What a busy few months. This week scaffolding is going up around the chancel of our ruined church - so far so good. Much to my surprise it does not look that intrusive. The protective fencing goes up in the next few days then the real work can begin on stabilizing the structure.

It is a pity that other changes at the site have not gone so well. Various formal complaints to official bodies & help from the police have just about kept things under control. It's strange how normally sane people can behave so oddly about something that does not really concern them when roused by untruths dispersed by a person in authority (in this case a local counsellor) - it must be a weakness in the human condition. Maybe the blessing ceremony scheduled this weekend will spread calm & truth amongst the villagers. It is All Hallows this w/e - I feel that it is going to take a full compliment of saints to achieve this.

I have recently been re-reading the No 1 Ladies Detective series (Macall Smith) and some books by the children's author Jacqueline Wilson. A parallel struck me between the poverty experienced by those in Africa and those homeless families living in bed & breakfast accommodation. Both live in cramped conditions, often insanitary, with no or heavily shared access to basic utilities such as water & cooking conditions. Yet those Africans living in this manner have dignity & an understanding that poverty is just the card they have been handed in this life - those in this country are stigmatized and blamed for their condition . It's food for thought.

I'm looking forward to Halloween - I've managed to grow 2 pumpkins this year & they are ready for carving & eating. Then there is bonfire night with fireworks, then there is the Longest Night celebration & Christmas. These Autumn Winter celebrations are amongst my favourites.

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