roy.long485@btinternet.

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AUTUMN LETTER
Dear friends

Roy Long 15 Fishpond Close DENTON Northamptonshire NN7 1EE

This morning, the BBC Radio 4 Today programme reminded us that this is the day of the Autumn Equinox the day when there are equal hours of light and dark. Of course, what this means is that the summer is going and that autumn is coming fast. But today has started beautiful cool, but with a bright blue sky, a few high clouds, and a slight breeze. It wont last! The forecasters tell us that it is going to be stormy and wet tomorrow, so we have to resign ourselves to darker nights and cooler weather, but its only six months to the beginning of spring! The last fifteen months have been dominated by the Mirfield Conference, which I helped to organise for the Anglican-Lutheran Society. It took place in Yorkshire in the first week of September, with sixty people from all parts of Britain and Ireland and from further afield Greenland to Germany to Serbia to South Africa, and many places in between! It was a great success, but it took its toll in terms of time and effort, so this coming twelve months are going to be quieter ones, with time for studying, reading, and writing. There are things that I started months ago that have to be finished before I can start on new things, and I shall be working on these between now and Christmas. I shall still be doing some things for the church, but strictly rationing what I do. I am well, but I had a re-visit from the M.E. in mid-May, and around the time of my birthday I managed to trap the sciatic nerve and have suffered a lot of discomfort as a result. Mercifully, it is now beginning to ease up, and I am now much more mobile. I hope the improvement continues! Sometime during the next six months I shall go to Iceland for a holiday and to meet old friends, but otherwise, I need some time at home. One of the highlights of the Mirfield Conference were the daily Bible Studies, which were very much focused on the Old Testament. I found myself inspired to re-visit my Hebrew, which has got very rusty, so I have started from the basics that I first tackled forty or more years ago, when I was a student in Oxford. I hope that wherever you are, you are well, and that life is OK. Since I am sending this (in most cases) by email, I cannot add personal notes, but I shall, of course, be in touch at Christmas. Meanwhile, have a multi-coloured autumn, and dont get too depressed by the darkness! With all best wishes, Roy