Ashes to ashes

I went into the ecumenical service today and found the room much fuller than usual. Looking around I saw no one familiar, so I looked at my watch and checked mentally whether it was the right day or not. As far as I could tell, I'd got the right time and day, so I found a seat and sat down. As I sat there I kept looking around for people I recognised, half convinced they were playing a trick on me. Five minutes later, in walked two people I knew... in medeival costume. To start with I felt mildly amused and thought everyone must have found it strange. Then I started sniggering and then openly laughing. The two medeival characters were a couple of rows forward from me (that's the price you pay for arriving late) and I don't think they noticed but a few people around me did.

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We had an 'ashing' ritual in the service, (because it's Ash Wednesday) which involved having an ash cross smeared on our foreheads by the ministers present. It was completely new to me and I don't really know what the point of it is. I'm ashamed to say I don't know the exact origins of lent either. What I do know is that I'm going to have to survive for forty days without cola of any sort now - I feel like Dougal trying to give up roller-blading. Actually, I haven't touched a drop since last Tuesday.

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I've decided I might as well give up alcohol while I'm at it. If you want to do the same (re. alcohol, not cola) you can register with www.thirstforlife.org which may, or may not, make a difference.

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I'm going to add a couple of links now. One for Nathan's web-page which I was told about just the other day. Those of you who know Nathan will know he's a real character. The other, I'm afraid, is my page at bebo, one I obtained ages ago but it seems that the folks at bebo have improved their service since then. Anyway, there's quite a few photos there, there will be more soon. And I know you're all gagging for more photos from Korea. Those of you who are registered with bebo will be able to take my quiz, if you haven't already, and leave comments, and draw pictures.