Warm Wedneday

Clouds and intermittent showers again all day today. I went to the Eucharist at St Catherine's. There were nine of us together in church. The church's 'Warm Wednesday' initiative started today, inviting people from the neighbourhood to come and enjoy the morning chatting or working in a heated church hall to save on home heating. Our energy supplier has sent us a projected bill, based average usage from the smart meter readings, and it looks as if we'll be paying about £500 extra in the next twelve months. We're minimising use of our gas central heating, getting used to a cooler house. Electricity is a little more challenging.

All of us stayed for a coffee and chat until midday, but there were no other takers. It's still too mild for people to feel the need, but advertising and regular opening will as colder weather bites will hopefully draw people in for an unconditional welcome, and we'll see whether or not it develops. St John's will do the same thing starting next Thursday.

Economic anxiety in the face of inflation and  interest rates has shown itself at every turn in the week's news generally and the Tory Party conference in particular, with open criticism of the Prime Minister's urgent policy reforms, leading to immediate  policy changes to placate angry members. Liz Truss bangs the drum for economic growth, but her Chancellor's declarations and the vagueness of promises and plans has contributed to the atmosphere of uncertainty pervading the country. 

Unwise if not arrogant moves are going to blight the next two years of this government, while improving the prospects of an end to the run of Tory electoral success. Labour is rising to the challenge, but will it succeed in winning overwhelming support for a government which can repair the damage done by this one? We'll see.

I remembered to take the empty veggie bag with me, and walked to the veg bag collection point on my way home to cook the lunch, Finally, I received an email with the text of a eulogy I'm to edit and deliver at tomorrow's funeral. I dealt with it after lunch, then sat down an slept in the chair for over an hour. Then I went to the Co-op to do the week's grocery shopping while Clare went to her Pilates class. 

After supper I worked on next week's Morning Prayer and reflection, until it was time to turn in for the night.