A Monthly Publication

Nicholas Godfrey-Cole

 The saying of “time flies when you are having fun" certainly goes for me, since my last article in this newsletter.

              It doesn't seem possible that a month has flown by and that it time to sit and write for you. It has been a very busy month which started as the last issue going to press!

              I had been approached by The Royal Sandringham Show, to present a Floral Demonstration, as I had been the year previous, but this time on a much grander scale. Having been commissioned too by one of our regional newspapers, to prepare a display for His Royal Highness and his wife Camilla, an early start was needed so it was to the show ground at 5am, with Kevin dragged from his bed to assist, I set about preparing a stunning archway as the main focal area for the presentation of the committee to Prince Charles and also The Prince of Wales Feathers, made from flowers and accessories. So in the blaze of the glorious morning sun, using a mix of flowers both from the UK and imports, my stunning design in a vast mix of bright colours was created, and greatly admired by all during the day.

  Once this was prepared it was into the Gardeners Forum Marquee, where in front of my parents (first visit to the show and also seeing me demonstrating), and lots of friends supporting me, I amazed people with creations in set colours of the rainbow. Seven pieces were made, at speed and with me constantly talking, during three shows, ending with a huge pedestal of mixed colours.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself and wish to thank all local people who came to support me.

  As well as this great event, I have been lucky to prepare flowers for some beautiful Brides and handsome Grooms, an unusually high amount of Funeral flowers and a general increase in business. I am very fortunate to be so busy and thank the townsfolk for their continued support.

  Having worked, exceptionally hard, on my own for the past few weeks and with the assistance of Kevin and my new delivery driver Kathy, I have now employed a new member of our team, Sam, who will be joining us in September. A very talented florist who I am looking forward to working with.

  Our shop is now restocked with artificial blooms, vases and a constant change of fresh flowers. We are also now stocking Ashleigh & Burwood (London) Reed Diffusers and Claremont and May Home Fragrances, so with this mix of fragrances and those from our fresh flowers, we really are "Scent with love".

I’m Christine Thacker recently retired here from the Diocese of Lincoln where I was Assistant Curate at Holy Cross with St. Helen in Lincoln for nine years. Before that I was Rector of Christ Church, Kitimat, in North West British Columbia, Canada, for eight years.  Although I was born in Lincoln I left in my early twenties for Canada. After a brief spell in Montreal and Ottawa I went West and settled in Vancouver for 16 years. During that time I returned to the church of my childhood, the Anglican Church, where I had a conversion experience that eventually led me to The Vancouver School of Theology where I trained for the priesthood. At the same time I met the Bishop of Caledonia and after a conversation I went off on my great adventure up north to Kitimat. Kitimat is a town of 10,000 with three main industries; logging, Alcan Aluminium and Methanex (methol alchohol). Christ Church was the only Anglican church in town but there were seven other denominations. Ecumenically we worked together very well.  The nearest town to Kitimat was Terrace about an hours drive away. A lovely drive in the summer through the pine forests past lakes and mountains; deadly in the winter where seven feet of snow is normal. Many a time I’ve had to dig myself out of a snowdrift. I had lots of adventures. I’ll tell you a couple of them. First was the trip with my Bishop to a conference near Fort St. John, way up north. We were driving in the dark in January and with the temperature 20c degrees below freezing with snow banks either side of the road when suddenly out of nowhere came a huge moose (size of a cart horse). With no time to brake we hit him full on. The windshield shattered. We were covered in glass and moose hair but otherwise unharmed. The moose also appeared to be OK and wandered off; sadly likely to die later. Luckily soon a logging truck came along and we were rescued. I remember that night when I undressed my underwear was full of glass and moose hair and I picked bits of glass out of my scalp for the next two weeks. The car, a brand new Volvo, was a write off. That story ended up in quite a few of the Bishop’s sermons so I heard.

Talking about Moose reminds me of Moose Milk (hot milk laced with brandy). This was dished out by the Legion Ladies after the annual Remembrance Day Service. By Nov.11 we had lots of snow. I was Legion Chaplain and after the service we paraded down to the Legion Hall, frozen stiff, and ready for our Moose Milk.  This building had a balcony and the Mayor and Corporation were out there admiring the lovely Christmas card scene of pine tree branches drooping under their heavy layer of snow when the snow on the hall roof decided to release itself. The Mayoral party almost disappeared under the avalanche of snow. They were good sports and we all had a good laugh and no harm done except to their egos.

I also spent quite a bit of time travelling with my Bishop to the Native villages for such things as totem pole raisings and house blessings when anyone who had a new truck would bring that too to be blessed. Also baptisms and funerals. Native funerals go on for about a week with much feasting and lengthy speeches that go on long into the night and not much of it in English. A fascinating culture and being Matriarchal has no problem with women priests as they have always had female as well as male chiefs.

And then I came back to the UK and the Church of England……..A new adventure?