QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011-25 ... 14 YEARS & STILL READING @quoteoftheweekblog - Tumblr Blog

6/7/26 - SUE TOWNSEND

‘My father said that the England World Cup team in 1966 did not wear black socks.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.107).

…

(‘ “ … and you’re victimising my son because of the colour of his socks!” ‘ (Townsend, 2012, p.107).)

REFERENCE

Townsend, S. (2012 [1982] ) ‘The secret diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4’. Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Diary-Adrian-Mole-Aged-ebook/dp/B006WUD57C (Accessed 6 July 2026).

*****

VERY WELL DONE

TO ENGLAND AT THE MEXICO WORLD CUP

This was the most extraordinary night of football as an experience of the mind, body, bones, guts and blood

…

FOR REACHING THE QUARTER FINALS

From the World Cup fan park in Manchester, supporters cheer through the night as England beat Mexico to advance to the quarter-finals

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COME ON ENGLAND

*****

SEE ALSO

‘SUNDAY JULY 19TH Fifth after Trinity’ (Townsend, 2012, p.132).

ALL SAINTS

…

WITH THE GREEN ALTER FRONTAL

…

FOR NORMAL TIME

JULY 5 - THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 2026

…

*****

20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026 - THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN THE WEEK

THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

I WENT FOR A DRINK WITH

OUR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

…

IN THE FIFTH WEEK AFTER TRINITY

OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

…

OUR BELLRINGERS

…

RANG FOR THE WELLESLEY BAPTISM

…

THE CHURCH OF SAINT MARY THE VIRGIN - STRATFIELD SAYE

After the Duke of Wellington’s victory against Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke chose Stratfield Saye as his country estate.

…

OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

…

LISTENED TO GRANDSHIRE CATERS

…

LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL

WHICH PROMPTED LIVELY DEBATE …

OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

- ABSOLUTELY HEAVENLY HUM OF BELLS

ONE OF OUR BELLRINGERS

- HM IT’S A BIT ANNOYING TO RING WHEN THEY’RE THAT RESONANT THOUGH

OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

- HIDES THE BAD STRIKING!

OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

- YOU CAN HARDLY HEAR ONE STRIKE TO THE NEXT

OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

- IN A WAY IT’S REALLY MEDITATIVE AND LOVELY BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE STRIKING MUST BE VERY DIFFICULT, AND THE CONDUCTING AS WELL!!

OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

- I SUPPOSE, BUT IT JUST BLENDS INTO ONE CONTINUOUS HUM. BUT IT MIGHT’VE SOUNDED BETTER FROM OUTSIDE

OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

- YEAH DEFINITELY BETTER FROM OUTSIDE

IT’S LOW-KEY A DREAM TO RING A PEAL OR QUARTER PEAL THERE

*****

NOT BADINGSTOKE* CHURCH *TYPO

*****

TRINITY

*****

…

CANDLEMAS CANDLE

LIGHTING THE YEAR

*****

PLUS

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK

OUR LITERARY CRITIC

…

PARTYING AT HOME

…

WE HAD A VERY HAPPY DAY, FULL OF LAUGHTER, NINE CHILDREN, EIGHT ADULTS, THE FIRST FIVE ARRIVED AT 10.00 AM THE LAST TWO LEFT AT 10.00 PM.

Just about managed to seat everyone lol …

…

I OPTED TO SIT IN THE SHADE!

…

*****

HIP HIP HOORAY

XXXX

OUR WESSEX CORRESPONDENT

…

HIP HIP HOORAY

COMMISERATIONS

…

XXXX

ALSO

VERY WELL DONE

OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

FOR GETTING A PLACE AT ST MELLITUS COLLEGE

…

‘I was feeling rebellious so I wore red socks. It is strictly forbidden but I don’t care anymore.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.107).

*****

SUE TOWNSEND

******

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011 - 2026

…

14 EPIC YEARS

*****

FROM THE ARCHIVE

…

18/6/12

*****

#Youtube

SUE TOWNSEND - ‘THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE AGED 13 3/4 (FIRST PUBLISHED 1982)

First sentence:

‘THURSDAY JANUARY 1ST’ (Townsend, 2012, p.3).

On ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4’:

‘Even boys who were proud to say they had never read a book in their life read this one.’ (David Walliams in Townsend, 2012).

