Holy Mackerel! It was this big - honest!

If Holy haute couture is your thing, hop over to Simon (aka "The Captain") Jenkin's blog and feast your eyes on his catwalk debut at the Christian Resources Exhibition this week.

When Mr GP and I visited Rome last month, I stumbled across a clerical outfitters and was astounded to read in our guide book that the city has an entire shopping district devoted to holy haute couture.  You learn something new every day! I'm no tat afficionado;  even so, it was a surreal experience rounding a corner and finding ourselves gazing at a chasuble with so much gold embroidery it could have decorated a Christmas tree;  and two nuns (in a separate window to the chasuble wearer of course) attired in a tasteful shades of grey.

I really wish I'd had the nerve to whip out my camera and take a pic for   a friend who's being ordained in a couple of month's time, but there was a rather rotund monk walking right behind us, and it seemed a bit of  a cheesy, touristy thing to do, so the moment passed.

When in Rome...

...do remember to take an umbrella with you.  A soaking wet and bronchitic Greenpatch's view of the queue for the Vatican museums earlier in the week.  How does I went to the Vatican and all I got was a wodge of  loo roll sound as a T shirt slogan? Whilst I wouldn't say my time spent  hacking into the papally provided toilet tissue and downing  my Bronchenolo Sedativo e Fluidificante rated up there with visiting the Sistine Chapel, it came pretty close! Both of us went down with the lurgy although happily it didn't spoil our stay in Rome; we managed to pack a fair amount into the four days we were there, thanks in part to some handy hints and tips from a fellow TSSF tertiary, (you know who you are!) A million thanks.

More later perhaps. We got in at 1 am this morning  after a fourteen hour journey and are still trying to come down to earth.