The Red Mass...

...is the annual Mass celebrated by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster for the start of the new legal year. It's attended by judges, barristers, and solictors - and here is Jamie (on the right) in his wig and gown, at the Reception in Archbishop's House after the Mass.

It's all very splendid and traditional - judges in red robes, full-bottomed wigs etc - and the Cardinal preached very well, about St Thomas More, citing him as an inspiration for lawyers today faced with laws that do not dovetail with the ethical principles of the Gospels, and urging that his courage and prudence were good examples to follow. You can read the whole of the Cardinal's sermon here, and it's recommended.

Needless to say, some ghastly Government bureaucrats have announced that Britain's traditional legal attire - wigs and gowns and so on - is to be abolished or restricted soon. (The legal profession was asked for its opinion and when this was opposed to the change - for important reasons including preserving the message of impartiality and anonymity of judges - this was of course ignored). So the Red Mass will be one of the few occasions when it can all be seen - and with it some idea of the solemnity of the idea of law based on wisdom and justice.

Graham Greene...

...was the subject of a fascinating talk at the Catholic Writers' Guild last night. Speaker was Father Ian Ker, whose books include The Catholic Revival in English Literature. As always, it was a great evening - lively conversations over supper, good questions and discussion following the talk. Debate about Greene's beliefs - the great drama of his best novels focuses on the question of Hell for those who die in mortal sin, the Church's ministry of dispensing absolution, the hugeness of God's mercy which is beyond what we really deserve...Guild members present included writers, columnists, a young sub-editor who has dealt with some of my features for the Catholic press, a young visitor from Germany working on texts at the British library...all made for very lively and interesting discussions. Novelist Piers Paul Read who knew Greene well gave the vote of thanks.

On the way to St Mary Moorfields I stopped to enjoy a great pealing of bells at St Paul's Cathedral...various important-looking people were standing around on the steps and I ran up to ask one what was happening "It's the annual seafarers' service". Golly, I didn't know we even thought about seafarers these days...and how nice that the old name is still used on such occasions.

But few people stopped to watch the Lord Mayor arrive with mace and dignitaries and all the trimmings, and as I cycled away I felt vaguely sad - we still have the trimmings, and things are done in style, but the heart has gone out of traditional London events somehow.

London's annual Rosary rally...

...takes place this Saturday, and has been advertised in parish newsletters across London, the suburbs, and the further afield, so there should be a good crowd. The procession starts at 1.45 pm from Westminster Cathedral, and ends at Brompton Oratory with hymns and Benediction.

It is remarkable that, while 150 years ago there might have been some controversy about Catholics marching a statue of Mary shoulder-high through Westminster and Kensington, today no one turns a hair. In fact, people rather like it - if they notice the procession at all (and many people are so used to various groups in today's London that they barely remark on yet another one) it is generally with mild interest and pleasure. Whereas, if we walked through the streets with banners affirming that two men can't marry one another, or that babies shouldn't be deliberately killed by abortion, we would provoke massive - possibly violent - opposition...yet 150 or even 50 years ago, such opinions were mainstream. A complete reversal of things. What a weird world this is at times...

Auntie goes to Soho...

...to give a talk to the excellent young people at the St Patrick's School of Mission. A great team, with students from China, Germany, and the USA as well as Britain. We prayed the Rosary together, as they do every day, in the little downstairs chapel before going into the big church for Mass. A little-known fact is that St Patrick's is home to a big Chinese Catholic community - the room where we lunched had lots of cheery Catholic posters and notices in Chinese and is host to the social gatherings after Chinese Masses.

Next week is a party to launch my new Yearbook of Seasons and Celebrations. I shall wear the beautiful new skirt sent to me by my sister in New Zealand, which I also wore for the Catholic Women of the Year Luncheon (see blog entry for a few days ago)....I know it's a bit daft to write about clothes on a blog, but this skirt really is a joy, all swishy and delightful, fits like a dream, and gives huge pleasure, and was commented on very favourably by other guests. As I not infrequently have a just-arrived-by-bike-sorry-I-look-a-mess appearance, it was gratifying to have a different feel...

