I mentioned that I’d show you some pictures of the Bo’ness Fair. I’m told it is the biggest Children’s Fair in Europe. It certainly is up there competing with the best. Just take a look at our neighbour’s handy work. It is like something out of a Hollywood film set. Colin has been working on this constantly for many weeks,his daughter Alexandria was picked by her peers to be the Queen. this is seen as a great honour. Tomorrow at 11.00am she will be crowned Queen of Bo’ness for the next year.

We spent the evening walking round the various arches. The above picture illustrates the extent people will go to in Bo’ness to celebrate the contribution that children make to our community and family lives.

In the day that Gordon Brown became Prime Minister the people of Bo’ness are more interested in their local Children’s Fair. Bo’ness is quite vibrant at this time of the year leading up to the annual Children’s Fair. Our street, where we live, will be mobbed with literally thousands of people tomorrow night. They will all be making their way round the various arches. It is for this reason that the pressure is on to get the garden in tip top shape. Many thanks to Stephen for his help this week. Its great having him around to do some of the manual work.

I also had help from the local farmer Jim. He came down with his tractor and trailer and lopped the trees. He certainly opened our garden up. The trees gave us a bit of shelter and privacy. Now there is no place to hide. This got me thinking about the integrity that is involved with being open to other people. My garden is now much more open and accessible. So because I can’t hide behind trees I’ve got to face the reality of what is out there. I also have an incentive to keep it tidy. Maybe that is also true for the spiritual life. There comes a time when you can’t hide behind the legacy of other generations. You have to step out on your own, become your own person. I guess that is what Gordon Brown is doing tonight. He’s hoping his political garden will have some big trees lopped in order to let more light into his garden.It will be interesting to see who is retained in Cabinet and who has to go.

Today was really busy apart from a visit to Deanburn Primary School to be presented with a cheque for the Vine Trust from the children of P3. After this visit it was off to the Academy to attend the prizegiving ceremony. Funny how things are changing in schools. When I started as chaplain 25 years ago I was invited to open and close the ceremony with prayer. Now I’m invited as a guest. Prayer has been removed from the prizegiving platform.