I will not get sunburn! Finally!




Finally, last Sunday the news came through! We knew it was coming but we didn't exactly know when. In early May, Tim, (our daughter's boyfriend) invited us round to his flat? Why?... We were pretty confident we knew the reason particularly as Lorna wasn't there. After some polite and slightly awkward conversation Tim finally asked our blessing to marry Lorna! Hooray! But then we had to wait, when would he propose?... We'd no idea!

On Saturday, 16th June we sat enjoying a picnic overlooking the rocky coastline at Pendeen Lighthouse... the phone call we'd been waiting for finally arrived. An excited Lorna exclaimed...'guess what'? I should explain Tim had arranged for Lorna's fairtrade engagement ring to be made, hence the delay. You can imagine we were then desperate to share this wonderful news but were instructed to hold fire until Tim released the information on Facebook! Finally during the evening of Sunday, 24th June it emerged. So... Ruth and I can now proudly proclaim our little girl Lorna is engaged to be married to Tim! We're delighted and so proud of them!


How bizarre... the following morning (Monday, 25th June) just before I started this blog I opened my bible reading to discover it was Colossians 3:12-18. This was the same reading used when our son John married Catherine last April. And, of course we've just celebrated our own wedding anniversary (23rd June).

It's one of my favourites and offers wonderful wisdom for all relationships. Basically... imitate Christ's compassion, have a forgiving attitude, let love guide your life, let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, always be thankful, keep God's word in you at all times, live as Jesus Christ's representative.

I pray John and Catherine, and Lorna and Tim will experience a good marriage till death do part them. However, I'm conscious talk about marriage, relationships etc. can also be a reminder of difficult and painful times. I don't want to pretend everything is always sweetness and joy. I feel incredibly grateful for the marriage I've experienced but I should not pretend it's always easy... we all experience tough times.

Moving on... another finally. During this week we finally did it! Did what? Well, before this week we'd dipped our toes in it, we'd even put our feet in it. Finally we went the whole hog! Yes... we went swimming in the sea!!! As we tentatively waded out and reached the point where the freezing water was tummy height I challenged Ruth... "After the count of three we swim". 1,2..3!

Immediately (and to my horror) Ruth bravely plunged in and swam away! Spineless me was left thinking 'Oh no! Now I've got to do it!' In an effort to ensure Ruth didn't notice my delay I quickly took the plunge. Not only did all breath leave my lungs (it was so cold)... I also took in half a gallon of sea water! Brrrrr! As it happened our swim (once we'd acclimatised) was lovely! In fact it was so good we've been back every day this week to endure the same torture all over again!
 
Going swimming in the cold sea is strange. You have to be willing to give up everything to obtain it (except for your swimming trunks)… it isn’t easy and our comfort is removed but at the same time once you immerse yourself in it you experience something precious and joyful. Here’s the parallel... Truly experiencing God’s kingdom will not be comfortable or easy. It alters all our plans, all our assumptions, all our comfort. But it’s more than worth it. It’s the treasure that’s infinitely precious, the source of endless joy.  
 

Needless to say we've been walking loads more of the Coastal Path including another wander through a lovely cove called Porthgwarra where Poldark swam naked in the sea! Here's a photo... only kidding. Take a look at this note we found nearby...  

This week we also returned to the Minack theatre for another open air performance with the sea, cliffs and rocks stretching out under a full moon immediately behind the stage. In this amazing atmosphere we watched Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. It was a bit twee but nevertheless entertaining and you can't beat the constant view of creation on display in the background. The morning after our theatre visit I read another favourite passage Colossians 1:15-23. It was a helpful reminder as I enjoy this time marvelling at the incredible scenery of the Cornwall coastline I have the joy of worshipping Jesus Christ....God in human flesh and the Creator of both heaven and earth. He is the complete expression of God in a human body! Hebrews 1:3 How cool is that!


Another finally...England completed their final match in the group stages of the World Cup losing 1-0 to Belgium. Enough said... they got through to the knockout stage. Let's move on!

And the final 'finally' for this week... we completed the coastal path (the bit we intended to cover) having now walked from Godrevy on the northern coast round to Mullion Cove in the south. We've covered most of this twice since each time we do a stretch we park the car, walk a section and then return to the car along the same section in reverse. The final bit was not without drama. Literally as we completed it I fell over twisting my ankle, grazing my elbow and bashing my hip. Ouch! It was painful and for a bit I'm afraid the air was very blue! Ruth was very understanding and fortunately no one else was around to hear it!

Of more concern was we still needed to walk back a couple of miles to the car across some quite challenging terrain. Ruth suggested we walked to the nearest house and then arrange for a taxi to pick us up. Somehow the mention of spending money on a taxi incentivised me to try walking. As it happened the walk actually seemed to loosen up my ankle and at about 10pm we made it to the car! Phew! An adventure even if it was painful!       

The following morning we went for another swim at Perranuthnoe Beach and got chatting with a chap who moved to Cornwall a couple of years ago. Amazingly he used to live in the road (Finch Road) adjacent to the road I grew up (The Crescent) in Earley, just outside Reading - we discovered we attended the same infant school (Loddon County Primary) although many years apart! Small world.  

Finally it's Sunday and time to publish this blog. Today we went to the Church at Perranuthnoe for a Benefice service and to celebrate the ordination of a lady (which took place on Friday) who is part of their community. It was absolutely packed and we couldn't sit together. This a group of rural churches at their best. Praise God!   


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