After two intensive days of sightseeing we both felt the need to do something more relaxed. First we went back into Herford for minor shopping and a look at the local Roman Catholic Church of St John the Baptist, built in 1715 on a site owned by the old Knights Hospitallers Order of St John of Jerusalem, the Johannesritter, with which St John Cymru-Wales has links. The presbytery is apparently the oldest stone building in Herford.
On an adjacent exterior wall there was a plaque commemorating the stay in Herford of several communities of people displaced by war from further East in Europe, erected by them thirty years later in appreciation of hospitality received. Connie remarked that it was uncommon when it came to the treatment of ausländer. On reflection, it occurred to me that her Catholic schooling may not have extended to learning about the practical values espoused by Johannesritter spiritual traditon. The same would be true here in Britain.
On our way back for lunch, we called into a very well stocked local Bio supermarket located in a mid nineteenth century farm building, selling every imaginable kind of organic product, including beers. We had a coffee, and then while Clare and Connie treated themselves to a half hour's organic retail therapy, I sat outside and savoured an organic Pils in the shade and watched the Hausfrauen come and go with their shopping baskets.
Connie spent the afternoon baking, and her mother came around for tea and waffles topped with raspberries in yoghourt enhanced by whipped cream. Delicious. It didn't seem long before we were eating supper, blessed by the fruits of the shopping expedition earlier, then drinking and talking until after dark. Time flies when you're in good company.
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