Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Yesterday morning the fire engines, blue lights and air ambulance arrived. A house round the corner from us was on fire. Neighbours were evacuated, the road closed for a couple of hours… ‘The fire spread to at least three rooves along the row of terraced houses but was stopped from taking hold. One patient, anContinue reading “Fires – Extinguished or Burning”

It’s all happening on our bird feeders. The current cold weather has brought chaffinches, goldfinches and a host of other small birds – as well as ‘Woody’ the woodpecker who’s a regular visitor. They’re all enjoying their breakfast. I hear a noise. I look out the window. The air ambulance has just landed opposite ourContinue reading “It’s All Happening!”

The Seekers: Someday, one dayTime’s not so far awayWe can share the dreams we plannedOh, someday… Craig’s the manager at our local ‘Jolly Sailors’. Last week, on the front page of The Lowestoft Journal: ‘…I went to put the roast potatoes on when I realised we were out of cooking oil. Just about to headContinue reading “Some Day, One Day,”

The recent snow and frost brings beautiful frosty patterns, snow that’s deep and crisp and even. On Tuesday I was sitting by a log fire in a local pub… the classic Christmas cards showing a Victorian snow scene where all are warm, merry and bright. In contrast the treacherous conditions have caused numerous road trafficContinue reading “Side by Side”

On Sunday we heard of the four boys who fell through the ice in a lake in Solihull, West Midlands. Yesterday we learnt that three had died and the fourth’s in a critical condition. In TV interviews Superintendent Richard Harris from West Midlands Police described the first officer on the scene entering the lake inContinue reading “Leaders: Richard, Richard, Gareth & Mick”

Yesterday I read of parents banning some of the ‘fairy tales’ that I was brought up on… Hansel and Gretel’s abandoned children, abducted by a bloodthirsty, cannibalistic witch… Red Riding Hood’s wolf that eats grandmothers… violent and distressing images! There are issues of body image with Cinderella and her ugly sisters… sizeism with Snow White’sContinue reading “Once Upon A Time”

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare Him roomAnd heaven and nature sing It’s the third Sunday in Advent. Some call it ‘Gaudete Sunday’; the Latin Gregorian chant that used to be sung on this Sunday started: ‘Gaudete in Domino semper…’ St Paul’s words: ‘Rejoice in theContinue reading “Joy to the World”

Yesterday we went to Snape to see the Co-op Juniors Christmas Spectacular. Nearly 100 children and young people sung and danced their way through a variety of Christmas classics. We’ve been for several years and have never been disappointed. The costumes were amazing, the standard of production and performance was exceptionally high, and the worldContinue reading “The New Old Fashioned Way”

I read this in my Bible this morning. My version talked about being ‘naked and exposed before God’s eyes’… Several friends have spent time in hospital recently. To have the necessary surgery or treatment, their physical condition must be ‘naked and exposed’ to the doctors. Others are having regular meetings with their counsellors. Past traumasContinue reading “Naked and Exposed”

Chair 1: Yesterday I went to Grandson-Luca’s ‘Red Oak Primary School’ for their ‘Christmas Big Sing’. In the school hall we sat on small squashed-together primary-school-sized chairs. Sitting between two big-coated mums of larger dimensions I felt like the dormouse squashed between the Mad Hatter and the March Hare at Alice’s tea party. A fullContinue reading “Three Chairs (Hip Hip Hooray!)”