In November I'm off to Bath where I'm speaking to Catholic groups at Bath and Bath Spa universities. I'll also be speaking at Prior Park School, as part of the Tamezin project on journalism.

An excellent report from Rome, at the ordination to the diaconate of a number of young men, including the son of friends of ours...it was evidently a glorious occasion. The North American College, where all the young deacons have been studying, now has more students than at any time in the last 40 years...

News today about the Holy Father having a warm and friendly meeting with Jewish leaders. A while back, I was sent some horrid anti-Jewish material, denouncing the Pope, from a group claiming to be Catholic. I am proud of our courageous Holy Father who quietly and prayerfully does the right thing and shows us how we should behave.

Brompton Oratory...

...is magnificent in its solidity, standing appropriately next to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. I spent all of Sunday morning there - and indeed part of Saturday evening too. I was handing out leaflets for the Towards Advent Festival (Sat Nov 3rd, Westminster Cathedral Hall...oh I know you are tired of having me mention it all the time...but be there!!). The Saturday evening Mass has the Schola of the London Oratory school - wonderful singing. The 10 am Mass has an excellent children's choir - both girls and boys - and then of course there is the famous professional choir at the big 11 am High Mass, all very glorious. Always lots of small children - there is a strong family feel to the 10 am Mass, and at the eleven o'clock small wriggling running-about children are awed into something like silence by the fabulous music and - if they are pointed towards the altar and given a chance to see things - by the candles and incense and so on.

I do wish parents would take advantage of some of the really lovely prayer-books and other religious items for children that are now available. It seems mean to bring them into church empty-handed, as Mass can sometimes seem long. The publishers at Second Spring have done a superb job with their beautiful Mass book by Susan Bateman - incidentally their website has lots of other very good things too.

Jamie has been in Rome, at the diaconate ordination of James M, son of some friends. He brought home the beautiful order of service, which has most interesting information about St Peter's and especially at high altar and the Chair. Mass has been celebrated there, and St Peter's successors have been there, all in an unbroken link, down all the years from the Church's first dawning years.

This afternoon an Autumnal walk with F., a friend visiting from Ukraine - we followed the trail of our local small river, the Beverley Brook, which sparkles along behind houses and in sudden culverts, and still forms the official boundary between the two local Boroughs, as it has done since Medieval times. We diverted to drop into the local Catholic church as I wanted to pick up a copy of the Catholic Times (my feature this week was about St Denis - why not just buy the paper and read my column each week, if you enjoy this Blog?). F. was impressed by the large numbers of young people as the place was very full.

Pottering in the kitchen...

...this morning, I heard the sound of a strumming guitar and young voices singing next door. It was not, to be frank, very good guitar-strumming. One found oneself vaguely allowing it to float into the brain...and I suddenly realised I was hearing the words "Christ is risen..Christ will come again..." and that the girl next door and some friends were practising something for Mass.

I'm not a fan of guitar-music in church - it doesn't work well, kills off the possibility of good congregational singing, usually has tunes that are trite and often words that are pretty soppy too (though these have marginally improved since the '70s). I would perhaps have been happier if I had heard young voices raised in a simple but beautiful Kyrie, a glorious rendition of the Credo, or just a fine old hymn with a good tune...but for all that...somehow...there is something mildly heart-lifting about teenagers singing about God in a suburban garden on a September morning.

Lunching...

... with some 250 other women...golly, the NOISE!! But the Catholic Women of the Year Luncheon is always fun, and this year I sat between Aghi Clovis, who is one of the four Catholic Women of the Year, and Sara Johnson, author and journalist, who was our guest speaker. Sara spoke extremely well, amusingly and frankly, putting the human and biological reality of marriage and children across in a superb analysis of why human beings need families. It was funny, forthright, and honest - and she murmured to me beforehand that some of it might be just a little too frank, and should she give a warning about this as there were some children present? We discussed, and I hurried off to warn the young mother of the children in question - who said breezily oh, not to worry, they very likely wouldn't be listening anyway, it would all go over their heads...and she was quite right. The boys, very cheery and looking v. nice in their best jackets and crisp shirts, were enjoying themselves and like most sensible children didn't bother about all the grown-up speeches at all.

