From Conservatism to Catholicism

 Normally I read on a Saturday morning in Church, the local tory WhatsApp group has been going mad with everyone meeting to deliver leaflets. It occurred to me today FromConservativismtoCatholicism - it really has been for me. There's been a lot of change in the party. We have a new leader now, Kemi Badenoch. An outspoken Nigerian lady. As I've said before, loyalty was always our secret weapon. It's not so much that it hasn't remained a secret but more, sadly, that there is no loyalty. With this in mind she has my full support. I'll not give up church to campaign but will try and do a bit more to support the candidates locally. I interviewed them because I sit on the selection committee there's also more to tell about the party nationally but I'll come onto that  A great deal has happened these last six months. I've met someone. Life is wonderful really.  We met whilst out shooting, a time I feel so close to God, out in the natural world that humans have...

 Yes he's gone. Never liked him, smug, self satisfied man. That said, I never met him. There's very few opportunities to utter the phrase 'Good riddance to bad rubbish' and I certainly didn't want to miss one.  Interesting he only appeared to mention Jesus as an after thought and never uttered an apology in his resignation letter.  Here it is in case you missed it or are coming across this post years later

 A lot has happened, mostly I was struggling at home and at work. Angry at myself for lack of motivation, having the time to do more housework and renovation than ever before and yet down I was spiralling.  As for my parenting, I was on the brink, keen to lead by example, keeping calm, consistent, everything you should do, whilst reassuring myself this couldn't possibly continue. There was not even a good section of the day we could manage, my daughter and I. Those times seem so long ago now. I prayed, mostly not knowing what for but was on my knees many a time.  It took a while but those prayers were answered. I really am proud of her. She still takes the mick about me and there's a healthy amount of humour but nothing insulting or truly blasphemous.  So very fortunate am I and always did treasure dearly mine and my daughters relationship. Now we do all sorts together like we did and am finally happy to put a lot of things down to 'her age' furthermore at least we h...

Life has been amazing at St Hugh's Catholic Church. The whole thing has been really. I stopped because the blog I didn't want to call into the potential trap of using religion only to inform my writing. It has to be something you feel. I do and have and as a consequence can write far more about the journey. It’s knowing just where to start.  I’m in at least. Fully confirmed and committed as a member of the Catholic Church. Unexpectedly I confessed three big things beforehand. One that I never think of - from twenty years ago, one continual and more recent sin and another being a former incident. None of these weigh particularly on my mind but I knew if I didn’t confess them I would come to regret it. Things needed to be done properly this end.  Father Eddy was excellent, glossed nicely over things and I was in for the Maundy Thursday feet washing. I put my name down but mistaken cast myself as the humble Jesus without realising of course, the priest plays Jesus so I ended up o...

 I’d quite forgotten about that.What a wipeout. Where I am, we have been facing the threat of the unitary authority and so bizarrely authorities started teaming up with their neighbours, thus hastening it. Anyway there was all sorts of talk and a lot of the district leaders joined the County Council and then on that fateful first Thursday in May three heads rolled. Three leader's seats gone. 

 Holy Saturday, what a day. What a service. My lass came with two of her friends and Nick who was inappropriately loud and set them in to a giggling fit. It was Stickers I felt sorry for, those three, all those candles, paper, long hair. What a pressure cooker.  The Deacon, John Wilford sang a huge great big long and tuneful solo. There was candlelight all around, it was wonderful.  There were five of us, from the class, and we lined up. Noel was my sponsor, he does the bingo calling, told me a) I'd never have to worry about anything ever again and b) it took him 46 years to convert and he'd been attending the Catholic Church all that time!  I was in charge of carrying the wine and Anna put it in my hand and said, 'not too quickly' so I slowly walked down what I can only describe as the aisle - Father Eddy was ahead of me, almost as if on a ship, I could see everyone behind him, it was wonderful and all in candlelight, it really was a special moment that.  Here'...