The heat hits, et al.
» The current heatwave has been taking something of a toll on us. The community is exhausted and very uncomfortable. Our fruit harvest - this past week, blackcurrants and gooseberries - is down to a third of last year's total with much smaller fruit. The lawns have become Australian with their vast swathes of brown among the fading green. Our water features have become very popular with birds braving proximity to man in their need to drink. Our prayers are with all those whose health suffers badly in such prolonged spells of heat.
» On the upside, the heat and fine weather has benefitted the schools that use the abbey church and our grounds at this time of year. Last Friday Elstree prep schhol just down the road from us held their leavers' service in the abbey church. Yesterday the London Oratory school made the last of their twice-weekly visits for the year.
» Last weekend Fr Finbar went to our parish at Ormskirk to assist with the Masses while Frs Godric and Boniface recuperate from their recent health scares.
» Last Sunday Fr Abbot attended an ecumenical service at St James' in Reading, on the edge of the ancient abbey's ruins. There is much attention being paid to Reading Abbey locally at present, due partly to recent conservation efforts, but also to the calls for a search to be made for the body of King Henry I which had been buried in the abbey church.
»And a happy St Benedict's Day to all our friends and visitors!