Jude Smith

There are a lot of occupational hazards when you are a vicar type. Not least of these is losing any sense of what a Sunday is like for normal people, including Christians. Lets face it there aren't huge numbers of folk who HAVE to be up every Sunday at silly o'clock. So this morning I have had a morning off. Its past midday, and I'm still in my pyjamas. I'm enjoying sitting listening to the end of the cricket. I'm really enjoying sitting at my dining table, which I'm beginning to use a bit more. I have the remnant of the Saturday paper to devour and I'm looking forward to a nice tasty lunch. I might head out later, you never know.. Sundays off are rare but kind of beautiful. They really can be Sabbath!

In this job you can have days where life moves slowly and you smile and say 'what a great job'! In this job you can have days where life is hugely difficult and you squirm and say 'what a privileged job'. And you can have days like yesterday which are just plain .. well, they are like this: Awake to a text about a service later in the day Breakfast, shower, dress, work out a key strategy for the day as trousers have no pockets. Make lists of things which need to happen in next few days Break out in cold sweat Head to church, set up for Eucharist Talk to people at the end of an all night vigil, set up for another service Head to place of first service and preside at Eucharist Have tea! Phone fellow priest to ask to borrow something Go to fellow priests church to pick up thurible and thurible stand Return to own church to get ready for large funeral Receive mourners Receive family Talk to thurifer abouyt censing things! Get looked at funny for being a woman priest. Dea

I have been very vocally poorly this week: mainly because I got food poisoning and diseases of the tummy are not my forte. Combined with a raging fever and being home alone its made for lots of social network whingeing. However, there are things that I have noted.. you know you've been ill when: You have more than a vague idea of whats happening in Hollyoaks You care how much money they make in Cash In The Attic Every room in the house has a half drunk glass of water in it Everything you have worn in the last week does up with a drawstring You haven't drunk coffee all week (I know crazy).. You have slept as much in the day as at night Talking of which.. I think a little nap is in order!