MY WRITING LIFE 

Hereford Cathedral

AUGUST 2025

WRITING

August is traditionally the silly season when nothing newsworthy happens.  We did not go on holiday, so that is no excuse why I did no writing.  Linda and I went away for two weekends, including the Greenbelt Festival, and I went on a 2-day retreat.  I even failed to schedule the second part of ‘Was Jesus an Entrepreneur’, so that will come to your emails in September (though it is is already on revandybooks.org). 

MARKETING

My main activity was getting new business cards and A5 fliers about my new book.  That took 14 days, believe it or not!  I got them just in time for Greenbelt Festival.  I also now have a QR code, but did not get it on my cards.  But you can try it here!

At Greenbelt I sold two books, my latest on the Church’s future which I saw the woman who bought it reading it intensely, and ‘Daily Prayers for the World’s Faiths’ which was bought by an ordinand working in a a very multi-ethnic parish of Moss Side, Manchester.

I then took my books to a local URC church when I took their service, What got bought was Bible in Brief.  I think several of my books still have legs!

Amazon has my ‘Future Church’, at only £13.75.  They have the  heartening message ‘Only one left in stock.  More on the way). The list price is £18, but if you email me, I will do a deal.  If buy it on Amazon, please write a review!

TECH

I found real problems with my new Epson printer.  The latest was it not accepting new ink partridges.  John Lewis took it back without a murmur and I got a new HP which I am very happy with.  It fits perfectly beside my bed.  I still have not managed to complete the installation, but it still prints. 

CHURCH

A variety of churches this month:  HTB Queens Gate; St Mary’s Burghill, near Hereford; St Mary Abbott’s:  Greenbelt where the service was led by Sue Parrett, the first woman to be ordained, quite elderly, and about to be deemed a terrorist for protesting about Gaza;  On the last day of August I took the service at our local URC (United Reformed Church).

Wednesday Saints also continued.  We remembered the Transfiguration  and Hiroshima (6th August), the Virgin Mary, William and Catherine Booth –  joint founders of the Salvation Army; and St Augustine of Hippo (d.430). 

WEEKENDS AWAY

We stayed at the small village of Tillington near Hereford for a family wedding.   The problem was that a few days beforehand Peter had had a small accident with our car.  So we relied on train, bus and taxi.  We had a very Jane Austen Sunday, walking 30 minutes to church, 40 minutes to lunch and 30 minutes back home for a rest.  Fortunately the sun shone all the time.  Linda appropriately was wearing a straw hat.

On Monday I stayed in Hereford, saw the cathedral and met my old friend and colleague John Thewlis.  I knew him as Vicar of Carshalton, and he retired to Herefordshire.  We are both as opinionated as ever!

Two weeks later, Greenbelt Festival!  Again, perfect weather.  We heard so many fascinating talks:  from our only Roman Catholic transgender judge; Lamorna Ashe (Don’t Forget We’re Here Forever); the brilliant poet Harry Baker; Palestinian poets, as well as ‘Beer and Hymns’ (where we drink beer and sing hymns).  Roll on Greenbelt Festival 2026! 

On Monday we had a relaxing day exploring Oundle with lunch at the Ship Inn, then a lovely nature reserve by the old Aldwincle church.  An easy drive home on Tuesday. What it would have been like on Bank Holiday Monday doesn’t bear thinking about.   

FILM & MUSIC

We saw an excellent film ‘Materialists’, about a posh dating agency in New York.  Absolutely predicable story line, but beautifully done, a romcom with an undercurrent of sadness.

I continued to enjoy the Proms.  Outstanding was a late tone poem by Richard Strauss and a short opera by Puccini, then a Glyndebourne performance of ‘The Marriage of Figaro’. I stood less than 20 feet from the stage.  Just wonderful!