P.S. good byee..goodbyeee,

A poem written by AJ @ Eastwood 28/8/2016

Here we all are to say "bye" to Dot
Who saved us from a bit of a spot
"Nae meenister?" We couldna hae that
But that's when Dot came in to bat
A century scored in nae time flat-
With friendship, fellowship and a wee dollop of wit
Your childrens' talks were always great fun
The adults enjoyed them- every one!
We took up the challenge of learning new tasks
And even obeying all of your "asks"
But now, you're moving to pastures new
To St Enoch's, where soon there'll ne'er be an empty pew!
We'll miss you Dot- and your cheery mien
But reckon you'll soon find mony a freen
So love to you all- David Dawn and Mary Jo too
Our thanks, our thoughts, and our prayers for you.

Aw...........

Well well, Monday morning- the day after THE DAY before, when I said goodbye officially to Eastwood Parish Church...a giant thank-you card, smaller cards and presents, and a most generous cheque.
We had a laugh as little things went pear shaped but that's me! I cannot stand formal, stiff behaviour of any kind, and  " everything must be perfect in the Worship Service" mentality. God oversees and sustains an imperfect world, so why must we try to perfect  and often pretend everything is "swell" in our Sunday collective worship??? End of sermon...
Several folks took part - either in an introduction to a hymn, or playing for a hymn.
I loved it when only the youngster I had "primed" spoke about what he remembered and enjoyed most about my Childrens Talks....19 months summed up by a shake of the head ( or maybe just shyness...ha! ha!)
My husband was there and despite HIS shyness, he came up to support me as a few tears slipped out when the Session Clerk wished me well etc. The lunch afterwards was lovely, though I hardly ate an egg sandwich due to going round all the tables to say "Cheerio." Thankfully I had a personal pressie to help me find words to say- it was a compilation of black and white photos tastefully and artfully crafted into a photo frame of my first wedding couple whom I married at Eastwood Dec 19th 2015, and they are still coming to church...that's the best bit!! Also that I leave with another possible three regular folks considering joining the church, so the new minister will have that joy !

Do Not be anxious!

I woke up this morning , very worried about someone I am close to.
I woke up early, which is very unlike me.
 It's usually my poor husband, whose body clock is all over the place due to changing shifts all his working life. So I went to the spare room at "blah" o'clock and realised my brain and heart were fear-penetrated and I would not get back to sleep unless I prayed. The silence was awful, so I went downstairs and brought up my ipod to listen to. This lifesaver has some Christian Music on it but is a good melange of  a liquorice allsorts of music, such is my taste! ( If interested, am writing  a sort of Biog which will have a Music Chapter in it) So.........ipod.....
1) It was mostly uplifting spiritual songs which I cried and worshipped to, pouring out my fears to God, and managing ( by faith) to praise Him that He was looking after my loved one.
2) The cat ( who belongs to one of my daughters) climbed onto my shoulder, did a "bum" turn and deposited herself on my lonesome body and started purring!
3) I got off to sleep again
4) Half past nine, my Presbytery Pastoral Advisor phoned the land line so I was able to "offload" to her
5) Remembered I was meeting a friend in the centre of town this morning, so another person I could choose to share my concern with.

Such is the grace of God in my weakness

So----- we will all keep being  anxious over something, or more crucially, someONE. It goes with the territory of loving. Don't be afraid of it, but DO pour out your heart to God and at least one other in your support system. You should find relief and release...until the next time.......

 Here's an odd combination....a last letter to Eastwood church and a first letter to St Enoch's on the same day! Wonder if the Apostle Paul ever did that for the early churches, to be sped away secretly  and by hand instead of emails and blogs!

PS Wee riddle for you. What have I written to both churches???? Comments please.

 Crossbeam Mag Article 

The French have two words for “Goodbye.  There’s “Adieu” meaning “Farewell” and “Au Revoir” which literally translates as “To the seeing again.” With all of you in Eastwood, it is most definitely my wish to say the second goodbye. It will be lovely to see any of you if you are down Hamilton way! It’s been such a joy to minister to so many lovely folks, whom I shall miss.

I start at St Enoch’s Hogganfield in Riddrie with the Sunday Service on September 4^th, so I value your prayers as I settle in. And of course, in true Olympic tradition, I hand over the baton of spiritual care to Rev Jim Teasdale. Welcome Sir!     

I close in typical “Dot” fashion, saying “Wasn’t it great to see Doris Day in “Calamity Jane” again last weekend? Joy of joys!   If you want to keep singing along with me then tune in to Elaine Paige’s Radio 2 Musical Programme every Sunday @ 1pm. Yes, that is what I used to do to unwind after every Sunday Morning Service. Not a lot of people know that !!

                        Always With Christian Greetings

                                                                             Dot 

                     

 Hi Everyone! 

                    My name is Dot Getliffe, and I’ve been a Deacon and mature student, since 2002, when one of my daughters , aged 10, said to me ( as I left for Glasgow Uni, having been an “at home” Mum with both daughters for ten years) “Mum, you’re going to have to stop all this galavanting to Glasgow!”  Ahem !

Needless to say, I’m now, by the grace of God, a B.A. B.D. Dip Ed but most importantly DCS. You may know Catherine Wallace DCS who was with you for a year when Graham (Blount) was Church and Society Council Convener at “121.”

                    My husband of 25 odd years ( yes they have been a bit odd) works as a Railway Signalman for Network Rail down in Barrhead ( colloquially.. Baw heid).

