Having seen two bikes on the roof rack some of you may be wondering when Mike has had the chance to ride his. After all, acting as my 'Director Sportif', domestique and general factotum has been a full time occupation!
The Church of England faces great challenges but it is also a time of opportunity.
As part of the Church of England's Wash day initiative, Bishop Lee Rayfield spent the evening of Good Friday with guests and volunteers at the Swindon Night Shelter.
There is an issue with the morality of all pornography but while there is pornography for so-called consenting adults, don't be fooled into thinking that children will not access it online.
Its a great way to show that Christians are not afraid of getting their hands dirty in the service of others and demonstrating what loving your neighbour really means.
Bishop Lee describes the place the resurrection holds for him as a scientist and disciple of Jesus.
On Maundy Thursday (17th April), Bishop Lee spoke at the Chrism Eucharist in Bristol Cathedral.
It was very recently reported that cathedral congregations are on the up and that mid-week services have doubled in a decade.
No time to post yesterday evening as it was a day of transition.
She laid him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:7 (NIV) I think this is my 38th Christmas as an ordained person!
The announcement earlier this week of the appointment of Rev'd Libby Lane as Bishop of Stockport is wonderful news for the Church of England and for our wider society.
One of the phrases that comes up reasonably regularly in the bible is The Word of the Lord came to... followed by the name of a person.
She was both loved and valued by her ordained colleagues, but equally was loved by the people she served within and beyond the Church.
With Lent in view, this month Bishop Lee turns the spotlight on our vocation to discipleship.A year ago I heard Paula Gooder speak on the subject of discipleship.
Bishop Lee will chair his first Diocesan Board of Education (DBE) meeting at the start of October, leading on the Dioceses work in schools and with young people in churches.
The Bishop of Blackburn, Julian Henderson, a contemporary of mine at Ridley Hall, made the national news recently by seeking to define some reality for his diocese.
In his address to Diocesan Synod in December, Matthew Frost asked us what one thing we might do as a diocese to best equip Christians to be disciples in every sphere of life, not just in church life.
Swindoncampaigners are taking part in Christian Aids nationwideHunger For Justice action this month as they urge local MPs to act against the injustice of climate change.
Anyone who was involved in any way with the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury over the past weekend, cannot but help to have been encouraged and inspired by his energy.
On Monday I spoke at the annual Charter Day service in Bristol Cathedral to a gathering of young aspiring people.
David Banfield started life in the south-west and his life ended there following a distinguished career in the Church of England in a variety of different contexts.
From Friday 4 July, Bishop Lee will be straddling the saddle of his bike for the next fortnight as he begins a mammoth cycle ride from John O'Groats to Land's End.
Having taken two hours yesterday to assemble and fit the roof bars and bike carriers, this morning Mike and I loaded the car and set off for the Grand Depart on Sunday.
As I write today we have just had our afternoon break in the lee of Ben Nevis. No time for a closer look, let alone climbing GBs highest mountain, as we are still 120 miles from our destination.
Mike Palmer and I were boarded in Brora overnight so we had to travel an hour and half to the off at John O Groats.
Three category 3 climbs, two category 4's and one category 5. This may all be meaningless to you but not to my legs!
We have been well looked after by the staff in the Hotels and Guest Houses we have stayed in, with the breakfasts a key feature.
Today's narrative has to centre around Simon...On our journey we have seen a number of other cyclists coming in the opposite direction.
As the days go on, the Tour de Lee is beginning to resemble its more illustrious cousin in two interesting ways.
Sabbath post - arrived safely and in good time.
This was a day of the musketeers! Some 70 miles of the total were ridden in a relay of fellow cyclists from across the Diocese, with wonderful contributions from the stars of the Malmesbury Abbey kitchen.
Today's central character unfortunately has no name but was our rescuer when the signposting, the map and the Garmin SatNav conspired to confuse.
Today as I followed the signage from Bodmin to St Austell I recalled my father-in-law's words about 'Cornish miles'.
At around 2pm Mike and I arrived at Land's End to a rapturous applause.
The Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield successfully completed his epic bike ride from John O'Groats to Land's End.
Bishop Lee is encouraging cyclists to saddle up for bike rides through Wiltshire in aid of Brighter Futures' 2.9m Radiotherapy Appeal.
With the Archbishop of Canterbury due to visit the Diocese of Bristol, Bishop Lee reminds us of Justin Welby's priorities and the opportunities his visit creates.
On Monday 14 July, the General Synod of the Church of England gave its final approval to legislation paving the way for women Bishops.
Bishop Lee reflects on why taking the risk of mending a broken relationship can be a sign of hope for the future.
As we approach the festivities of Christmas, Bishop Lee reflects on holding together hope and warning in the coming of the Christ child.
In his address to Diocesan Synod on 7th December, Bishop Mike urged support for Foodbanks and spoke on measures to improve the operation of the Welfare System.
As we begin a year committed to proclaiming the Good News, Bishop Mike explores what it means to live out our common calling as witnesses to the life of Christ and what might be stopping us.
After a last dose of chemotherapy on Louise's birthday (11 December) I technically completed my fourth and final Course on Christmas Day.
This Sunday the Bishop of Swindon, Rt Revd Lee Rayfield went over the edge to end poverty with Christian Aid as he took part in an abseil at St Sampson's Church in Cricklade.
This month Bishop Lee shares more of his journey and invites us to step out in faith.
I heard recently about a genre of literature about which I had never heard before: non-factual history.
Radio 4 this morning carried a story which strongly implied a culture of sexual harassment and bullying in the 'Westminster Village.'
Becoming aware of my own mortality has proved to be a gift and caused me to perceive life through a more richly coloured lens; each day on earth has become more precious, and living it well more significant.
