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April 2023 April 2023

hedge one of the herd stands alone. Just like that scout sika we silently observe BISHOP’S LETTER
each other, our breath forming a ghostly halo around each other.
I have often noticed at night when passing sleeping cattle one stands alone and
to one side. I ponder if they take it in turns as natural instinct to protect from I wonder whether we can remember how we
predators. I have seen it with sleeping flocks of sheep too at times. Continuing were feeling 3 years ago as we approached
downhill I soon reach Turners Puddle, I silently Easter? Lockdown feels a long time ago,
walk the grass of the far verge and however I was reminded through an article
successfully pass the farm without setting off read recently that we have all experienced a
the dogs that live there. Bearing left just major trauma in our lives which we have
before the little church I cross the first somehow lived through. Our thoughts remain
footbridge and ford on the track to Throop. with those suffering from loss and the effects of
Clear chalkstream water runs from the long Covid yet for the majority of us we have
flooded water meadows through the ancient just got on with life, seldom perhaps thinking
sequence of ditches and channels, testament about the changes we were determined to
to the old design to keep the river Piddle make then, for the better now.
within its banks.
Easter too can be dulled by familiarity, cream eggs and hot crossed buns are no
I walk on towards Throop, soon reaching the longer seasonal, yet as with Covid, entering into the annual desolation of Holy
second ford and footbridge. These are larger, Week, and emerging joyfully on Easter Day changes us. Each year, I try to take
crossing the main river. The Piddle is running some time, usually on Maundy Thursday evening, to look back prayerfully at my
high, last months relentless rains still making life with gratitude and ahead with hope.
their presence felt. Like Bere Stream the Piddle
is a classic chalkstream, running cold and The events of the first Easter changed the course of history, as death was
clear from the chalk to the sea. Chalkstreams defeated and life in all its fullness was made available for all of us, for all
are the jewel of English rivers and we are time. Christ promises to walk with us each day, as he did three years ago, into the
blessed to have the Piddle and Frome on our doorstep. Along with tributaries like darkness, into the unknown, and we are called to be transformed, to change as a
Bere Stream, Milborne Brook and Devils Brook, all chalkstreams. result. We learn lessons too by looking back, perhaps we wouldn’t do things now
as we did then? Traumatic events draw us to our senses, yet when life gathers

The temperature is below freezing now in the valley and the river mist rises and pace again, the bird song we heard, or the neighbour we visited, or the still small
spreads across the frosty flooded water meadows. Like Bere Stream the Piddle voice, all get lost.
runs silver in the moonlight, a perfect partner to the ghostly mist as they dance
toge ther on th e n e ver en di n g journ e y to the sea. Holy Week gives us the
Bridge leaning is never time wasted, whether night or day. At night the sound is gift of drawing breath,
hypnotic, by day the ever changing swirling patterns. On a full moon I have both. of feeling God’s
As I stand lost in imagination again I am aware of a slowly increasing crescendo healing touch of love
of sound from the north. As it gets closer the mass sound becomes individual...the once again. Let’s
geese are coming! At well past midnight in the silent valley their sound is as allow ourselves to
impressive as the sight. once more be turned
upside down by
I stand on the first rung of the bridge handrail to get a better view. Over the tree Christ’s passion, and to
line they come perfectly silhouetted in the moon bright sky, way too many to live life differently as a
count, the sound of their honking so loud I feel they will surely wake everyone from result.
T u r n e r s P u d d l e t o B r i a n t s p u d d l e i f n o t A f f p u d d l e !
The skein passes overhead in perfect vee formation as they start to bank and +Karen
turn, tipping to their right as they start losing height coming in a large arc over the
flooded water meadow. Eventually as one they land, still honking as though

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