Exeter updates for November

Dear friends and family,

I can't believe it's been three weeks since I did my last blog entry, but these have been very full weeks for me.  I've been doing all the things I came to the University of Exeter to do, and it's been a very rewarding and educational time for me.  In addition to continuing the research on my dissertation, I've designed and led five seminar sessions for two undergraduate courses, and I completed the six-week course for PhD students on how to teach undergrads.  I also graded my first batch of essays, and on Monday and Tuesday, I'll be sitting in my advisor's office having "office hours" for what she calls "essay surgeries," but which we would call "essay clinics."  Students can come by and ask me any questions about the final essays they are writing, or about their reading, and I'll be on my own with them. Wish me luck!

Also, I continue to attend weekly services at the United Reformed Church, and I will be co-leading worship with the minister next Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent.  In addition to doing the sermon, I will be writing and leading all the prayers and two talks, one for lighting the first Advent candle, and one that is an "introduction" to the Bible readings and sermon.  The minister will lead the communion and offering.  The minister announced this morning that I'd be doing this with him next Sunday, and a few folks asked me about it during the coffee hour, which was nice.

A few Sundays ago, I attended a worship service with my landlord at the huge Exeter Cathedral (which is Anglican), and she has invited me to go with her next Sunday evening for an Advent service, which I am looking forward to.

I did take a couple of hours off one afternoon early in November, and I roamed around the Northernhay Gardens in Exeter again.  This park includes several war memorials, a lot of flowers and trees, and significant remains of a Norman castle. Ironically, the sun was out that day, and some of the photos I took did not come out, because there was too much sun! That is so funny over here!  The pictures that I've attached at the top and bottom of this blog entry are all from the park.  Some of you may recognize the war memorial photo, as it's the one that I posted on Facebook for Veteran's Day or Armistice Day.  I have learned that Exeter is a very historic city, and there are sizable remains from Roman walls here too.  Before I leave Exeter, I am going to visit the museum here, which I have heard is excellent.

Blessings to all, especially to all of you Americans who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week!

Jane

WW II History: Higher Barracks, Exeter, Devon, UK

Dear friends and family,

This week's blog entry is in honor of my friend Ray in Bethel, whom some of you know. Ray is 89 years old, and he and his son Bobby eat dinner at Plain Jane's regularly, and we are all part of the PJ's family.

During WW II, when Ray was only 19 --- so 70 years ago now --- he was stationed in Exeter in late 1943 and early 1944.  He was a medic, and he and his unit left Exeter and were deployed for the D Day invasion.  Over the past two years, Ray has brought many photos and war papers to show me at PJ's, and we've talked about his time in Exeter and his war experiences.  Just before I left to come to Exeter myself, he let me copy some official papers about what his battalion had done here, and that allowed me to do online research to figure out where the "Higher Barracks" of Exeter were.

Well, this is a bit of a surprise --- at least for me!  The former Higher Barracks of Exeter are practically in front of my house!  They were finally closed as a military place in the late 1990s, and the buildings were turned into private housing (attached houses, condos, etc.).  It took me 5 minutes to walk there, but only because I had to follow the roads.  If I had been a crow, I could have flown there in 30 seconds.  The northern end of the grounds, which are quite substantial, is nearly due east of my house, and just below the main southern perimeter road of the U. of Exeter. After I was done walking around and taking pictures, I took a "public footpath" that led me right to the perimeter road, precisely where lots of students always come pouring through a gate. I've always wondered what that gate and footpath led to!  And now, today, I know.

Also, given that we just had All Saints Day, I stood in front of the largest building, from the former barracks, and looked out over the quadrangle (or green), and I reflected on all the men and women who had been stationed there, including those like Ray who ended up being deployed for D Day.  And I said prayers for those who lived and came back home, like Ray, and those who did not.  I am happy to say that the sun was out most of the time, including during those moments, and it felt warm and bright standing there.  There is hope in All Saints Day, as I read just this morning!

Here's to Ray and to others who served.

Blessings to all,
Jane