A rather stressful couple of days, but with highlights. The Emmaus hostel had an Opening Ceremony which was performed by Terry Waite who then came on to stay at the meeting house. The weather turned very nasty: cold, deluging rain and a gale force wind. The boiler which had been working perfectlywell until it was serviced that morning, went off and wouldn`t come on no matter how much I banged it and pushed all its little wires about. I felt so mortified to have a freezing cold house and no hot water, with a special guest staying, and there were two other B and B`s, let alone the other 6 residents plus a roomful of Theosophists, and half a dozen Gamblers Anonymous in the Library. Everyone in the house had a go at it, and at last D poked a wire into a hole and it sprang into life. What a relief.
The Terry Waite lecture in the evening at the University was really brilliant and we listened to him for over an hour, spellbound. Everybody in the house came down in good time for breakfast this morning, and sat in respectful silence gazing at the great man. But he was nice and friendly and very interested in the Quaker meeting and J`s work for Emmaus.
Then I had to tackle three lots of sheets, pillowcases and towels which I put out on the line to dry in brilliant sunshine, then five minutes later it started to snow!
Later today, I tidied up the kitchen cupboards and decided to make two simnel cakes with all the bits of old marzipan, cake fruit and stuff left over from Christmas cakes. Now I can`t go to bed as they are taking hours to cook but the house smells lovely and cakey.