autumn

Autumn has really arrived now, there are conkers on the ground and the leaves are beginning to turn. I saw this rainbow through the fountain on the lake in Raphael Park as I walked into Romford last week.

I'm a photographer!

I was thrilled to receive an envelope in the post this week with a poster and the 2011 programme from Shepherds Dene retreat house. I spent the last week of my Sabbatical there, a few of the photos I took can be seen earlier in my blog (21-24 July). The reason I was so pleased to get the programme was that several of my photos were used in it, some credited but also some smaller ones too. The biblical references used to link with the photos were my suggestions too - this is a nice follow on from my Sabbatical of reflecting on image and spirituality. The poster used my photo of the sprouting acorn on a hand along with the words "time to reflect and inspiration to grow." You can download the programme from the link above.

 

As the poster and brochure are being ditributed to all parishes in Newcastle and Durham dioceses I think I really can say "I'm a photographer!"

 

If you are looking for a place to go on retreat next year do consider Shepherds Dene. I found it really friendly and welcoming, comfortable and with good food. As an added bonus there are some really good photos in their programme & their poster is fantastic! (modesty, what's that...?)

fairy rings

I like to think that at St Michael's we are a friendly welcoming church but I'm not sure if having a fairy ring on the front lawn is taking it too far. Looking round the church grounds and driveway today after spotting the fairy ring I was surprised by the number of different fungi I could see. Several looked like edible mushrooms but I didn't feel that brave... Its amazing how the books & websites with edible fungi seem to say "similar to..... (poisonous)" If you know any fungi experts let me know.

 

At least if anything in church gets moved we will know it was the fairies.

Ship

When we were at Greenbelt we saw the performance by Linda Marlowe of Carol Ann Duffy's "The world's Wife." Since coming home I've been reading that and her book of poems "Rapture." Her poem "Ship" made me think of this photo I took in Paris a few years ago.

 

Ship

 

In the end,
it was nothing more
than the toy boat of a boy
on the local park's lake,
where I walked with you.

 

But I knelt down
to watch it arrive,
its white sail shy
with amber light,
the late sun
bronzing the wave
that lifted it up,

 

my ship coming in
with its cargo of joy.

 

Carol Ann Duffy
from Rapture (Picador, 2005)