Embracing Summer - the real thing

 What is this? Another blog so soon! Just let me reassure you all, that this blog won't be going off on any tangents about roses this time. This blog will remain true to it's title 

Embracing Summer!

This time it's the real thing.

Summer for us here in Troon started when I first shed my coat on South Beach! 
That was way back in ...................early May?? Who knows? It seems so long ago now.

However, the first real taste of the summer heatwave arrived in the middle of May. We were hoping the dry weather would hold out for when Rebecca, John and Ezra arrived and we weren't disappointed - and I don't think they were either!

Wow how Ezra has grown from then to now!

(no apologies - I just had to sneak that one in)

We had a great week spent with the family, showcasing this beautiful Ayrshire coast and it's attractions.

Three of our favourite places. . . Cumbrae, Culzean Castle and Dumfries House.

*Visitor warning*...you do realise that if you come to visit us, then you will more than likely be whisked away to one of these beautiful places - we love all three. 

The month of May continued to bring us hot sunny days. We couldn't believe it! 

So when David was ready for a break from sermon prep and studying, we made the most of the long warm sunny evenings to walk and talk. In fact some evenings we lost all track of time and it was quite often after the sun had set that we made our way back to the manse.

We had been led to believe that the West Coast of Scotland is generally "dreich", so this glorious weather was an unexpected delight.
*Language lesson no.1*  "dreich"  = dreary/bleak weather.

However - a combination of hot weather and Troon does have its challenges...As the temperatures began to rise on the May Bank Holiday, Troon hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons...you can read about that though in another blog some other time. Maybe the presence of mounted Police might give you a sense of what was happening.

May was a particularly busy month for us. In addition to the normal weekly church activities we were packing boxes; had family visiting; packed more boxes; embraced GDPR; had David studying back at NTC for a week; more packing of boxes; engaged in Thy Kingdom Come; and packed even more boxes - and finally on our 32nd Wedding Anniversary, the last day of May, we moved house!

After such a busy May we were glad to welcome the month of June with open arms...welcoming a little bit of respite, and to make things even better, the forecast was for the sun to continue to shine...

*Reality check* (just wondering - does the word 'respite' exist in the life of a Pastor?)

How naive we were to think that June would be any less busy! 
Busy yes, but nonetheless enjoyable and rewarding.

Sunday 3rd June saw us down at the harbour in Troon. The 'Harbour Blessing' a first for us, but definitely not the last. An open air service organised by the Fishermens Mission. David had been asked to give a Gospel message. An emotional afternoon for several reasons and one I will treasure for many years to come. I think this may need a short blog of its own maybe?

...hot on the heels of the Harbour Blessing came our Strawberry Tea. 

Our aim - to raise awareness of Dementia whilst at the same time raising funds for Alzheimer Scotland.

We were overwhelmed and humbled by the love and support from everyone involved - such a great afternoon as well as raising £355!

and then . . . a weekend looking after David's parents. 

Back in the place where we we grew up - memories of childhood, school, chapel and more. We were so grateful to have the peace and comfort of David's sister's gorgeous house and garden to stay in - definitely has B&B potential! I say watch this space (no pressure Anne!) I think we might book in again sometime.

It's the voile curtains that do it for me ...there's something rather lovely about sitting and watching their lightness of movement in the gentle breeze...maybe I just feel like I am in some costume drama when there.

OK so we are only one week into June and we have already had a Harbour Blessing, a Strawberry Tea and had travelled to and from Warrington! And we thought things might be a little less busy this month. 

Now don't get me wrong I like to keep busy, just as much as I like to sit and read or crochet. Yes - crochet!

I decided after the tangle I got into with Ezra's cot blanket, I thought it was about time to learn how to crochet properly.... so when I saw an advert for beginners crochet class in Troon - only 2 sessions - I was sure I could squeeze that in

 so I immediately signed up. 

I was so glad that I did. Olivia (from Shoretown Yarn Social and now my crochet guru!) -  was so patient - the time flew by. And the little goody bag was a lovely surprise.

