The Revd Dr Sara Batts-Neale
@sarabn.bsky.social
Priest. Preacher, writer, thinker, creator of lists, prayer of prayer, wearer of waders, wader-in.
4.20pm and I'm just sitting down to do what I'd planned to start immediately after lunch.
February 9, 2026 at 4:24 PM
4.20pm and I'm just sitting down to do what I'd planned to start immediately after lunch.
There has been rowing today, which makes everything better.
February 7, 2026 at 7:12 PM
There has been rowing today, which makes everything better.
I now have the answer. Shiny new laptop has an ARM processor which apparently means Nothing Old Works With It.
Possibly including me
Possibly including me
Do I know anyone who can explain to a tired priest why a her new laptop won't install either Adobe Acrobat or the correct printer drivers?
Lost about 2 days in the past fortnight ferreting about for solutions.
Gained about 2lb from necessary chocolate consumption
Lost about 2 days in the past fortnight ferreting about for solutions.
Gained about 2lb from necessary chocolate consumption
February 5, 2026 at 10:47 PM
I now have the answer. Shiny new laptop has an ARM processor which apparently means Nothing Old Works With It.
Possibly including me
Possibly including me
Thought I had seen it all in terms of theatre-going entitlement but this evening the person sitting next to me physically moved the older man in front of her, holding his shoulders and straightening his leaning head out of her eye line.
February 5, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Thought I had seen it all in terms of theatre-going entitlement but this evening the person sitting next to me physically moved the older man in front of her, holding his shoulders and straightening his leaning head out of her eye line.
Do I know anyone who can explain to a tired priest why a her new laptop won't install either Adobe Acrobat or the correct printer drivers?
Lost about 2 days in the past fortnight ferreting about for solutions.
Gained about 2lb from necessary chocolate consumption
Lost about 2 days in the past fortnight ferreting about for solutions.
Gained about 2lb from necessary chocolate consumption
February 4, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Do I know anyone who can explain to a tired priest why a her new laptop won't install either Adobe Acrobat or the correct printer drivers?
Lost about 2 days in the past fortnight ferreting about for solutions.
Gained about 2lb from necessary chocolate consumption
Lost about 2 days in the past fortnight ferreting about for solutions.
Gained about 2lb from necessary chocolate consumption
Current mysteries in the Vicarage:
1. The whereabouts of the clock pendulum and key.
2. Why my new laptop tells me it's installed Acrobat reader & the printer drivers, and then... hasn't.
3. Where the afternoon has gone.
1. The whereabouts of the clock pendulum and key.
2. Why my new laptop tells me it's installed Acrobat reader & the printer drivers, and then... hasn't.
3. Where the afternoon has gone.
January 25, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Current mysteries in the Vicarage:
1. The whereabouts of the clock pendulum and key.
2. Why my new laptop tells me it's installed Acrobat reader & the printer drivers, and then... hasn't.
3. Where the afternoon has gone.
1. The whereabouts of the clock pendulum and key.
2. Why my new laptop tells me it's installed Acrobat reader & the printer drivers, and then... hasn't.
3. Where the afternoon has gone.
Sparkly feet in church today! This morning's service included a thanksgiving for a child, whose young relatives brought glittery joy one step at a time.
January 25, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Sparkly feet in church today! This morning's service included a thanksgiving for a child, whose young relatives brought glittery joy one step at a time.
Would recommend.
January 15, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Would recommend.
Happy to report that I have now thawed out in Pizza Express, in plenty of time for the train. Honestly, you know it's cold when even 15min on the Victoria Line in a coat still feels a bit parky
Well. @caledoniansleeper.bsky.social are running, hurrah. But I am now at least 50 min late for my planned rendezvous with Mr Batts-Neale, and completely freezing, after points failure meant train cancellation and delays on @greateranglia.bsky.social
Second day off today, and it will likely mostly be spent pacing around & looking at weather forecasts waiting to find out if @caledoniansleeper.bsky.social is running to Dundee tonight or if we will achieve a lifetime 100% failure rate of trains we're booked on being cancelled.
January 6, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Happy to report that I have now thawed out in Pizza Express, in plenty of time for the train. Honestly, you know it's cold when even 15min on the Victoria Line in a coat still feels a bit parky
Well. @caledoniansleeper.bsky.social are running, hurrah. But I am now at least 50 min late for my planned rendezvous with Mr Batts-Neale, and completely freezing, after points failure meant train cancellation and delays on @greateranglia.bsky.social
Second day off today, and it will likely mostly be spent pacing around & looking at weather forecasts waiting to find out if @caledoniansleeper.bsky.social is running to Dundee tonight or if we will achieve a lifetime 100% failure rate of trains we're booked on being cancelled.
January 6, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Well. @caledoniansleeper.bsky.social are running, hurrah. But I am now at least 50 min late for my planned rendezvous with Mr Batts-Neale, and completely freezing, after points failure meant train cancellation and delays on @greateranglia.bsky.social
Second day off today, and it will likely mostly be spent pacing around & looking at weather forecasts waiting to find out if @caledoniansleeper.bsky.social is running to Dundee tonight or if we will achieve a lifetime 100% failure rate of trains we're booked on being cancelled.