                    I look forward to meeting all of you in due time on Sundays and during the week for pastoral visits. My hobbies, by the way, include badminton, cooking, theatre visits, especially Musicals. Wasn’t it great to see Doris Day in “Calamity Jane” again last weekend? Joy of joys!   

                         With Christian Greetings

                                                                  Dot  

City , Country or Town?

Hope you like the purple- keep wringing ( ringing?) the changes to stay young !
Have been thinking whether I prefer living in the city, country or town. One psychologist during my assessment  for the Diaconate, 10 or so years ago, said I was a well rounded person and very suitable for ministry- BECAUSE I'd had such a varied upbringing in Buckie, Montrose, east end of Glasgow, village of Sorbie then Newton Stewart. 
Today I work in Glasgow south soon to move job to Glasgow north east. I like working in Glasgow but am glad I live in a town, and even gladder to go on holiday in the countryside- preferable near water or mountain or both! I guess this is a balance. One of my "besties" ( favourite friends) recently moved from Glasgow's west end to a remote part of the Western Highlands and still feels she is "on holiday but will wake up soon."
If  David and I are "spared, as my Grandpa used to say....( nearly typed spayed...altogether different!! )"
Re: retiral, our dream would be to live and work in the North East of Scotland- he as a signalman in one of the remaining manual boxes, me doing locum ministry or Interim Ministry between 2 or 3 country Parishes. 
THEN I would appreciate coming back to Glasgow to see Besties ( those who know me best and longest)
as often as possible and shop.
Today, Saturday, I DID NOT enjoy going into Glasgow Central Station to drop off something to older daughter who works in Boots there. Is it me, or are crowds becoming a nuisance, when you want to get somewhere fast- especially when you work all week with people and have a spiritual obligation to interact with them...Saturdays/days off I just wanna be anony mouse.....Byeeeee












Remember ! You can comment on anything I blog...makes it more interesting......Dot 

French Odyssey Part 3 ( with apologies to Chef Rick Stein for cribbing his title! )

So...another afternoon David and I headed for the Hotel d'Ardouin , which may be Mazeres best kept secret- three floors of inter active archaelogy, mannequins in historical dress - which gives me the creeps!?
Also diaramas and videos about PASTEL, the blue woad plant, which caused rich barons to flourish and become benefactors in many many ways, founding this, building that. There is still the woad plant in the beautiful garden area which overlooks the River Hers. The curator was a lovely woman called Douceline. I am guessing this name is shortened to Celine ( as in Celine Dion). We spoke a lot to her and found out that she, like us, is a "born again Christian"...much over used phrase in USA, and can give some of us a bad name! Just means we believe John's Gospel Chapter 3 when Jesus and Nico have a late night conversation, wherein Nico discovers the awful truth that all his learning, Jewish Pharisaical education and standing in the community amounts to nothing unless he sees the revealed Light of the World Who can give him eternal life not by striving to be good but by letting God the Mighty Creator ( Elohim) re-create him from the inside with a heart transplant !!! End of sermon !
Visited a lovely wee 92 year old lady today whose Mum took her to St George's Tron when Tom Allan was minister ( google TA to see all he did by the grace of God in the 1960's) Did a pre-funeral visit too so involving a professional Catholic lady who will read the Old Testament reading next Tuesday at Linn crematorrrrrium. Lastly, I visited a family, not just to sign a passport photo and do counter signature, but also to say "Cheerio" in person...this will be a hard  family to leave to the new Eastwood minister's care. We have loved and prayed their premature son through 3 serious operations. he is now much much better, praise God. Byeeee.

Le Midi des Pyrenees Part 2

Le Midi des Pyrenees Part 2
Another highlight for David et moi, was a cycle ride of a few kilometres to the "Domaine des Oiseaux" ( Bird Sanctuary). We glimpsed the usual geese, ducks, chirpy wee birds and doves in the smelly doocot BUT the creme de la creme was the STORKS! Had never seen their high top-of- the- pole nests before or them flying but what a gorgeous sight as they swooped in and down..of course David got some good photos so I'm considering popping best photo of stork in flight, and amending it so it has the proverbial package in its beak announcing a new birth !!! Et voila!
Also must tell you about French television ( in French, naturellment, except for dubbed "Midsommer Murders" which was even worse than in English. BUT...they have their own version of "Pointless" the BBC1 TV Quiz show which some of you know I was a contestant on...ANYWAY...in La Belle France, it is called "Qu'avait pensees" ( literally translated."Who'd have thought?????) Loved it...presented by a boy who resembled "H" from Steps pop group of old...."Qu'avait pense!!!"

Well hello again from sunny Scotland!
Just returned from a two week holiday with the "Medievales"...
What, I hear you cry, are they/it?
South of France villages  were often  date back to medieval times- thus timbered houses, old castles and fortresses as in  the town of Foix with greeny grey chalky running rivieres and medieval bridges. My husband and I witnessed a defilement ( which means procession/ a filing past) of odd looking folks dressed in medieval costumes before they partook of a medieval 7 course meal at a l-o-n-g communal table.
It was a sight to see, especially colourful in a family maroony/mustardy/ leafy green kind of a peasant way! Funny seeing medieval people in long dresses, curly toed shoes OR " what the heck!" high heeled shoes and glasses.( another spectacle!?)
A good time was had by all, and on our return the house had been untidily kept by daughter No 1 but she was safe, and that was the main thing.. A funeral has come in, so waiting for details. I had done some prep for Sunday service before I travelled, so just to finish off and get my hair done today ( whoopee!)
More anon.