Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Yesterday we watched the first episode of a new adaptation of Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations… the story of Pip’s ‘great expectations’ – to achieve wealth and status… Musing… yesterday’s ‘great expectations’… I went to church… …It’s Mel and Jon wedding anniversary… they got married at our church – with great expectations… 29 years later they stillContinue reading “Great Expectations”

(John Hardwick) This week’s ‘Sunday Song’ is this John Hardwick children’s song. It’s simple without being simplistic; a reminder of perhaps the best known Bible verse. It’s from the story when a man asked Jesus how to be ‘born again’; it’s the place where my faith started as a child and continues today. For GodContinue reading “For God So Loved The World”

Don’t Worry… At our ‘Music For Wellbeing’ group yesterday there was noise, laughter and enthusiastic singing. Helen led us through a number of upbeat songs – including this old Bob Marley song: Don’t worry, about a thing‘Cause every little thing, gonna be all right Yesterday Patrick informed us: ‘It’s officially spring. Freda has woken upContinue reading “Don’t Worry, Oh Bother, Allelujah”

Oscar Romero was Archbishop of San Salvador at a time when priests were threatened, arrested, tortured and martyred. He was outspoken, standing up for poor, ordinary people, speaking against the oppression and violence of the military government. On 24th March, 1980, Romero celebrated Mass at a small chapel at a hospital specializing in oncology andContinue reading “Violence and Love… Oscar, Marnie and Desmond”

Max Bygraves sung: You need hands to hold someone you care forYou need hands to show that you’re sincereWhen you fear nobody wants to know youYou need hands to brush away the tears. Yesterday at our local Seagull Theatre the ‘Project Board’ – that oversees the running of the theatre – met…. Building works isContinue reading “You Need Hands”

One day last week Elliott, a young man in his 20s, mentioned ‘Old Yeller’. I had a flashback… I was a young boy in the 1950s going to the cinema for the first time – the ‘Florida’ in Caterham, Surrey – to see the Walt Disney film ‘Old Yeller’. I remember a boy befriending aContinue reading “It Wasn’t Mine, But…”

Prejudiced… The Casey Report is published today. Baroness Casey, has spent a year examining the culture and practices of the Metropolitan Police following the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by PC Wayne Couzens. The report accuses the force of being institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic, stating: ‘The Met has not protected its femaleContinue reading “Prejudiced, Protected, Precious”

Saturday was Granddaughter Hannah’s 18th birthday party… We arrived to see decorations, folks in Disney-themed fancy dress, teenagers and older-folk, chatter and laughter. The evening progressed; we enjoyed conversations, drinks, music, food… Behind the seen… There was good organisation and preparation… the love of family… close, enduring friendships… a young woman growing up… lasting memories…Continue reading “Seeing behind the Seen”

Well, you wonder whyI always dress in blackWhy you never seeBright colors on my back… Johnny Cash explains why he always wears black… I wear the blackFor the poor and the beaten downLivin’ in the hopelessHungry side of townI wear it for the prisonerWho has long paid for his crimeBut is there becauseHe’s a victimContinue reading “Man in Black”

This week I’ve been clearing out my pond. Plants were tidied and re-potted, half of the water was pumped out, sludge and dead autumn leaves were carefully cleared and removed… Easily seen frogs are just starting to get active… small dragonfly larvae needed to be found and returned… newts are sometimes almost undetectable – whenContinue reading “My Newt”