Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus!

Happy St David's Day! Today we pray for all Welsh people as they celebrate the Feast Day of their National Patron Saint.

My Grandparents (on my Mother's side) retired to Wales and so they would want me to ask for the prayers of St David on this special day.

Inverness Castle

Here is a dramatic photo of Inverness Castle on the banks of the River Ness, as it flows from Loch Ness into the Moray Firth. This photo was taken on the afternoon of Shrove Tuesday. I travelled on the overnight sleeper from Inverness to Euston, and with the gloomy weather that greeted me in London, I knew that Lent had begun!

Well with all these Scottish blogs, I shall have to do something Welsh for tomorrow!

Caledonian Canal

The Caledonian Canal runs for 60 miles along the Great Glen, from Fort William in the South East to Inverness in the North West.

Here is a photo of the canal as it leaves Loch Ness and approaches Inverness.

Today is a rather miserable Tuesday in London - it is nice having this memory of a lovely sunny Shrove Tuesday in the highlands of Scotland!

Can you spot the monster?

This is a photo of Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness - any sign of the monster?

This photo taken during my Half Term trip to Scotland seems ages ago. Being back at work seems more in keeping with the discipline of Lent!

Rail Crash in Cumbria

Let us pray for all those involved in dealing with the aftermath of the derailment of the train travelling yesterday from London Euston to Glasgow. We remember the 84 year old lady who died in hospital, and all those seriously injured. We pray for the police, the ambulance and hospital services, and those who work on the railways.

I was travelling along this section of track myself in the early hours of Ash Wednesday morning. I arrived in London Euston safely in time to act as deacon at the 8.00 am Mass in Westminster Cathedral. I suppose last night's tragedy in Cumbria reminds us all of the need to be ready to meet our loving heavenly Father at any time.

In search of the Loch Ness Monster

During Half Term I went up to Scotland in search of the Loch Ness Monster. I was blessed with wonderful weather as this photo taken on the banks of Loch Ness shows.

You may be assuming that as I am writing this blog on my return to London, I did not have a close encounter with the monster. But that would be jumping to conclusions! How do you know that Nessie is not abstaining from eating meat during Lent?

Chair of St Peter

Yesterday we were fasting - today we are feasting - not a bad start to Lent! Today we rejoice and give thanks for the Chair of St Peter. No, not a piece of furniture, but rather the belief that Jesus said to Peter - 'you are the rock on which I will build my Church.'

Roman Catholics see this teaching and leadership authority passed down the centuries, till it has reached the present Pope - Benedict XVI.

Peter was far from perfect during his early life - but Jesus chose him. We are far from perfect in our lives, but Jesus still calls us to follow him, and to some he says 'feed my sheep.' This Feast of the Chair of St Peter powerfully reminds us that Jesus knows best!