» On 5 March a West Berkshire health inspector arrived without warning to make a snap inspection of our kitchen. Needless to say, such surprise visits leave no time for hasty remedial preparations. No problem was this for our kitchen staff! Happily the inspector was very impressed and awarded 5 out of 5 stars. Our staff can be proud that not only do they feed us well, and on a budget, but they maintain high standards in cleanliness and food preparation.
» Last week Bishop John Wilson, auxiliary of Westminster, spent some days on retreat at Douai, though on month day he socialised at our talking lunch. He was a happy and encouraging presence among us.
» From Wednesday to Friday last week Fr Abbot, accompanied by Fr Peter Philips, a fellow historian, was in Paris examining books from our monastic library lost in our travails in France and now held at the Bibliothèque Nationale. He was able to visit the site of our first monastery on Rue St Jacques, and now the Schola Cantorum.