Nicholas

@nicholasbenn

Yorkshireman, Verger and God-botherer bothered by God. Learning to live life One Day At a Time with love and gratitude. Unapologetically trans 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them

146 Siguiendo299 Seguidores1097 Publicaciones

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Nicholas@nicholasbenn· 3d

So there is a new branch of Topping and Company bookseller in York which stretches over three floors and has so many glorious sections, and I only allow myself in there very very rarely because I leave having spent far too much and a far too big TBR pile. But it is a lovely problem to have!

A pile of three new books - 'A year of marvellous ways' by Sarah Winman, 'The Lamplighters' by Emma Stonex, and 'Hurdy Gurdy' by Christopher Wilson

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· 6d

Sometimes being an adult really sucks - sometimes being an adult means using income to buy ridiculous things like a replica plushie of the Artemis II zero gravity indicator because it was just far too adorable and there is nobody to tell me not to

A round plushie with a white body and a little smiling face and pink blushes, with a hat that is blue with a green map of the world across it. On the black brim of the hat in red and yellow are two rockets with flames coming out of them, and yellow stars

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· 13d

Today is ten years on T which is mad and remarkable, but also this morning I had the chance to return to Wakefield for the funeral of Heather. Heather was the first one to discuss vocation with me, she kept in touch over the years, and modelled discipleship in ways I cannot begin to comprehend

A vial of sustanon, which is a small glass vial about 5cm high, with banded markings in red and yellow and a blue dot to show the breakage point

An order of service for the funeral of Heather, with a picture of her joyfully smiling in the centre

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· 29d

I am by the sea 🤗 checked into my BnB and indulging in the rare treat of watching TV (haven't watched Pointless for absolutely ages) Fish and chips for tea obviously, and then checking out the local recovery meeting. So good to have a change of scene, and a beautiful scene at that

The sea as seen from Bridlington's South Beach this afternoon, with white clouds on the horizon and shells in the sand in the foreground

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Jul 12

A lovely afternoon at the Dragon Boat race, huge respect for charities who turn out not only to race but also those running stalls with tombolas etc - I know how exhausting that can be in terms of engagement with the passing public, can't imagine how much more that is true in York at a weekend!

The River Ouse with the final six race teams

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Jun 19

Thank you - all over and done quickly, now home with painkillers and soft food. Gives me a decent excuse to sit quietly and read for a while (still very numb so no pain yet!)

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Jun 8

They're doing overnight work by the station and I just walked past on my way home. This is the sign on one of the pieces of equipment. I had to go back to reread it to make sure I had seen what I thought I had. Magnificent job of naming something 😅

A sign attached to something that presumably holds tar for road resurfacing. The sign reads 'Tina's International Tar Sprayers' in black lettering. The words are written one below the other and the first letters are in red, so that vertically it reads 'TITS'

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· May 30

I couldn't be at pride but I had a good time being as obviously queer as I could whilst at the Big House today (the dog tag courtesy of a friend who has been making them as part of his Roman workshops they have been running in a side chapel throughout half term)

Nicholas in their lanyard which has lots of rainbow pins badges as well as one which says 'trans bodies are holy' and an upraised fist in the trans colours, their trans penguin necklace, and a small metal disk dog tag embossed with LGBTQ

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· May 29

Service for Pride, with the queerest kings looking on 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️❤️

The King's Screen at York Minster lit in colours to create a rainbow

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· May 25

I would rather throw the laptop in the river than 'chat' with my files 🫠

PDF viewer offering me AI chats and the ominous statement that 'your documents are becoming intelligent'

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· May 22

Have had a lovely day off walking along the Nidd and pootling round Knaresborough. Glad of time to hear birdsong and stand beneath the trees. Prayers said for friends, especially those approaching ordination, and God in the wildlife as always ❤️ My only downside is the clock on the station mural 😅

The River Nidd in full flow, taken from the bridge made by the army in the 80s to create a crossing point - there are tall trees on either side and ripples created in the water by the rocks in the midst

The middle of a forest with brambles and shrubs, tall trees and a patch of Sky poking through

The viaduct at Knaresborough, with the checkerboard house in the foreground

A mural at Knaresborough station with a ticket office depicted - in the background of the mural is a clock with Roman numerals, except that four is being represented by IIII rather than IV

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· May 17

Excellent to pop into Hudds PC this morning. A community that really helped me find my faith and self confidence again and rebuild. I wouldn't be at York without them. Happened to be their APCM and wonderful to see people being empowered to serve in new roles and prayerfully supported

The Order of Service for Eastertide at Huddersfield Parish Church with the OFM tiny hamster chiling on top

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· May 13

#tinyjoys today have been experiencing Morning Prayer and Eucharist in the Crypt for the first time due to rota quirks, and then being up in the roof of the Chapter House during the Wednesday tour. Also did the smoke for Solemn Evensong which is always fun, and we had Finzi at his best "Shout!"

The tomb of St William of York in the Crypt surrounded by candles

An aerial view of York looking West, with green trees in the foreground and fluffy (if hail containing) clouds in the background

The inside of the chapter house roof with intricate and precisely cut and joined timbers crossing everywhere, also a walkway that I desperately want to climb but know I will never be permitted to

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· May 12

Managed to finally get my hair cut for the first time this year and had forgotten the gender affirmation it brings to get to the barbers. Spent time afterwards just hanging in town taking the tiny hamster from OFM to some local sites before making it to a recovery meeting. Many #tinyjoys

A selfie of Nicholas with considerably shorter hair than they have had this year so far, though the beard needed a trim to match! They are wearing a red and blue jumper with a black raincoat on top because the weather couldn't quite make its mind up

A picture of a tiny resin hamster perched on the information plaque about Clifford's Tower, with green grass in the background and sunshine

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· May 1

This is my favourite so far, though I am sure our Collections team have many others

A ceiling boss from York Minster damaged in the 1984 fire - the Collections team have a note that reads 'ceiling boss contains hazardous materials (arsenic)! Do not touch!'

