Alec proceeded to gather together rucksacks and holdalls whilst Claire, Alecia and Clara started to sort out what they would need. Alec was still none the wiser for who Godric was and finally asked “so who is or should I say was Godric then?” “look him up on the computer there’s still plenty of time before this storm is finished with us” said Claire.
What can a guy do? He fired up his computer and “googled” Godric of Finchale and read this extract from Wikipedia “Saint Godric's life was recorded by a contemporary of his: a monk named Reginald of Durham. Several other hagiographies are also extant. According to these accounts, Godric, who began from humble beginnings as the son of Ailward and Edwenna, "both of slender rank and wealth, but abundant in righteousness and virtue", was a pedlar, then a sailor and entrepreneur, and may have been the captain and owner of the ship that conveyed Baldwin I of Jerusalem to Jaffa in 1102. After years at sea, Godric reportedly went to the island of Lindisfarne and there encountered Saint Cuthbert; this will not have been a physical encounter as Cuthbert had long been dead and was by then interred at Durham Cathedral. This encounter changed his life, and he devoted himself to Christianity and service to God thereafter.
After many pilgrimages around the Mediterranean, Godric returned to England and lived with an elderly hermit named Aelric for two years. Upon Aelric's death, Godric made one last pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and then returned home where he convincedRanulf Flambard, the Bishop of Durham, to grant him a place to live as a hermit at Finchale, by the River Wear. He had previously served as doorkeeper, the lowest of the minor orders, at the hospital church of nearby St Giles Hospital in Durham. He is recorded to have lived at Finchale for the final sixty years of his life, occasionally meeting with visitors approved by the local prior. As the years passed, his reputation grew, and Thomas Becket and Pope Alexander III both reportedly sought Godric's advice as a wise and holy man.”
A saint then? and a dead one at that thought Alec what good is he going to be. “He may be dead but his spirit remains” “Shit” remarked Alec “I forgot about what you lot can do my thoughts will never ever be my own again” “do not worry your thoughts will be useful to us”said Clarona.
The storm continued for another hour before it started to weaken but now it was late in the evening and they all agreed that they should wait until the morning before doing anything else. I think that we should all have an early night its been one hell of day and by the sounds of it we will all need every ounce of energy for the days ahead stated Alec. Claire agreed “go get changed for bed girls and when you are ready bring your mattresses into our room we will all sleep together tonight and that way we can make sure that we are all safe. “Safe?” said the girls “yes there is so much that you just don’t understand” “it’s not only them” remarked Alec “I’m clueless as usual” “that’s why we love you so much” said Claire “right you two go and get yourselves sorted out and don’t take too long about it” she said sternly to the girls. There were no further questions and they returned with their mattresses and other bedding within 15 minutes breaking all records for them and they settled down for the night.
