Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

“Today was a Difficult Day,” said Pooh. There was a pause. “Do you want to talk about it?” asked Piglet. “No,” said Pooh after a bit. “No, I don’t think I do.” “That’s okay,” said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend. “What are you doing?” asked Pooh. “Nothing, really,” said Piglet. “Only,Continue reading “Difficult Days”

Musing on words from the prophet Jeremiah: ‘…find but one person who deals honestly and speaks the truth…’ (5:1) Our dishwasher’s broken… the mechanical not the human version. An engineer – hopefully honest and truthful – is due this morning. The machine needs to be repaired or replaced. A number of pictures that have appearedContinue reading “Dishwashers, Banksy & Hannah…”

Deserts? The Sahara, Gobi… pictures and films of endless stretches of sand… thirsty people looking for water… Jenny Agutter in the old film ‘Walkabout’. Two men were lost in the desert. One of them sees a tree that’s draped in bacon. ‘It’s a bacon tree! We’re saved!’ he says. He runs to the tree andContinue reading “Deserts and Desserts”

Yesterday A-level results were announced… 45% of grades, based on teacher assessments, were A* and A this year; this compares to the exam-measured 25% in 2019. The suggestions are …standards are lower… teachers are more generous, giving students the benefit of the doubt… these results can’t be trusted. But what if these represent the trueContinue reading “A-Levels, Parkinson’s and New Bikes…”

I’m amused when a joke has to be explained. Like the two teddy-bears with the wonky eyes – one called Gladly and the other Isaiah. …the first referring[MS1]  to the line from the old hymn ‘Gladly my cross I’d bear’, and the second ‘because one eye’s higher than the other’. Explaining the play on words,Continue reading “Teddy Bears”

The Tokyo Olympics are finally over, the closing ceremony completed. ‘Unprecedented’, well-worn recently with news related to climate change and Covid-19, has continued to have copious use. We’ve seen empty stadiums, appreciated the mental ill-health of athletes, and been astounded by the efforts and achievements of many… In 1894 Pierre de Coubertin launched the OlympicContinue reading “Faster, Higher, Stronger”

Back through the years I go wonderin’ once againBack to the seasons of my youthI recall a box of rags that someone gave usAnd how my momma put the rags to use Dolly Parton was one of ten children; in her family there was not always much food, clothes or money. In this old songContinue reading “Coat Of Many Colours”

A tourist has claimed the ninth sighting of the Loch Ness Monster this year: ‘Colin Veacock scanned the water with his binoculars and said he spotted something around 2ft high and up to 12ft long.’ Apparently Gary Campbell is the ‘keeper of the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register…. The experience was that Colin sawContinue reading “Part of the Bigger Picture”

On the Lowestoft prom is a telescope looking out to sea. Beneath it says in big letters: ‘Can you see the sea?’ Then in smaller letters beneath: ‘Monster’. By adding a word the meaning changes! When I was a boy my chemistry teacher, Oily Wakefield, used to say ‘Go and sit on the fire…(dramatic pause)…Continue reading “Sea Monsters and Fire Buckets”

Musing… Humpty Dumpty was an fragile egg; perhaps I’m a fragile Humpty. I live in a fragile world – demonstrated by climate change and pollution. I’m reminded that  my health is fragile – covid, cancer… I’m surrounded by fragile confidence, fragile relationships, fragile hope… Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Fragile eggs should be inContinue reading “Humpty Dumpty”