Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Schools returned yesterday. Welcome balloons were out. Anticipating teachers were quoted: ‘Every one of us can’t wait for the classrooms, corridors and playgrounds to become alive again with the sounds of children learning and playing together.’ Head-teachers posted within an hour of opening: ‘Just to reassure ALL parents and carers, ALL children are settled andContinue reading “Back to School”

Today, 8th March, is International Women’s Day. Dawn French said: ‘Inflatable boy goes into inflatable school with inflatable headmaster and runs amok with a drawing pin. Headmaster says, ‘I’m very disappointed in you. You’ve let me down, you’ve let your school down, you’ve let yourself down.’’   IWD raises concerns for gender equality, the genderContinue reading “Eglantyne Jebb”

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; Civilla Martin describes writing this old gospel song when visiting friends in 1905: ‘Mrs.Continue reading “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”

I learnt ‘What shall we do with a drunken sailor’ as a child. I learnt a few more shanties and taught them in school – linked to pirates, adventures on the high seas, treasure island, working songs. Easy to teach, easy to learn, easy to sing…. I like: ‘When I was a little boy myContinue reading “Sea Shanties”

Marmite: At Norwich, watching the football, a man who I’d met once or twice before described a mutual friend: ‘He’s like marmite – you either love him or hate him.’ Our friend isn’t brown, smelly and sticky, but he does bring contrasting reactions out of people… And now a marmite cornetto…? Battles: Yesterday I spokeContinue reading “Pictures with Meaning?”

Today’s date (for Brits!) 4.3.21. It reminds me of a countdown… As a child I listened to and joined in with the countdown ‘10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0, ignition, blast off’ as American rockets were launched. We watched on television – and listened on the ‘wireless’… In 1966 ‘5-4-3-2-1’ was the Manfred Mann song that introduced ‘Ready Steady Go’,Continue reading “4.3.21 Countdown”

I had a weird dream last night. I don’t dream – or remember dreams – very often… I was playing guitar at a big event. I didn’t know anybody else there. We were preparing to start. Everyone was busy with their responsibilities. A woman was also playing guitar; her guitar initially had no strings. SheContinue reading “Hearing & Listening”

The recreation ground where we played as children had six swings, a roundabout … and a seesaw. One child each end… Up and down… Great fun! Life has many seesaws. Here’s 3…. The work-rest seesaw: On one side there’s activity, busy-ness, service, purpose, effort; on the other is relaxation, peace, recuperation, space, rest. The good-badContinue reading “Seesaws”

Dad organised the Christmas party for the youngest Sunday School children. True to character he ran them with good preparation, confidence, and no fuss. The children always had a really enjoyable time without getting over excited. His unique range of games, that entertained and engaged, always included ‘Follow My Leader’. In a conga-like crocodile theContinue reading “Follow My Leader”

All God’s creatures got a place in the choirSome sing low, some sing higher,Some sing out loud on the telephone wires,And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got. We emphasise differences – black or white, child or pensioner, sick or well, protestant or catholic, straight or gay, overweight or fit, wellContinue reading “A Place in the Choir”