Our final sunny awakening in Burry Port. Up early, packing bags and the fridge contents so be ready to leave by ten. We left the place as we found it, but didn't need to empty the bins and give the place a full treatment, as cleaners were employed to come in before the next clients arrive. We left an appreciate note in the visitors book and were on our way. Rather than go straight up to the M4 from Llanelli, we drove all the way up the Llwchwr Estuary through suburban West Swansea and the city centre, and out on the east side Marine Parade to join the M4 to Cardiff. The journey took us half an hour longer, as traffic was much slower with many roundabouts and by-passes to negotiate, but it was a road we'd never taken before. We didn't stop on the way, as we decided not to prolong the return trip more than necessary.
When we got home, we started to unpack, and I cooked a lentil dish with veggies for lunch. After a siesta I recorded next week's Morning Prayer and Reflection before considering the best way to get to the family home where I was due for a bereavement visit at six. The house was a short walk from the number 18 bus route up Grand Avenue in Ely, so I went to Cowbridge Road and took the bus out there to the stop just above 'The Res', pleased to find that the number 13 as well as the 18 goes up Grand Avenue. I popped into the Vicarage for a brief chat with Jan and Peter, before my visit, and was delighted to find Fr Rhys there as well. He happens to be one of the area's GPs in his day job.
We were meant to be doing a couple of services together this Sunday, but I was going to do both on my own so he could take a weekend off. Since we decided this, it's turned out that Fr Jesse is spending the weekend in hospital for medical tests, so Fr Rhys is covering for him at St David's Caerau, and unable to take time out. With such a shortage of clergy both the ministry areas I'm involved with are under heavy pressure to cover all routine services these days. But we do our best, as we know how much it matters to the faithful remnant.
I then walked the half mile to the bereavement visit, and got a lift back to Victoria Park by the elder son who is one of West Cardiff's park keepers, based at the Council depot on Thompson Avenue with gate locking duties to perform each evening. From there it was just a fifteen minute walk home to supper. I went out for another walked after supper, to enjoy the evening sunlight. I was appalled at the amount of fast food picnic litter and drinks cans overflowing from the bins, and discarded Co-op recyclable plastic bags on the grass. Doesn't anyone think of taking litter home with them any more?
Admittedly the bins aren't big enough to avoid the problem, nor are there enough of them. Each bin could have a supply of green bags attached to it, the way in some parks there's a supply of dog-shit bags to help with on-site disposal. I know the Council are very good about clearing the litter day after day, but more resources to encourage park users to tidy up their mess properly is much needed. The present state turns a pleasant sunny evening stroll into a dismal dysfunctional experience.
There was nothing on prime time telly I fancied watching when I returned, so the rest of the evening was spent editing the audio recorded earlier.
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