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Apr 26

Forgot my parents are having their kitchen redone next week so thought ironing them tonight would be easier than doing so back in York... Did finally manage to extract both iron and ironing board but make no excuses for the state of the ironing of said purificators 🙈

A bedroom full of boxes of things from my parents kitchen of 20 years, including all of their herbs and spices, cooking utensils, and crockery. Somewhere in the midst is an iron

A garage full of boxes containing a new kitchen, with an ironing board up against the far wall

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Apr 26

We have a mascot at York in the form of Mason Mouse and at our Children's Church events for major feasts the learning team create little cards with the theme and Mason, and a prayer on the back. I finally got round to doing the St William themed Geocache they set up and look how cute the card is!

A cartoon mouse dressed up as a Bishop complete with pallium, mitre, and crozier, with the background part of the multicoloured mosaic that is on the floor around the tomb of St William in the Western Crypt at York Minster

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Apr 10

The Lego St Williams Shrine is nearly finished and it is so cool - really engaging our younger visitors (and all the staff) in something different and telling the stories about St Will in his anniversary year

St Stephen's Chapel in York Minster with lots of tables with boxes of lego on them. In the centre is a six foot high structure made out of lego to resemble St Williams Shrine which used to sit in the Nave of the Minster

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Apr 8

I have marvellous colleagues who indulge me in my Nonsense

A screenshot of a Facebook reel showing a sewing machine and some purificators being made. The text reads 'what does a Verger do on his day off? Make purificators for another Verger who uses his spare time to go to conferences where they have communion apparently'

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Apr 6

Local pub where we did leaving drinks had a charity box for the RSBP with pin badges including this lovely starling in rainbow colours, which a friend instantly showed me, and then in being incredibly lovely bought one to give me as I left. Grateful for generous friends who Know Me 🏳️‍🌈🐦

My work lanyard with a new pin badge in the shape of a starling which is striped in rainbow colours

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Mar 31

#tinyjoys Effort to prep things yesterday really making today run smoothly. Reuniting with someone who offered me amends from years ago and being able to accept and lay it down. A hot cross bun mountain post Chrism Mass. Chance to catch up on emails whilst colleagues did Evensong. Lighter evenings

Bakery trays full of halved hot cross buns from the excellent Thomas the Baker which made their way to the staffroom after the service

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Mar 23

My algorithm is...an interesting place 😅

Two pictures of a palm tree side by side, but the second is labelled psalm tree with the verse 'o lord, our lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth'

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Mar 19

Yes I bought the Choral Anthems top trumps game. No, I am not even slightly sorry!

Two cards laid out in the style of top trumps, with anthem names at rhe top, then a picture, a QR code linking to a recording of the anthem and then categories that read 'Banger rating' 'vocal range' 'number of parts' 'Accompanist fear factor' 'Director anxiety level' 'year' and 'duration' with numerical scores allocated to each category. It is very church nerd and I love it

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Mar 3

Today's #tinyjoys - on walking through Dean's Park on my break to get some sunshine I happened on two feline friends, and also did #tenminmerlin and found we had robins, goldfinches, magpies, great tits, and wood pigeons - all very lovely 🐦 🐱❤️

A slightly aloof cat sat in the sunshine

A very lovely cat with bengal markings who let me pet them as they were enjoying the sunshine

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Mar 3

Lunch break in the sun makes my upcoming Personal Development one to one feel far less onerous. There is actual heat coming from the round thing in the sky and it is glorious

Dean's Park in the sunshine, with crocuses and snowdrops blooming

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Mar 1

Glimpses of spring finally appearing - good to spend a weekend off seeking out green spaces, hearing the birdsong and very occasionally feeling the sun

Clifford's Tower in York, the hill covered with daffodils, the sky blue with white clouds

A carpet of green grass with snowdrops and something that has pink flowers blooming

Yellow and orange flowers poking out of leaf strewn ground

A small pond surrounded by trees and shrubs

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Feb 14

Reminding myself at the end of a tricky day of the sheer beauty of the sunlight this morning (and the joy of walking to work in almost light) I won't ever manage to capture the interplay of light and shadow well enough, but the craft and work is utterly utterly beautiful

The Lady Chapel of York Minster with rows of wooden chairs lit largely just with light from the East Window

The Great East Window of York Minster lit with almost amber light as the stonework below reflects it

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Feb 7

Ending a throughly lovely day at the Theatre Royal for some comedy from Sara Pascoe

The stage at York Theatre Royal with an image of a cartoon of a woman pushing a globe made up of various clothing items up a hill, with 'Sara Pascoe I Am A Strange Gloop' written above it

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Feb 4

Somehow I am paid for this ridiculous job (vacuuming the straw out of the Crib post-Candlemas after removing all the figures)

The York Minster Crib empty except for Nicholas who is wearing a red shirt and grey waistcoat, using a Henry to vacuum up the last of the straw - they foolishly thought they'd avoided the Comms team but were caught in the act by one of them passing through on their way to the Daily Briefing and so became social media fodder

Nicholas@nicholasbenn· Jan 28

New lanyard pin (from Abprallen on Etsy) has just landed in the middle of my work lanyard because. Yeah. This.