Two mile walk, with another wee bit more running: As yesterday, so today, the ankle feels all right, but various other parts of my legs speak up with notices that the Wednesday Fall had thrown them off-kilter. I keep thinking that this should be a mere out-of-the-habit return to … | Continue reading
I walked/ran another two miles thiw morning, with slightly more running than walking. Oddly, the ankle felt fine (on the whole), but my right knee sent me an occasional jolt. Still, considering the twist-and-fall and how I felt Wednesday evening, and the discolouration in my left … | Continue reading
I walked my morning miles today, taking a very few intermittent short runs as an experiment, and got home just fine, thank you. When I ran, I noted with relief that my ankle behaved most usually, and with caution that my right knee (of the leg which slipped, turned slightly, and … | Continue reading
I woke this morning after a good night’s sleep, flexed my foot, and discovered (to my astonishment) that I didn’t feel any soreness at all. It felt a bit tender if I massaged it, but after feeling very painful Wednesday night, no real residual pain remained. While I am not at all … | Continue reading
(The local story, I mean, the hyperlocal story — The Story is the murder of a Minneapolis civilian by state forces.) Yesterday, as noted, I fell on my way to Morning Prayer and wrenched my ankle. I had run earlier with no difficulty, but in dressing for the day I put on dress sho … | Continue reading
Not necessarily the private army (though I favour that) but definitely the frozen water. It rained last night, and this morning the temperature is 2° (but chills to -6°), so that any given paved surface might be coated with frost, or rough enough for traction, or be actually icy. … | Continue reading
I like gin. And I like tasting, sampling. But I don’t usually have gin even as much as once a fortnight (on average). I doubt I’ll have another G&T for weeks. This chance to spend a steady interval sipping, rolling against my palate, savouring, finishing has been delightful. But … | Continue reading
Just to note that there’s a discussion of Daniel Boyarin’s recent claim that [premodern] Judaism is not rightly characterised as a ‘religion’ (in the modern sense) at Marginalia, and a reminder (which I had forgotten) that Brent Nongbri published a book a while ago arguing (simil … | Continue reading
We observed Epiphany on Sunday in the parish, so today was just Tuesday fter Epiphany, and not the Feast itself, in Abingdon. But in the larger church, today is the Feast of the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, so cheers for us on Team Gentiles today. And modified cheers … | Continue reading
I didn’t get enough sleep last night because one of the ladies, the smaller one, from Yorkshire, had an unaccountable fixation on waking me up repeatedly. I went to bed earlier than usual for the express prupose of getting more sleep, and somebody exploded that plan from midnight … | Continue reading
My sermon this morning at the early service at St Nicolas’s* went all right; it’s short and doesn’t need any extensive editing to post, so I’ll include it below the fold. The congregation was only down by one or two worshippers, despite the very cold temperatures and icy pavement … | Continue reading
-3°, felt like -8°, and I ran my miles anyway. I ran at a below average pace, but it would have been faster if I hadn’t encountered icy patches at which I had to slow down and step cautiously. It gave no pleasure, but I hate falling away from regular exercise, so I had to… | Continue reading
I feel as though I ought to respond to Chris‘s lovely, generous response — especially since Dave has noticed. This blogging thing — it may just catch on after all… I answered Chris with first attention to something that wasn’t even his main point. That’s an initial sign of his gr … | Continue reading
No, I did not run this morning in subzero temperatures that felt like -8°, on pavements that are icy in spots. No, no. I’m frustrated by that — I don’t like interrupting my running schedule — but I’m not foolhardy. | Continue reading
Two more gins take us to the verge of closing out Advent Gin, which has been an rewarding exercise in tasting and comparing (albeit at some remove in time; I haven’t done any side-by-sides since that one night in Glasgow). Twenty-two down, three to go. Today’s Advent Gin is Mayfi … | Continue reading
I demonstrated the greater part of valour this sub-zero morning, opting to walk my two miles on the frosted-rain-covered pavements rather than running. Then coffee, fruit, some sermon prep, Morning Prayer, coffee, a homemade cranberry muffin (by Margaret), laundry, errands, groce … | Continue reading
