Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

We’ve spent the last couple of days with the Yorkshire part of our family. It’s been great to catch up with news and re-establish relationships with my brother Bryan and his family. We reflected on stories from our shared past… nieces Catherine and Virginia were bridesmaids at our wedding. We’ve seen pictures, heard news ofContinue reading “The Family of Man”

Reading Richard Coles’ ‘A Death in the Parish’… Canon Daniel Clement thinks: ‘There is a peculiar forgetfulness of our age… so enchanted with the novelty and the extraordinary success of science and technology, that the longer story of the evolution of the values and institutions and virtues that have long shaped our lives gets lost.’Continue reading “Values, Institutions and Virtues”

Yesterday we visited Lincoln Castle. A knowledgeable guide pointed out important features of the castle and told us something of its history. Kings – William, Henry, Stephen, Richard, John… wars against the French, battles for power… the details and popularity of public executions… We saw one of the few remaining copies of the Magna Carta,Continue reading “Ignorance, Change, and the Passing of Time”

When I was a student, a number of teacher training establishments in cathedral cities were named after famous bishops linked to them. I considered ‘Bishop Grosseteste’ college, Lincoln; I attended ‘Bishop Lonsdale’ College, Derby.    Yesterday we visited Lincoln Cathedral. Peter, our exceedingly knowledgeable guide, helped us to learn about British politics, history, religion, geology,Continue reading “A Bishop, a Small Boy, and Flowers”

Yesterday… …Staying in Branston, just outside Lincoln, we noticed the village war memorial. One plaque read: ‘This cross of peace was is set up by the people of Branston in loving remembrance of the people from this parish who gave their lives in the Great War and in devout thankfulness for the preservation of theContinue reading “Gone… And Forgotten?”

Yesterday Rachel and I packed up the car to spend a few days away. Driving up the A17 out of East Anglia the radio played The Eagles… ‘…and I gotta peaceful, easy feelingand I know you won’t let me down’cause I’m already standing on the ground.’ I liked musing a ‘peaceful easy feeling’ on holiday,Continue reading “Peaceful, Easy Feeling.”

‘Crocodile tears’ cropped up in conversation… Someone sheds ‘crocodile tears’ if they’re pretending to be sad or sympathetic. They’re superficial, insincere, hypocritical in their words and expressed emotions. I asked Mr Google. The phrase has been used for centuries. Crocodiles were thought to shed tears whilst consuming their prey. Apparently fluid from a crocodile’s tearContinue reading “Crocodile Tears”

Yesterday I was thinking about Julie Andrews singing ‘My favourite things’ – ‘Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens…’ Yesterday I was out clearing fallen leaves and I remembered ‘Autumn Leaves’, a song that we used to sing in school assemblies fifty years ago. It was in ‘ComeContinue reading “Autumn Days”

The first Friday of October – yesterday – was World Smile Day. Started by Harvey Ball, the commercial artist who created the smiley face, it reminds us of the power of a smile. Three people helped me to smile yesterday… …Wednesday was Julie Andrews’ 90th birthday. We remembered this at our ‘Singing for Wellbeing’ groupContinue reading “Smiling – with Julie, Sarah and Joe.”

Last night we went to Norwich to watch Hamilton… Recently Al’s been making a ramp. Earlier this week he completed it. He posted on Facebook: ‘Now a very disabled man can safely leave his front door without overstretching and losing his walker. For safety, non-slip paint and chicken wire will be added.’ Al’s friend canContinue reading “Hamilton – with Ramps, Deafness and Wolves”