Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

‘Plate spinning is a circus manipulation art where a person spins plates, bowls and other flat objects on poles, without them falling off…’ Single plates Yesterday I was chatting to our neighbour Mark… at the end of the garden tinkering with spanners and bikes. ‘Kelly’s bought a new bike…’ He explained his tinkering. ‘If I’mContinue reading “Plate Spinning“

“The elephant in the room” is an expression that describes a topic, question, or issue that everyone knows about but no one mentions… …Musing on random roomed-elephants that I’ve encountered… Accepted elephants… Growing up we didn’t talk about sex, love, the war, feelings, emotions… These elephants were accepted, almost part of the furniture. Most ofContinue reading “The Elephant In The Room”

I’m gonna lay down my burdenDown by the riverside… I’m gonna study war no more I first heard this old American spiritual in the 1960s… an inspirational anthem… I’m gonna lay down my burden… This last week I’ve met people who are carrying huge burdens that weighs heavily on their shoulders… Caring for a familyContinue reading “I’m Gonna Lay Down My Burden…“

One of my earliest memories is playing ‘Happy Families’, a game with cards depicting the various tradesmen… Mr Bun the baker, Mr Bones the butcher… We had to collect a complete ‘happy family’ – 4 cards… e.g. Mr Potts the painter, Mrs Potts the painter’s wife, Master Potts the painter’s son, Miss Potts the painter’sContinue reading “Happy Families“

Musing… ‘Change only happens through failure’ (Brian McLaren in ‘Do I stay Christian?’) I enjoyed the story in yesterday’s paper: Kerry Carty from Stockport paid 50p for a tombola ticket at her six-year-old daughter’s school fair. She won a bottle of red wine. …Success! Kerry said: ‘I don’t know anything about wine. I never drinkContinue reading “Change Only Happens Through Failure“

Tuesday’s Eastern Daily Press: ‘PCs Joe Pike and Richard Bladon… were called to the rescue of a big black piggy munching its way through gardens in the Southtown area of Yarmouth. It seemed a bit harsh to arrest the pig for criminal damage, so after being unable to find its owner, our friends at HillsideContinue reading “Life’s Not Always That Simple…“

There was much in yesterday’s news about the new Moderna anti-Covid vaccination… how it’s different from other vaccines… They talked about the ‘Research and Development’ (‘R&D’) that led to the discovery of the new drug and its clinical trials… There’s ‘R&D’ work in our ‘Seagull Theatre’. Writers apply for an ‘R&D grant’ if they wantContinue reading “Research And Development“

The start of the football season has been interesting for football lovers. Manchester United with an new manager but losing; Arsenal looking better; Sunday’s Spurs-Chelsea ‘battle’; Palace holding Liverpool to a draw last night… Tonight Pete and I will go to Carrow Road to watch Norwich play Huddersfield. After three games without a win we’reContinue reading “Winners or Losers?“

Our friend Andy has been servicing our cars for 30 years. His garage is always busy. Everyone speaks highly of the service they receive from him and the team. Yesterday he explained how customers often ask: ‘We want to buy a new car. What would you advise?’ Having worked with cars all his life AndyContinue reading “Listen To The Expert?”

Sometimes I’ve thought about ‘Being a Christian’ as a set beliefs I hold, a moral framework I live by, things I do, a group of people I meet with… I like this picture of ‘walking with Jesus’. I don’t just visit him on Sunday or pick up friendship when it suits me. I don’t askContinue reading “Just A Closer Walk With Thee“