Auld acquaintance

Before the Communion

I can understand why my brother was getting a little tense; there were bits of family and friends all over the place, all of whom needed to be at the church in Wimbledon for the service, and then get across to Richmond for the lunch. I'd said that I'd take care of me and Dan, that we'd get around by train, but Wol was trying to organise lifts, which was good of him, I just didn't want him to have the stress. 

In the end, it was Dan, Hannah, and me who took the train from Worcester Park to Raynes Park, and then walked to the church. The extra photo today is us at the station, enjoying our coffees and the sunshine on the platform. 

The Communion
My brother's wife is Spanish and I think that, culturally, her side of the family were a lot more into the whole Communion thing. Regarding the English contingent - with the possible exception of my mum, who's a vicar - I feel we were largely going through the motions. And, to be honest, I think that was true of a lot of the people in the church, all (presumably) related to the dozen or so kids getting Communed.

As these things typically progress, we settled into a gentle lethargy, standing and sitting as we were told, and mumbling along to the hymns. There was a reading - the feeding of the 5,000 - and then the address, based around how we need to nourish our children. I think we could all see where it was heading. The priest reached the part in his sermon where he touched on the perils of not feeding our children well: the consequence was CONSTIPATION!

Three hundred heads all snapping up to attention makes its own peculiar sound. 

This would have been my favourite part of the service if it hadn't been for the lad whose job it was to read the line "Christ, have mercy", which he delivered as "Christ! Have mercy!!" I was trembling with laughter.

After the Communion (1)
My cousin, Jenny, drove me, Dan, and Hannah, plus her son to the lunch in Richmond. I don't see Jenny much, far less than I'd like to, but we had a hoot driving over, making our way through Kingston, pointing out family landmarks. There is certainly a family sense of humour.

After the Communion (2)
My brother had arranged the most amazing lunch for all of the Communion guests (from our family, not everyone in the church). Among them were two old friends of ours: Danny, who was at school with me and Wol, and Nick, whom Wol met at university in York. 

God, it was great to see the pair them. I love them both individually but also for how they get on with one another. In the photo you can see how Nick, on the right, is making Danny laugh. You know, I don't particularly miss living in London but I do miss a lot of my friends there.

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No scales
Reading: 'How Art Made Pop And Pop Became Art' by Mike Roberts