Meanwhile, whilst Rome burned....

Last Sunday an Anglican Bishop explained to his cathedral congregation that he had a black eye and was unable to wear his mitre because he had been mugged the previous evening. He was on his way home from a reception at the Irish Embassy in London where he was seen by many to be clearly affected by the amount of alcohol that he had consumed. He was later found bruised and bloodied on the doorstep of his home by his wife. These facts are not disputed.

Others tell a different version to the bishop.

It is reported that leaving the reception he staggered into the sodden night and climbed into a stranger's Mercedes which was parked somewhere near Crucifix Lane. Witnesses claim that the bishop was not happy sharing the back seat of the vehicle with its other occupants and threw a bunch of cuddly toys into the air before rolling on to the pavement, where he bashed his head.

Next morning the bishop woke up with a bit of a hang over and searched his brain for some ratiopnal explanation of his state. That was when he became convinced that he was the victim of a mugging. His brief case(full of ecclesiastical papers), his mobile phone, and his crucifix were missing. He must have been mugged by villains anxious to get their hands on these items.

I don't want to gloat nor be judgemental but I hope that I am allowed a little giggle even if it is coupled with a sad heart and a few tears.