The four Catholic Women of the Year included pub landlady Bridie Morrissey, Jo Norton a worker for seafarers with the Apostleship of the Sea, Ann Widdecombe MP - unfortunately unable to attend - and Aghi Clovis, already mentioned, of Human Life International. Chairman Jan Woodford presided, and there were speakers from the two charities we were supportinmg this year, Rainbow International - which helps children suffering bereavement or family break-up - and the Medaille Trust, which runs homes for victims of sex-trafficking.

There is always an atmosphere of goodwill, with people able to celebrate values that matter in a friendly and cheerful way... The Catholic Women of the Year are chosen from a vast number nominated, all with inspiring stories, and you realise just what a lot of goodwill there is around. They invariably dislike having their achievements paraded, but I can't resist mentioning Mrs Morrissey, with whom I had a lovely chat...her nomination had described so many quietly good things..helping out people in difficulties, taking in children needing care, running a prayer-group, and having an open-house at Christmas for anyone who might otherwise be alone...and Mrs Norton, whose work involves meeting ships and helping with the things matter to seafarers miles from home: phone calls, getting to a bank, buying neccesities for the next journey - and also arranging for them to get to Mass, to have rosaries, prayer-books, contact with the Faith, the knowledge that the Church is there for them even when miles out at sea...

Aghi Clovis is a great friend so it was a joy to be next to her at lunch. You simply must come and hear her speak, about her journey from Islam to the Church, at the Towards Advent Festival - Saturday November 3rd, Westminster Cathedral Hall.

Latest edition of VOICES, magazine of Women for Faith and Family, in the USA, arrives. If you enjoy this blog, you might enjoy some of the features I've written for the magazine, so try this link.

Traditional Catholic teaching...

... on marriage can be conveyed in new ways and has the power to inspire, especially if it's all seen in the fresh light of Pope John Paul's "Theology of the body". It is a privilege to be part of a team leading talks and discussions on this with young couples preparing for marriage in London. I was doing this on Tuesday with couples gathered at St Mary's Cadogan Street, Chelsea. Rain was lashing down, and it was rather exciting cycling there from Waterloo, across the river and round Parliament Square, up past Westminster Cathedral and on past the Royal Hospital (which is having a major rebuilding programme - giving our old soldiers good quality care, which they certainly deserve and have earned).

Earlier, I had had a gloriously long talkative lunch with a longstanding friend, C. - we first met years ago when I was editing the Roman Chronicle magazine, to which she contributed regular features. Over pizza and a series of cups of coffee, - and, in my case, a delicious piece of chocolate cake - we talked over a great many things ... gosh, what a gift friendship is! She also gave me a couple of religious medals - one shows Pope Benedict (of whom we are both huge fans) and the shrine of Our Lady at Altotting. Later, at Chelsea, the parish priest kindly blessed the medals for me and I am now wearing the Altotting one.

Balham...

...Catholic church, dedicated to the Holy Ghost, is in a corner of an agreeable square and has a cosy feel on an Autumn evening. Busy parish, and a very young one, lots of families with small children. FORUM CHRISTI is a Sunday evening gathering for the late-teens-and-twenties. Good atmosphere, warm welcome, tolerance of my less than slick use of power-point in talk on Papa Benedict, shared enthusiasm for the subject, real engagement and interest, and several people bought my books!

John Pontifex was there, having just run a half-marathon around Tooting Common raising funds for Aid to the Church in Need (see yesterday's Blog - helping beleagured Christians in the Holy Land). He had gone home, showered, changed, and was at the meeting full of energy!

I had begun the day in my own parish, where there was a Fayre in aid of the young people going to World Youth Day. I bought some nice things for Christmas ( hidden now in cupboard. Makes one feel v. smug to be so well prepared this early) and chatted to two students from Wonersh seminary who were there for the day - most encouraging. There was also a most gratifying moment when a lovely reader of this blog told me she'd bought some of my crab apple jelly!

