For the next 3 days I will be joining others from YFC on retreat at Stanbrook Abbey, which is a community of Benedictine nuns.

Beth will be 9 in the morning and it will be great watching her open her presents and thinking “where the flip have the last 9 years gone!” Then I’ll think to myself “Rob you are starting to sound old!” It’s a sad vicious circle which I must not allow myself to fall into to. I won’t be leaving early so I will be able to experience the fun that 9 years olds have on their birthdays.

It is weird to sit and think how long ago Beth was born. Lots has happened. We had just left Bristol, GYFC was just starting and we were (thankfully) in the last dying throws of a dead, defeated spiteful and unimaginative Tory government. Beth has not had to experience any of that! I’m looking forward to seeing her in the morning.

Thankfully the retreat does not start until 3 so leaving at 11.30 should mean we miss most of the crappy traffic that is around on the motorways.

I’m looking forward to spending more time with people that I like and wish I knew more. I’m looking forward to what God is going to do and say. Taking time away from work and having a slower pace, allowing God the space to speak and ‘do his thing’ inevitably results in learning something new. I’m looking forward to the chats on the way and back from the pub in the evenings.

I’m looking forward to a chilled time with friends and God.