Friday, September 26, 2014

What was billed as participation in ...

..."the world's biggest coffee morning" was happening at this local church, in aid of this extremely worthwhile organisation,  so Auntie went along, taking some of this summer's jam...this is a splendid parish, with a large weekday Mass attendance (and a Sunday attendance of over 1,000), so it was no surprise to find stacks of delicious cakes, a good crowd, and a buzz of friendly talk. The Mass that preceded the Coffee Morning was celebrated by a priest who has been helping out in the parish for some while and was marking his 90th birthday and after Mass finished he got a song and applause and greetings...

...And then in the afternoon I was giving out prizes at a cheerful and welcoming prep school, straight out of the pages of Jennings...it was sheer pleasure being there. Well, things in 2014 aren't quite like the days of Anthony Buckeridge, as any fule kno, but addressing a hall full of small boys in bright maroon blazers, and shaking hands and distributing prizes, in a general atmosphere of purposeful activity, courtesy, good humour and common sense, was a tonic. A racial and religious mix, the boys were open and friendly, confident and well-mannered...

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