From there I cycled to Carshalton, where Mother and I had our usual agreeable Sunday afternoon walk and Tea - seagulls around Carshalton Ponds as they have flown in from the coast as Autumn gathers, children shrieking and squeaking on the swings and slides in the park by The Grove. After seeing M. on to the bus, I cycled off, following the Wandle river down to Mitcham. I have lived this this corner of the world from childhood but never followed the Wandle along this stretch - there's a whole area that is really semi-rural tucked in between Mitcham and Colliers Wood, lots of it, with suburban houses facing away from an enchanting river-path, and clear water gurgling along with trees and grassy areas...then you emerge into South London proper, and are back on that great road that was old in Saxon times, and today is all Asian shops, and a great Islamic centre, and lively cafes and street-stalls, and shops selling great sticky sweets after Ramadan.

After my talk at Balham I cycled all the way home, so I must have covered a good many miles in all. I passed what was my old office when I worked on the South London News - it's now an ordinary shop. It was shabby and tired when I worked there in the 80s, and there was a horrible scary basement reached by a trap-door, where the old back copies were stacked. No one ever went there except to haul up an old bound volume for research when writing the "fifty years ago" snippet each week. Huge spiders, and a dusty placard on the wall which, through its layers of grime, still read "Please leave this air-raid shelter as you would like to find it".

What an extraordinary experience...

...to be part of a glorious Sung Mass in Westminster Cathedral with the Archbishop of Galilee as preacher! Beautiful music, the timeless words of the Mass, swirls of incense, vast crowds, some chattering tourists awed into silence as the First Reading from the Book of Daniel was announced, the usual great mixture of ages and races and types of people in the congregation...

Archbishop Elias Chacour has been in Britain as a guest of Aid to the Church in Need, and was the top speaker at a conference this weekend at Westminster. The Mass launched the conference and he made a notable figure as he walked to the lectern to preach: the Archbishop is of the Melkite Rite and wore his traditional robe, cross and headpiece - he had us spellbound as he told us about what it is like for Christians today in the Holy Land, caught between the Israeli authorities and the world of Islam, forgotten by much of the rest of the Christian community in Europe and elsewhere, seen as tiresome and an irritant, living almost as refugees in their own homeland.

His message was absolutely rooted in a appeal for kindliness, common sense, neighbourliness, and peace - there was no rancour here and no politicking. Jews and Christians in the Holy Land, he said, do not need to be taught how to get along with one another - they only need to remember how they have managed to do so over many centuries, and claim that heritage. His plea that we should know abut the Christians there, holding fast to their faith and traditions, facing poverty and exile, uncertain of what the future holds.

He spoke with humour - enjoys pointing out that Christ too was "a man from Galilee" - and with a love of his heritage, talking about the olive groves, the smiles of the children, the language and the customs of his people. He spoke with passion and with warmth, recognising the tragic history of the Jewish people in the 20th century, appealing for understanding.

After the Mass, crowds waited in Ambrosden Avenue to pack into the Cathedral Hall for the conference. In addition to hearing about the Holy Land, we had a young speaker from China (a member of the young international team based at St Patrick's, Soho Square), and ACN's own John Pontifex talking about his recent visits to Eritrea and Ethiopia, plus Director Neville Kyrke-Smith giving us the latest news from the former Soviet Union...it was a terrifically interesting, inspiring, and challenging day.

You can help the Christians in the Holy Land by buying some of the lovely Christmas gifts they make out of olive wood - and while doing that, don't miss the beautiful cards and notelets printed with designs drawn by a Bishop while imprisoned in China - this brave man has since died in prison, a hero of the faith - and the range of inspiring books also now available from Aid to the Church in Need.

Bishop Peter Elliott...

newly-appointed Bishop in Melbourne, Australia, is visiting Britain. Our friendship with him goes back nearly thirty years...it was an absolute delight to see him. We joined him at St Patrick's, Soho Square, (see pic) for a wonderful talkative dinner on Wednesday, hosted by the splendid Fr Alexander Sherbrook. Bishop Peter had just come from Rome, where he was attending a sort of "staff course" for Bishops. In Australia, one of his main projects is the John Paul 11 Institute for Marriage and Family - I wish we had something like this in Britain.

