Emmaus South Lambeth

Well, a busy couple of weeks have passed since the Assembly which admittedly seems five minutes ago!

For once, it’s culure vulturing that’s keeping me busy;  next week, Companion Andy and I are off to the Music Festival at Emmaus Carlton, but last weekend I had a wonderful treat :  my son and daughter in law took me to Belfast to see James Galway perform at Proms in the Park in the magnificent grounds of Hillsborough Castle.  We stayed with their friends who were not only delightful but generous, taking us on tours  round Belfast City Centre and, on the Sunday, the Giant’s Causeway.

Before that, however, we had a picnic whilst listening to glorious music under a vast cedar tree in wonderful weather, a totally delightful evening, with James Galway and his wife Jane playing duets, later joined by 7 other flautists! 

Our wonderful hostess brought her two young boys (8 and 5) on the trip to the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and it was lovely to watch such unfettered fun and energy clambering the rocks.  When discussing arrangements for the trip, I had been warned only to take tiny bottles of liquid toiletries for flight restrictions - so when it came to the suntan cream I had thought “Hmm, no need to trouble with that in Northern Ireland in mid-September!”  I returned to South Lambeth knowing the meaning of ‘Redneck’ and can only wish the same temperatures for next week.

I returned in time to join a tour of the new Warehouse, which is on course to complete next month and it seems vast - particularly in view of the fact that we will be decorating it ourselves! 

The allotment is still yielding a good supply of tomatoes and the winter greens are coming on nicely.   Summer is, however, turning to conker-heaven autumn rather too rapidly for my taste - particularly regarding the shortening of the daylight.  Oh well, I suppose we’re over half-way between midsummer and the shortest day now..

Take care,

Elizabeth

Andy and I were outnumbered by South Lambeth Trustees at this year’s Annual Assembly, so we enjoyed it four times as much to make up for it!

Unfortunately I was smitten with my ‘Out of the M25 Allergy’ and began sneezing as we passed St Albans and stopped when we reached Leicester on the return, but I put most of the shivering down to nerves at being co-presenter of a workshop on Saturday on the subject of Allotments.  I need not have worried - my fellow presenter Mike from the Burnley Group did a marvellous job, thank you again.

Terry Waite’s ‘Welcome’ speech was inspirational as ever and the keynote speaker this year was John Bird, co-founder of Big Issue, who was strident, witty and moving in turns.

Our relatively new General Manager James had previous engagements, so decided to go up just for the Friday evening to  meet people and present our Community Update.  Alas he gave Rabbie Burns a chuckle as that plan almost went a-wry when his motorbike (yes, dear Reader, 200+ miles by motorbike…) got a puncture on the way up and he ended up taking seven and a half hours to get there, bolt some food down, make the presentation, meet a handful, then climb on the bike again!  We ran out of brownie points to award his dedication!

It was splendid to meet up with new folk and an ever-growing group of friends and catch up on news of others not attending.

We had a magician to entertain us on Saturday night;  he produced 3 sponge ladybirds, put two in my hand, told me to close my hand and when I opened it again, 3 popped out - then he put those three in my neighbour’s hand, and a dozen spilled out when he opened   :  I wish I knew how to do that with the ladybirds on the allotment!

Back home, the warehouse progresses rapidly and we’re just a month away from moving in, so thoughts turn to the transition.  It’s going to be quite a tight timetable, since the builders will be leaving just a shell which we have to decorate ourselves - so if you’ve ten minutes to spare, please give us a ring and we’ll make sure we have a spare paintbrush to plonk in your hands.

I look forward to chatting with you over the paint pot soon!

Best wishes,
Elizabeth