Pew Sheet – 27th July 2025

The Rector writes ‘The much loved Random Notes is heading to it’s 500th edition. On the back page today is  number 499 and as there will be a break for summer holidays during most of August, and the next one won’t  be published on 31st August. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the group of regular contributors to Random Notes.

Most of you know them well

‘KLR’ Lesley Roberts,

‘RCE’    Roger Ellis,

‘SJFW’ Simon Woodworth 

‘MMPC’ Mary Cowhig. 

There have been also occasional Random Notes from Frances McCarthy, Rowland Newenham and myself.  I often joke about asking you not to read the notes while I’m preaching and I am only half-joking! The notes have been so popular since they started in 2012. Each contributor has a unique style and each one is interesting in their own right.  For the 500th edition, I have asked each of the 4 regular contributors to say a little about what is it like to write these notes and I, like all of you, look forward to reading what they have to say. 

Thank you for keeping us fascinated all these years!’

August

Sunday 31st

          United Service 11am St Mary’s Church followed             by Parish BBQ in the church grounds

September

Sunday 7th

          Sunday Club resumes 11am Parish Hall

Thursday 18th

Charting a Future with Confidence Diocesan Roadshow  8pm Parish Hall 

(If you would like to attend this event, please speak to the Rector as the parish has only 8 places)

Saturday 27th

Diocesan Synod Bandon Grammar School

Sunday 28th

Animal Blessing Service 11am St Mary’s

October

Saturday 4th

Harvest Supper  8pm  Canon McCrea Hall

Sunday 5th

Harvest Thanksgiving Services 9:30/11am

Pamela Newenham will be running a Tombola at this year’s parish BBQ, and would be very grateful for donations of prizes such as wine, chocolates, sweets, body creams, candles and other gifts. If you have any suitable items to contribute, please contact Pamela on 0863961770.

PARISH BBQ IS ON SUNDAY 31st AUGUST

AFTER 11AM UNITED SERVICE

IN ST MARY’S CHURCH

The Owenabue Garden and Flower Club, Carrigaline will host an Evening Walk at

Bee FitzGerald’s Garden, The Old Rectory, Templebreedy,

Fennell’s Bay, Crosshaven, P43 E129

on Monday 28th July 2025 at 7pm, €10 entry in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.

Refreshments and Parking available.

All Welcome

Random Notes CDXCIX

Robinson Crusoe, The Sequel.

When Daniel Defoe’s famous novel first appeared in print in 1719, it had the less than snappy title of ’The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York, Mariner, Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone on an un-inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque, Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the men perished but himself. With an Account how he was at last as strangely deliver’d by Pyrates’

It was supposedly a true story, documented by Crusoe himself, but one reader was so skeptical that he published his own book, in which he proved that  “Crusoe” was pure fiction.

(Most people, however, enjoyed the tale, and weren’t too bothered if it was true or not)

It’s less well known that Defoe wrote a sequel, ’The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe’ was published later that year (1719).  This sequel sees Crusoe return to the island following the death of his wife in England, then, after the death of Man Friday, his faithful servant in the original book, he travels to Madagascar, the Far East and Siberia, before returning to England 10 years later.   MMPC