We were in the same diocese, our paths crossed occasionally.

For those unfamiliar with the intricacies of church governance, that is... very much not what an LEP is.

Every time there is a 'Nigel Biggar being awful' story (which is frequently) I remember the time I found myself trying to explain to him what an LEP (Local Ecumenical Partnership) is and he replied "how lovely that the Methodists are helping out in the parishes".

Yes. The 'once the thing you are worried about has happened once, you won't worry about it so much' principle does apply in many cases. But I'm not sure it holds true in this instance. For me, anyway.

That looks like such a lovely cosy home. I love your bright blue wall!

A few weeks ago a 94 year old parishioner informed me she'd had a 'nasty fall'. I enquired sympathetically about how this came about, and the explanation started "well, I was on the dance floor... and I'd maybe had a few glasses of wine..." Honestly, goals.

Very understandable. And will be lovely to see you while you're up here if/when you need a break from the writing.

If you want a handy vicarage to stay at (10 mins from Newcastle city centre by bus) let me know! The North East is a very wonderful place to be.

We were not offered that level of choice! 😂

In about a decade you will probably appreciate my step-mum's top laundry simplifying tip with multiple teens: one big basket of plain black socks, everyone picks any two. No more pairing!

For a number of years I did an annual tea shop crawl with a group of friends, which was great fun.

Good point!

She used to invite interested undergrads to attend her Late Antiquity postgrad seminars. When I plucked up the courage to attend (very nervously) she was exceptionally kind, which was such a rarity in my own experience as a working class woman reading Classics at Oxford that I've never forgotten it.

She was exceptionally kind to me when I was one of two undergrads who (very nervously) took up the invitation to her Late Antiquity postgrad seminars, which were always accompanied by lunch and good coffee.

Or possibly a coup.

🤣

A calico cat and a black and white cat on stairs, both staring at the person coming up the stairs.

Can't help thinking these two might be up to something... 😹

Sea with blue sky above.

From leaving a meeting with colleagues, to having my feet in the sea, in less than 15 minutes. I don't think I will ever get over the joy of living near the coast again. #TinyJoys

I would not be surprised, it happened to me all the time as a teenager. Including social workers phoning to speak to my mum about highly confidential matters who would just... launch in. I got very good at interrupting.

What a brilliant idea! We get a lot of passing foot traffic past this church (pedestrian cut-through to Aldi!) and are enjoying finding ways to make the most of it.

Outdoor Easter garden, including small white stones with writing on.

A closer view of some of the stones. The writing on some of them says "hope" "salvation" and "God is great" and there are also images of hearts and crosses.

Some more stones, including: "love & peace" "joy" and "hope".

A sign which says "Welcome to our Easter garden" and includes an explanation about the Easter garden, an invitation to pray, and details of service times.

Great response to the invitation to decorate stones with 'good news' for people to take from the Easter garden. And new signage inspired by a conversation with our wonderful sacristan about the value of the outdoor Easter garden as a place of prayerful encounter.

An Easter garden made up of many pot plants, under a modern wooden altar.

An outdoor Easter garden.

We do take our Easter Gardens seriously in these parts!

A large paper banner reading "Alleluia" coloured in by children using a variety of bright colours, attached to a modern font.

Happy Easter! Celebrated with great joy, and more than a little holy chaos, in both churches this morning.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Sounds wonderful!

I was pretty pleased with it! Enjoying introducing a few minor liturgical innovations in my second Holy Week here. And so far they are going down well!

Very good! Grateful for the porch at St Peter's tonight, ideal place to light the fire in any weather.

I got everyone to throw a pinch of incense onto the fire tonight, in the absence of a thurifer, and it worked rather beautifully with our small congregation.

Grateful for our sheltered porch tonight! Fire went brilliantly. One rogue incense pin, but I got it in eventually.

Is there any sound more glorious than a small but devout congregation singing unaccompanied, as if they *really* mean it:
"Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won."
#TinyJoys