Easter Weekend (2)

As well as Easter, it is the first weekend of the month so it's Coffee Morning. We were up and out by 8.40 and soon had the Church set up. All the helpers came and we had plenty of clients. We need to get more people from outside the Church but there are still people who come who we don't see at the services so we should not complain. It's not meant to be a fund raising exercise but it does earn enough to make it difficult to stop if we wanted to!
Alan was working again so I went and picked up Lisa and she came and helped then came home for lunch with us. We chatted the afternoon away before Barbara took her home.
For the last couple of weeks, we have been planning to go see "Amazing Grace", the film about William Wilberforce. Unfortunately, the times haven't been the best. Over this weekend, they had put a showing on at 6.15pm which is much better. Looks very much as though it will close on Tuesday to make way for other films. A bit disappointing for Wilberforce's home city. Anyhow, we got ready and went to see it. It was excellent. One of those films where you are surprised by the time elapsed when it's finished.
As we hadn't eaten beforehand, we drove along and went to Frankie and Benny's for our dinner. I wasn't too bothered before we got there but ate my share. A habit I will have to get out of! We came home and went to bed as we had an early start the next morning.
Every year, on Easter Sunday, after the early morning communion service, we have Easter Breakfast. It's in capitals because it's different from the normal prayer breakfast Barbara does monthly. More people come and we have boiled eggs as well as the grapefruit, cereal and toast. Barbara and I started setting up and we were soon joined by Val F and Jean R so we were ready for the communion at 8.30am. My favourite service of the month I think I have said before. Once we had finished, I went straight to the kitchen and got on with the toast and eggs. One year, the eggs were a bit soft for the children who come so I err on the side of caution. By the time I got along, most people had finished so I had a couple of eggs and a slice of toast as things were being cleared around me. The morning service is 10.30am so we had to get cleared up and washed up by then.
Liz, the ministers wife, did the service very well. Barbara was on creche duty so I found a pew where I could see the screen and Liz. I'd loaded most of the remains of the breakfast stuff in the car so we enjoyed a cup of tea and a chat before leaving at 12.30. I would have liked to go to the service in the evening but we were both feeling lethargic. I'd posted in the afternoon and Barbara did a bit of washing and some gardening then, once I'd made dinner, we sagged for the evening.
Today, we have been preparing for Easter People in Blackpool. I have packed all my life but a few days away has me wondering what to take. Barbara is the same. Eventually, we got down to it and packed the bags. I went and topped up with petrol and air so we are all ready for the off. We are taking Claire and Tim with us so the room we have is limited. I will just be glad when we get there. No more arrangements, packing, planning etc.
I told Barbara that we would go out for dinner. When she shopped last week, she concentrated on the coffee morning and Easter Breakfast so we were a bit low on vegetables! I also said we had to be packed first to get it out of the way. I'd got some vouchers from Maersk for Christmas and they were good to use at Brewers Fayre so we went to Home Farm. It was standard fayre! Barbara had the Moroccan Lamb and I had the Asian style Pork Shank. Both served with rice and roasted vegetables. It was very good.
We got back to find a package had been delivered for us to take to Blackpool and a call on the machine from Lisa asking us to ring. It seems Alan had broken down to the south of Lincoln. We spoke to her and went round with the intention of going down for him. By the time we got there, plans had been changed and the recovery truck was bringing him and the car home. We had a cuppa before coming home. I shall return after Easter People.