‘It was probably the biggest phenomenon of my youth after “Star Wars”, and “Star Wars” was bigger than God.’ (David Walliams in Townsend, 2012).

On the church year:

‘I will look up “Epiphany” in my new dictionary.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.6).

‘First After Epiphany … The first what after Epiphany?’ (Townsend, 2012, p.10).

‘Looked up Septuagesima in my pocket dictionary. It didn’t have it. Will look in the school dictionary, tomorrow.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.34).

‘Sexagesima’ (Townsend, 2012, p.39).

‘Quinguagesima. St David’s Day’ (Townsend, 2012, p.43).

‘Good Friday Poor Jesus, it must have been dead awful for him. I wouldn’t have had the guts to do it myself.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.80).

‘Easter Sunday Today is the day that Jesus escaped from the cave. I expect that Houdini got the idea from him.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.81).

‘SUNDAY JULY 19TH Fifth after Trinity’ (Townsend, 2012, p.132).

On being an intellectual:

‘Now I know I am an intellectual. I saw Malcolm Muggeridge on the television last night, and I understood nearly every word. It all adds up. A bad home, poor diet, not liking punk. I think I will join the library and see what happens.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.10).

‘I have written to Malcolm Muggeridge, c/o the BBC, asking him what to do about being an intellectual. I hope he writes back soon because I’m getting fed up being one on my own.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.10).

‘None of the teachers at school have noticed that I am an intellectual. They will be sorry when I’m famous.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.12).

‘I still haven’t heard from Malcolm Muggeridge. Perhaps he is in a bad mood. Intellectuals like him and me often have bad moods. Ordinary people don’t understand us and say we are sulking, but we’re not.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.19).

On reading:

‘Joined the library. Got ‘Care of the Skin’, ‘Origin of Species’, and a book by a woman my mother is always going on about. It is called ‘Pride and Prejudice’, by a woman called Jane Austen’. (Townsend, 2012, p.11).

‘I read a bit of “Pride and Prejudice”, but it was very old-fashioned. I think Jane Austen should write something a bit more modern.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.13).

‘My mother is reading “The Female Eunuch”, by Germaine Greer. My mother says it is the sort of book that changes your life. It hasn’t changed mine, but I only glanced through it. It is full of dirty words.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.27).

‘Started reading “Animal Farm”, by George Orwell. I think I might like to be a vet when I grow up.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.37).

‘My mother is reading another sex book, it is called “The Second Sex”, by a frog writer called Simone De Beauvoir.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.38).

‘It is a terrible thing to hear your own mother swearing. I blame it on all those books she has been reading.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.39).

‘Finished “Animal Farm”. It is dead symbolic. I cried when Boxer was taken to the vet’s.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.45).

‘Used my father’s library tickets to get “War and Peace” out. I have lost my own.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.48).

‘Finished “War and Peace”. It was quite good.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.49).

‘I am reading “The Man in the Iron Mask”. I know exactly how he feels.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.55).

‘I am reading “Madame Bovary”, by another frog writer.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.63).

‘Got “Waiting for Godot” out of the library. Disappointed to find that it was a play. Still, I will have a go. I have been neglecting my brain lately.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.75).

‘My father should take lessons from Great Literature. Madame Bovary ran away from that idiot Doctor Bovary because he couldn’t supply her needs.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.78).

‘I am reading “The Mill on the Floss”, by a bloke called George Eliot.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.93).

‘I am reading “Hard Times”, by Charles Dickens.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.96).

On being a poet:

‘I have decided to be a poet. My father said that there isn’t a suitable career structure for poets and no pensions and other boring things, but I am quite decided.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.102).

‘ … he gave me a book to read; it is called “The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists”. I haven’t looked through it yet but I’m quite interested in stamp collecting so I will read it tonight.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.109).

‘I am reading “Sex, The Facts”, by Dr A. P. G. Haig.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.131).

On school uniform:

‘Scruton said he was anxious to maintain standards. My father said that the England World Cup team in 1966 did not wear black socks.’ (Townsend, 2012, p.107).

REFERENCE

Townsend, S. (2012 [1982] ) ‘The secret diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4’. Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Diary-Adrian-Mole-Aged-ebook/dp/B006WUD57C (Accessed 6 July 2026).

