SUNDAY 6th November – Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

I go to an Evangelical service in Polzeath Methodist Chapel. The quality of the sermon is very good, much more profound than what we get in our church. It is an exegesis on the meaning of the three shelters. I have always heard them translated as tents put up for the transfiguration. Apparently there were shelters in the Temple. Everyone was very friendly and gave me coffee.

MONDAY 7th November

I swim in the still not too cold Atlantic and walk half way to Pentire Point.

In the afternoon, walking through the sun, rain and wind, we let the dog off the lead in Daymer Bay. He can run from one end to the other of this vast beach in seconds.

TUESDAY 8th November

The sea is calm so I can have one of my best swims ever.

We walk around Pentire Point. I am tired but the light is extraordinary.

I wake at 5am and turn on the television to see the amazing has happened, he is likely to win. I got back to sleep and come back to the television at 7.30am to see Trump’s victory speech. What an extraordinary day. As he would say, Brexit plus plus.

Where now the Liberal establishment?

WEDNESDAY 9th November

We drive to St Agnes. After the Poldark series I am fascinated by the ruins of old mines. It is difficult to find the iconic mining house above the sea but eventually I find it, bleak and forbidding.

We go to evensong at Truro Cathedral. We sit in the choir. The singing is arresting and beautiful. We go to Charlestown, a small harbour with square rigged ship, and end the day at Trebarwith in the Port William pub facing an early November sunset.

In the gloom I walk Monti towards Tintagel, the lights of the pub far below me, waves and wind crashing on the shore.

THURSDAY 10th November – St Leo the Great

We drive to Lincolnshire. While at Downside I am inspired to write more on St Benedict.

I have a pocket copy of the Rule. I am interested in the impact of it on my life.

I lie in bed at night wondering why God, if there is a God, given that there are thousands of billions of planets in the universe, would want to manifest himself on Earth 2000 years ago. We will never know, but we can only hope.

FRIDAY 11th November

A busy day meeting constituents, including a meeting on getting the new hotel going in Gainsborough and meeting with the County Council. They have killed off the Mayor idea for the second time.

In the morning I read Psalm 93 in our village church and go to the 11.11 ceremony in the market place at Gainsborough.

SATURDAY 12th November

I read Psalm 100 in our village church. Otherwise it is a day of reading and walking Monti. We watch Mandela’s ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ in the evening. I cannot stop myself crying at the bit where in a television interview he appeals for peace.