Last night, after I retired (early) (I mean, ‘I went to bed’ — the next year is going to entail tricky use of the word ‘retire’), Margaret asked whether I had noticed anything odd about Flora. I answered that she’s stayed unusually close to me while I was cleaning the kitchen at … | Continue reading
The wonderful Chris Corrigan wrote a post recently on how and whether to define ‘religion’, and as a long-time blogging conversation partner, it’s incumbent on me to comment. (Plus, it feels so good to weave links among personal blogs, just as we did in the Olden Times.) Chris tr … | Continue reading
Took my morning miles at -1° today, which seems to have added some pep to my stride as I recorded my best time of the month. Coffee, made tea for Margaret (actually do that most days, but I wanted to include something to separate ‘coffee’ from the upcoming ‘shower’), cleaned up, … | Continue reading
As ‘Advent’ draws to a close, I sample Hernö Old Tom gin. so I’m expecting a slightly sweeter drink. It leads with a strong piney, juniper surge. After the first sip, I recognise a definite note of honey. Botanicals are in there, but as I sip on, my strong impression remains a st … | Continue reading
Got up, walked and ran my two miles, fruit and coffee, did some reading, cleaned up, coffee and toast, started working on The Last Essay, some minor distractions, back to work on TLE, lunch, a bit more work on TLE and… to my giddy astonishment — it seems to be done. I will surely … | Continue reading
Advent Gin, on day 21: Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin, which sounds like a gimmick. We will see; Hapusa follows a series of gins with strong regional identities (Kenya, Japan, Italy), some of which worked out better than others. First sip: juniper, but it’s overshadowed by a piney flav … | Continue reading
Another cold morning, with a run at almost exactly the same pace as yesterday. Fruit, coffee, Morning Prayer (at home), cleaned up, public office hours at R&R. I was so eager to try the inks I was given for Christmas that I forgot that I had several pens already full. Luckily, it … | Continue reading
On Day Twenty of Advent Gin, the return of flavoured Bathtub Gin, this time Grapefruit and Rosemary. First sip: Wow, a strong astringent juniper-gin, but almost simultaneous waves of grapefruit and rosemary-led botanicals, a remarkable attack on three fronts. Subsequent sips: Now … | Continue reading
I finally posted the sermons for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A few observations: First, I was and remain uneasy about the way I use ‘darkness’ on Christmas Eve. On the whole, I avoid any usage that might elide or ‘naturalise’ an equation of darkness (and heaven help us, espe … | Continue reading
Got up promptly, ran my miles, though with a peculiar interruption. Margaret gently indicated that I ought to wear a headlight through the winter, so I’ve been using the headlight that came to us from clearing her mother’s house a couple of years ago. This morning I was adjusting … | Continue reading
After major feasts that involve evening services, a certain set of Anglican clergy observe #ClergyMaltClub with photos and descriptions of their chosen whisky (teetotal colleagues, lay colleagues, really pretty much anyone welcome, though the organising principle reflects the sat … | Continue reading
I didn’t run this morning, but took a run-walk day to keep moving (dinnae even leave the house yesterday), coffee and fruit, then Morning Prayer, shower, coffee and toast (Margaret gave me several different butters for Christmas, with a view to learning what is my favourite, so I … | Continue reading
Yesterday’s Christmas service went smoothly, I think. I am a little uncomfortable about both of my sermons from Christmas this year, which means it’s all the more important that I post them publicly so as not to cater to my own vanity and perfectionism. I’ll add them below the fo … | Continue reading
I have no [non-emergency] clerical responsibilities for a few days, and it’s blowing my mind. I remember when I was a full-time lecturer, how glorious end-of-term time was — even though I very often caught a cold the moment my academic responsibilities abated, as did my Dad befor … | Continue reading
No run, no post, just morning Mass and a joyous feast with friends. A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, everyone! | Continue reading
Okay, had my morning run at a very good pace (especially since it’s been so long since I ran), had a hot breakfast sans eggs (which somewhat attenuates the idea of hot breakfast, but…), will go clean up and say Morning Prayer, stop off at the Cooperative to drop off some holly cl … | Continue reading
