Yesterday was a whirl of last-minute laminating (don’t you just hate that?), cramming an entire bookstall into the boot of a borrowed car, and (Oxford comma) navigating the VERY narrow roads on the way to Launde Abbey.
You get there over a cattle grid through sheep pastures and, yes, the sheep have right-of-way. Photo from earlier; it wasn’t as sunny as this yesterday, but another guest saw four pheasants sat on a fence watching her drive past.
I love coming into the Abbey grounds. The cattle grid at the border is at the top of a rise and the Abbey nestles in the valley below. I pause as I go through the gates and breathe in the peace and grace that surrounds the place. It seems to ooze from the stone walls and flow out like waves of mist into the grounds.
I want to live here one day.
But on with the busy-ness. Here’s my lovely bookstall. It’s the first time using my new display boards. Can you believe I found these in a charity shop? (Buy second-hand, folks. Better for your planet, better for your pocket.)
So here it is, and all the lovely books. Eleven titles now, with the launch of 40 Days with Labyrinths. How did that happen? Sadly, the big A3 poster of 40 Days that I ordered did not arrive in time, so the display is a little ‘bitty’, but there you go.
Anyway, must dash now, next meeting in two mins. The Diocese of Peterborough’s Lay Ministry weekend waiteth for no (wo)man!
blessings
Fay Rowland - Author 
Dear Fay, I have just added 40 Days with Labyrinths to the Peterborough Diocese Library at Bouverie Court, Northampton. I am so pleased to see a book about labyrinths added to our shelves – long over due. I have had an association with labyrinths since helping lead a weekend with Lauren Artress at Winford Manor, circa 2000. Around that time I made what I expected to be a temporary arrangement of stones on the beach at St Columba’s Bay, Iona. Subsequently people added to my construction and it now has the appearance of being there for centuries. It is even visible on Google Earth!
I have a similar reaction as you to arriving at Launde Abbey. It is like entering into another world. I expect Hobbits and other imaginary creatures to emerge.
I hope our paths will cross at some point for real. I see from your published titles that you are interested in maths and creativity. Those are two (or possibly one) of my interests.
Warmest wishes
Simon Villette
Librarian
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