Friday 17 October 2014

Greenbelt ABC - Travelling Light (7)

S - Susan Sayers - (See D). Silent Eucharist, courtesy of Luminous.
      Showers and Sinead O'Connor - though not,  thank goodness, at the same time. Though given           the       volume, you could easily have heard her from the wash block anyway. One of the perks of                   volunteering is free entrance to the showers. The ability to be able to  stand on one leg              whilst                getting dressed whilst          simultaneously attempting  to stop your clothes ending up in a soggy        heap on the cubicle floor is recommended. [Gremlins strike again!]

T - TSSF: (See F)

       Tortoise -  Yes, that's right, a tortoise, accompanying its human during the Silent Eucharist. I do        wish I'd had my camera handy! Did it go up for a blessing, I wonder?

        T-Shirt -  Just as well I didn't have my camera handy. Some of us suit volunteer T-shirts, some            of         us don't. I don't. Make a great extra layer on those chilly evenings, however.

        Tent: You've heard quite enough about Darth Vadar MkII already, so I'll spare you any                       more.

Friday 10 October 2014

Friday Trivia - Zap those Monsters!

Image courtesy of Ambro freedigitalphotos.net



I've just been reassuring Daydreamer that she needn't worry; those antibacterial sprays really do kill 100 % of all known bacteria - and some.  If you're a Time Lord...or a time Lord's companion....or a Time Lord's companion's pupil (IRL the safeguarding authorities would have freaked out in a big way) that is. Oh, and if you happen to be on the moon and are being attacked by a giant spider. 

You can tell it's a Friday afternoon, can't you?

Thursday 9 October 2014

Greenbelt ABC - Travelling Light (6)

P - Pre Festival. See Arrival and Codeine

Q - Queues. Other than for the ladies' loos, there didn't seem to be many this year. Unless you count those needed for moving on and off the site, which, mercifully I missed as I arrived during build week.

R - Suggestions, anybody?

Chez Greenpatch Pre-Greenbelt



Monday 6 October 2014

Greenbelt ABC - Travelling Light (5)

M - The Mount.  One of Greenbelt's worship venues. 2014 was the third year I've volunteered with this team. We've gone through various changes of name and locations: We were Sanctuary in 2013 - and what a sanctuary it was - tucked away  near the top of the grandstand buildings in Cheltenham. Oh the joy of having a warm, dry place to retreat to! The year I joined the team in 2012, we were 'Eden,' an outdoor venue tucked away in what used to be stables at the edge of the racecourse. 'The Mount,' was...a mount, literally. Well, a man-made mound, with spectacular views out over the festival village. Not that easy to get to, (definite acessibility issues there), but a sanctuary of a different kind, with so many analogies with our faith journeying.

Mud. No, not these gentleman.  Mix rainy Bank Holidays, rolling fields and the tramp of thousands of pairs of wellie boots and the result is kind of inevitable.

N. Nadia Boltz-Weber. Greenbelt stalwart and Lutheran Pastor like no other Lutheran pastor I've ever seen. Not that I know any others. You can see her in action here. One day I will get to one of her talks, although she did do a spot for the Volunteers' welcome and briefing, which was a huge improvement on the usual fare.

O. Orpheus.  Way way down in the Underworld - The Mount's mirror opposite, home to a labyrinth and other installations which I never got round to visiting. More on its history here.

Mud, mud, glorious mud. That Tuesday morning feeling.