Back on the Treadmill....Sigh!

Well, I'm home from two weeks of travelling and attending and giving presentations, and it's time for me to get back to work. I am definitely hitting the "Why am I doing this?" phase of the journey.

I'm tired. I'm just tired. I've started an on-line course for one of my final important credits, and the readings bore me, the discussion questions bore me, and I took one look at the next assignment and said out loud, "You're kidding. Do I have to!?"

I am not in the mood for esoteric discussions on the nature of God! It's not the professor's fault. It is study-fatigue.

So. This is what this journey looks like too. Boredom. Study fatigue. Flagging vision. I feel so DONE with the preparation. I just want to get out there and DO.

Thanks for loving me anyway.... This too shall pass.

Home again

Well, I'm home from the "Gathering Leaves" event in England. It was wonderful. I took absolutely no pictures, and am hoping that the many pictures my friends took will find their way to me eventually.

At the Newark airport, I looked up and rubbed my eyes to see dear friends Paul and Beryl Simonetti waiting for the same flight to England. After some mutual astonishment, we happily settled down together. Their seats ended up being right behind mine on the (packed and cramped) flight. They generously allowed me to share their rental car for the drive from Birmingham airport, and poor Paul patiently endured our cries of "turn here!" and "Close on the left!" and "Don't stop; we have the right of way!" etc. as we careened down the left side of the road and perilously navigated the high-speed round-abouts. (I think God creates special guardian angels just for foreign drivers on English soil.)

Purley Chase was wonderful, and I highly recommend it as a low-cost, warm, centrally located spring-off point for touring central England. Anne is a trained chef, and the food was fantastic. Purley also runs many spiritual retreats, and hosts events for reasonable rates. It is near Stratford and Warwick Castle, and many other sights. Tell them Alison Longstaff sent you.

Before our event, Paul and Beryl and I spent a lovely day at Warwick Castle, a wonderfully preserved medieval castle. We saw a show about eagles and hawks, full of dry British humour and real birds of prey. We climbed up some steep spirally stairs to a magnificent view across England. And we got thiroughly haunted by the resident ghost. Lots of fun.

I am now jet-lagged, and feeling much older than I am, but the trip was worth it.

With luck, more about the actual event later, with pictures.

Jolly England

I certainly have been lazy updating this blog.

I am fresh back from Convention and am now in the middle of England at Purley Chase Retreat Centre, preparing for the upcoming "Gathering Leaves" which starts on Friday.

http://www.purleychasecentre.org.uk/

It is green and wet and rainy, and the folks are lovely. It's just myself and the staff. (I'm very early.)

Coincidentally, I discovered Paul and Beryl Simonetti at the Newark airport, waiting to get on the same flight. They sat immediately behind me on the plane. We couldn't have planned it better. So I was saved having to find and ride two busses (and a lot of walking in the rain) because they offered me a ride in their rental car. Tomorrow we will go see Warwick (sp?) castle. They are at a B&B in the area.

I hope to take pictures, etc, but right now I'm surprised I can even finish these sentences....