Let’s take the cliches about 2020 for granted and get
straight into talking about us! We have been largely alert, safe and at home
with some (negative) Covid tests thrown in for excitement.
Mrs Lloyd’s great enthusiasm has been singing and after
some lessons and much toil, she covered herself in glory with a Licentiate of
Trinity College London. She has been doing lots of singing in church and some
performances but has really missed the opportunity to sing with others in
person. She has also taken on a number of piano pupils both at home and at the
children’s primary school though often online.
All three boys are now playing for the excellent re-named
Heathfield and Horam Football Club so that we sometimes have to puzzle out how
we can be in multiple cold, wet, muddy locations on a Saturday morning.
Jono has become An Teenager and has continued to worship
screens at every opportunity and love an argument. He seems to have fooled his
school teachers into believing he is going the extra mile in subjects he
declares boring. Like a favourite teddy bear, his new rugby ball has rarely
been more than a meter away from him since it was acquired and he shows some
promise as a runner. Perhaps his Fitbit will motivate him.
Abi has been learning classical Greek with a parishioner and
baking at every opportunity. Being on Bake Off is a great ambition. I have been
happily gobbling the produce and giving unsolicited feedback. We are great fans
of the Warbleton Brass Band and Abi is working towards grade V on the cornet
and achieved a distinction in her grade II piano exam. She also has a growing
collection of bling earned in Irish Dancing. Though I was a hamster sceptic,
Fizz has been well cared for and is a source of lots of fun when she can be
persuaded not to go into hibernation in the chilly Rectory.
Soldiers, Duplo and Lego continue to form a large part of
our lives. The family vies for domination in Monopoly. Mrs Lloyd has bought Sonic
The Hedgehog for the PS4 and is enjoying beating the children.
Matt Matt’s winning smile looks destined to break hearts.
Shockingly he has decided to be an England supporter.
Tommy remains a quirky cheeky chap with plenty of questions
and comments to contribute when he can get a word in edge ways: “By the way…”.
Sadly, Caleb the Dog now awaits the Resurrection. He had
a sad decline over a number of months and I felt I had mourned him before we
eventually decided that this ought not to go on. The breed and naming of Caleb
II are the subjects of great debate but we are put off by the effort and expense
involved. For the moment we are glorying in leaving food lying around and doors
open, but I am missing my daily waddle around The Green.
In Lockdown One “church” quickly went online from my
study with Mrs L as the unpaid Director of Music and IT consultant. At one stage
it was an exciting technological innovation each week. Leading worship was now
more like flying a space ship. I have continued to say Morning and Evening
Prayer on Facebook at 8am and 4:30pm most work days and you are always welcome
to join me. Weekly Zoom prayer and Bible study has been good with of course a
certain amount of “We can’t hear you…. You need to unmute…. UNMUTE!” and
everybody freezing. We pray that we will build back better but much feels uncertain.
In addition to my parish duties, I have been editing the
book reviews for Churchman, the Church Society’s theological journal, which
recently re-launched as The Global Anglican.
A very happy new year to you!
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