Greetings to all who have, with perseverance and patience, journeyed along the Camino with me and the blog. Please know you certainly have been my companions, given that part of the old concept of "pilgrimage" was doing penance for failures: firstly for one's own and then for others if there is room. Sadly on that score, I have to say "sorry", for you have been considerably excluded. But I do hasten to add you have very much been in my thoughts prayers and remin...

Travelling from Lectoure to Condom was uneventful, except that I missed a turn as I entered the town. So, I sought advice from a cashier at a super market, who in turn sought advice from two other colleagues. Fortunately, there were no customers in the shop at the time and after about 19 minutes of collegial conversation they agreed that they didn't have a clue, but suggested to head for the Cathedral, whose spire was visible and then ask someone there! I did....

Some readers have asked about the entomology of the town's name and the husband of Madame Helene Baron kindly referred me to this explanation: There is no relationship between the English word condom and this town. The toponym Condom comes from the Gaulish words condate and magos combined into Condatomagos, which means "market or field, of the confluence". Condatómagos evolved into Condatóm and then into Conddóm. Condomwas first recorded in Latin in the 10t...

Recently I wrote to a Church leader who was about to retire from office as there was a serious issue I had to raise with him. At the end of the letter I suggested that all those who were given leadership roles should in retirement (before if possible), take time to reflect on the issues he/she dealt with and the decisions made, while in office. Such a reflection might include: were they right or wrong; as well as decisions that should have be...

Dear fellow, following Pilgrims The vagaries of the pilgrim's path are reason for some concern. Caused, as they are, at times mostly, by self-infliction, due to lack of French and secondly just enough IT knowledge to make simple errors, which seem to defy gentle corrections. A language example, the first of many: yesterday on arrival here in the delightful town of Lectoure which is cited as one of the most beautiful in rural France, there was still time for a...