A good vicar
Two phone calls
“Can you help? We’re at the church—Irish family in a bit of bother”. Man, County Wicklow accent maybe.
They’ve got the wrong St Modwen’s, thought I: they need to ring the Catholics. “Which church?”
“St Aidan’s.”
Not the wrong church, so. I make another assumption: they want money or accommodation. The first I can deal with, the second I can direct them elsewhere.
I suggest they ring YMCA and was just about to give yer man the number when:
“They can’t help” says he.
“What exactly do you need?” says I.
“Car’s broken down outside church.”
I laugh. “I can’t help either” I say. If they knew me they’d know that I can barely find the oil doodah.
Phone slammed down (or the equivalent for a mobile).
I know a fair number of Irish priests, not one of whom would have been able to help. Maybe I know the wrong sort.
*******
“Is that Dr Monkhouse?” Man, posh accent, a bit smarmy. Hackles rise.
“It is.”
“I’m at the church and I’d like to see the monuments.”
“Which church?”
St Modwen’s in the market place it transpires. A car trip necessary. I ask him if he expects me to drop what I’m doing to open the church for him (yes, I agree, it should be open all day, but don’t get me started on that).
“Well, I’ve come a long way.”
“You could have rung to arrange this” says I. No response. I tell him he’ll have to wait maybe 30 minutes or so.
Eventually I drive there.
Tall, a bit dishevelled, in his 60s I guess. Bohemian unkempt longish hair. At least he has some.
I am not welcoming.
“I wasn’t ordained to care about church monuments, you know, and I have better things to do on a Monday morning than this”. Like watching a film on Netflix – I’m always exhausted on a Monday. I didn’t say about Netflix—merely thought it.
“I’m sorry. I should have rung in advance.”
“Yes you should. I have no time for memorials. They’re all about the past—egocentric people with notions above themselves.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true.”
“When you’ve finished, let yourself out and shut the door behind you.”
*******
Car mechanic? Expert on memorials? Neither topic covered in training.
Because of this, Susan returned from walking the dog to find the car not there, so that discombobulated her day.
Rambling Rector Retired 
I won’t say what my response to monument man would have been. Definitely not as tolerant as yours! My response to Irish car crisis man would have been similar, but slightly more unrepeatable. Bless your patience and your tolerance. It’s 4am here in Dublin. And my thought right now is why didn’t I talk to you more and confide in you more about my abuse. When you were here with us in RCSI. I would be a doctor today if I had. Instead of this. Forgive my ramblings. I just needed to say it. No reply expected or necessary. Best wishes to you always. Bernie