Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Last night we went to see the ‘Lowestoft Players’ perform Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’. It’s about three ordinary women, working in an office, who overthrow their company’s autocratic boss who’s a ‘sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot’. Three women… Violet’s a competent office manager – but overlooked for promotion because she’s just a woman; JudyContinue reading “Backwoods Barbie“

On Sunday our church service started with filling a shoe box with Christmas presents for needy children. It finished with Jon preaching about Jesus, a courtroom drama… a jury box, witness box… Musing… the boxes that I’m in… I’m often in the Jury Box… searching for truth, listening to evidence, weighing up pros and cons,Continue reading “I’m in a Box…“

I say, ‘Good morning’ to 4 groups of people: Those I don’t know. I smile. I’m just being friendly. Grandchildren are embarrassed! Those I recognise but don’t know… the lady in the house on the corner… the man walking his dog… Those I know whose names I can’t remember. I hope my brain will workContinue reading “The Name Makes It Personal“

Yesterday afternoon we walked beside the sea… warm, windy… ideal conditions for… Windsurfing… Experts were speeding across the water… Learners proceeded with more caution. Some fell in the water… but then got back on their board wiser and more determined. Kite-flying… Dad launched the kite and handed the control line to his son. Son keptContinue reading “Failure Is Success“

All I have and all I am is Yoursthere’s nothing that I have on earththat doesn’t come from You.I lay aside my pride and worldly worth;serve You is the greatest thingthat I could ever do. We sung this at church a couple of weeks ago; it’s being going round in my head ever since. IContinue reading “Build This House“

When I retired I got a ‘Grumpy Old Man’ sweatshirt. This was a requirement, an expectation of a man of my age and disposition. However, I’ve discovered that as well as my Grumpy Old Man Persona (GOMP) I have a Grateful Old Man Nature (GOMN). They often have discussions and disagree. Yesterday/today’s conversations – thatContinue reading “From Grumpy To Grateful“

Everything seems to be ‘last’ this morning… Last Part: Several people have asked about our new kitchen recently. Kevin the plumber has been round this morning, fitting the radiator in our utility room. – the last part in our lovely new kitchen…. It’s now finally complete! Last Round: Building work at our Seagull Theatre isContinue reading “Lastness…“

Earlier this week I saw some old pictures of the Seagull Theatre. Built as a school in the 1890s there’s builders on the scaffolding, up the roof… Health and safety regulations in weren’t quite so strict then! Football fans are familiar with a yellow card for a caution, a red card for a serious foulContinue reading “Scaffolding, Health & Safety, and Red Cards“

We attended a funeral yesterday. Esther led a difficult service with sensitivity and compassion. She read a poem that starts: Will you…Hold my hand for a little while?I don’t need you to save meNo need for you to fix anythingNo need for you to hold my painBut will you simply hold my hand? I grewContinue reading “The Art of Hand-Holding“

Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown was at the Conservative party conference calling for more support for domestic abuse victims. ‘..I couldn’t pick up the phone to call my mum, my friends, I didn’t have access to anything, and you think, well, Spice Girls are all about girl power. But let me tell you, when theseContinue reading “Survivors, Not Victims.“