St Patrick's is of course a wonderful place - a church packed with history, prayer, good activities, young people, and a great sense of mission. A soup-run takes food, faith and hope around Soho, young people attend a School of Evangelisation, it is home to a big Chinese community which meets for Mass, ditto Brazilians and various others, it is involved with the Cenacolo project helping people move on from drugs-and-alcohol addictions...oh, and lots more. And it's desperately in need of funds. This is one of London's great institutions - linked with Archbishop Fulton Sheen (he worked here when in London and wrote extensively about his experiences here), with various show-business people who worshipped here or were married here or came here for hope and help...It was fairly badly bashed in WW11 and then repaired, but now time and wear-and-tear have taken a terrible tool of ceilings, walls, fabric, wiring, you name it...and it needs a great deal of money to get the work done. There's an appeal, and a lot of goodwill - and you could join in, if you simply log on to the website I've given...

This is...

...the church of St James, Spanish Place, in London, where the Association of Catholic Women held its annual meeting at the weekend. I went along with Mother - a most enjoyable and interesting day. There was an talk from Mgr Langham of Westminster Cathedral, giving a sort of "behind the scenes" view of Cathedral life and explaining the role of a cathedral in relation to the diocese and the parishes, and then a wonderful look at some traditional English shrines of Our Lady in an illustrated talk by Anne Vail, whose book on the subject (published by Gracewing) is the fruit of a great deal of careful research and an evident love of her subject. I had not known there was once "Our Lady of Coventry" and "Our Lady of Doncaster". I did know about Our Lady of Caversham, as we have been there more than once, and indeed one of my godsons made his First Communion there.

The church's address is always given as Spanish Place, because of its historic links - its predecessor was a Spanish embassy chape. The present magnificent building retains strong links with Spain, the Ambassador attending an annual Mass in honour of St James, etc - but it is really in George Street, in that slightly villagey part of London around Marylebone High Street and not far from Baker Street. There is a fine statue of Sherlock Holmes near Baker Street tube station. Oddly, the only time I have ever had my handbag grabbed from me by a thief in a London street was in Baker Street, near Holmes' fictional home.

After the AGM, Mother was met by my brother who took her off for a family weekend at their new home.

The ACW has had a successful year, with activities ranging from fund-raising for a clinic for children with Downs, to organising the annual Religious Education project for primary schools...oh, and we'll be running, as usual, the refreshments at the Towards Advent Festival on November 3rd at Westminster Cathedral Hall (some of my blackberry jam on sale). Weve had correspondence with various Government departments about such horrors as the revolting and vicious notion that gravely ill pateints should be denied water in hospital

The Thames in September...

...can be glorious. We had niece L. staying with us over the weekend and spent Sunday afternoon on the river. Things began with Sung Mass at Westminster Cathedral (if you live in or near London and haven't heard that glorious choir, you are missing something excellent) and then some hurrying about arranging which boat and where to meet etc...a picnic lunch in St James' Park - reached via streets packed with cyclists as there was a massive and very cheerful cycling rally in London all day...and then a splendid bit of just-to-the-minute timing as Jamie joined us on the pier moments before the boat was due to leave - and off we all went together, chugging along past the Palace of Westminster and down on towards Hammersmith and Putney and Mortlake and Kew.

The commentaries on the boats are priceless, as anyone who has experienced one of them will know...and there are some nuggets of information there: I had no idea, for instance, that the (Latin) words of the Our Father are carved in the stonework of the Houses of Parliament, along with all the kings and queens and heraldic devices...

At Kew, we disembarked, and walked down to the Green - where one can have tea in the churchyard of St Anne's church - all done by volunteers, and proper scones with jam and cream, and cake. There was cricket on the green, and the golden September sun filtering through the trees, and the bell ringing for Evensong.

If you enjoy Auntie Joanna's blog...

