I have a fairly varied week this week ahead, by recent standards, and I think I will benefit from getting outside my patch so that when I return I can look again with fresh eyes and listen afresh to what is happening around me.

It’s amazing how quickly the body adapts to new surroundings and I am conscious that I feel very comfortable in most of the places that I hang out which may be a good thing. It is also true though that comfort leads to familiarity and with familiarity things are missed, or is it just we stop observing?

This week my variety has a few good highlights:
Wednesday – meeting up with Brother Colin who is a Franciscan friar in Canterbury and very kindly agreed to be my spiritual director.
also on Wednesday I am looking forward to watching Alice in the Cities and the newly found (to me) Rochester Film Salon. I love film and I like meeting new people, so I hope this evening is great – of course if anyone out there wants to come with me that would be cool too!

On Thursday late afternoon I am meeting up with a cluster of people I trained with to have a few drinks and chat about how things are going. It will be good to hear what is happening with other people.

Friday night I’m popping in on the Saints Alive celebration in the cathedral hosted by the Churches Together in Medway. Last year I spoke at this event and it will be cool to just be there as part of the congregation, see some old friends and catch up with what is happening in other parts of the city.

Other times through the week I hope to pop in on SPLAT, which is a fantastic holiday club run by Sarah. Seeing the enthusiasm on the faces of children and the creativity of the leaders is always a special privilege.

A change is as good as a rest my nan always used to tell me – actually I think it is much better.