events I would like to make about 4 phone calls.

What will your day be like?

I do not mention food again in this post - is this some sort of breakthrough?

It was our Church District fun day today at Roothill farm. That is less than an hour's drive if you know the way. I set off forgetting I didn't really know where I was going so we were an hour late. Anyway it was a dream to be able to let the boys walk where they wanted and not having to keep a constant eye on them as we do in London. I lay on a large trampoline and just looked up at an uninterrupted view of a blue sky then I walked on what seemed to be the most vivid green grass and it all felt fantastic like experiencing something great for the first time.

Tomorrow it’s to be 27c not great for preaching. But it may just be hot enough for our folks not to have the heating in Church on.

Myself and Caleb. Poole 2007

Again from the old blog :: January 5th 2007

An eventful day

So it was Caleb's first day at school today. It was a real blessing that he was completely unfazed by it. I loved the walk  there, we passed some amazing Victorian built homes with great period features. I met the head mistress who said she would give me a little time to settle in before calling on me to take assemblies.

The other big event - and it was big in every way was the funeral. We squeezed 250 into our church and an additional 50 stood and 30 plus listen from the pavement outside. It was a great opportunity to preach the gospel. I lot happened at it that I can not mention here. Give me a call and I will tell you more.

Here is a picture of Caleb today. Abigail says she has a better one (this is from my phone hence picture quality not great).

 

So it was Caleb's first day at school today. It was a real blessing that he was completely unfazed by it. I loved the walk  there, we passed some amazing Victorian built homes with great period features. I met the head mistress who said she would give me a little time to settle in before calling on me to take assemblies.

The other big event - and it was big in every way was the funeral. We squeezed 250 into our church and an additional 50 stood and 30 plus listen from the pavement outside. It was a great opportunity to preach the gospel. I lot happened at it that I can not mention here. Give me a call and I will tell you more.

Here is a picture of Caleb today. Abigail says she has a better one (this is from my phone hence picture quality not great).

 

Jacob says funny things

Abigail gave Jacob a kiss today and he said "you don't need kisses if you are well!"