Christmass Letter 2012
Another year of retirement is over and I continue to enjoy it. I’ve continued to audit various parishes around the diocese, including our own, and have been used more at St Margaret’s since our Rector was elected to be our new bishop. He’s only to be consecrated and enthroned in March next year, but is already very busy with all sorts of things which take him out of the parish. I was invited to Ficksburg to do their All Saints Patronal Festival and thoroughly enjoyed that – especially the party after the service. It was good to see so many old friends again and to share a good deal of beer with them. It was very affirming to be asked to go back there some time next year on a semi-permanent basis – but I don’t know if I shall. I also helped in Heidedal while their priest was in the Congo ministering to our soldiers there.
I had a holiday in England & Scotland with my friend Michael for a month and that was truly awesome. There’s a full account of it on my Facebook page and on my website: www.vicspencer.blogspot.com if you have access to the internet. I did have time to visit my family in Notts but couldn’t visit all my friends, particularly those from our time together in Zululand. I’m sorry about that and will make a plan some other time. If you can’t get at the internet but would like to read my story, let me know and I’ll email or snail post it.
My own internet access has improved by becoming a Wi Fi Hotspot when my old 3G contract expired this month. (It’s also cheaper). It would be tedious to try to explain exactly what this is (especially since I’m a bit vague about it myself) but just ask the nearest schoolchild.
Our diocese is bankrupt and can no longer afford to pay priests to replace those who leave or retire. So, since I’m cheap as a self-sufficient pensioner, I may find myself less retired in 2013. It’s a blessing to be able to be useful. I continue to minister to the Sisters of the Society of the Precious Blood in Lesotho but they are also becoming bankrupt in terms of health & strength as well as financially. They will probably have to close and disperse.
My birthday this year was an exceptionally good one. My friend Michael was in Hospital here most of November and when discharged he elected to stay over for my birthday on the 29th and brought me breakfast in bed. (First time in my life that happened). This was also the day that my internet contract was expiring and I replaced my old 3G dongle with a WiFi Hotspot. Also on that day, I was told that my flat’s rent may be reduced next year. I should have birthdays more often!
My diabetes and heart is still under control and give me no trouble at all. The tinnitus continues to be an extremely annoying noise in the head and medical science continues to be clueless about it.
I wish you all a very blessed Christmass season and a peaceful new year in 2013. Again, and as I said last year, it won’t be prosperous because the financial turmoil around the world is, if anything, worse. South Africa escaped the worst of the financial meltdown a few years ago but is now rapidly going downhill financially and politically. Keep doing the football pools and buying lottery tickets and hope for the best – that’s what I do).
Love & Blessings to all..
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
December 2012 Diary
Things were very quiet after returning from UK. Which is why no diary for a while. In June & July just celebrated occasionally at St Margaret’s.
August saw a visit to Universitas’ diabetic clinic where diabetes was well controlled. I was told for the 3rd time that I needed to visit an ophthalmologist (the 1st time being the optician and the 2nd by my GP) to check for diabetic retinopathy or detached retina. So I went to Chris Gauws on the 23rd and was told that there was nothing to worry about – the occasional white flashes were of no concern. He asked to see me again in a year’s time. (Always a good sign when doctors don’t want to see you again!!)
End of August and early September saw me again with the Precious Blood sisters in Lesotho doing their accounts and meeting with their bishop to discuss their future. The likelihood is that they will have to close down and disperse within 2 years. But meetings are ongoing.
Celebrated quite often at St Margaret’s. Since Fr Stephen, our Rector, was elected as our new bishop (but only to be consecrated in March next year) he’s become increasingly busy outside the parish which means I’m called on more and more often – no problem – I love it.
Got a new chip type credit card which died within a fortnight so had to get another one. Never had a single problem with the old chipless card but they don’t make them any more. Miracles of modern science.
Met Etienne & Corrie Horak (ex Ficksburg) in Pick N Pay. That was a nice surprise.
October was more of the same. Was able to celebrate for St Francis festival. Took an afternoon service at Bayswater Old Age Home. Celebrated Halloween at St Margaret’s (thankfully American Halloween excesses haven’t reached South Africa). Sister Diana (of Precious Blood) was in Universitas Hospital for a while & I visited her there. I couldn’t make it the 1st time: she was on the 7th floor and the lifts weren’t working; I climbed 4 floors but then had to give up as I thought I was having a heart attack!! They had got one lift (out of many) working the next time I went. Sister is now more-or-less OK and home again in Lesotho.
November was good. I was invited to Ficksburg to celebrate their All Saints Patronal Festival on the 1st weekend. I really enjoyed that, seeing so many old friends again. Slept at Michael’s flat. I had a couple too many beers at the church party so thought I’d better not drive home to Bloem. But Michael wanted to come here to consult a diabetiologist so he drove. He only wanted to investigate getting an insulin pump to replace his many daily injections but the doctor admitted him to Mediclinic Hospital to get his dosage under control. He was in hospital for nearly 2 weeks. He had also burned his leg at work and this needed lots of attention. He was threatened with a skin graft but that was called off.
