I keep a record of my sermons and themes throughout the year
Of course we keep full parish records and always have. But I find sometimes I like to keep personal notes about some of the events in my own parish. It's always nice to have a few memory-joggers now and then, especially if I don't see some people for a while.
I can upload the odd photograph taken at Christenings or Weddings and scan in posters to remind me what was organised, and when, throughout the year.
More importantly I store the themes of my sermons so I can keep track of how often I'm repeating myself; and some of my colleagues write out our sermons in full and upload them so we can share each other's from time to time. It's nice to have a fresh perspective and it keeps us in touch with one another's business - we don't always get to meet up very often.
It's easy to think you'll live forever when you're young.
But now we have a growing family, we realise it's vital to put our affairs in order; if one of us is taken ill, the other will know where everything is and what to do.
But my grandchildren have been interviewing me on their phones and on video, and now they've recorded my memories in a Nutshell - I can't wait to see it.
Lots of things are hard to talk about - at any age.
But now we've recorded our last wishes we can get on with enjoying retirement together, knowing that those left behind will have greater peace of mind.
