Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

This is Cat and her Dad Dave. Cat writes: ‘…he has been my one constant male influence, that he never gave up on me, that even through the dark times he always supported me, that to this day he holds doors open for me, puts himself on the outside of me when we’re walking, thatContinue reading “Old-fashioned But Not Out-dated”

A growing pile of rubbish had accumulated outside our back door. As the kitchen has improved and taken shape indoors the workmen have piled old pipes, broken panels, wood offcuts, polystyrene packaging, flattened boxes… Yesterday Richard turned up with a big van and took away the lot. I’m not sure where he took it –Continue reading “Getting Rid Of The Rubbish”

I smile when advertisers use the term ‘pre-loved’ to avoid describing an item as ‘second-hand’. A pre-loved wedding dress must be better than a second-hand one; pre-loved toys sound more attractive than second-hand toys. I’ve bought many pre-loved books. Recently these have included Pinocchio, The Railway Children… To Kill A Mockingbird, Of Mice And Men…Continue reading “Pre-loved”

Progress on our kitchen has been slow but steady; it’s not finished but it’s useable. I’ve just gone through a snagging list with Scott-the-fitter… jobs that still need doing… the cracked cutlery tray and panels that need replacing, the painting and decorating, the collection of the rubbish… My memory isn’t what it was. Lists areContinue reading “Lists, Lists And More Lists”

Forrest Gump: ‘My mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get…’ Yesterday I visited Harry. He told me about Max, recalling Max as a child playing with his sons in the garden… Max became head pupil of Durham School, achieved a First in Politics with RussianContinue reading “Max, Patrick… Life’s Box Of Chocolates”

News about abortion law continues… Strong feelings from both sides… pro-choice, pro-life… the rights of the mother, the rights of the unborn child… Last week it was the rights of those who wish to protest outside abortion clinics… I googled ‘Choose Life’, expecting to read about unborn children… ‘Choose life’ is an organisation dedicated toContinue reading “Choose Life”

I love Godspell – both film and stage show… I love how Stephen Schwartz can make a song out of 7 words… ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord’… Isaiah ancient prophecy… quoted by John the Baptist, the fearless prophet calling for people to repent and be baptised… preparing the way for Jesus …And IContinue reading “Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord”

The Seagull Theatre is a converted 1895-built school that I’ve been involved with for 30 years. This was an exciting week for The Seagull – work started on our £300,000 development project. Our new facilities will include an accessible toilet block, rehearsal studio, extra dressing room, large workshop space… Gilberts, our local builders, have dugContinue reading “Unseen, Vital, But Often Forgotten”

My eyes were tested in January… ‘All is fine. You don’t need new glasses.’ I wasn’t convinced – I thought my eyesight had deteriorated… I accepted the optician’s verdict. Recently I went for my annual hospital eye clinic appointment. ‘You need new glasses,’ the doctor said. I decided to try a different optician… Yesterday GregContinue reading “All Will Be Resolved”

Yesterday I went with my friend Ivan to Norwich. Ivan required cataract surgery… As a child in Sunday School I heard stories of the Jesus who made blind men see. I was taught that seeing wasn’t just about physical sight but was about understanding, seeing truth that may be hidden. I learnt the phrase ‘lookingContinue reading “Seeing… Believing… Understanding?”