Wesley News
Life at Wesley, our community and, #ThoughtsFromHuw
November: A word from Richard
Dear Friends
During the summer on a trip to London, I paid a visit to the Tower of London to view the art installation ‘Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red’. Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, 888,246 ceramic poppies have been progressively placed in the Tower's famous moat over the summer. Each poppy represents a British military fatality during the war. The inspiration for the display came from a line in the will of a Derbyshire man who joined up in the earliest days of the war and died in Flanders. Knowing that everyone was dead and he was surrounded by blood, the man wrote: 'The Blood Swept lands and seas of red, where angels fear to tread.'
October: A word from Richard
Dear Friends
The recent Scottish Independence Referendum turned out to be, politically, the only show in town for a couple of weeks, even south of the Border. The result however was nowhere near as close as had been predicted. In the end the canny people of Scotland voted by a clear margin of 10% to remain within the union. It would seem the majority had decided that they and we were indeed, Better Together.
September: A word from Richard
Dear Friends
Growing up in a farming community I have always felt close to the land. Farmers are understandably fascinated by the land. They are passionate about caring for their own land, sometimes critical, sometimes covetous of their neighbours land; and when travelling outside their own area always keenly observant of the agricultural land elsewhere: is it well drained and productive, does it lie towards the sun, is it sweet and fertile?
July / August: A word from Richard
Is this the summer edition already? Where did that time go?
May: A word from Richard
Dear Friends
I grew up in a household where newspapers were read, we always took a national daily, a local daily, two local weeklies and the Methodist Recorder. Newspapers were an important part of our lives. How times have changed. Last week I cancelled my subscription to the Methodist Recorder and therefore, for the first time, have no physical newspaper to read. I do however still read lots of newspapers on line.
April: A word from Richard
Dear Friends
When Christine took ill she left us well provided for. Freezer, fridge and cupboards as usual were full. There was a coffee cake in the tin in the fridge. When Christine died we made that coffee cake last as long as we could, but it couldn’t last forever. Three weeks ago, to my very great joy, I discovered another coffee cake in the freezer. We ate every piece with a deliberation approaching reverence but inevitably, eventually there was just one piece left. It sat there for several days, forlorn and alone in the tin. It was past its best, somewhat dry, when I could finally face finishing it off. But it was still Christine’s coffee cake, the last piece I would ever eat. As I ate it, it was to me both memorial and sacrament. Not only was I reminded of Christine once again but I felt that she was still close to me.
