A change of pace began on 1st August as I start my second sabbatical. It has taken me a few days to adjust and I have made a gentle start on some of the tasks ahead. It is good to have more time and space just to be too.
On Sunday, it was lovely to visit Alton, and attend ‘my sending church’ – St Lawrence’s. Much had changed and I only knew a handful of the great and the good 24 years on! The church had ‘gone’ done the candle a fair bit but was clearly thriving and looking forward to a new Vicar in about 10 days. Alton had grown and spread round the edges particularly and there were a great many coffee shops on the high street!
On Monday I had a hot trip to Bromley and got a much needed hair cut! I also properly started the tidy up/re-organise task which will be going on in the background all during the sabbatical time (when I am at home!). It is in places rather overdue!
On Tuesday I was somewhat preoccupied with all things domestic and made a very nice aubergine pasta bake whilst I was at it. This is a bit of a fiddly recipe, and I haven’t made it for a while! It was well worth the effort, and I am looking forward to the 4 portions that ended up in the freezer.
On Wednesday I went into London to do some of the ‘Pride in the Quarter’ Lion trail. It was a cooler day – which has been one of a precious few since my Wales holiday back in June! The lions and lionesses turned out to be rather football themed, but I found 10 out of 17 and a corgi(!) before the crowds (around the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square) and the temperature got the better of me. The “faithful 403” bus from Croydon to Warlingham was on a long detour, and I had to wait for a second one after the first one terminated at Sanderstead Waitrose!
On Thursday, I had what is turning into my annual trip to East Surrey Hospital to have some skin cancer dealt with. With one exception (and that was due to some very specific circumstances which are not the case now), these have all been the non-scary sort – but the combination of lots of local anaesthetic and some subsequent discomfort left me feeling rather washed out. I have kept to the strict instructions to rest for 48 hours. Thankfully feeling more like it today (Saturday) and I can take the dressing off tomorrow.
The Adventures of Alison 