LOCKDOWN LIVING
Don’t miss 7pm Wednesday 3rd June
“The Bible is not the word of God – it is more interesting than that!”
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/72543129362? Password 262239.
MY DAILY ROUTINE
My life in lockdown has settled down to a good pattern which I hope I can maintain when life returns to something more normal. The key difference is that I now have lunch each day out on the balcony with Linda (who continues to work seven days a week on Brexit legislation). My morning routine starts with some prayer and meditation, a run – I can now do two laps round the communal garden, half a mile – shower, exercise and breakfast. Quick shop for essential food like milk, wine and rooibosch tea. Mornings are my slot for computer work, i.e. emails, blogs, marketing and social media. And Sundays for a short Zoom service including bread and wine. Afternoons are for contacting friends by phone, studying German in the garden and piano practice. Then we have the 6.00 news, supper and watch something on the TV. When Linda has gone to bed (earlier than me) I watch a relaxing film, pray and sleep.
A surprising plus of the lockdown is that we have got to know many of our neighbours out on the street or in the communal garden. It is a good routine, but we are both looking forward to going on a weekend break or holiday, though we did have a walk in Holland Park, and Kensington Gardens and a picnic in Bishop’s Park, Fulham.
REVISING THE WEBSITE
So, no writing, apart from the blog which will be the basis of the Zoom discussion next week. Do join in ! But I have upped my digital game, like learning how to edit my website. On Tuesday 12th I had a long Zoom call to Emma, my website administrator and revised the look of my website, so that some blogs now appear on my home page.
It looks a whole lot better. I also created a short video on Zoom of me singing some of the traditional worship songs I include in my “Discovering Psalms as Prayer”, and have put it on my youtube channel /bibleinbrief. I want to start doing podcasts, but have some way to go. You can get away with hesitations or fluffs on video, but if you are just on audio they really stick out like a sore thumb! Being in lockdown gives me the space to progress.
I spent £80 this month boosting five posts on facebook to people interested in spirituality. Three of them were to encourage people to buy “Discovering Psalms as Prayer” for free on Kindle on Pentecost weekend. I got a total reach of 18,201for the month, but that is not very meaningful. The key number is how many clicked to open the post. These are the results: — The Church in Lockdown 400 Ever feel stuck in prayer? 201 What’s the good of prayer? 313 Happy Ascension Day! 405 (boosted one day only) A free book for Pentecost! 309 – and two more days to go.
My aim is to win a wider audience in the crowded digital marketplace, which I hope will eventually translate into some book sales. Hope springs eternal! But the journey is fun, especially when I get atheists making rude comments.
I also emailed clergy I know to ask if they would let their congregations know of the free offer on Kindle. I think that is better than trying a blanket coverage.
If you want to get the book free, just get it as an e-book on Amazon this weekend. Just click https://tinyurl.com/yde5ln7d
And please put a review on Amazon and Facebook.
BEST FILMS
Linda and I have had some lovely evenings watching TV series like ‘A State of Happiness’ and specially (on Netflix) ‘Unorthodox; brilliant one-off programmes like ‘Florence Nightingale’ and Anthony Hopkins as King Lear; and recorded films like ‘Attack the Block” – brilliant comedy sci-fi thriller based in a South London housing estate; and Cary Grant in ‘Mr Blandings Build his Dream House’ (1948). BBC2 are screening some classic films in the afternoons like ‘King Kong’.
A FINAL THOUGHT
“Mere survival is an addiction. What is of interest is life, and the direction of that life.” from French Canadian historian Guy Frégault: