Author: Catherine Lee

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Moving on…

Catherine Lee

The week of The Great Move (note the capitals!) is over, all accomplished!  My mother is safely installed in her new place, all 50 boxes and packages unpacked, kitchen full of food, registration done at the local health centre, new address registered at the local bank, and milk ordered from the local dairy.  And that last one was the surprise of the week.  Milk ordered at the local dairy involves phoning a number and setting up a delivery account. All done not somewhere in deepest southern England – but, drum roll here…. in the Philippines, no less.  Manila to be … Continue reading Moving on…

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All Change!

Catherine Lee

It’s a week of ‘All Change’! Today the Lee family moves out of Sedbergh, Cumbria.  Truly the end of an era ~ 18 years in fact.  Thanks to all the wonderful neighbours and friends who came round last week to say goodbye, drinking tea amongst the boxes.  Sad to leave, but oh, so many happy memories! Today the Removals Van is up in Sedbergh loading up all those boxes, and this afternoon I will take my mother to her new place, the supported housing unit of the clergy care home in deepest rural Surrey where my father has been since … Continue reading All Change!

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CMS Link Visit to Gislingham, Mellis, Thornham Magna and Thornham Parva, Suffolk

Catherine Lee

Yep, deepest rural Suffolk, full of quaint pink cottages, gorgeous thatched churches, woodland glades white with snowdrops, vast rolling fields stretching to the horizon, and oh, so quiet all day, and all night.  Idyllic. Almost perfect.  But not quite!  Just don’t mention broadband speeds or mobile phone signals, or the lack thereof.  See a person perched on top of a log-pile in a far corner of their back garden or leaning out of their bathroom window?  Yep, they’re trying to send a text message or phone the neighbours.   Ah yes, the reality of life in the middle of nowhere! … Continue reading CMS Link Visit to Gislingham, Mellis, Thornham Magna and Thornham Parva, Suffolk

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CMS Link Visit to St. Andrew’s Church, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington

Catherine Lee

The oldest church in Darlington, Co. Durham, so the sign says outside St. Andrew’s Church, Haughton-le-Skerne, c.1125 ~ that’s pretty old!  But of course in those days, Haughton-le-Skerne was not part of Darlington, but a separate village to the N.E. of the town.  Darlington kind of burst onto the world stage with the arrival of the railways in the 19th century, and it’s been a big bustling industrial place ever since. St. Andrew’s Church is at the heart of a huge parish, covering Haughton, Whinfield, Red Hall and Springfield.  Definitely a happening place ~ and a VERY happening church, praise … Continue reading CMS Link Visit to St. Andrew’s Church, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington

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CMS Link Visit to Sadberge Eat ‘N Meet!

Catherine Lee

Ah, now that’s just my cuppa tea ~ Eat ‘N Meet at Sadberge Village Hall, each first Tuesday of the month, and a great outreach of Sadberge Church! Sadberge apparently means ‘flat-topped hill’ but I always think it should be renamed, and the ‘sad’ become ‘happy’, thus Happyberge, to reflect the lovely atmosphere in the village! There’s flowers in tubs hanging from all the railings on the streets, pots of flowers around the trees, a village garden in action, and just a general feeling of being a village well-cared-for and well-loved.  Great place! Sadberge is on the A66 just east … Continue reading CMS Link Visit to Sadberge Eat ‘N Meet!

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Durham Cathedral Tower, all 325 steps!

Catherine Lee

My first trip up Durham Cathedral Tower today, wow, it’s quite something, and at only £5, a great bargain.  325 steps up and up and well, more up!  The top is not for the faint-hearted, and on a freezing cold January day, not for the cold-blooded either.  But fun, with great views! A cold dull day, but hey, no rain!  Durham City is beautiful whatever the weather! Great city, great day ~ and that Lego model of the cathedral is due for completion in 3 years time ~ so hope to be back then, in the meantime, goodbye Durham! Continue reading Durham Cathedral Tower, all 325 steps!

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CMS Link Visit to St. John’s Church, Neville’s Cross, Durham

Catherine Lee

Never judge a book by its cover, nor, dare I say it, a church by it’s outside ha ha!  Just cos a church don’t have no steeple or tower, even in a country full of ’em and in a city with one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the whole world, well it don’t mean nothing! And so it was that I’ve just spent a wonderful weekend with the very delightful people of St. John’s Church, Neville’s Cross, Durham City.  What a welcome! An amazing congregation ~ all so lovely, so welcoming, so interested in everything.  But preaching there is not … Continue reading CMS Link Visit to St. John’s Church, Neville’s Cross, Durham