Tide and time

Set off on stage 1 of my personal pilgrimage, the actual physical walking bit, that is. A bit concerned that while I was in shorts and t-shirts, everyone else was in long trousers and coats, but once I got on the beach, walking in the sunshine, I soon warmed up. (Now, however, sitting at home at my desk I'm getting chilled. I've put my bed-socks on but might need a thicker jumper.)

Husband said, "Why exactly are you doing this?"
"I'm trying to find out how I got to be what I am, and, spiritually, how to be better."
"And walking to Mumbles answers that, does it?"
"No. It's going to be a long process."

My purpose in walking to Mumbles was to spend some time with God and to revisit my childhood home and All Saints, the church of my youth. I'll be writing about my thoughts over on my substack page should you wish to know more.

Meantime here are a few photos from the church.

I was christened, confirmed, and married in this church. My family have all been buried from there. It has a very long history going back to Norman times. I sat in the back row of the Lady Chapel - my view from there is above - where I used to sit with my mum when I went as a child and teenager. The Lady Chapel is the oldest part of the church and you can sit on the list below the names of the vicars, rectors, or perpetual curates. (one definition is that he was a curate who was paid a stipend rather than receiving a share of the parish's tithes. Beyond that it gets a bit confusing.)

In December 1863 there was a huge fire in the church of La Compañia de Jesus in Santiago, Chile. More than 2,500 people, mostly women and children, died in the worst blaze in Santiago’s history. Only the bells survived the furnace. Three were bought by Swansea industrialist, Graham Vivian, who gave them to his local church, All Saints in Oystermouth.

They remained there until 2010 when they were returned to Chile to form part of a new memorial to the victims of the fire.

The original bells in All Saints.

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Walking along the beach I spotted a Little Egret. You don't see many herons on this beach so I was suitably excited. I know it's not the best photo but trust me, it was an egret. The other two I saw further along, hm, may or may not have been.

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I also viewed the recently unveiled memorial to a fireman who died in the course of duty. He was my best friend's sister's husband, and his death, in an accident involving the fire engine, shocked the village.

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I've booked my flu jab but this year I'm too young to have the Covid one.