A bed of roses

I'm trying to get ahead of myself so I don't have much to do tonight, and can get to bed ASAP when I get home tonight. I'm quite looking forward to the thing tonight, which is unusual for me as the introvert's introvert! But there will (hopefully!) be people from across the deanery and I want to get a feel for them as people rather than as the faceless 'others'. My aim is to generate interest in at least joining me in resuming the evening prayer and, possibly, even exploring new monasticism more fully.

I'm also at the beginning of preparing for 20 October. The Gospel reading is James and John (sons of thunder/Zebedee :D) wanting to sit at Jesus' right and left hands in heaven. We're also picking up BHM and I'm considering saying something about identity. What identity would James and John give themselves? The inner-inner circle members?

And today is the anniversary of BiL's passing. Can't believe it's been a year...

I was weirdly moved by the news of Prince Philip's passing, yesterday.  He was hardly my favourite Royal and not someone I thought of very often, but... I had a tear in my eye.

On reflection, I think there are a few things going on.  Firstly, it's sort of the beginning of the end of this generation of the Royal Family - the Queen is 95 and really can't be much longer for this world.  She's the only monarch I've ever known.  Change will be weird.

Secondly, I think anyone's death brings us up against our own mortality - and that of our nearest and dearest.  I am anticipating my own widowhood, perhaps.

On a completely different note, I think it's going to make for an 'interesting' family party with Andrew in one corner, Harry in another, and everyone else in the middle trying to pretend they aren't there :D