JUNE 2021
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THE CHURCH BY THE SEWAGE FARM
Most of the month was taken up with creating the next section of the book about All Saints Hackbridge. This covers the ministry of Adrian Esdaile, from 1968 to 1980. I had forgotten what hard work this is. First I had to read all twelve volumes of the parish magazines for his ministry, making notes of the main events in the parish, things that reflected the crises in wider society, such as the extraordinary development of microprocessors or silicon chips, and interesting bits of local history – like the landlord’s wife of the Red Lion before the First World War – making bird pie with 96 sparrows! Adrian was such an energetic and forward thinking person, that there was a lot to write about. I aimed to finish the first draft by the end of the month, and I achieved that – 14,000 words. Thank God for Caffe Nero which was my indispensable office!
JESUS THE TROUBLEMAKER – THE AUDIO
Back in April I made contact with a narrater, Peter Walters, via the website Fiverr to put ‘Jesus the Troublemaker’ on audio. In June it finally happened. I gave guidance to Peter on how to pronounce the various Hebrew and Aramaic names. I then decided that it would be worthwhile to narrate the final explanatory section myself. So on Tuesday 22nd I got on the train from London Liverpool Street to Norwich, then got a hire car to drive the 20 miles to the village of Briston. There I was introduced to Peter’s ‘vocal booth’, otherwise named ‘the Tardis’, and spent an hour recording the script that I had written the day before. After an hour or so’s editing – taking out various sounds of breathing and smacked lips – I drove back to Norwich, saw the magnificent 11th century cathedral and back to London. Job done!
I continue to listen to Peter’s narration which he sends me in short sections most days, making comments as appropriate, such as “a bit of a pause here” and “Galileans is pronounced Galileeans”. It will be finished in July, then will come the launch on ‘Audible’, and possibly other platforms.
At the same time the plush colour edition should be available. I haven’t yet decided about having a live public launch with wine and nibbles – I definitely missed not having that in March!
MARKETING
I have done some thinking about marketing this month but not doing any marketing at all! I had lunch with Chris Day my publisher in Beddington, and talked about creating an email list of shops. On 17th I met my friend Richard in Caffe Nero and talked about creating an email list of everyone I know who might be interested. The same day I talked with an internet whizz and talked about improving my SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), specially getting my blogs on other websites and returning the compliment. I have another friend Chris, an expert in semiotics, who I will be talking with about marketing as well. But I have done nothing about it. Only concentrating on All Saints parish magazines 1969-1980. I intend to devote the whole week at the start of July to this task. I might even get to sell some books eventually!
BLOGS
Because I took the communion service at Holy Trinity Prince Consort Road on Trinity Sunday, June 20th this year, I naturally got to thinking about the Trinity – what I call ‘God in 3D’. I did a Facelive and put out two blogs, which you will already have got. I had some very positive comments back, and it made me think. Maybe I could do some webinars on tricky subjects like God and Sin and the Bible. Perhaps I could appeal to a wider range of people? I am only just beginning to think about it. Any comments you have will be most welcome.
WEEKENDS
With Brexit finally settled, Linda has started having weekends free at last! We have made full use of them this month. On Monday 31st May We had a wonderful day out on Hampstead Heath, a lovely lunch at Kenwood House and at the end discovered the glories of Waterlow Park, Highgate. Ten days later we drove out to Greys Court, a National Trust house in the Chilterns. Then on Sunday we had a lovely picnic under a tree by the river at Richmond on one of the hottest days of the year.
Linda went down to her parents for Fathers’ Day while I saw two films with two friends at Cine Lumière, the French Institute cinema by South Kensington. Altogether Linda and I have seen four films in June, the best being ‘The Father’. But best of all our viewing was ‘Time ‘ a 3 part TV drama of life in prison. Extremely accurate and heartfelt.
Wishing you a great July.
Andy