…

29/6/26 - MICHAEL MORPURGO

‘ … being strict chapel people, they didn’t touch a drop of drink.’ (Morpurgo, 2023, p.94).

REFERENCE

MORPURGO, M. (2023 [2003] ) ‘PRIVATE PEACEFUL’. LONDON: HARPER COLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS.

*****

GOING TO THE CHAPEL

*****

PRIDE MONTH 2026

Millions of men and women from different backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles made a contribution to help Britain during the First World War

…

*****

PRIDE

*****

20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026 - THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN THE WEEK

THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

I HAD A LIE IN

…

AND DIDN’T GO TO

ALL SAINTS

‘I was once told in Sunday school that a church tower reaches up skywards because it is a promise of Heaven.’ (Morpurgo, 2023, p.93).

…

‘We knew the best place to go was the pub … ‘ (Morpurgo, 2023, p.85).

…

FOR A DRINK WITH

OUR HOOVER MOVER

…

OUR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

…

MOJO THE BEARDED DRAGON

…

ON THE FOURTH THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY

OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

…

WAS AT HOME

…

*****

TRINITY

*****

…

CANDLEMAS CANDLE

LIGHTING THE YEAR

*****

FOR BOOK GROUP 2026

22 (92) GLORIOUS YEARS

…

THIS MONTH WE HAVE BEEN READING

…

PRIVATE PEACEFUL

'But both books, although set in amongst there suffering of war at home and on the battlefield, are essentially about our longing for peace.’ (Morpurgo, 2023, p.11).

OUR LITERARY CRITIC

…

SAYS

I fought my way through 'Private Peaceful' with sadness because both of my grandfathers were badly injured in The Great War - one, a career soldier lost his legs, the other a young, conscripted father of four had various injuries and lifelong melancholia, both died in their sixties, old before their time. I imagine the novel is pitched at just the right level for early teens but l find his language impoverished despite him being a good story teller. I think poetry from that period carries a strong message and of course is beautifully written.

THIS MONTH I AM ALSO READING

…

LOLITA

OH NO

NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR PHOTOS

(TOO MUCH BOOK GROUP)

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR OUR MEMBERS

SEE ALSO

’ “There is no more lasting satisfaction than knowing you have chosen the right partner in life.” ’ (Hadlow, 2020, p.470).

SUNDAY WOULD HAVE BEEN MY 29TH SUMMER SOLSTICE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

*****

LONGEST DAYS

*****

FOR MY HUSBAND

XXXX

…

OUR WARSAW CORRESPONDENT

FOR CONTINUING OUR

20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026 - THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN THE WEEK

WITH THE WARSAW WIANKI FESTIVAL SHOTS

AND THANKS AGAIN

XXXX

JANE AUSTEN REVISITED

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011 - 2026

…

14 EPIC YEARS

*****

FROM THE ARCHIVE

…

17/6/24

*****

JANICE HADLOW - ‘THE OTHER BENNET SISTER' (FIRST PUBLISHED 2020)

First sentence:

'It is a sad fact of life that if a young woman is unlucky enough to come into the world without expectations, she had better do all she can to ensure she is born beautiful.' (Hadlow, 2020, p.30).

On reading:

'She could not recall a time when reading had not been both a comfort and a refuge.' (Hadlow, 2020, p.22).

' "No-one enjoys a book more than I do." ' (Hadlow, 2020, p.41).

' "What is there to be learned from reading anyway?" ' (Hadlow, 2020, p.42).

'Her books would save her.' (Hadlow, 2020, p.81).

' "Dr Fordyce says books of history and philosophy are more useful for a female mind. They enhance our understanding, while novels only arouse our passions." ' (Hadlow, 2020, p.93).

'Inevitably, they found themselves discussing what they had read, what they were reading, and what they intended to read ... ' (Hadow, 2020, p.458).

On literature:

' "It's Miss Burney's 'Evelina'. I've read it so often and yet it never fails to make me laugh." ' (Hadlow, 2020, p.91).

On learning:

'Learning, it seemed, was not so different to playing the piano. The mind could be trained to do one's bidding, just as one's fingers could be exercised and one's technique improved. All it took was self-discipline and a willingness to work hard.' (Hadlow, 2020, p.32).

