Apologies for being such a lightweight on the blogging front recently. It’s been a busy period and this week is gearing up quite nicely too! Our trip to the US was cancelled due to the volcanic ash. (What is going on with this ash thing then?!) We did, however, manage some time away: a great week in a cottage in Dorset with the sun shining most days. Once we were back I was straight into the election campaign – which proved to be another disappointment for us. Our friend, Dylan, was standing as the Plaid candidate but failed by two thousand votes.

While we were away we got news of another disappointing turn in events in the health of our dear friend, Edith. Having battled cancer for the past few months, the doctors said there was no more they could do. She died on Wednesday of last week and her funeral will be this Thursday. It is her family, of course, who will feel this blow the hardest, but we in Emmanuel will also miss her greatly. Edith was an encourager – a gift not always given the respect it is due, but an essential one nonetheless.

And so to this week: a church leaders meeting tonight, in court tomorrow daytime and home group in the evening, the funeral on Thursday, and then I’m doing some teaching in a men’s weekend away (from a church on the Wirral) Friday to Sunday morning. The gaps in the week will be filled up with preparation for the weekend. Will there be time to blog? I hope so!

And finally … I was hit by a bus this morning (metaphorically speaking – so calm down!) when I weighed myself for the first time in ages. I’m not going to divulge the results – needless to say I’ll be making good use of the exercise bike I’ve just received. Maybe I should start a new blog on losing weight.