What you are looking at is two mementos from our years in Durham England. The first is the picture of the high altar in Durham Cathedral, the most spectacular Norman church in the world, built after the famous William the Conqueror came to England in 1066 winning the battle of Hastings in that year, and establishing a Norman presence in England, the most impressive of which is seen in this remarkable cathedral. You will notice the small curio below it of the most famous painting of John Wesley. Methodist, seven centuries after William was especially well received in the North, which became the religion of the coal miners. When we lived in Durham, 1977-80 they were still holding the miner's gala with full parade through Durham, finishing at Elvet Methodist Church where Ann was the caretaker serving tea and biscuits at the gala, and I was preaching on the Durham circuit, often to little pit head Methodist chapels. To the right of the picture of Durham Cathedral is another memento from our time in Durham. Before we left, and for our service to the Methodist Church there, we were given a beautiful cross made out of coal -- - How very appropriate in the heart of northeastern Methodist territory. Those were busy years- we had our first child Christy in Durham and the other offspring that was borne was my dissertation on Women in the Gospels and Acts.

I miss many things about those days, not the least were the delicious fish and chips with brown vinegar, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, the remarkable array of tasty cheeses, especially Red Windsor, Sage Darby, Blue Stilton, and my favorite Double Gloucester with chives, and wonderful desserts including sherry trifle. Trust me there was nothing trifling about it.