January 6, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Second day off today, and it will likely mostly be spent pacing around & looking at weather forecasts waiting to find out if @caledoniansleeper.bsky.social is running to Dundee tonight or if we will achieve a lifetime 100% failure rate of trains we're booked on being cancelled.
Third year in a row, so now a lifetime tradition: leftover Christmas pudding banana split.
Just ridiculous, and splendid.
Just ridiculous, and splendid.
December 28, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Third year in a row, so now a lifetime tradition: leftover Christmas pudding banana split.
Just ridiculous, and splendid.
Just ridiculous, and splendid.
Here's Miss Climpson come to keep an eye on you
December 27, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Here's Miss Climpson come to keep an eye on you
#clergymaltclub mince pie too courtesy of lovely churchwarden.
Happy Christmas, everyone.
Happy Christmas, everyone.
December 25, 2025 at 1:04 AM
#clergymaltclub mince pie too courtesy of lovely churchwarden.
Happy Christmas, everyone.
Happy Christmas, everyone.
Getting ready for my first year of Sawbridgeworth's Carols on Fair Green later.
Once my post-crib service cuppa has done its job, though.
Once my post-crib service cuppa has done its job, though.
December 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Getting ready for my first year of Sawbridgeworth's Carols on Fair Green later.
Once my post-crib service cuppa has done its job, though.
Once my post-crib service cuppa has done its job, though.
Looking forward to 4 January 2026
Thank you to the lovely audience member at @hayfestival who shared that her daughter had once corrected her pronunciation of ‘epiphany’ and told her it should of course be ‘epi-fanny’.
Which word have you royally mispronounced because you’d only ever seen it written down?
Which word have you royally mispronounced because you’d only ever seen it written down?
December 9, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Looking forward to 4 January 2026
The picture of a man trying hard to pay attention to his wife on her birthday whilst Joe Root was 97 not out
(said man has already been out to fetch tasty cake and lovely flowers)
(said man has already been out to fetch tasty cake and lovely flowers)
December 4, 2025 at 10:43 AM
The picture of a man trying hard to pay attention to his wife on her birthday whilst Joe Root was 97 not out
(said man has already been out to fetch tasty cake and lovely flowers)
(said man has already been out to fetch tasty cake and lovely flowers)
People have been telling me all autumn that the Festival of Light (held during the town's Christmas lights switch-on) is awesome. And I think I have to agree.
Although I would quite like to never see a tea light again.
Although I would quite like to never see a tea light again.
November 29, 2025 at 8:08 PM
People have been telling me all autumn that the Festival of Light (held during the town's Christmas lights switch-on) is awesome. And I think I have to agree.
Although I would quite like to never see a tea light again.
Although I would quite like to never see a tea light again.
I find this train advertisement rather begs the question "If you are surprised by vegetables, what did you think falafel were made of?"
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 AM
I find this train advertisement rather begs the question "If you are surprised by vegetables, what did you think falafel were made of?"
There was water dripping from the landing ceiling last night, so no water on in the house today. And I have broken my favourite teapot. Not the best Monday ever.
November 3, 2025 at 12:06 PM
There was water dripping from the landing ceiling last night, so no water on in the house today. And I have broken my favourite teapot. Not the best Monday ever.
This morning we are on an architecture tour of the Barbican. Revisiting the version of myself that walked from Liverpool St, through here, on my way to work.
November 1, 2025 at 12:12 PM
This morning we are on an architecture tour of the Barbican. Revisiting the version of myself that walked from Liverpool St, through here, on my way to work.
Successful trial of giving out hot chocolate drinks to people passing through the churchyard this evening. Quite pleased.
October 31, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Successful trial of giving out hot chocolate drinks to people passing through the churchyard this evening. Quite pleased.
Reposted by The Revd Dr Sara Batts-Neale
Slide through for a simple breakdown of the latest LLF update.
🚨PLEASE SHARE - setbacks like this show that we need as many people pushing for inclusion as possible
#churchofengland #livinginloveandfaith #equalmarriage
🚨PLEASE SHARE - setbacks like this show that we need as many people pushing for inclusion as possible
#churchofengland #livinginloveandfaith #equalmarriage
October 16, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Slide through for a simple breakdown of the latest LLF update.
🚨PLEASE SHARE - setbacks like this show that we need as many people pushing for inclusion as possible
#churchofengland #livinginloveandfaith #equalmarriage
🚨PLEASE SHARE - setbacks like this show that we need as many people pushing for inclusion as possible
#churchofengland #livinginloveandfaith #equalmarriage
Went to Brownies, was awarded a badge, discovered I still remembered the words and tune to Brownie Bells after 40+ years.
Excellent evening of vicaring.
Excellent evening of vicaring.
October 13, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Went to Brownies, was awarded a badge, discovered I still remembered the words and tune to Brownie Bells after 40+ years.
Excellent evening of vicaring.
Excellent evening of vicaring.
Tell me the central heating is on without telling me the central heating is on...
October 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Tell me the central heating is on without telling me the central heating is on...