Off-line till Advent

The journey over, I’m resting my feet - and also my blogging - for the month of November. I’m hoping that the break will give me some time to start to process this experience of walking the M62, and prepare me for my return to everyday work. So if you come here (or here) seeking fresh material, sorry: you won’t find any till December, but please do enjoy flicking through the archive pages, revisiting the journey ... that’s what I’ll be doing.

So this is an opportunity to thank all who have walked with me, literally and by supporting and encouraging me in many ways, including you, blog reader, and you who have enriched this site with your comments.

Thanks to the Liverpool Diocese Department of Lifelong Learning and other sponsors: Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, Archbishops’ Council Christian Unity Department, St Aidan’s College Charity, St Boniface Trust and the In You We Trust for the use of Cushendall Tower artists residence.

Thanks to the people of the Church of the Good Shepherd, West Derby, Liverpool for permitting me time and space to behave in this odd obsessive way, for Mark Coleman, Helen Bennett and other colleagues and friends of the neighbouring churches for their support, and to Neville Black and other clergy who have more than made up for my absence.

Particular thanks for help, hospitality, conversation and company on the road, to: Barbara Routley and Catherine Evans, Andy Dorton, Peter Harrison and the staff of Longhill Link-up Cafe, Paul Schofield, Andy and Michelle Simpson with Tom and Claire, Chris and Catherine Taylor, Dick and Gemma Bonham, Dan Ingram-Brown, Simon Brewis, Beci Thomas, Ellie Harrison, Jamie Fletcher, Tony Vino, Chris Meredith, Joff Williams, Steve Watters and other members and associates of Imprint and Pointed Arrow, Leeds, Barry Parker, Stuart Rogers, Paul and Tash Whitaker, Dot Gosling, Tony Zimnoch, Tim Chapman, Stephanie Buchanan, Nicki and John Smith, Jim Buchanan, Anne Haigh, Jo and Amos Rand, Rob Hilton, Brian Hibbert, Phil Smith, Alex (Manchester Psychogeographical), John Sears and Patricia Allmer, Adrian Rees, Doreen Massey, Ben Broadbent, Allison Claxton, Pippy Haywood, Bob Dickinson, Mark Coleman, Andy Pryce, Robert and Joan Jones, Joe Moran, Fran Lovett, Les and Audrey Davies, Dave and Christine Roberts.

Regrets to those who I’d hoped to meet but in the end for various reasons, couldn’t. Thanks for your interest, and hopefully we’ll find another time.

Finally, thanks to those who have over recent years encouraged me to keep working away at urban walking and reflection on 'reading the everyday', in particular friends at Greenbelt who’ve given me opportunities to develop my thinking in these areas, Ruth Harvey at Coracle, Nick Thorpe at Third Way, Sheffield's Urban Theology Unit, many of the people mentioned above, and to Jim Hart who got me started on this with a walking tour of Toxteth which he led in 1995 and who continues to be a provocative and encouraging companion on the journey.

Enjoy November - I’m off-line till Advent!

Comments

[adrian]

John, I shall miss you my virtual walking companion for the next month - though I realise it was very much actual not virtual walking for you. Thank you for sharing insights. Rest those feet and whatever else needs resting and have a peaceful/stimulating/relaxed/blessed/whatever you wish yourself time for the next few weeks.

[Tony]

Put Your Feet Up John!.Take Care.
Best Wishes
tony

[Paul Schofield]

Hi John,
It was a pleasure to meet you, and then follow your heroic journey (too many hills for my liking)!
Well done,

Paul Schofield

[ellen]

Glad you have made it back and that you are going to have a well earned rest. much love. xxx

[Kathryn]

Thank you, John, for so much food for thought and so many wonderful word pictures (and real ones too) and for inviting us to share your progress from the stasis of our desks.
Rest well :-)

[Dot]

enjoy your rest... been good reading what you have been up to, although I have had no internet for the past 10 days apart from at work!! catch up soon. Dot