On 'Pride and Prejudice':

' "I speak only from what I have observed. It is a truth universally acknowledged, I believe." ' (Hadlow, 2020, p.431).

' "A single man in possession of a good fortune 'must' be in search of a wife." '(Hadlow, 2020, p.585).

On 'A Room of One's Own':

' ... and perhaps a room of one's own was all a thinking woman really required.' (Hadlow, 2020, p.633).

REFERENCE

Hadlow, J. (2020) 'The other Bennet sister'. London: Pan Books.

15/6/26 - AGATHA CHRISTIE

’ “And what with not knowing what this damned Government is going to do next … ” ’ (Christie, 2015, p.76).

REFERENCE

Christie, A. (2015 [1948] ) 'Taken at the flood'. London: Harper Collins.

*****

VOTE LABOUR

IN THE

MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION

Oasis and Elbow have soundtracked Burnham’s byelection campaign and he got Liam Gallagher doing Manchester’s tram announcements. Will he kee

...

'In the next general election, I hope all proudly progressive voters rally behind the Labour party whoever is at its head. But I really hope it’s Andy Burnham.' (Guy Garvey in Kinney, 2026).

REFERENCE

Kinney, F. (2026) ‘ “He understands soft power”: why Andy Burnham put music at the heart of his political identity’, ‘Guardian’ 15 June [Online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jun/15/andy-burnham-manchester-music-his-political-identity (Accessed 15 June 2026).

*****

FOR OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

…

WHO ISN’T MAKING IT TO MAKERFIELD

BECAUSE SHE NEEDS TIME OFF

…

DRINKS WITH MY SISTERS LAST NIGHT!

‘ “Really, men … “ ‘ (Christie, 2015, p.25).

PRIDE MONTH 2026

William Emery, Torquay Museum volunteer: February is LGBT History Month 2022 - a month that celebrates and pays homage to the queer histori

…

*****

PRIDE

*****

20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026 - THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN THE WEEK

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

I DID THE AV

…

ALL SAINTS

FOR THE SECOND WEEK RUNNING

(YES I AM OFFICIALLY A SAINT)

WENT FOR A DRINK WITH

OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

…

OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

…

’ “I am a good Catholic,” said Poirot cautiously.’ (Christie, 2015, p.8).

…

OUR BELLRINGERS

…)

*****

IN THE SECOND WEEK AFTER TRINITY

OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

WAS ON THE BASINGSTOKE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

…

FOLLOWED BY

…

IMPORTANT MEETINGS

OUR TEXAS CORRESPONDENT

…

MUM LOOK WHO I JUST BUMPED INTO

OUR NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT

…

*****

TRINITY

*****

…

CANDLEMAS CANDLE

LIGHTING THE YEAR

*****

AGATHA CHRISTIE

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011 - 2026

…

14 EPIC YEARS

…

2/12/19

*****

AGATHA CHRISTIE - ‘TAKEN AT THE FLOOD’ (FIRST PUBLISHED 1948)

First sentence:

'In every club there is a club bore.' (Christie, 2015, p.1).

On Poirot:

' "I am a good Catholic," said Poirot cautiously.' (Christie, 2015, p.8).

On life:

' "Oh! brave new world," ... ' (Christie, 2015, p.19).

On politics:

' "In a year we'll be back where we were - with wages up, workers unwilling, everybody dissatisfied and nobody knowing where they are." ' (Christie, 2015, p.41).

' "Ill will. Ill feeling. It's everywhere. On railways and buses and in shops and amongst workers and clerks and even agricultural labourers. And I suppose worse in mines and factories. Ill will." ' (Christie, 2015, p.49).

'And she thought, shocked: "Do we hate them so much? These strangers who have taken what we think is ours?" ' (Christie, 2015, p.49).

' ... "I was having thoughts about the state of the world." ' (Christie, 2015, p.50).

' "Taxation's dreadful these days." ' (Christie, 2015, p.71).

' "And what with not knowing what this damned Government is going to do next ... " ' (Christie, 2015, p.76).

' ... unfavourable comment was made upon the Government ... ' (Christie, 2015, p.85).

REFERENCE

Christie, A. (2015 [1948] ) 'Taken at the flood'. London: Harper Collins.