...you might enjoy this feature, just published in the new on-line version of an American magazine, Crisis...

Another kind donation for World Youth Day (following my cycle ride) arrived today, from an elderly lady of 88 in Cornwall...saying she'd love to meet the Holy Father, but is too old to travel and couldn't afford Australia anyway, but here is something for the young people...things like this make one gulp. I am saving up some of these letters to show to some of the young people when I speak at one of their meetings in a couple of months' time.

Further to the information on my blog yesterday about Aid to the Church in Need, a young staff member there is running a half-marathon in aid of Christians in the Holy Land. Read about it here.

My niece is coming to stay for the weekend, and we are hugely looking forward to this: we have planned a "Thomas More day" with a trip to Hampton Court, because we have been watching (OK, re-watching) A Man for all Seasons with its lovely scenes of a particular stretch of the river that we know extremely well: we've often walked along that path, with the little steps that run satisfyingly up and down along the wall to the Home Park near the Long Water...

Auntie will be off to America...

...though not for a few weeks yet. I fly to the USA in a month's time, Oct 20th. But there is a great deal to do in preparing for the programmes I will be doing with EWTN in Alabama. These involve doing some cookery - no, I won't give away details. But golly, it's complicated working out recipes, listing what is needed, and arranging what I need to bring myself...especially as, in order to get things right, I have to test some of the recipes here first...

Some good news about religious frreedom in Britain - read this on the Christian Institute's website.

Worked today on the computer virtually non-stop all morning till a late lunch . Is this good for one's eyesight? Cycled off to bank etc, returned to further work. While I type, I enjoy music: I have a set of "100 Popular Classics" which probably makes me seem like a complete musical twerp but there you are...I also have some lovely CDs from the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan School.

Today is our wedding anniversary. I emailed a request to Classic FM that they play "Sheep may safely graze", which we had at our wedding - and J's parents had at their wedding a quarter of a century earlier...I wonder if it will be played?

Mellow fruitfulness...

...is all around us. Cycling from Kingston yesterday, I passed under a tree postively groaning with glowing rosy crab-apples. I've made as much c/a jelly as anyone possibly could (and if you want some, go to the Fayre being held at St Joseph's, New Malden, on Sept 30th to raise money to send young people to World Youth Day). But I simply had to gather some of these...and it's not scrumping, is it, if the tree is on a public highway? They made a superb apple puree, which I turned into a crumble-topped pudding which J. really enjoyed.

I wish we made more of the Harvest Thanksgiving tradition in Catholic churches in Britain. It needn't be all Thomas Hardy-ish and nostalgic... with golden Autumn sunshine, and gardens and hedges filled with good things, it seems bleak not to celebrate a bit...Papa Benedict seems keen on all things eco-friendly and so on, so perhaps he'll encourage us...

Coffee today with A., a friend who is a Catholic born and brought up in Iraq. The news from Baghdad about the Christian community there is just so tragic: churches blown up or abandoned as Christians have been forced out of their homes...

Co-incidentally, latest material from Aid to the Church in Need reveal it is doing what it can to give help to the Christians of Iraq, and of the Middle East generally. They have just produced a catalogue of beautiful Christmas cards, books, and gifts...why give your money to supermarkets when you can get things from this excellent charity which can do so much good with what you send?

I've been sent a number of lovely books to review over the past couple of weeks. Anna Melchior's Mothering: a spiritual and practical approach (St Paul, £8.95p) is a good read: I thought it might be pious and unrealistic, but it isn't - it's up-to-date, honest, and with good useas and much usefuyl information. Recommended.

The Poor Clares...

