Autumn, finally

Definitely Autumn this weekend. Jim arrived on Friday, his 9th birthday, and opened pressies. He seemed ok but for the first time expressed how he felt a bit unsettled when he first comes here. This is, of course, something I have noticed for ages. He got a chemistry set from his grandparents and various other things. The main hit seems to have been Skylanders Trap Team, which he has played all weekend.

Saturday was a relaxed day, with nothing much but a trip out to the Grafton to buy new Skylanders, inevitably. Everyone more or less chilled, within the usual bounds.

Sunday morning Jim and I went to the Good Shepherd up the road, our parish church. Only the second time I've been there since we moved in almost 3 years ago. It was an all-age Communion, and better than I expected. Quite well attended - the usual sort of demographic but certainly not a dead church. Judith, the curate who led the service seemed very nice, and she asked Jim his name and sadi a prayer for him when we went to the rail. Some aspect were quite traditional - wafers, silverware, vestments etc. Proper liturgy. But some modern, such as choruses and a very small amount of clappiness. I liked it and Jim says he did too. Not sure why - it's difficult to tell with him sometimes, but I was very pleased to have gone, and doubly so to have gone with him. It's a cliché when it comes to old people like me, but the older I get the more I like the rituals of faith, especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist, as us Protestants with leanings towards Mother Church call it. The church itself is interesting - brick built 50's or 60's thing, but it a very traditional style with nave, clerestory and even a side chapel. Maybe it has a high church past as well, as there are stations of the cross and a crucifix complete with Our Lord and INRI. Brighter and airier than one expects. I like it.

Rest of the day was a little tense. Well, Sammy was tired because of the time change and is going through a serious tantrum stage. C is tired of it and is tending towards gloom. We went to town, had lunch at Clowns (successful) and then it was decreasing returns from then on. Jim is great, that's all I will say. Sam had the most spectacular tantrum in the evening. Complete. incoherent rage because I got him out of the bath. Hope it is a short-lived phase...