8/6/26 - ALEX PRESTON (AND MARJANE SATRAPI)

…

‘He found it disconcerting that the Course insisted on marketing itself as a forum for philosophical enquiry …

…

… when it was so clearly focused on pushing a fairly narrow form of Christianity.’ (Preston, 2012, p.35).

…

REFERENCE

Preston, A. (2012) ‘The Revelations’. London: Faber and Faber.

*****

We are one church across five locations in the town of Basingstoke. Join us for Sunday worship and throughout the week. We can’t wait to see

…

’ “What you believe is a heavily mediated, crackpot version of religion.” ‘ (Preston, 2026, p.115)

*****

BASINGSTOKE CHURCH

IS PART OF THE

HTB NETWORK OF CHURCHES

NO DOUBT COMING SOON TO A CHURCH NEAR YOU

‘ “We are now in three hundred churches across the UK. Imagine all the good we’re doing.” ‘ (Preston, 2012, p.284).

…

SEE ALSO

‘We believe that the best family, the most stable and enduring family, is one where a man and a woman come together in love.” ‘ (Preston, 2012, p.62).

…

*****

PRIDE MONTH 2026

*****

PRIDE

*****

BRING ON THE

20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026 - THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN THE WEEK

THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

I DID THE AV

…

ALL SAINTS

…

‘Where once a rood screen would have hung, there was now a television monitor bookended by black speakers.’ (Preston, 2012, p.13).

…

*****

IN THE FIRST WEEK AFTER TRINITY

OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

…

OUR BELLRINGERS

…

OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

…

WENT ON

The Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers - Basingstoke District - Summer Outing

BEGINNING 10:00-11:00

…

OH NO

NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR PHOTOS

(TOO MUCH 20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026)

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR

8/6/26 - BASINGSTOKE DISTRICT - SUMMER OUTING

PHEW

*****

NOT BADINGSTOKE* CHURCH *TYPO

*****

ANOTHER ONE OF OUR BELLRINGERS

AKA

OUR WARSAW CORRESPONDENT

…

HOW ABOUT A MERMAID PARADE? 😍

…

OH NO

NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR PHOTOS

(TOO MUCH 20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026)

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR

8/6/26 - WARSAW MERMAID PARADE

PHEW

…

ANOTHER ONE OF OUR BELLRINGERS

AKA

OUR THEATRICAL CORRESPONDENT

…

WAS HUNGOVER AFTER A PARTY

…

*****

OUR CHIEF TAYLOR ADVISOR

…

LISTENED TO TAYLOR’S LATEST SOUNDTRACK

…

I LOVE IT AND A NICE RETURN TO COUNTRY

WHICH HAS BEEN WELL REVIEWED

Full of handcrafted care and the rootsy soul of her country origins, this gently elated song is a reminder of what fans love about Swift … a

…

ALTHOUGH

OUR TEXAS CORRESPONDENT

…

DECLINED TO COMMENT

I DON’T REALLY HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT IT! I’M STILL ANGRY WITH HER BECAUSE OF LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL

*****

PLAY IT AGAIN SAM

*****

TRINITY

*****

…

CANDLEMAS CANDLE

LIGHTING THE YEAR

*****

…

OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

AND THANKS AGAIN

XXXX

OUR BELLRINGERS

AND THANKS AGAIN

XXXX

FOR CONTINUING OUR

20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026 - THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN THE WEEK

WITH THE BASINGSTOKE DISTRICT SUMMER OUTING SHOTS

PLUS

OUR BELLRINGERS

FOR THE THEOLOGY NIGHT INFORMATION

XXXX

OUR WARSAW CORRESPONDENT

FOR CONTINUING OUR

20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026 - THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN THE WEEK

WITH THE WARSAW MERMAID PARADE SHOTS

FOR CONTINUING

NOT BADINGSTOKE* CHURCH *TYPO

WITH

BOZE CIALO … WAS A HUGE DEAL HERE, ON THURSDAY…THAT’S CORPUS CHRISTI … FOR YOU GUYS …

…

OH NO

NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR PHOTOS

(TOO MUCH 20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE 2026)

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR

8/6/26 - CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND SAINT JOSEPH AKA THE CARMELITE CHURCH

PHEW

PLUS

MEANT TO SEND THIS ONE … 😝

…

I TOOK A 6.18 TRAIN FROM THE LAKE FLAT TO WARSAW FOR THIS!

