• Tales of the City – February 2020

    On the way home from the opera I step into a shop to get out of the rain, and buy something to eat against the cold – a late-night post-operatic chittery-bite.

    In front of me are two young men dressed in much less than I am. They are the worse for wear and arguing.

    Drunk Young Man #1: Well we’ll ask someone else then.

    Drunk Young Man #2:
    Yes! Someone neutral.

    They turn to me.

    DYM#1: Here man. Settle an arugment for us will you. Is coronavirus real or is it propoganda

    Self: I think it is real.

    DYM#2: Aye man. Told you. It *is* real. He said so. Here, I bet you do a very responsible job

    DYM#1:
    Aye very responsible. What are you man?

    I hesitate a moment and consider how to answer.

    DYM#2: I bet he’s a Supply Chain Manager. Are you a Supply Chain Manager, man?

    I smile a smile that I hope will look like the smile of a cold wet Supply Chain Manager.

    DYM#2: I knew it.

    DYM#1: Hey, do you have a lighter?

    I shake my head.

    We are all forlorn that I do not have a lighter.

3 responses to “Englandwatch”

  1. mmartha Avatar
    mmartha

    This strikes me as a well-needed reflection. Generally speaking, betrayal
    sinks to other levels also. Character is still a word I use. If anyone fails to find it in a person, then here are other words that come to mind: Advertencia! Watch out!

  2. mmartha Avatar
    mmartha

    Dr. Williams’ tone in his York address on moving forward to the work about women bishops evidenced a calm and responsible approach that surely would be recognized as churchmanship.

    1. kelvin Avatar

      Yes – I heard that too. He did sound calm and responsible.

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