Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

I remember, as a child, sitting at the table, reading the information given on sauce bottles and cereal packets. Such reading still brings me information, entertainment and lessons for life. Some labels talk about the product’s quality. My HP Sauce bottle contains ‘…the original brown sauce which since 1899 has set the standard for quality.’Continue reading “Brown Sauce, Patio Chairs and Tea Bags.”

Last night’s news included ‘desperate times’… several times. When I first came to Lowestoft over 50 years ago a man and woman were arguing in front of some children. She hit him over the head; it led to a violent fight. The police were called. A policeman arrived, and tried to calm the situation down.Continue reading “Desperate Times”

On Sunday at church Esther said: ‘God wants to take you out of what is mediocre and take you on an adventure…’ A few years ago I was going through a difficult time, feeling uncertain and insecure. I read Robert Quinn who talks about ‘building the bridge as you walk on it’. Each new dayContinue reading “Life’s Adventure”

Last weekend Jason and Hayley got married. They made their wedding vows: ‘… to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part…’ They promised sincerely. They meant every word. We all believedContinue reading “Promises”

You who dwell in the shelter of the LordWho abide in His shadow for lifeSay to the Lord, “My refugeMy rock, in whom I trust! This beautiful song based on Psalm 91 was written over 40 years ago by Fr. Michael Joncas. It’s sung in Catholic churches and across the Protestant denominations. It’s used inContinue reading “On Eagles Wings”

“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”