AND THANKS AGAIN

XXXX

FOR OUR READER LEADER

…

WHO READ THIS BOOK WITH ME

XXXX

RIP 2026

…

MARJANE SATRAPI - 4/6/26

OBITUARY

…

*****

RIP

*****

…

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011 - 2026

…

12 EPIC YEARS

*****

FROM THE ARCHIVE

…

3/4/23

*****

#Youtube

ALEX PRESTON - ‘THE REVELATIONS’ (FIRST PUBLISHED 2012)

First sentence:

'The train clattered through the darkness.' (Preston, 2012, p.3).

On religion:

'Nothing pushes people away like piety. A certain fragility of faith if kept in check, could be comforting.' (Preston, 2012, p.11).

On the Course:

'He found it disconcerting that the Course insisted on marketing itself as a forum for philosophical enquiry when it was so clearly focused on pushing a fairly narrow form of evangelical Christianity.' (Preston, 2012, p.35).

On children's literature:

'He would sit for hours staring at copies of "The Arabian Nights" and the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen illustrated by Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac. He would take the staff lift to the fourteenth floor and search out Rackham's "Wind in the Willows" and Dulac's "The Little Mermaid" and then, with a cup of tea held carefully away from the fragile pages, he'd allow himself to be taken into other worlds.' (Preston, 2012, p.45).

'She reached over and picked up a tattered copy of "The Wind in the Willows".' (Preston, 2012, p.103).

' "My dad is in the army and we travelled around a lot when I was young. I just got used to having my books around me. All I have to do is read the beginning of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and I feel ... I don't know, safe." ' (Preston, 2012, p.103).

'So he opened "The Wind in the Willows", took a deep breath, and began to read.' (Preston, 2012, p.105).

' ... and when the sunrise rose he sat on the windowsill reading aloud from "The Wind in the Willows".' (Preston, 2012, p.105).

'He was carrying a bottle of red wine from which he swigged as he recited from "The Wind in the Willows" and "Alice in Wonderland".' (Preston, 2012, p.185).

' "I like the fact that 'The Wind in the Willows' is so innocent, so completely removed from everyday concerns and troubles, and yet the story behind it is so dark and heartbreaking." ' (Preston, 2012, p.233-4).

'She was reading "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe".' (Preston, 2012, p.308).

On God:

' " .. God isn't able to stop children getting leukaemia or whatever, or that He can't be everywhere at once and helps some but not all, or that He doesn't want to end their suffering. And when you watch the news at night it makes it very difficult to believe that an omniscient, omnipotent and omnibenevolent God exists." ' (Preston, 2012, pp.89-90).

On literature:

'Lee looked around the room. "Treasure Island" lay open on top of a copy of "Eugene Grandet", "The Famous Five" rubbed shoulders with "La Vie mode d'emploi", "Struwwelpeter" with "Les Fleurs du Mal".' (Preston, 2012, p.103).

On Christianity:

' "What you believe is a heavily mediated, crackpot version of religion. Two hours, two short hours is all we have of Jesus, if you read out everything that he actually says in the Bible. Our entire religion is founded on those two hours." ' (Preston, 2012, p.115).

On Julian of Norwich:

' "All shall be well, And all shall be well, And all manner of things Shall be well." ' (Preston, 2012, p.173).

' "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." ' (Preston, 2012, p.324).

REFERENCE

Preston, A. (2012) 'The Revelations'. London: Faber and Faber.

8/6/26 - 20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE - CORPUS CHRISTIE - CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND SAINT JOSEPH AKA THE CARMELITE CHURCH

PHEW …

BOZE CIALO … WAS A HUGE DEAL HERE, ON THURSDAY…THAT’S CORPUS CHRISTI … FOR YOU GUYS …

…

CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND SAINT JOSEPH AKA THE CARMELITE CHURCH

…

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO RETURN TO

8/6/26 - ALEX PRESTON

*****

8/6/26 - 20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE - MERMAID PARADE - WARSAW

PHEW …

HOW ABOUT A MERMAID PARADE? 😍

…

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO RETURN TO

8/6/26 - ALEX PRESTON

*****

8/6/26 - 20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE - THE WINCHESTER AND PORTSMOUTH DIOCESAN GUILD OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS - BASINGSTOKE DISTRICT - SUMMER OUTING

