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‘Maureen’s Musings’
The Vicar’s monthly letter for the Parish News
November 2017
Yes – I am back!
It feels somewhat strange after 8 weeks away from the village, but I have returned with my new knee…. still feeling a bit strange to put it mildly, but steadily improving in mobility.
There is something quite weird about having a part of one’s body replaced… does it truly ‘belong’ to me? And it is fair to say that I was not quite prepared for the emotional effect that this operation would have on me – although I am reliably informed that this is a very predictable reaction to what is a fairly major operation. Thanks to the care I have received from friends and from the village as a whole, I can say that recovery is definitely progressing… Normal service(s) to be resumed as soon as possible!
That doesn’t just apply to me of course. The church itself has been undergoing its own ‘replacement operation’ as the new heating is put in. Here’s hoping that by the time you read this, the work will be completed (or very nearly) and we can begin enjoying the benefits of a much warmer building. There has inevitable been some disruption – I am sorry to the ‘Wednesday Crew’ who have had to forgo their mid-week service during October – but I hope we will all appreciate the improvement over the winter months.
And I must take this opportunity to thank all those colleagues and our wonderful Wardens and Ken Scott for keeping things in good order and ‘looking after the shop’ during my absence. And then there was the fabulous Scarecrow Festival of course! Thanks to Social Media I was able to keep in touch with much of what was happening here in Pattingham during my convalescence on the Wirral. Many thanks to all who worked so hard and who kept posting pictures of the fantastic creations. You should all feel very proud of yourselves – as should those who made the Bells Run also such a great occasion.
Since returning, I have also become aware of those people who want to come together to help look after and improve the environment of this wonderful village. The ‘Friends of Pattingham’ held its inaugural meeting in October, and may already have undertaken its first task – that of repainting the railings around the park, by the time November arrives. You can follow it on Facebook and through the Parish Council communications. I am very pleased to offer this group all the support I can, and I am sure that many members of the church will join me in wishing them well and helping out in practical ways. Yes, it would be good if our local authorities could undertake all that needs doing to keep the village looking tidy and well-cared for, but the reality of public finances mean that increasingly communities will have to look to their own resources if they want to see their environment not only survive, but thrive. And we all benefit from such action – young, old and those inbetween! So let’s take off our coats, put on some overalls and get cracking! Pattingham (and of course Patshull, Rudge and the other outlying hamlets) is an area worth being proud of.
November will of course see those services marking the various rites of Remembrance – whether for those who have known bereavement (Sunday 5th November at 6.30pm or for Remembrance Sunday itself – Sunday 12th November at 10.30am) . I look forward to marking these annual events with you all.
Every blessing
Maureen