What do insomniacs get up to at 5am?

When at bedtime the weatherman forecasts up to 4 inches of snow to fall overnight this insomniac starts to make plans! So with several layers of winter clothing on to ward off the chill from the strong wind drifting snow across the road work started in earnest to build an army of snowmen before the rest of the road awoke to see the blanket of snow that had fallen.
By the time the first curtain twitched around 6.30am most of the snowmen were smiling. The top hatted sentry on the church steps had returned (two earlier versions having melted after the previous thaws), the Manse sentry (see below) had also returned along with 12 gatepost sentries on the walls of my neighbours. Each sported a fresh carrot nose thanks to Sainsbury's who had kindly packaged their carrots in punnets ideal for this particular need.

This nocturnal activity provided a useful distraction from the fresh demands of the new semester at Spurgeons. Four new modules are begun each with a 1500 - 2000 word assignment due by 1 June. Thankfully the options for these already offer three attractive possibilities which should see the bulk of the work completed by Easter.

The final two essays of the last semester have come back with more than adequate marks which is a relief. The annual interview with the College Principal is now behind me.

Lent looms with a special service on Ash Wednesday and the start of our Lent Bible Studies using the CTBI materials beginning on Thursday.

By the time I return from college next week work on erecting the scaffolding on the spire should have begun a topic of conversation which dominated the local fraternal.

I have a reference to write for a friend seeking recognition for ministry by the LBA which needs careful and prayerful thought and of course there is the last Sunday before Lent with its focus on the Transfiguration to finalise. Having bought lip shaped 'post-it' notes for the children's talk I'm beginning to have second thoughts about my Valentine's Day link but we'll see.

There's no time to wax lyrical about my new friend Arwen or the opportunity to reflect on the move of a young friend from the UK to the Caribbean but those who make the connections will doubtless make their own enquiries. Oh, and it was good to see and hear Dr Haymes and meet up with Bloomsbury friends on Sunday - a bonus to the week!