Preparing the feast

I got to bed late and slept well, surfacing at nine as Clare was about to ring the bell to announce breakfast pancakes. Afterwards I spent the morning creating a digital Easter greeting to send to people at home and abroad, and sent them, mostly by WhatsApp, but also Gmail. Clare went out shopping, to buy a joint of lamb to roast for tomorrow's lunch. During the latter weeks of a meat free Lent, I started fancying the taste of lamb with nice glass of a rich red wine. I've been without wine since Epiphany, and haven't missed it, nor meat until recently. Tomorrow the men will eat meat and the women choice tuna steaks for a change. Clare couldn't find the recently opened Oriel Jones butchers shop on Cowbridge Road, so she went to the new Turkish supermarket where there's a halal butcher's counter at the back of the store. So we'll have a joint of roasted halal lamb tomorrow. That's a first!

We had a light lunch to make room for a veggie pasta supper with Kath, Anto and Rhiannon who plan to arrive about eight this evening. Then Ann called to tell me that her mother Marlene died peacefully mid-morning, her earthly journey complete with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. Although she didn't get to die in her own home, she was at home in Llandaff and enjoyed attending the Wednesday Eucharist when she was well enough to do so. Amazing that in her nineties she was still curious about the world and meeting people. She spoke to everyone she recognised in the church hall after the service and her eyes shone with interest. May she rest in peace.

It was my turn to go shopping after lunch as Clare wanted a few cow and goat cheeses and we were out of wine and olives. First a trip to Tesco's and the Turkish supermarket, then a trek to Aldi's for wine, where the choice and price tag is usually with the effort of the walk. The young woman on the checkout sounded like she was Polish. She looked quite serious until I'd loaded my bag and paid, then she looked up, smiled and said 'Happy Easter!' You don't get that from a checkout robot. 

I had to turn down an invitation from Brian the organist at St German's to sing the choir for the Easter Vigil this evening, as I felt I should be here to welcome the family on arrival around eight. In our Ministry Area, there are no Vigil services in the three churches of the old Canton Benefice. St Peter's has one at seven, the Res and St David's are later, but getting to any of them and back late for supper wasn't a choice. So this year, I won't be in church for the kindling of Easter light and proclamation of Christ's resurrection. 

Unusually this year, Eastern Orthodox and Western churches all celebrate Easter this weekend. I wonder if the Russian Orthodox parish congregation that worships in Conway Road Methodist church is keeping the Vigil there late tonight? There's no information on their website. There's an Orthodox night time Vigil and Liturgy advertised at the other Orthodox Parish, over in St Philip's Tremorfa. The Anglican congregation meets at four in the afternoon on a Sunday, giving Saturday night and Sunday morning entirely to the Orthodox. Maybe the two combine for special occasions.

Kath Anto and Rhiannon arrived at eight, and we all sat down to a pasta supper with bottles of Rioja and a Sicilian wine. I caught a glimpse of the live stream proclamation of the resurrection at Llandaff Cathedral's Easter Vigil. Pity the audio was poor and the picture in low light a bit blurry but I was there in spirit, while delighted for for family company at home