William Farel—Firebrand
William Farel—Firebrand
Throwing the book at them
This was supposed to be the day that we went to Montreux and caught the Golden Pass train to Interlaken, possibly visiting the Reichenbach Falls at some point. But someone had great difficulty getting out of bed this morning! (Not true, I got up and had a peaceful morning). So I spent my time tinkering with my web software, specifically trying to merge the files from my machine at home with this laptop here. I’ve had no success, so that will have to wait till we get home (and after the Congregational Library committee meeting next Tuesday).
Early afternoon we eventually got going and did what was probably the closest thing we could do (bar walk to the lake). We took the train to Neuchatel, birthplace and place of ministry for many years of William Farel, the man who persuaded Calvin that he should come to Geneva. After he and Calvin were banished from Geneva he returned to Neuchatel in retirement, dying in 1565. He spent some time pastoring the Collegial church there.
The return walk was exhausting. Because of the way the timetable works, there are two trains an hour north and south along the line to and from Yverdon. They run three minutes apart. Miss the second and you have to wait an hour. We managed to walk down the steps, through the town and back up to the station and got to the platform just as the second train arrived. We collapsed in a heap on the seats. Marianne said I was looking a little red in the face, though my ears were returning to a normal colour. Not surprisingly we were ready for bed when we got in, but first had to eat a lovely meal that Anne had prepared. She told us that as the management course she was doing was so intensive, and that on Friday morning she had to start (not leave) at 7AM she would be staying in a hotel in Lausanne. So we’d have to say our goodbyes early tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009