THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF.

At the end, I said, to Phil, “It was really lovely today, it wasn’t anything like I had expected.”

I told Phil, “I love the donkey story of Brian, is not an everyday name you hear for a donkey.” I told him, “It was lovely that we had opportunities to make our own palms.” And that, “I loved the prizes for the best three.” I didn’t make one, I chose to have a plastic one instead, I will keep it on the back of my car inside, on top of the boot.

For me, the icing on the cake was the Holy Communion afterwards, it was in the vast hall outside the main room.

For me, it was Holy Communion, with a difference. All the tables, were beautifully laid out with food, all sealed ready for us to choose where we wanted to sit.

The usual tea and coffee were in the usual place near the entrance of the building, piping hot served by whoever turn it was today.

I went to a table, as I approached, I expected to see, bread and wine, but no, there was no bread or wine, just meal with friends. All the tables, they are long with long benches either side. Each table had a small bottle of hand gel. I used it.

I sat at the end, there was a couple already there sat opposite me. I took a plate and napkin; the spread was lovely.

I opened the sliced tiger loaf and took out two slices. I got the butter and spread it on the thick slice of bread, I then got slices of salami, and different slices of cheese. It was all so surreal, for I had never experienced Holy Communion like this, a meal, fellowship, relaxed talking, smiles.

I am not a chutney person, so I didn’t have any, nor did I have breadsticks. There were small bottles of individual drinks on the table, but I fancied a nice cupper. So, after I had made myself a nice fat sandwich, for this was my breakfast, now Brunch. I left the table and went and got a sweet cup of tea.

Everything was free, the drinks and the food, as it always is at Church.

Others on my table had different types of cheese and different types of bread and crackers. The black grapes looked lovely.

After I had my sandwich, I then had two slices of malt loaf with butter and jam, yum.

Before we had all sat down, it was announced, “On this table everything is gluten free.” I looked behind me to see that table ladened with goodies.

I had a lovely chat with those on my table, and the food was lovely. I had thought during the service, what I was going to eat, before I went to work. And now that was sorted.

After forty-five minutes Phil announced to us all, “Whatever you want, please take home with you.” Food was there, offered or declined with each other. There was a lot still left of the large table. I chose Jam, that I had opened and it was just me that had used it. I chose French Brie cheese as Daniel loves it. I also chose Gouda Dutch cheese, for myself, Paul and Meghan. The lovely malt loaf was offered to me, which I love, but as I know I would eat it all, I declined. I just thought, I should have taken the butter, but we have enough at home. No one was been greedy, as there was plenty for everyone, on every table.

It was just, a lovely morning service. I hadn’t been to a Palm Sunday, like this one, for a very long time. I felt great, peaceful and relaxed.

On the way home, on the dual carriageway, I could see the sign telling us all, the two lanes of traffic will become one!

I hate that, it always makes my heart beat that much faster, and I remember Pauls words from years ago, “You need to have a camera on the front and back of your car.” I always find, these-one-lane ahead, stressful.

I went straight to the right, where it showed us all, that the lane on the left will be closed ahead.

I looked in my rearview mirror, and I could see that most of the drivers did not do what I’d just done, they speed past me on my left, to push in ahead. There is no way, anyone is getting past me, when the road narrows at the top!

At the white line, I kept my car on the edge of it, at the left, and as the cars speed on past me on the left, I stayed close to that white line, keeping close to the driver in front of me, so no one was going to push in, in front of me. It was now start and stop driving. Lots of concentration, all the peacefulness from Church was now gone, as I focused on the task at hand.

Then as we got closer to the narrowed part of the road, I noticed a huge juggernaut was on my left, but it was not next to me, he had stopped all the other tiny cars speeding past. He was waiting for cars behind me to let him into the right-hand side. So, he’d put a stop to all the other cars that wanted to push in on the left-hand side. It made me smile. And I could relax.

Then as I looked in my rearview mirror, I saw a man on a motorbike in bright padded fluorescent yellow with the words Blood, I moved quickly to my right, so that he could past, with his precious packages. He lifted his hand to me; to thank me, it was a pleasure, to let him pass. What a fabulous job, I thought. Others ahead moved over to let him pass. He thanked them too. This single act, to see him, made my day. I could see he was going onto the motorway; I wished him a safe journey with the precious blood that he was transporting, and for those that would receive it.