Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 1st August 2023

This evening I’m sitting in one of the KLM lounges at Amsterdam Schiphol, waiting for the flight to Birmingham after spending a fantastic weekend in northern Italy. The beginning of a new month and back to grindstone for me, though I’m not complaining. My parents instilled into me a powerful sense of duty, so hard work and getting things done have never been a problem for me. What does make things more difficult for me these days are recurrent lapses of memory. I’m sure you know what I mean. I envy my mother, who has the memory of a 16 year old, rather than that of a 96 year old!

I’m going to give the Gospel a rest today. It’s the Parable of the Wheat and the Darnel for one thing and I’ve commented on it several times lately. Secondly, it’s almost time to walk to the the gate, some distance away, for the Birmingham flight and then the drive back to Belmont. I can show you the lasagne I had for lunch today, the genuine recipe and ingredients, and a view of Lake Como from the plane. I worked there the Summer of 1969 as a tour guide. Such happy memories, I was based at Bellagio. Some of you might have been there.