This month Bishop Lee reflects on the Church of England's understanding of what it means to be the local Church.
Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield, the Bishop of Swindon, has been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system and will receive treatment in the months ahead.
Should the Church support liberal social and ethical reforms?
On return from his holiday Bishop Lee received the news that he has Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system.
I confess I wasnt looking forward to my first doses of chemotherapy but the session went very well.
Sitting on the balcony, most of the time I find it very easy to filter out the sounds of the motorway and the construction of the new housing.
I am now 14 days into my first course of chemotherapy and it has been something of a roller-coaster.
Checkout today's BBC R5 Live Movie Review
I continue to be staggered and overwhelmed by the messages, cards and letters that are coming our way.
Bishop Lee has appeared on ITV West talking on his experience fighting cancer.
Unforgiveness and Bitterness. As I write, the Pope has just pulled down the curtain on his year of mercy.
I confess I wasn't looking forward to my first doses of chemotherapy but the session went very well.
The Bishop of Bristol has opted to give money to charity rather than sending Christmas cards to clergy this year.
Bishop Mike encourages us to build our confidence in sharing our faith.The only purpose of the Church is to go out to tell the world the good news about Jesus Christ.
Watch here Here is Bishop Mike's inaugural address given at the first meeting of the new Diocesan Synod on Saturday 19 September.
As I have mentioned elsewhere, chemotherapy has had a massive impact on my sleep patterns. Knowing this was on the cards Liz decamped to the spare room the evening I had my first dose.
This article is an addendum to Bishop Lee's letter on grief and loss found here. In the EHS Daily Office there were a number of reflections that stood out and to which I found myself frequently returning.
Normally we pencil in Monday and Tuesday in the week after chemotherapy as fragile days and avoid any diary commitments.
I am delighted to hear of the election of Pope Francis I.
This past week in the media, I think following a press release from NICE, ( the National Institute of Clinical Excellence), the term conduct disorder has found its way into the public space.
This month Bishop Lee reminds us of the thousands of children who have little experience of a loving home and asks how the gospel can help us engage with such a challenge.
Bishop Ed Condry (Bishop of Ramsbury) and Bishop Lee Rayfield (Bishop of Swindon) cycled a gruelling 180 miles around Wiltshire in 2 days in April 2013, stopping off in 16 Christian Aid groups along the way.
Prayer draws us more closely into relationship with God, has an impact on the world and energises our Christian lives.
Bishop Mike HillWe wish to express our deep condolences to the family of Drummer Lee Rigby.
News coming in overnight is that the American administration now confirms, what we have had circumstantial evidence of for a while, that the Syrian Government has used chemical weapons on its own people.
I was so grateful to everyone that came to the service on Saturday evening at Bristol Cathedral to mark the 10th anniversary of my time as Bishop of Bristol.
Show me the way your weekend services are going and Ill tell you how your church is going Thus spake Bill Hybels at a recent coaching seminar.
The prospect of elected Police Commissioners is not one that fills me with enthusiasm.
Who would have thought it? Thursday's elections for the Police & Crime Commissioners have largely been written off as a 'shambles.'
On November 2nd 1917, 95 years ago today, a piece of history was made which has had a profound impact on world politics ever since.
I was just approaching the turn off to Swindon when I heard that the measure to ordain women as bishops had been defeated.
Many of us are still reeling after yesterdays General Synod vote.
"We are going to need to do a lot of explaining." So said Archbishop Rowan as he helped Synod face up to the implications of Tuesday's vote.
This week has been the most difficult I think of my ordained life.
In his message for Advent Bishop Lee highlights the challenge of the season for our discipleship. This is the time of the year I find most challenging to be a follower of Jesus.
Rt Revd Mike Hill has accepted the invitation of the Council of the Oxford theological college, Wycliffe Hall, to become its Chair.
Last day in Gulu. Tomorrow we are off to visit one of the legacies of the days of war in N. Uganda the huge displacement camp at Amuru.
Bishop Mike has issued the following statement following the announcement that Pope Benedict will retire at the end of February.
Bishop Lee will cycle 172 milesin two days forChristian Aid on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 April.
I have always admired those people who make a long-term commitment to living a healthy lifestyle.
The House of Bishops met yesterday for a day dedicated to trying to unlock the impasse created by November's vote on women bishops.
Reading in the Times sports pages in the light of England's Rugby Union victory over the French side I saw that on the wall of the England team's training camp was the simple slogan, 'England 365'.
Bishop Mike asks if we apply the ways we learn best, to the ways we could seek to spread the Gospel message.
In this months letter, Bishop Mike reflects on what our Olympic team might have to say to how we approach our church life.
Bishop Mike joined Bristol's political leaders when they boarded the Tax Justice Bus on Monday 3rd September as it stopped in the city as part of a 53-day tour of the UK and Ireland.
Halfway through our Diocesan Strategy, our vision of a growing Church is becoming a reality. This month, parishes are being asked to increase their Parish Share giving to support that growth.
£17000. That was the cost the patient in the bed opposite me had been quoted if he wished to have gone private for his operation.
I must say I have found it very difficult to understand those who call in on radio phone-ins to voice their displeasure at those who have come out and spoken of their abusive experiences in the Jimmy Savile scandal.
In this months Bishops Letter, Bishop Mike asks how we can apply what we know we need to do in our physical lives to our spiritual lives.
The Bishops of Bristol and Swindon have wholeheartedly welcomed the announcement that Rt Revd Justin Welby will be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.Rt Revd Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol, praised Bishop Justin's exceptional experience.
In this month's Bishop's Letter, Bishop Mike asks who should be teaching children right from wrong, what they should be teaching, and what part people of faith have to play.
This month Bishop Lee reflects on the significance of awe and wonder in our relationship with God and resisting being conformed by left brain ways of attending to the world.