Today I ventured up to my Divisional Headquarters, situated at Hatfield Peverel, for my appraisal. Although I find it challenging and theruaptic to go through the appraisal form and evaluate myself privately - I must admit, as lovely as my appraiser was today :), I do not enjoy the actual appraisal itself and always feel so restless and difficult to concentrate on anything afterwards.
I decided to drive the long way home down the A12 and then on to the A130, which today was quite a picturesque drive - it was delightful to see the trees and landscape changing into autumn colours. I then decided to stop off at at Lidals in Baisldon to do some shopping.
Karl made his way to London for the evening to see friends and Nigel disappeared off to Rotary so that left me to on my own in the house. I was quite grateful really and worked off some of my restlessness by cleaning the kitchen, sorting out stuff ready to go back into the office and at the same time watched a film on my laptop 'The White Countess' (moved the laptop from room to room whilst working).
Nigel has just walked in through the door so I shall go and make a cuppa and then get ready for bed. Tomorrow will be a busy day with school in the morning, prep in the afternoon and my weekly service at Thames View Lodge in the evening.
Evening Prayer
‘Mid all the traffic of the ways,
Turmoils without, within,
Make in my heart a quiet place,
And come and dwell therein:
A little shrine of quietness,
All sacred to thyself,
Where thou shalt all my soul possess,
And I may find myself:
A little place of mystic grace,
Of self and sin swept bare,
Where I may look into thy face,
And talk with thee in prayer.
Come, occupy my silent place,
And make thy dwelling there!
More grace is wrought in quietness
Than any is aware.
(John Oxenham)