I’m not sure I’m ready for Advent Gin day 16, the St. George Botanivore Gin. It boasts 19 botanicals. I remember a few days ago when XII was proud of twelve. All the nonsense aside, I wonder whether they’ll be able to keep so many variables in hand while producing a top-shelf gin … | Continue reading
This morning I took my two miles for the first time in days, but I run-walked it. I actually made it in a pretty good time compared to when I spend the whole time running. Coffee and fruit, then Morning Prayer, sermon writing at R&R, a mammoth shopping trip at Waitrose, then home … | Continue reading
So, without any medicinal intent, I decided to return to Advent Gin tonight — just to bring a long day to an end. Day fifteen turns up Chase Pink Grapefruit gin. I happen to like a bit of grapefruit in a G&T on a summer day, and wouldn’t say no to it in midwinter (viz.),… | Continue reading
Still with the cold! No run, haphazard sleep, intermittent cough, but up to perform my clerical duties this morning at St Helen’s. | Continue reading
I got a decent sleep last night, thank heaven, and although I definitely have a cold, it’s not the very bad one that some people have experienced this year. As I noted over on BlueSky, I just had that fantastic experience of taking a shower, under delicious hot water, and feeling … | Continue reading
No run this morning, as last night I began feeling cold symptoms, and I had a fitful, short night. It seems just common sense, and even my stubborn will recognises the value of gentleness in letting a cold run its course. I got up (early, but sleep wasn’t on the menu) and made co … | Continue reading
On Advent Gin day fourteen, the lot falls on the Kyoto Distillery’s Ki No Bi Sei dry gin. This gin comes with several botanicals about which I know nothing more than I learn from Wikipedia, so I’ll plunge headlong into tasting. This is a strong *gin* gin, the most astringent I’ve … | Continue reading
Not wanting to fall further behind, Advent Gin day thirteen began on schedule with a wee bottle of XII Gin, a bottle that answers the challenge of naming their gin by using the Roman numerals for the *twelve* plants and spices they use in distilling. It is a *gin* gin, for which … | Continue reading
As the sun sets on the 12th day of Advent Gin, we open our wee dram of Blackeye London Dry Gin. I approach the glass with trepidation—not because I fear the violence associate with the name (or its rugby-playing producers), but cos several aspects of its promotion state clearly a … | Continue reading
(Rob Reiner ???) On the eleventh day of Advent Gin (yes, I’m 2 days behind) the gin du jour is Isle of Harris. I’m acquainted with this through friends with a family attachment to the island, who served a dram with drops of sugar kelp water added. I don’t have kelp water on hand, … | Continue reading
Day ten of Advent Gin features Hepple Gin, a welcome gin without adornments. Hepple explains that their process involves vacuum distillation and CO? extraction; their botanicals include juniper (Italian, local, and Macedonian), lemon, and lovage. I found a slightly woody aroma at … | Continue reading
I don’t think the sun ever gets over the yardarm in midwinter in England, but it’s close enough o’clock for me to taste today’s Advent Gin (#9): Bathtub Gin Persian Lime & Orange Blossom. The claim identifies floral notes along with the named flavours; Margaret and I spotted the … | Continue reading
Today’s Advent Gin is Cotswolds Hedgerow Gin, to which I was looking forward because I greatly enjoyed a bottle of their Dry Gin a few years ago. The Hedgerow variety begins with the Dry Gin and blends it with hedgerow fruits (sloes, damsons, blackberries, bullace). The resulting … | Continue reading
…my true love gave to me: Tanqueray No. Ten, a reputedly ‘ultra-premium’ gin. I am humbled to be in its presence. Tanqueray highlights its prominent citrus and chamomile influences. I, in turn, am happy to taste a right gin-ny gin. I started perceiving its neutrality — no big lou … | Continue reading
I got my morning run in before the rain started, and trimmed a half minute from yesterday’s time (the result was still nothing to brag about, though once again my average — slowed down by yesterday’s pace — matched almost exactly the time I ran, which consoles my peculiar mind); … | Continue reading
The sixth day of Advent Gin is Gin Mare, a name I recognised and had been looking out for a chance to try. The distillers emphasise its production with arbequina olives, rosemary, thyme, and basil (among other botanicals). I can’t claim that I could isolate one or another of thes … | Continue reading