PHEW …

BEGINNING 10:00-11:00

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SAINT MARY’S CHURCH - CASTLE EATON - WILTSHIRE

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CONTINUING 11:15-12:15

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SAINT MARY’S CHURCH - FAIRFORD - GLOUCESTERSHIRE

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FAMOUS FOR ITS STAINED GLASS

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PLUS

TIDDLES THE CAT

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2:15-3:15

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THE CHURCH OF SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL - BROADWELL - OXFORDSHIRE

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3:30-4:15

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SAINT MARY’S CHURCH - BLACK BOURTON - OXFORDSHIRE

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FINISHING 4:30-5:15

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HOLY ROOD CHURCH - SHILTON - OXFORDSHIRE

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THEY THEN HAD A DRINK ON THE WAY HOME AND TOOK THEIR BEREAL PHOTO

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CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO RETURN TO

8/6/26 - ALEX PRESTON

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1/6/26 - EDITH WHARTON (AND MAUREEN DUFFY)

‘Summer’ (Wharton, 2023).

REFERENCE

Wharton, E. (2023 [1917] ) ‘Summer’. London: Penguin Little Clothbound Classics.

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‘ … dawn was in the sky … ‘ (Wharton, 2023, p.121).

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DAWN BROKE IN BASINGSTOKE AT 03:54

1 JUNE IS THE FIRST DAY OF METEOROLOGICAL SUMMER

(THIS YEAR ASTRONOMICAL SUMMER WILL BEGIN 21 JUNE)

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ALL SEASONS

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SEE ALSO

‘ “ … And now, O Lord, let us humbly and fervently give thanks for this blessed day … “ ‘ (Wharton, 2023, p.156).

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ALL SAINTS

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1 JUNE IS ALSO

THE DAY AFTER

TRINITY SUNDAY 2026

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TRINITY

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CANDLEMAS CANDLE

LIGHTING THE YEAR

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1 JUNE IS ALSO THE BEGINNING OF

Stonewall is part of a vibrant, growing and global movement advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Over the last 35+ years, we have helped create tra

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Toward the end of her marriage, Wharton had an affair for several years with William Morton Fullerton, a bisexual journalist. She also had affairs with women, including the writer Janet Flanner. (LGBT History Month, 2019).

REFERENCE

LGBT History Month (2019) ‘Edith Wharton’. Available at: https://lgbthistorymonth.com/sites/default/files/icon_multimedia_pdfs/2019/Wharton-Bio-2.pdf (Accessed 1 June 2026).

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WELCOME TO PRIDE MONTH 2026

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PRIDE

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RIP 2026

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MAUREEN DUFFY - 27/5/26

NEWS REPORT

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RIP

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EDITH WHARTON

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011 - 2026

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14 EPIC YEARS

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FROM THE ARCHIVE

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1/9/25

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EDITH WHARTON - ‘SUMMER’ (FIRST PUBLISHED 1917)

First sentence:

‘A girl came out of lawyer Royall’s house, at the end of the one street of North Dormer, and stood on the doorstep.’ (Wharton, 2023, p.1).

On working in a library:

‘ … Charity Royal, every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, sat at her desk under a freckled steel engraving of the deceased author, and wondered if he felt any deader in his grave than she did in his library.’ (Wharton, 2023, p.6).

‘ “ … it’s not my fault if they’re dirty.” … “Ah - then you’re not the librarian?” “Of course I am; but I can’t dust all these books.” ‘ (Wharton, 2023, p.8).

‘She was determined to find out why he was poking about among her books.’ (Wharton, 2023, p.9).

‘She liked well enough to have a friend drop in and talk to her when she was on duty, but she hated to be bothered about books.’ (Wharton, 2023, p.13).

‘ “And what if I don’t always sit round here doing nothing till it strikes five up at the church? Who cares if the library’s open or shut? Do you suppose anybody ever comes here for books? What they’d like to come for is to meet the fellows they’re going with - if I’d let ‘em.” ‘ (Wharton, 2023, p.34).

REFERENCE

Wharton, E. (2023 [1917] ) ‘Summer’. London: Penguin Little Clothbound Classics.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011-25 ... 14 YEARS & STILL READING