Just briefly to bring you up to date. On 12th we had a bisy day and went up to Assisi to collect pilgrims
Handbooks from the office there, to shop for the Christmas Pranzo in Rieti, to contact Sr Ectorina at the Cabrini Centre in Rieti and confirm dates, numbers, times of arrival etc etc etc. All done.
On the way back we stopped at the Springs of Clitunno near Assisi, at my request. I had been before but they are so beautiful and tranquil, water gushing n many small springs from beneath the rock of Subasio into a wide shallow lake which is always clear because the water is always n the move, gently but un mistakably. I am very interested in the long tradition of healing n that area. San Damiano was a lace of healing which is why the chapel was dedicated to St Damiano, and before that, in pre Christian times, to Cosmas and Damian, the two Roman gods of healing. There are also other springs higher the flank f the mountain near San Damiano which have been healing springs again from Roman times. So the tradition which connects Clare with healing has a long root.
Yesterday we did very little. Andre is still n jet lag, he reckons a day for every hour's change of time which is a useful rule of thumb.murray, who is lactose intolerant, ate an ice cream and forgot to take his pill because we were having so much fun, had had stomach cramps all the previous night. I am in my usual crude good health but felt tatty in sympathy. Also the pilgrims were due the next morning. At that stage, nobody wants them to come but by the time we have been at the airport for a bit, the excitement begins to build and the sense of starting a work, which simply grows as they turn up one by one. This was all the more so as everyone had their luggage and all seemed younger than sometimes with no health issues except one lady who turned up pushed in a wheel chair. to say we were struck dumb is a mild account! Pilgrimage is called the prayer of the foot, so how do you do that in a wheelchair and, even louder, how were we going t do it for someone in a wheelchair. However, i had a few words with her and so did Murray and it seemed she is more mobile than appeared. Anyway she walked spunkily to the far end of the airport and managed the coach with no fuss, and found her room, came to dinner, all normal. Sighs of relief from the staff thinking of some of the places and all the steps!!! Now everyone is having some riposo and we hope they turn up for the first session at 5.00pm. I must go down to the shops and sort out y Italian phone as some other staff person must have used it and gobbled up all the credit and also let the SIM not working. Charming. I know there was a guilty Other as the messages included one from the server saying Welcome to France' and another saying 'welcome to USA'! I know they were not me!
It is extremely hot here and the cicadas are blasting away like car alarms making it sound hot as well. However your true Romans have got their jackets on because it is September and there might be a draft! All for now, watch this space ft
