Two catch-ups, one day

There were eight of us at the Eucharist which I celebrated at St Catherine's this morning, instead of St German's, as Frances is on leave. It was the first time in six months to be back with old friends. We had coffee and a catch-up chat in the church hall afterwards. 

Kath had returned from visiting Mandy by the time I reached home for lunch - a large bowl of soup made from the remainder of the Christmas chestnut casserole. It was delicious! 

We then drove to Penarth for a walk along the clifftop, and then on the pier. The coast path had turned into a running stream and we were discouraged from venturing along it.

We returned and got ready to welcome my eldest cousin Godfrey and his daughter Tegwen, neither of whom we have seen since Auntie Ivy's funeral. It was great to tell each other stories about what our families have been doing over the years. It's marvellous tbat they decided to drive down from Bangor to visit friends and family down south. Godfrey moved to Gwynedd after working in England and marrying Jean a North Walian, and has lived there over forty years, teaching in Welsh medium schools and representing the Labour Party in a bi-lingual area. His mother was very proud that he immersed himself in Welsh culture and became fluent, although his dad's family was of English origin and English was his first language. It was indeed a happy reunion.