June kicked off on a Sunday, which meant another cafe church at Caldicot. This time it was Pentecost themed! We found a really cute craft making flame headbands, and I was impressed with the adults who were fun enough to actually wear them. For the snack, I went back to one of my church members in Monmouth who runs a home bakery business. In 2021, when we reopened the church on Pentecost, she made red velvet cupcakes, and she reprised them again this year. They are both perfectly on theme and delicious!
We had Jacob with us until the 18th, and we spent a lot of our time with him playing Magic and going for walks around the castle. I took this picture of him taking a picture to send to his mom, who wanted some photographic proof he was alive, haha.
On Thursday the 5th, we splurged on a trip to Legoland! We’d been wanting to go for a while, and having a teenager with us was the perfect excuse to finally check it out. The weather wasn’t great; it rained on and off all day, but that kept the crowds low, so that was nice. Overall, I’m glad we went, but I wouldn’t make a point of going back. The coolest part was all of the LEGO sculptures, and the section of the park that has LEGO recreations of famous landmarks. The rides were typical theme park rides, and I think I can safely say after this and Disneyland Paris in April, I’m officially over theme parks. Roller coasters just give me a headache now, which is a bummer.
Here is my favorite photo of the guys posed with a giant LEGO alligator.
While all of the LEGO landmarks were amazing, I think my two favorites were these - the Kennedy Space Center with a rocket that “took off” every 10 minutes, and this recreation of Times Square with Wicked re-branded as Bricked.
Sunday the 8th was actually Pentecost, and we celebrated at Rogiet and Penycaemawr with some flame decorations, a birthday cake (because Pentecost is the birthday of the church!), and I wore my newly jazzed-up ordination stole. Sadly, the rhinestones I painstakingly added don’t show up in the photograph, but they looked good in person!
The next week, I made a trip up to Leeds! I was invited to participate in a video project the Methodist Church is putting together, and even though it made me miss going to see Chicago with Jacob in London, I couldn’t resist. Since we were going two different directions, we ended up renting an extra car for 3 days, which was cheaper than taking the train up to Leeds, go figure. Of course, any trip to Leeds isn’t complete without stopping in to see Vince and Joan! We had a fantastic lunch at a place called The Cheesy Living Co. (I will be back someday for their fondue Sunday roast!)
The next day I spent 8 hours filming two different videos that will come out later this year. The idea was to have difficult theological conversations, and model to people how to have those conversations. The setup was so well done, with little games that led us into deeper conversation, and both groups I worked with were excellent. It was one of the most fun “work days” I’ve had in a long time! I only snapped one picture all day, of the filming location, a Methodist Church with gorgeous stained glass windows.
Joel and Jacob had fun going to see Chicago, though this was the only picture Joel snapped. He claimed they were strict about photos, but I reminded him that was during the show - they still could have taken a selfie in the theatre! Ah well, boys will be boys.
Ironically, because I spent a good chunk of my week up in Leeds working on something for the connexion, I was way behind on work I needed to get done locally. So on Saturday, I stayed behind to catch up on email and other things, while Jacob and Joel went to see our friend Ben at a jousting practice. It turns out this behind-the-scenes look is even cooler than seeing him at a tournament! They got to help him put his suit of armour on, and get up close and personal with the horses in a way you don’t get to at a show.
I was delighted to learn that sometimes they practice on cabbages! I mean, how cool is this action shot of Ben, on horse with a sword, looking all serious and fierce, going after some cabbages. I freaking love it.
On Sunday the 15th, I headed up to Monmouth to celebrate the Rev. Dorothy Lloyd-Williams. She was ordained in 1965, so this year she celebrated 60 years! She led a beautiful service, and then we had cake and celebrations afterwards. Dorothy is originally from the US and was ordained in the Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Church (before the merger to make the United Methodist Church). I emailed the current Bishop of the PA Conference, and was incredibly impressed when they sent not only a letter of congratulations, but they went through the conference archives and found a copy of her original ordination certificate and photograph from the day! It was a photo Dorothy herself had never seen before. Not surprisingly, she was the only woman ordained that day.
Sadly, on the 18th, our time with Jacob came to an end. We played tons of Magic this time, only one game of Dominion (!), went for lots of walks around the castle, and packed in the fun at LEGOland, a show, and jousting. There was so much more we wanted to do, but alas, it will have to wait for next time! Joel returned him to Heathrow airport while I once again got stuck into catching up on work.
The next week is a blur of meetings (an AGM, the LP mtg, and the circuit meeting, oh my!) and then on Thursday the 26th, Joel and I go to go to a show ourselves! I mentioned back in April that our friend Fred bought us a gift certificate to the Wales Millennium Centre, so on his treat we want to see &Juliet. I didn’t know much going into the show and I’m so glad no one spoiled the musical concept for me because I was absolutely tickled pink. I coudn’t stop smiling the entire show, it was so fun!
On Saturday the 28th, Caldicot Castle hosted the Wales National Armed Forces Day. I volunteered with Monmouthshire County Council, though it turned out there wasn’t much for us to do, so I only spent half the day there. Still, it was cool to see the spitfire fly by, the parade, and all the tanks and other military vehicles on display.
On the last day of the month, I had a funeral meeting all the way over in Swansea. The person who passed used to be a member of the church in Caldicot, and her husband still wants me to do the service. I was happy to go there for a visit as it meant visiting our original stomping grounds in Wales; he lives literally half a mile from Murton Methodist, the place that kicked off our whole journey to living in Wales. I enjoyed seeing it again as a UK resident with ILR, serving as a Superintendent. I never would have guessed that would be the case when we first stepped foot there in 2018!
While I had my meeting, Joel met up with someone to buy some Magic cards from him, and they searched the stores for some of the new Final Fantasy bundles that are out. That person recommended an ice cream place we decided to try before heading home. Joel was a huge fan, but I was less impressed, sorry Joe!
June was one of those months that both felt like it went very fast and very slow, funny how time works like that. I can’t believe one month of summer is already gone!
XOXO, Bethany