Day 13: Henley-in-Arden to Hampton-in-Arden

Click on (some) pictures to display a bigger version thereof!

We awoke to bad news: Julian had fallen yesterday, and his ankle had swollen badly after he'd been ferried to the school, so Rosemary took him to the hospital. They returned at 2 a.m., Julian plastered to the knee - a fractured fibula. So sadly, Julian and Betsy had to leave us - Julian couldn't even sleep on the floor. Our love and best wishes go with them for a speedy recovery - what a shame that they couldn't be with us as we reach Lichfield.

Our first stop was Beaudesert, but on the way we passed the parish church of Henley-in-Arden with its offset clock.

Our prayer stop was at St Nicholas, Beaudesert, only a hundred metres from the above church, but across a small river, two separate parishes now united.

Here Pat Donachie led a reflection on the calling of Samuel, and particularly the role of Eli.

A shock from here - a hill out of the village, but rewarded by a view back over Beaudesert and Henley.

The morning walk joined up with the Grand Union Canal, taking us to The Navigation Inn at Kingswood. Mike and Jessica had joined us

And Milly and her daughter Rachael rested under a tree

while Chris chatted up the other daughter, Rebecca

Meanwhile others took their rest using a tree

and Tineke performed running repairs

Then on to St Michaels Baddesley Clinton for prayers led by John, reflecting on how we use our time

but outside there were some weary feet!

From here we went to the Poor Clare's Convent of St Francis for Mass.

The music used the improvised percussion practised a couple of nights ago

At an unofficial stop at the Black Boy pub, back on the canal bank, Danny (who had joined us at Mass) was caught enjoying himself in Norma's absence

Our final stop of the day was at the church of St Swithin, Barston.

where they showed us their Millennium Window (worth a click to see it big!)

and so on to Hampton-in-Arden and the Fentham Hall. Nice hall, not huge, but there's a bar open in the building! Sounds like a cue for a singing session!

Here we found Danny's wife Norma chatting to Jessica