Biting the hand you wish would feed you

While the bishops are in retreat, the biggest news out of the conference seems to be what the press are up to while they are waiting for news.

One reporter is fixated on the presence of a security fence which, on a very open campus, serves to help control some of the flow between facilities and presumably protect the lavish amount of technical equipment servicing the Big Blue House wherein our Episcopal bears will meet from time to time. She appears to have taken it as a personal affront. If a ribbon would have done, I'm a bit puzzled as to why a fence is so awful, if she was going to respect that boundary, after all. Anyway, they need a fence to control all those rabbits.

Another reporter, whom I have been keen to look up whilst in England, was huddled with a group of other journalists. I took the time to go and say hello, as a fellow journalist, so I bounded downstairs in my usual way (which I am coming to understand in England is viewed as a little brash!) and rolled up to the huddle and said a hearty, "Hello! I've been looking out for you all and wanted to introduce myself." The reporter turned her face to me, looked me up and down, frowned, said a curt, "Hello," and then turned away to continue her conversation. There was other shaking of hands with those other gathered (particularly charming Church Times fellow) and I bid my goodbyes. The reporter I had so wished to meet did not deign to say anything.

Given the beforementioned disgruntlement at the lack of availability of information and connection, one would think that if reporters were keen to engage with the conference, they might find time to be minimally polite to those wearing the coveted red lanyards.

On a brighter note, I interviewed (briefly, and probably very badly) the very charming Mrs Jane Williams, who is convening the Spouses' Conference, yesterday. Last night she launched her book, "Marriage, mitres and being myself". She's clearly very adept at being careful with the press but she's hugely accommodating. And had I been able to capture the look in her eyes as much as the words, I suspect the story would be much better. I'll put a link up when it is live, later.

I saw a squirrel yesterday. It bounded right across the path in front of me. They are very pretty, squirrels.