A letter from the Vicarage – Rev’d Andy Stand

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all keeping well and enjoying the weather!

At time of writing we are still experiencing the record breaking heatwave. The forecasts seem to suggest that it will have broken by the time the magazine is printed, which I guess will bring disappointment to any who are actually enjoying the heat; and some relief for the rest of us!

It’s often unclear, with the British weather, but I think the heatwave tells us that Summer is actually here!!

It has certainly brought to mind the words of George Gershwin, and his aria written for the musical, Porgy & Bess; words which Chris and I used, for many years, throughout the year, not just in the summertime, as the last of our nighttime routines with James. James of course knew all the words perfectly, and woe betide Daddy, if I got them wrong!

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high
Oh, your daddy’s rich and your ma is good lookin’
So hush, little baby, don’t you cry.”

We did as well adapt the words, adding my own denial to any suggestion that I was rich, and of course endorsing the suggestion that Chris is good lookin’!

I do generally enjoy the summertime and spend a certain amount of the winter looking forward to the change in the seasons.

I wonder, what have you been looking forward to?

Is it just the long days and light evenings, the warmer weather and the fact that everything looks more joyful and enjoyable in the sunshine and the warmth?

Or are you a sport’s fan looking forward to the annual staples of Wimbledon and the Cricket; or the World Cups: Football (confession time: I haven’t watched any of it!) and/or Women’s T20 Cricket (I’ve probably inflicted too much of it on Chris already!). No doubt for the athletics fans (and anyone who just enjoys a festival of different sports) it will be the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, towards the end of July. And of course if there are any cycling fans out there, then its time to dust off the lycra and watch the Tour De France (if you can find out which of the terrestrial channels it’s being broadcast on!)

You may be looking forward to a special event: a wedding, or anniversary, a baptism, or maybe even a significant birthday.

Some of you will remember that at the beginning of June Chris and I were celebrating the 10th Anniversary of our move to Worcester; some of you will equally be aware that the beginning of July (2nd to be precise) will be the 20th Anniversary of my Ordination as a Deacon; as well as it being my sister’s 60th Birthday! Yes I upstaged her 40th Birthday by being Ordained! She did though get a special mention and birthday greetings during the service!

Something else that I’m not so much looking forward to, as accepting that it needs to happen, is an operation that I am due to have on the 3rd July. Although it is only a Day Case, and will be keyhole surgery, I am being advised that  it could take a couple of weeks for me to recover. Again I must confess, it’s well over 50 years ago that I last had surgery and a General Anaesthetic and so I do not know quite what to expect nor how quickly I will recover. Please do hold me in your prayers.

Whatever the summer holds for you, I hope you enjoy it and are able to make the most of it.

Every blessing, Andy