Village Life

Oh look, there’s Father Francis Xavier – in the Golf – that one - you see the other drivers are all giving him quite a wide berth. It’s the people in Sudbury that I feel sorry for because some of them don’t know– yes, that’s where he’ll be going. Driving’s not his strong point but you probably already worked that out. I don’t think it’s just the drink either – ah – no – well it is today, now that he’s close enough you can see it in his eyes.

“Hello Father!”

Just wave and smile. Don’t say anything or he’ll be distracted. At least he's not on his horse today.

He’s having his famous garden party next week. So nice to have an excuse to go to Angela’s in Long Melford - and it’s lucky he hung onto the original rectory even though they wanted to give him something smaller. It’ s quite a crush by the time everyone’s there. He’ll be having all his young men down from the seminary in Cambridge for it. Very attractive, even if most of them seem to be homosexual. Shame really. The vicars weren’t like that where we used to live, not that we ever went – we’re not very religious. Of course it’s different in a village though, and we do like the ethos. Father Francis is very high church too. I think that makes a difference. He has all the incense and choirboys in little white collars waving those silver things around – I forget what they’re called now, but they’re ever so decorative.

He’s very involved with the primary school and of course that’s where we’ve put Jessica, for the time being. Until she can go to St. Margarets. And she has the tutor obviously. It’s very inclusive – no, no hang ups at all - we even have little whatshername from the affordable housing – the one with all the brothers and sisters. The mother breeds alsatians, or whatever they’re called now – can’t keep up with all these new names! So we do mix – absolutely! And as soon as she gets here I put her in the shower before they go out to play, and then everything’s fine – really. It’s not her fault after all.

Lovely sense of community here. We’ve joined all sorts of things, and it’s changed – even since we moved. More and more people are coming in from London. I think most of us commute now, and you get less undesirables that way. Except down there of course. I mean it’s nice to see the locals, obviously; they add a certain charm. I do wish they’d take the car engines and bits off their front lawns though, it’s not nice is it. Mind you, it’s not the kind of thing one can mention at the parish council though because it might give the wrong impression. Would you like to see the garden before you go home? Or shall I make another cup of tea