Well we certainly did have some real summer this year! Lovely. I hope you found some time to just enjoy it rather than have to work through it every day.

And what about the “benefice colours”? Pale green fields of barley waving in the breeze like the sea; then bright yellow oilseed rape; that amazing field of poppies – did you get a photo?; the violet borage on Madmarston Hill; pale blue linseed looking like a lake on the way to Shutford; and now fields of gold (cue Sting!). White blossom in my garden has become bright orange berries on the Rowan tree, which go really well (?) with my courgette and marrow flowers. Soon we shall have autumn tints to enjoy. The sheer beauty of this area continues to amaze me. We are very fortunate - very blessed - to live here.

I find it easier to say my prayers here – the beauty does actually help. I am spoilt for choice over which of the six beautiful churches shall I pray in today?

There is much to give thanks for.

I guess that many people (Most? All?) pray sometimes, but I wonder how people who live in less lovely places get on with praying? Or those who live in Syria? What about those who pray earnestly but never seem to get an answer – or not the one they hope for anyway?

I am also certain that God hears every prayer that is uttered, and, loving Father that he is, answers them all in the best way for us. I am sure that, loving Father that he is, he is pleased when we stand alongside our less fortunate brothers and sisters around the world, and put our prayerful arms of love around them and ask him to do the same.

Even if we don’t find our prayers answered as we want, God will always be there beside us, to hear those prayers and to love and support us.