1 The concluding meal yesterday evening, between Vespers and Compline. An amiable gathering: people had come to be at ease in company. And, the meal being taken on the vigil of the Epiphany, was laced with wine.

2 During the review this morning, the Offices emerged as one of the notable features of the weekend. You know that I regard them as the spine of the day. Saturday, for me, is the engine-room day of the three days. Each of the Offices has a special quality. Compline, you know, closes the day. At Mattins I have the sense of the gratitude at having traversed the night and a sense of optimism about the new day.

2.1 Otherwise, I was struck again by the ordinariness of the extraordinary. The monks do God. That's what they're for. Accordingly, the weekend is the occasion when conversations about God, about the supernatural, about the spirit (and spirituality) are the common-place. That's what the people talk about. Now that I have attended weekend retreats at Worth, I wonder why so few people attend.

2.2 Meanwhile, it was clear that those who were attending for the first time had had a satisfying experience. One used the wind and rain of Friday evening and the sunshine and clear skies of the [Sunday] morning as images of the change which had been wrought in her own condition. It was evident, on Friday evening, during the introductions, that she was ill at ease; it was equally evident when she spoke during the review that she was entirely at ease.

3 Doug was here for a couple of hours; I trained for an hour of so, including the full five kilometres; then I visited Liam to collect the bridge scores. Ahead of the collection, there was time to talk about the weekend and to joust with Damien and Emma about the extent to which the death of a young person is to be regarded as the waste of a life.

3.1 Liam had scored last Thursday's session. He and I came fifth out of seven. We talked about demand openings and the responses to them.

4 So you'll find that those here at home have got on with their quiet lives whilst you have been having exotic adventures. We will look to you to present those adventures. In return, we will be ready to talk about our quiet lives.

5 I'll look out for your posting or your e-mail; I'll keep an eye too on my inbox. It does seem that you will soon be leaving Farawayland, after three companionable, familial, exotic weeks, on your way back to Homeland. Have a safe journey. Be ready to be welcomed. Be ready too with the tales.

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