Gila at Arundel hotel

Gila at Arundel hotel
Visit with Mercedes

Tuesday 31 August 2010

Provence

My dear Friends

Unfortunately I didn't stay in France as long as I had hoped but I still had a wonderful time. Iarrived to slightly cloudy skies but the air was still warm. After having lunch with my friends in their lovely house in Nimes, they suggested a drive to the village of St-Etienne-du-Gres.It was nearby, in the community of The Sisters of Pomeyrol ,that the foundation of The Little Sisters of Joy took place in 1998.

So many happy memories-we sat in a cafe and watched the world go by as I reminisced. I remembered every detail of the village, especially the plane trees which are incredibly beautiful. And the lovely little shops all along the main street, as well as the Church on the corner.Then Andre suggested we drive to a rather grand Abbey, called Saint Michel de Frigolet. where several monks still live and work. The towers and stonework were rather fine, as were the two Churches in the grounds. They were rather austere, but with some lovely stained glass and of course deeply quiet. I lit a large candle and prayed. Afterwards we walked gently up and down the grounds, taking it all in.

To be continued!
Shalom
Sister Gila
















Tuesday 17 August 2010

Holiday

My dear Friends

I hope to be away from Monday 23rd August until Wednesday 1st September on my little holiday in Provence. See you on my return.

Shalom from
Sister Gila

Tuesday 10 August 2010

a future holiday

My dear Friends

I met Andre at the Catholic church one Sunday after the service. He told me that was 63 and had come over to CAmbridge from France to study English at a language school. Very brave, as he hardly knew a word before he arrived!

In the course of our friendship I took him to Ely for the day and we sauntered round and looked at the Cathedral twice-he was very struck with it. We were having coffee afterwards when he issued an invitation to come to France to visit him and his family.

I knew nothing about Nimes, the town in Provence from which he comes. It was where denims originated-de Nimes-and is a beautiful town with Roman remains. Andre has a little summer house about an hour's drive from there which for sure he will take me too.

Beyond that I remain ignorant until 23rd August when I fly from Luton to Nimes to visit Andre. All I know is that the weather will be hot 35 -40 degrees and I must buy some summer clothes. The rest remains a lovely hidden experience and what I am sure will be an intersting holiday.

Catch you later!
shalom from
Sister Gila

Monday 2 August 2010

A trip to the sea

My dear Friends

In the height of summer I had the chance to go on a coach trip to Great Yarmouth. It was run by Lifecraft, a place for people who have suffered from mental health problems. They normally run all sorts of activites, from a singing group to an art group to a women's group, which is the one I normally go to on a thursday afternoon.

It was raining on saturday but that didn't deter us as we piled onto the coach. It was a fairly long journey-2 hours-but we chatted happily and ate lots of sweets. We arived in Yarmouth about 1pm.
First we ate delicious fish and chips in a little restaurant and then basically strolled round for the afternoon, some of us looking at the shops for sandals and bags. I felt it was a pity we could not go on the horse and cart but it really was too expensive.

We split into 2 groups and I went with the group who wanted to see Seaworld, a huge attraction with all kinds of fish large and small and a group of delightful penguins who were having their feeding time which was amusing. It was quite surreal to see the sword fish, very beautiful, swimming round in their little tanks-apparently they are faithful creatures who mate for life. And they do a kind of dance in the water. big fish too - almost the size of sharks - swimming around. It was very instructive as well as entertaining.

Afterwards we wwent down to the sea and I paddle in the cold water- a very spiritual moment, as I remember praying by the sea in 1988 for my mother when I was on my way to becoming a Christian. Lovely to have the sand between my toes.

Then more coffee and a chat to a lady called Sue whom I had remet after meeting her some months ago when we were both in the hospital.the others had apparently gone to the Pleasure Beach and gone on some of the rides but I was not sorry to have missed out as the last time I got really dizzy on a ride called the Waltzer.

So home after another pleasurable day!

Shalom from
Sister Gila