Homework set - all I had to do was to remember  what I had learnt in her class and put it into practise at home. 

 As June began to draw to a close, I travelled down to Durham to celebrate our eldest daughter Hannah's 30th birthday. 30!! Where did that time go?

David was left at the helm back in Troon, and I spent a lovely weekend with two of our daughters and sons-in-law.(Yes, Naomi, you also make an appearance in this blog too!)

An added bonus was that I managed to find the lovely 'stop off' place which Rebecca and John had recommended to me near Carlisle - perfect to break up the journey...oh did I forget to mention it was a garden centre...which sold the most amazing roses....this one looked like velvet....ooops nooooo I said I wouldn't mention roses...sorry.

Well the sun was still shining well into June and we have experienced record breaking temperatures up here on the West coast. Balmy evenings spent walking along the beach did little to cool things down but they were certainly full of interesting finds along the way.

June was drawing to a close. 

and July was waiting with just as much activity on the horizon as the previous two months. 

Simon Peter (aka David) entertained and challenged us four out of five Sunday mornings in July! Married 32 years and I didn't know that David could act!! One Sunday morning I was so engrossed that I had a lump in my throat - I thought I was actually there with Peter in the courtyard when he denied Jesus! However, I never knew Simon Peter was a Lancashire lad...accent was brilliant!

Two weeks into July and we opened our home to our church family and new neighbours. Tea, coffee, cake and a 'blether'. 

*Language lesson no.2* 'blether' = chat

I found some of my mum's old hand written recipes and then I found yet more -  tucked away in an old Be-Ro recipe book; recipes written by a lady called Elsie (our best man's mum!), and finally, one recipe from another lovely lady from our old chapel - Mary - not sure which Mary though. These were great fun to work with - hand written from memory no doubt, with no mention of oven temp or what size tins etc. So a bit of guess work and ta da!

We had a great afternoon and something we shall certainly be doing again...maybe not cake next time...watch this space!

It is so easy to become so focused and totally engrossed in what you are doing in ministry that holidays fall off the radar (well maybe not for everyone - but for novices like us they did). There will always be pastoral issues, meetings, events to attend, services to prepare and essays to write. Seven months had passed by and we hadn't given 'holidays' any real thought. 

When I was in paid employment prior to our move, our lives revolved around the academic calendar, and booking holidays were much at the forefront of our minds. Yet here, holidays have taken less of a priority - maybe it's because we live so near the coast, anyway, at this point in the year it was probably too late to book anywhere.

Then a lightbulb moment! I just love those, don't you?

We were driving down to Lincoln towards the end of July for Ezra's dedication - why not 'tag' a short break on to the end of it? We could break the journey back home to Scotland by stopping off in the Lakes for a few days - perfect! But could we find anywhere at this short notice? Probably not as it was slap bang in the middle of the Keswick Convention.

Perfect!

Our friend Janice had a room vacant in her B&B for just the dates we wanted!

Hello Lake District...!

Now I could go on...? 

But maybe I have waffled too much already?

And who wants to see other peoples holiday snaps anyway?

Well, I couldn't resist

Hope you don't mind, but I have included some photos of our Sunday in Lincoln at Ezra's dedication 

and our time in the Lakes. 

Hope I haven't bored you too much...it was just a brief snapshot of what we have been doing over the past few months. I realise that summer is not over yet - we have just left July and entered into August - who knows, there may be 'Embracing Summer' part 3 on the horizon.

As I look through my photos, choosing which ones to share on here - each one has the potential of a blog post of its own. Thy Kingdom Come, Bank Holidays-heatwaves and the Police, The Harbour Blessing, Walking in the Lake District ...and more.

There has been so much happening in Troon, in the church, in our new season, that is difficult to know what to include and what to leave out. Let me know what you fancy hearing about and I will see if I can oblige.

Well I shall leave this blog here for now and hope to be back with you soon.
God bless
Pam