Welcome Everyone

Hello everyone. I am coming to you this evening from our front window, where I am watching a cloud the size of Brazil making its way over our apartment. If the last three days are anything to go by, this presages torrential rain, which I do feel a bit guilty about because Yorkshire is on fire, apparently. I can't keep feeling guilty about things I have no control over. 

Anyway. It rained ...a lot. Please see above. It would have been a better film, but I had to put it down and run into the bedroom with a tea towel because I remembered that the windows were open. 

Anyway, things that have happened this week. HOH was featured as the cover star of our church newsletter because he was "on the door". It's a good photo, don't you think? Although he does look a teensy weensy bit simple, possibly, a bit. It makes a change, I am usually the one who looks like she has escaped from somewhere. Either way, I think it looks very welcoming, if a bit terrifying. 

We also went out in the evenings - twice. Once to see Inception on the IMAX - which, for the uninitiated, is a HUGE screen. It's not a new film, and it is quite a twisty and turny film, but we really wanted to see it on a massive screen, and it was excellent. 

We also decided to support our local cinema by going to watch The Thursday Murder Club at the Everyman, even though it was going to be on Netflix 48 hours later - money to burn - that's us. I don't really know what to say about it. The carrot cake was excellent, and I do like to be able to drink a cup of tea while I am in the cinema, but the actual film itself was er...underwhelming? Everyone was very good in it, obviously, although Pierce Brosnan was a bit miscast as the trade union leader, Ron. (Richard Osman said Pierce Brosnan was who Ron would choose to play him. Probably for the same reasons that I would choose Nigella Lawson to play me in a film. It's understandable but not necessarily correct.) I really like the books, although I do sometimes get a bit confused as to who has done it, and the film was helpful there. Listen, I have had worse afternoons in the cinema. For instance,  I paid good money to see Love Actually, but I think it would have worked a bit better as a two-parter on the telly in my own front room. Although my carrot cake is not as good as the Everyman's.

Also, this week I found my favourite Joan Hickson Miss Marple on BBC 4. The "4.50 from Paddington" is an excellent book, and this is an excellent adaptation. Also, thrillingly, the murder is witnessed by someone called Elspeth McGillicuddy, which is possibly the best name in the world. 

We also went out to try a House Group. (Sometimes known as Homegroups/Home Care Groups/Interest Groups/Care Bear Groups. The last one was said by someone cynical, and you shouldn't take any notice of it.)

If you don't know what that means, it's a sort of midweek church meeting of little groups in people's houses. Often, they are quite social things, and people get to know each other in a way that can't happen on a Sunday. They vary a lot. Some are quite formal, and people sing hymns, etc. Not me. I've been to a few grim groups where five people are working like dogs to make a joyful noise, etc. Including one where no one could play a musical instrument, so the leader offered to clap the beat all the way through it for us to follow. It was a plucky attempt, but, well, no, not really to be recommended unless you are in a 1960s beat combo where they are good at that kind of thing. Yes, I know that they aren't all like that, and some have lovely musicians. 

Some groups are based around prayer. We had a big push once at a church I used to attend, where we were all placed in triplets or "quadruplets" ??? to pray. One of the girls placed in my group was a bit sulky and, when pressed, she said that she didn't want to be in a group with me and my friend because we were so skittish. Charming. (I've just looked up the word "skittish" - she may have had a point.) Actually, I went into labour during a prayer triplet. HOH was in the pictures and drove back all panicky. No need. It was 24 hours before any real action. During which he fell asleep. Felt it was dragging on, apparently. 

I was also in a group with a woman who, despite weighing only two stone and a tea-leaf, worked in a police snatch squad. Now that was an interesting group, I can tell you. In the end, she gave it up to be a missionary in Nepal and gave birth to twins out there with only two paracetamol. 

And then there was the best group ever, which we were running from our front room, and they were there when I got my cancer diagnosis. One man then pledged that he would be the last man standing when it came to prayer, support and anything it took until I was well. And everyone followed him - supporting us with prayer, bible verses, babysitting and a shepherd's pie on the doorstep. Of course, we got to see that our friends were actually our family as well. Those were horrible days, but also the best of days, where friendship and faith were vital and powerful, and we will always be grateful.

Anyway, this new group we are trying seems to be full of normals who also seem to be lovely. You know how jumpy HOH and I can be around church sometimes, but this was better than fine. We did Christian stuff, but also chatted about cricket and rollercoasters, and crochet, as you do, and I don't suppose you can ask for more than that. Have a good week.

Friends love through all kinds of weather,
And families stick together in all kinds of trouble. 

Proverbs 17