Muggy day

Hot and cloudy for most of today. 28C and humid, although the interior of our house was noticeably cooler than outdoors. I spent the morning putting the finishing touches to this week's Sway, adding a Toy Appeal notice that I created from scratch. Checking all I had done brought the realisation that I'd not issued liturgical reading sheets for Sunday. I started to prepare them on Monday but got distracted and didn't complete the job, so this had to be done as well.

Clare went into town to make some enquiries at the bank, and I prepared a hasty lunch for her return, after completing my morning chores. I left the task of mailing the link to this week's Sway until after lunch, aware that I needed to re-acquaint myself with the fiddly edit procedure for updating the link in MailChimp. 

I still can't find out how to access and edit the parish mailing list in order to insert or delete email addresses. I must take care not to do something that eliminates or corrupts the list, so caution is necessary. I'm very mindful of what happened with the N.A.T.S. flight plan management software last week. A preliminary report shows that one item of incorrectly entered data in a single flight plan halted processing and automatic backup. It refused to work until that one flight plan in tens of thousands had been identified and corrected, meanwhile flight plans had to be processed by hand, one at a time.

Anyway, I was able to get the mailshot to work correctly first time, and then went out for a walk around Llandaff Fields a couple of times. I didn't feel like going far on such a muggy afternoon. The road works along the edge of the Fields are nearing completion now.  The huge interlocking plastic blocks used as a safety barrier are being removed gradually. In order to give these relatively lightweight blocks stability each of them has to be filled with a certain weight of water. This must be removed before they can be lifted on to a lorry for return to the depot, or the next roadworks site. 

The long barrier line of blocks has slowly thinned out during the week. Last to go will be a few security fences and the obligatory workplace portable toilet. Eleven years ago, Llandaff Fields public toilets were turned into the popular Cafe Castan selling ice cream and pizzas. There are a couple of toilets maintained by the proprietors, but not available outside opening hours. One of the many public amenities no longer provided for out of the municipal purse. How do the decision makers think people in need of a toilet are going to manage away from home?

After supper this evening we watched a programe on BBC Four about the role of Irish Celtic Christianity in the early part of the Dark Ages. After the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth centuries society in Britain collapsed and the country was invaded by Angles and Saxons imposing their pagan culture, language and laws in all but the west and north of Britain, where Celtic language survived. 

Patrick was a Welsh boy of 16, kidnapped and enslaved by Irish raiders. He was also the educated son of a Christian family. After escaping aged 22 he returned home, but didn't stay, deciding to return to Ireland and evangelise. Thus began the Christianisation of Irish Celts, whose missionaries later returned to evangelize the Angles and Saxons, bringing with them the advances in civilisation and culture that had transformed Ireland into one of Europe's eminent powerhouses of learning and spirituality. An interesting watch, with a second episode to follow.

Then I read for tge best part of two hours before turning in for the night.