The rain it raineth on the just...

And on the unjust fella [But more upon the just, because the unjust pinched the just's umbrella!]

St Swithin's Day Plus One and it is definitely raining. But I don't believe in that tradition anyway. Anyway, rain reminds me of Noah not Swithin. Been thinking about ARK building [Acts of Random Kindness] and the aim of Hope 08 to get people motivated to do so many hours of Good Things this year.

To brighten your day here are some pictures of God's goodness as seen in my home this morning. Firstly the fig tree - which is positively burgeoning with fruit. It is unbelievably exciting to me that one of my five-a-day fruit  portions is something we have grown ourselves. They taste SO good, and I am utterly ecstatic whilst eating them [cf Meg Ryan!]

Then there are my flowers - this lovely planted arrangement was a gift from a pupil and his Mum last week.

I have rearranged the bouquet which I received at the School Production - the gerberas had all bent over at strange angles.

So I chopped them off short and put them in a tiny vase on their own.

How do you pronounce the 'g' in gerbera anyway? Like gerbil or Gershwin? I have heard florists say both.

...Quick check in the OED reveals it is the same as geranium, and comes from Herr Gerber, the German naturalist who first identified it.

There was correspondence in The Times once, I recall, about the 'g' in margarine - which ended when one chap said "It is obvious - hard in winter and soft in summer!" [it was in the days before Flora]

Back to the Hope 08 thing - Bob was at a planning meeting last night for the Village Fun Day in September. This event is chiefly planned and organised by Karl our Village Bobby, and Jenny. Jenny's eldest son died tragically in a motorbike accident, and since then she has worked tirelessly to improve facilities for Young People in the village.

As usual, Bob and team are providing PA and we are working, as Churches Together, to provide Story Tent, Prayer Tree, Songs of Praise and much more.  Last year the wind was incredibly strong - Mike, Nick and I spent ages hanging on to flying gazebos! We have ordered two banners from CPO to display on our pitches.

They are well-made and waterproof, with eyelets.

Sensibly, the HOPE logo doesn't have '08' on it, so we can use them next year too!

I spent last night photocopying and collating nearly 1000 worksheets, memory verses etc for Holiday Bible Club. I'm glad that job is out of the way! Today I have got to sort the refreshments.

Bookings continue to fall through the letterbox - and one very kind note from a parent saying her child couldn't come this year - but enclosing a donation to our expenses anyway! That must count as an ARK.