Vicars quite often joke that we're in the business of hatches, matches and dispatches and they've all been on my radar in the last couple of weeks. The most recent was the hatch (last Sunday) when a friend's little girl was baptised. They forgot to tell the Vicar that she headbutts when anyone picks her up...At the risk of sounding a selfish so-and-so, I'm glad I was simply a guest on that occasion.

That same day Jade Goody married her man as the world looked on. It was touching to join her support group on Facebook and see the thousands of people who are wishing her well. She has bravely allowed herself to be photographed in order to raise funding for her children in the few weeks she has left to live. Why not log on and send her a blessing - and wing up a prayer for them as you do?

A few days before that weekend was a family funeral for us, which I led. These are the hardest things when your own family are heartbroken on the front row and the grief is raw and ragged and a bit too close to home. It's very difficult to keep a professional attitude in those circumstances. The deceased was my husband's 84 year old aunt - all the more special because she had cerebral palsy and wasn't expected to reach maturity. She was the 6th of 11 children and virtually outlived them all. The family called her Duchess and we saw her off in style in a horse-drawn carriage.

Also stylish was the Saturday before that (Valentine's night). We had a party for couples, including several that I 'married'. Everyone was asked to come in evening dress and they all obediently dusted off their dicky bows.

During the evening we gave them all a small slip of paper with a heart on and they had to write 'one thing I love about you', Fortunately they all gave their paper to their own partner :-)

Apart from lots of lovely food and good conversation there was a 'Lips' karaoke session and most of the couples had a turn at a duet. My friend Rena & I were stunned when our husbands got together and sang the Proclaimers song. And (as the newest newlywed in the room) she was amused and touched at her Kilt-clad crooner singing that he would walk 500 miles for her. He is normally really shy.

Rena works as head of OT in a psychiatric hospital, and the following Monday she put in an order for 'Lips'. She said anything that could get Malc singing in public MUST be magic and would do wonders for her patients!

Well Valentine's day is a distant memory now and my Valentine has been working away since then so we are keeping in touch by phone and email. Lots of modern day relationships are kept alive like this and even begin by communicating over the internet - so maybe life is easier for this generation.

Whichever way you communicate, keep it going and don't forget to think of 'one thing you love' on a regular basis. If you can think of 10 things that is even better.

Well I love lots of things about Garry, but one thing I don't appreciate is being woken up by his huffing and puffing that he can't find a pair of socks or a decent shirt. Especially when he is up for the early train at 5am.

So I'm off to match up all those lonely socks in his underwear drawer and iron some shirts - he'll be stunned! While I'm doing it I'll probably hatch a plan for the weekend's social activities. And I might even dispatch a glass of wine which is a very good way of turning a chore into a social occasion.
Ciao
j x