...of Arkley, near Barnet, hosted a Family Day for local families today. It began with a picnic in the September sunshine, and then Fr Daniel, from the Oratory, gave a talk to the young people, and there were activities for the small children - which seemed to include making hats out of cardboard plates, as some good-natured parents were later seen wearing some of these creations - while I spoke about "Feasts and Traditions" to the grown-ups. We were invited to use the sisters' Parlour - which in traditional style is a room with a divider built across it, so that the sisters can welcome guests while still remaining within their Enclosure. We were too many for the guests' bit, so spread over the two, with me perched on the dividing ledge. The sisters were busy around their daily routine - we saw some in the garden - and were happy simply to have us all there, which was very kind, and the whole atmosphere was welcoming and delightful. It was well worth the long cycle ride - there's a good deal of Barnet and it goes on Barneting for a good while as you toil along from the station out towards Arkley...all pretty and pleasant. Things finished with a Mass and then Benediction - which I couldn't attend as I had to get back home. For those interested in such things, I'll note that the Mass was in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite!

Yesterday evening I did a very cheery and pleasant interview for the Catholic Times - with my own parish priest, Fr Peter of St Joseph's, New Malden. The current edition features an interview with Fr Stephen of Balham.

Conkers...

...are particularly splendid this year, large and glossy and bountiful. I have always found that the problem is that they are so beautiful that of course one must collect some up - and then, what to do with them? But in the Daily Telegraph the other day there was a list of Useful Hints for Saving the Planet, or something - noting that what used to be thrift is now being green and eco-friendly and not having carbon footprint and things. And apparently, conkers are excellent as an alternative to mothballs! So there you are. A good reason to collect them and put them in with Jamie's socks.

Also collectable are quick jokes. Thanks to B. for this one: Luciano Pavarotti arrives at the Pearly Gates. St Peter is pleased:"Squeeze in Luciano - good to have you here. I'll go and tell the boss." And he goes off to tell God: "I've got the tenor I owed you..."

I am off to speak at a Family Day tomorrow, but today, with so much to do and write and tackle at home, it's urgent that we leave some of it, get out into the glorious blue and golden September.

Today was a rush...

...to London for a discussion on the Jeremy Vine Show (BBC Radio 2), then back to write up a feature interview with Josephine Robinson of the Association of Catholic Women, for a Catholic newspaper, then on to Mother's, where we enjoyed a evening together watching a DVD about England's countryside and the writers and artists who have celebrated it..and both joined in with a lot of the poetry especially Rupert Brooke on Grantchester and the corner of a foreign field that is for ever...and all the while I was sticking stamps on envelopes (over 300 of them) for RC parishes across London and the South East, with handbills about the Towards Advent Festival on Sat Nov 3rd.

I love this time of year, the fresh exciting mornings and the reassurring promise of Autumn that you get around teatime.

In reply...

...to various kind enquiries: YES, you can most certainly obtain my books even if you live in America. Simply look up the books you want on my website and once you have chosen the book, contact me, by sending me a cheque (oh, very well, check, if you want to spell it the American way...). You can reach me by writing to me c/o 34 Barnard Gardens New Malden Surrey KT3 6QG. I can accept American cheques, and I keep a supply of my books - just write to me listing the one(s) you want, and send me a cheque for the amount, plus about five dollars extra for postage (or say ten dollars if you want the book airmail). To find out how much to pay, look at the price in £s and send about twice that plus a bit more, ie a book costing £5 would be about thirteen dollars. Make the cheque out to Mrs J. Bogle. I will hurry to the Post Office with your book. I will sign it if you like. I will put a ribbon round it if you like...

If you want my latest book, it's not yet listed on my website and I haven't got any copies until October. But you could still order it from me! Just allow a little while for delivery... It's A Yearbook of Seasons and Celebrations and sells for £7.99p.

By the way, Australian readers of this Blog can get my books from Freedom Publishing, 582 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051

Please do buy my books!!

To the kind enquirer who asked about my next EWTN series: it will be broadcast in the spring and is a series of six programmes with ideas for things to make, cook, eat, and sing for Lent and Easter. I also have two new series of Catholic Lives coming up - these are interviews with Catholics who are doing interesting and useful things in London...I am filming some of these in October, and have already done several interviews already too. They include Fr Tim Finigan, of Hermeneutic of Continuity fame, Charles Cole who directs the Schola of the Cardinal Vaughan School, and Sister Chiara who works in Holy Ghost parish, Balham.

We badly want to do a seies about the recusant houses of England, priest-hides, etc. Prayers, please, for this venture...