One of the benefits of insomnia is the ideas that occur to you in the dark of night.

For example, it occurred to me to add some oomph to my Polo by using last Sunday ‘s church picnic to get a blessing.

The rainout impelled matters indoors, adding to the ecclesiastical factor, making the simple blessing look more like an Investiture, even a Knighting, which is just fine with me. In future, you may refer to me as Sir Van, with reference to my namesake Van, Rodeo Horse No.1, also in these pages.

All-time great Juan Carlos Harriot famously said, “when all else fails, you might try thinking.” If thinking doesn’t work, there’s always prayer.

And many thanks to Fr. Ed Hunt who good naturedly went along with my jest, one of his last official acts before retiring from a most distinguished ministry.