From Kyambura to Wootton & Odell

Less than a fortnight ago, we walked through head-high elephant grass, over the rim of a crater lake and down towards the large, tranquil, salt-water lake in its base. Our mission? To find flamingoes, confidently asserted to be almost always present in great numbers. Despite powerful binoculars (the perceptive gift of St Mary’s before we left) there was ominously no sign of the birds from the rim - where we had left the 4WD after a rough drive down a little-used dirt track through the Kyambura Wildiife Reserve (a remote corner of Queen Elizabeth National Park bordering the mountainous district of Bushenyi). So, 80% sure that the absence of buck meant a similar safety from their predators, we trekked for half an hour closer to the lake –to be frustrated first by the path’s errant direction and second by the increasing evidence that the flamigoes had flown – long ago. Only the incessant buzz of African insects and the sight of abundant birds of prey and turacos redeemed the morning!



This afternoon I walked through waist high meadow grass, spying the occasional pheasant and rabbit, into the tranquil but almost sepulchral calm of Odell Great Wood, north Beds. The sabbatical is coming to an end, family re-unions have been celebrated, Lucy Alastair and Tom have happily resumed their UK schools for the last few days of the summer term, and we have all settled quickly back in the vicarage in Wootton (where the garden, house and car have all been magnificently prepared by an anonymous and generous team of volunteers). Oh, and we have been re-united with the barking (both senses) family dog, Toffee.

I am spending a final couple of days in quiet prayer and reflection at a converted barn in Odell, away from the phone and post and internet, summing up for myself some of the pastoral conclusions drawn from reading and observation over the ‘rest’ of the last three months. Then tomorrow it’s back to preparation for Sunday and the weeks ahead. Posted later will be my sabbatical reading list, and also a copy of the pastoral letter I composed for the congregation to receive before my return..