hibernating

The hedgehogs are doing it and so am I.It will come as a shock to my faithful followers I know, but times and seasons and all that. There is, I will admit, an unforeseen problem with blogging. Which is the pressure it puts on ones friends to check the blog regularly- as if there isn't enough to do in life already. I still think blogging may have a role and a future- maybe as a variant form of the annual mailing.....and with the iminent collapse of Royal Mail we ex-bloggers may crawl humbly back and beg forgiveness and a new start. Meanwhile you are more likely to make contact with me by emailing me direct- and thankyou Nancy, Heather and Doug for humouring my blogging days.

Tea time

Still no signed up members but Gini Andrewes admitted to having read my blog. Probably the Pope has had a sneaky look too. Its the mystery of blogging that make it so compulsive I guess. Forgot my password too and if i hadn't found it secretly recorded[ won't tell you where] that would have been the end of my blogging since the instructions for lost passwords was incomprehensible.

The Unlikely Canon hits the fan

Here's the letter that's going out with the books. Please be patient if you've ordered one or been promised one. Most are going out with some personal greeting so I can only manage so many in a day!
You are on my list of folk who at some stage kindly ordered a copy of The Unlikely Canon, something I hope you can at least dimly remember. Well here it finally is! Thank you for your patience. As I kept reminding myself since the story has lain dormant for 400 years so the eight or so I’ve spent on making it public is a comparatively short time.
I hope you find a fraction of the enlightenment and interest in reading it that I have had from the writing of it.
Whether it is suitable holiday reading or better on long winter evenings I will leave you to decide.
The cost, including post and packing works out at £10. As planned I have plunged into the technological revolution of print on demand, though in fact I’ve had enough run off for the short-term future. It will always be possible and cheaper to order further copies from me though you can always use Lulu direct:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-unlikely-canon/7285817

As you know I write neither for money nor fame but because I love to share. It has been possible to do this through loyal friends who have forwarded the process for me.
The role of my friends is not yet finished, however; from now on the book will spread only by word of mouth and continuing support from you, my first readers. Most of the professional and amateur historians I have encountered whilst researching the story will be receiving copies but if you would like to suggest places I might send it, or even better send it yourself, then please do. And of course if you can think of others who would enjoy it please consider ordering an early Christmas present!

As well as your orders, of course, I would be delighted to hear from you and receive your thoughts as and when you have read and digested the book.

Graham Claydon

Just back from Haselmere, the new Limpsfield, the ongoing Christian holiday work that I first got involved in as a teenager. I spoke to the leaders team preparing for the summer, over the weekend, along with old friend Sue Bennett[ ne Saville]. This injection of youth has left me feeling frisky if somewhat overwhelmed. Great music and a cameo of church as it can be- renewing, uplifting, reshaping, restoring.
Took mother around the new Butterfly experience launched in St Albans recently. True the big dome, its main feature is yet to be constructed but the millions of flowers carpeting the site are a foretaste of paradise.
More subduing was queing with Leroy to renew his bail papers in Londons Old Street- people and place felt worn out and defeated. Leroy , however, smiles on and is a teatament to grace in a life under great restrictions and pressures. We went to The Prospect of Whitby, my faviourate London pub and let the river restore our sense of proportion .
And , guess what the book is here, so some of you will soon be hearing from me more directly.

Confidence wanes in blogging, but not in the Almighty. Abdullah joined in our village bible study. Martin came for the weekend.We went to Eartham for a pub lunch and saw a picture of William Blake behind the bar.It was an advert for a lecture t the university on Blake and his friend, the poet Thomas Hayley who once lived in Eartham and befriended Blake, including paying for his barrister when Blake was arrested for sedition.anyhow we realised we had time to lunch and just make it for the lecture which was brilliant like the weather. We went immediately after to Felpham, saw Blakes cottage and sat on the beach.One of those humbling Serendipites that affirm faith and hope.

Home again

Via Edingburgh where I stayed with Bob, Mara and Fifi [ my godaughter] Kirkwood. Visited Rosslyn Chapel of Da Vinci Code fame, but its an historical and architectural gem in its own right. It has echoes of Glastonbury but there's far more substance to the link with ancient stories and mysteries.
From there I joined the 60[Birthday]/30[ wedding anniversary] celebrations for cousin John Forrest.He and Diana treated 30 relatives to a weekend of feasting and sharing at Comber Hill , Scarborough, Yorks. A Christian holiday hotel worth recommending as a Yorkshire base. Alas the sea views were misty and the moors cloud-clad, so we began to wonder whether some dark deed would envelop us- but inwardly all was sunshine.
Mum managed a walk by the canal at Tring with me when I popped in for my final stop-over. We heard a cuckoo!
So now I've cut the lawn, opened the post and posted this piece of news on the hottest day of the year.

My blog reaches the public

Two blessings: decided definitely to use Lulu for printing and Leroy's Bail Officer capitulated so that I won't have to drag to Old Street after all. Tapas Bar with James and his mum reminiscing about the Clubhouse 30 years ago. Responses from launching this blog on a select few have flooded in ranging from the dismissive to the glowing, through teasing scepticism and yet another invitation to join Facebook. Nancy asked how to comment and the secret seems to be to sign up to the system[ for free] with yet another unforgettable password.

Abdullah has sent me a u-tube link for a cartoon film of Mohammed pbuh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNQli2Ng50E
My problem is getting the sound loud enough to listen
All advice welcome

Back from Stirling via the amazing Falkirk wheel. The Castle was reminiscent of Prague, and a reminder how close Scottish culture is to Europe, rather than England. The military have preserved it well- one reason for an army I suppose! Visionary sermon at the Baptist church on the Palestinian situation- their pastor is on a deep journey and the church is struggling to keep up! Lunched wit Kirsten & Paul- she looks like her cousin Kingsley.Much remembering from my 35+ link with the worldwide Spence family.
Today I await a call from Leroy's bail officer in London- Lord have mercy.
Rosaleen is walking the baby with James.
Today I must decide how to print my book.

Off to Stirling to meet with the Scottish Spences

You may be wondering why Tales for Tangmere starts in Glasgow.Its simply because I'm working on publishing The Unlikely Canon with the help of James Aldridge who lives in Glasgow. As a spin off James has introduced me to the world of blogs which I have perceived as another neccessry technological step.. one small step for etc.........Life is full of such mysteries.

Welcome

Its a rainy day in Glasgow- predictable you say, but not so since I've been in Scotland for two weeks enjoying wall to wall sunshine. But rain means opportunity to take a new pathway- the beginning of my blog.