What I’m Not Giving Up for Lent
The older I get the list of things I’ve already given up grows longer. Liquorice Allsorts, Bourbon biscuits, Schubert Lieder, Cognac, Father Ted. Can’t stand any of them. When my Orthodox husband was alive we’d give up meat, but nowadays, contrary to medical fashion, my body tells me I need it. Not an enormous rib-eye that hangs over the edge of the plate, but definitely a bit of red meat protein.
The idea in Lent of course, is to stop desiring things and to turn your mind to what is needful. I should probably try to give up sneering, but it’s part of my stock-in-trade and I do still need to work. I might just dial it down a bit. I could try giving up testiness and ingratitude. That’s a plan.
I have now embarked on an unlooked for career as an occasional tour guide at my new home in the London Charterhouse. We offer two types of tour: those conducted by professional guides who really, really know their stuff and Brothers’ Tours led by people like me, who simply live here and have made it our business to learn about the place. I make no particular recommendation. I just put it out there.
And yes, I am now Brother Laurie. No surgery has taken place, no hormones prescribed, no hair shirt added to my wardrobe. Although, perhaps for Lent…
wow, The Charterhouse sounds amazing – definitely on the ‘to do’ list next time we go to London!
My Uncle Walter lived in The Charterhouse for some time about 50 years ago! He was a retired vicar. I visited him from time to time but difficult with two young children and a journey up from Wales where we lived then. Reading the above brought back a lot of memories. Walter was ill but his doctor said yes we could take him to Malta on holiday with us. He loved it, had been stationed there during the war, but sadly he died while we were there. I think he planned it as Matron had said he would have to go into the infirmary when he got back and he didn’t want to loose the independence of his own room. He even managed it a day or two before the end of the holiday.
Everyone was fantastically helpful but we lost a dear relative. Once home at the funeral the director was very apologetic that the Maltese coffin wasn’t of very high quality so he’d covered it with a purple cloth to hide the imperfection. How Walter would have loved the purple of Bishops at his going. I still miss him.
My Uncle Walter lived in The Charterhouse for some time about 50 years ago! He was a retired vicar. I visited him from time to time but difficult with two young children and a journey up from Wales where we lived then. Reading the above brought back a lot of memories. Walter was ill but his doctor said yes we could take him to Malta on holiday with us. He loved it, had been stationed there during the war, but sadly he died while we were there. I think he planned it as Matron had said he would have to go into the infirmary when he got back and he didn’t want to loose the independence of his own room. He even managed it a day or two before the end of the holiday.
Everyone was fantastically helpful but we lost a dear relative. Once home at the funeral the director was very apologetic that the coffin wasn’t of very high quality so he’d covered it with a purple cloth to hide the imperfection. How Walter would have loved the purple of Bishops at his going. I still miss him.