After getting his burn fixed, he elected to stay over for my birthday on the 29th and brought me breakfast in bed. (First time in my life that happened). This was also the day that my internet contract was expiring and I replaced my old 3G dongle with a new thingy which has made me a WiFi Hotspot. We can now connect 8 different things to the internet at the same time wirelessly!! (If you want to know what this actually means, ask the nearest schoolchild – it’s getting a bit beyond me).
The Diocese has gone bankrupt and sold the building which has my flat. I wondered what the new owner might do and was worried that I’d have to move. But the diocese has guaranteed that I can stay and at no extra cost. (Perhaps even less!).
December started by celebrating at both services on Advent Sunday, which was also parish Dedication Day. It remains to be seen if the dedications will meet the budget. +Tom, our organist, was away and was replaced by 2 others (organist & violinist) who didn’t know what he had chosen to be sung. Confusion reigned supreme for a while. Also no sacristan or servers - which complicated matters. Fortunately, we are Anglicans and don’t take ourselves too seriously so we can take all these things in our stride. If everything always went perfectly, I’d suspect that I’d strayed into the wrong church by mistake! Great fun.
The diocese being bankrupt means that parish priest vacancies can’t be filled. I’ve already been offered 2 jobs so may find that 2013 brings me out of retirement. A good thing??
After being extremely hot, yesterday (Dec. 2nd) turned cold & wet. The 1st real rain of the season – and we really needed it!.
Things were very quiet after returning from UK. Which is why no diary for a while. In June & July just celebrated occasionally at St Margaret’s.
August saw a visit to Universitas’ diabetic clinic where diabetes was well controlled. I was told for the 3rd time that I needed to visit an ophthalmologist (the 1st time being the optician and the 2nd by my GP) to check for diabetic retinopathy or detached retina. So I went to Chris Gauws on the 23rd and was told that there was nothing to worry about – the occasional white flashes were of no concern. He asked to see me again in a year’s time. (Always a good sign when doctors don’t want to see you again!!)
End of August and early September saw me again with the Precious Blood sisters in Lesotho doing their accounts and meeting with their bishop to discuss their future. The likelihood is that they will have to close down and disperse within 2 years. But meetings are ongoing.
Celebrated quite often at St Margaret’s. Since Fr Stephen, our Rector, was elected as our new bishop (but only to be consecrated in March next year) he’s become increasingly busy outside the parish which means I’m called on more and more often – no problem – I love it.
Got a new chip type credit card which died within a fortnight so had to get another one. Never had a single problem with the old chipless card but they don’t make them any more. Miracles of modern science.
Met Etienne & Corrie Horak (ex Ficksburg) in Pick N Pay. That was a nice surprise.
October was more of the same. Was able to celebrate for St Francis festival. Took an afternoon service at Bayswater Old Age Home. Celebrated Halloween at St Margaret’s (thankfully American Halloween excesses haven’t reached South Africa). Sister Diana (of Precious Blood) was in Universitas Hospital for a while & I visited her there. I couldn’t make it the 1st time: she was on the 7th floor and the lifts weren’t working; I climbed 4 floors but then had to give up as I thought I was having a heart attack!! They had got one lift (out of many) working the next time I went. Sister is now more-or-less OK and home again in Lesotho.
November was good. I was invited to Ficksburg to celebrate their All Saints Patronal Festival on the 1st weekend. I really enjoyed that, seeing so many old friends again. Slept at Michael’s flat. I had a couple too many beers at the church party so thought I’d better not drive home to Bloem. But Michael wanted to come here to consult a diabetiologist so he drove. He only wanted to investigate getting an insulin pump to replace his many daily injections but the doctor admitted him to Mediclinic Hospital to get his dosage under control. He was in hospital for nearly 2 weeks. He had also burned his leg at work and this needed lots of attention. He was threatened with a skin graft but that was called off.
After getting his burn fixed, he elected to stay over for my birthday on the 29th and brought me breakfast in bed. (First time in my life that happened). This was also the day that my internet contract was expiring and I replaced my old 3G dongle with a new thingy which has made me a WiFi Hotspot. We can now connect 8 different things to the internet at the same time wirelessly!! (If you want to know what this actually means, ask the nearest schoolchild – it’s getting a bit beyond me).
The Diocese has gone bankrupt and sold the building which has my flat. I wondered what the new owner might do and was worried that I’d have to move. But the diocese has guaranteed that I can stay and at no extra cost. (Perhaps even less!).
December started by celebrating at both services on Advent Sunday, which was also parish Dedication Day. It remains to be seen if the dedications will meet the budget. +Tom, our organist, was away and was replaced by 2 others (organist & violinist) who didn’t know what he had chosen to be sung. Confusion reigned supreme for a while. Also no sacristan or servers - which complicated matters. Fortunately, we are Anglicans and don’t take ourselves too seriously so we can take all these things in our stride. If everything always went perfectly, I’d suspect that I’d strayed into the wrong church by mistake! Great fun.
The diocese being bankrupt means that parish priest vacancies can’t be filled. I’ve already been offered 2 jobs so may find that 2013 brings me out of retirement. A good thing??
After being extremely hot, yesterday (Dec. 2nd) turned cold & wet. The 1st real rain of the season – and we really needed it!.
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