I have had a comment asking me why nothing was happening on this blog. Simply I bought a house, with money inherited from my late father. It is in a village between Mayenne and Le Mans, and the house has needed a certain amount of preliminary work before progressively moving in from my rented house near Ambrières les Vallées.
Those of you who frequent Facebook can find photos and commentaries. I have named the house Rievaulx after the great Cistercian abbey in the Rye Valley in Yorkshire. My home is not a monastery and I am not a monk, but I feel inspired by the spirit of the Rule of St Benedict. I am also a fan of St Aelred, the Abbot of that community in the twelfth century, and his writings on friendship. Please ignore the claims of certain contemporary identity agenda groups on St Aelred. Rievaulx was also a place where I was taken by my grandparents who lived at the time in Pickering. This Abbey has figured many times in my dreams.
My immediate objective is to clear my rented house and get everything here by the end of March, and then deal with the house progressively. This is not a modern house, but an old building, possibly medieval in origin and renovated in the 1920’s. Never rip anything out unless you have an immediate solution to replace it! Too many owners demolish things in a spirit of contempt, and then become discouraged. We need to be realistic. Also, I am something of a “hard bastard” and have less need for modern comforts. I am writing this in 10°C!
I beg of my readers a little patience before getting back to philosophical and theological subjects. Already, I have my office (scriptorium) fully operational and my library is taking form. I need to transport my pipe organ as I have done before. It’s all happening.
The Blue Flower 
Looks like a lot of work
Welcome back!
Dear Father Chadwick,
Thank you for bringing us up-to-date. I have followed you closely for quite a few years. Now elderly, infirm, and mostly housebound, I am ‘making my soul’ as they would say in Newfoundland. I am able, at present, to say Morning and Evening Prayer. I pray for you and Father Munn every second day.
I pray you will complete you move in due course, and begin again your reflections.
Sincerely In Christ Jesus,
Larry Clarence Lewis
London, Ontario, Canada.
I’m glad you haven’t given up on The Blue Flower.
I hope that all is continuing to go as well as in your encouraging final paragraph, in keeping with your wise (and scholarly!) remarks in your penultimate paragraph: with good wishes for the rest of Holy Week and Easter!
Dear Fr C., I have some news of a recently-completed renovation, in York, where I have just been to visit my aged parents. Some time after the York Minster Song School (as it was named when I attended in the early 70s) closed, the Dean and Chapter announced that the building would be converted into a refectory. I was expecting something like the arrangements at the cathedrals I’ve visited recently, where a bowl of soup and a bread roll are most welcome at lunchtime. But… the “York Minster Refectory” was opened by our new King on his Maundy Thursday visit to York. It turns out to be a high-end brasserie, as expensive as any in London, with an elaborate cocktail bar where the Head Master’s secretary’s office used to be.
They have a website with menus, I didn’t imagine it!