Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

It’s the end of the year. I’m aware of things that have changed this year. There have been international changes that affect millions, personal changes that affect just a few, good changes and bad changes, changes that have brought joy and changes that have brought sadness… …Musing on three constants through 2025 and will remainContinue reading “Three Constants Through 2025”

When I was young we had our own versions of Christmas carols. We changed the words – like ‘While shepherds washed their socks by night…’ Yesterday I was reminded of ‘God rest you merry gentlemen’. It started ‘God rest you Gerry mental men’ which wouldn’t be acceptable today as we were implying unkind things aboutContinue reading “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen.”

Throughout Christmas there have been angels –appearing to Mary, Joseph and shepherds, angelic children dressed as angels, non-angelic adults dressed as angels, angels in lights, angels in carols… I was reminded of the Westlife song ‘Flying Without Wings’. Everybody’s looking for that somethingOne thing that makes it all completeYou’ll find it in the strangest placesPlacesContinue reading “Flying Without Wings”

An estimated three hundred people took part on the Lowestoft Christmas day swim. Swimmers in fancy dress took a freezing plunge in the North Sea raising raised money for local charities – Lowestoft  Lions, Lowestoft Lifeguard Volunteer Corp, St John Ambulance… Anyone can raise money, be a good guy. We watched the Christmas edition ofContinue reading “Being One of the Good Guys”

I walked beside the sea this Boxing Day morning. A cold East wind was coming in off the sea, but the sky was clear. There were the energetic and athletic were running off their Christmas excesses… the solitary and pensive… the hardy, habitual dog walkers… My cheery ‘Good morning,’ brought the usual variety of responses.Continue reading “You ‘Right?”

Today is Christmas Day. I’ve been singing, playing and listening to Christmas songs for nearly a month now. ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’ has been repeated many times. I’ve never experienced a white Christmas. I don’t think I ever shall. However much I dream of it, it won’t happen. Perhaps it’s impossible.   IContinue reading “Christmas Dreams”

It’s Christmas Eve. Over the last few days Christmas presents have been ‘appearing’ around our Christmas tree. There have been family phone calls to finalise arrangements. Rachel’s completed her food shopping. We expect our family Christmas to happen as it has for many years. About a month ago I decided that I would prune ourContinue reading “Christmas Presents, Apple Trees, and Big Octopuses”

Last night we learnt that Chris Rea, had died, aged 74. He’s the musician behind ‘Driving Home for Christmas’, which tells the story of a weary traveller making his way home in heavy traffic. He explained: ‘It was 1978, coming up to Christmas. It was all over for me: I was just about out ofContinue reading “Finding Security in Uncertainty”

On Saturday we watched ‘Annie’. The many expressions of praise and appreciation on social media include: ‘Fantastic nights at The Seagull Annie Jr… So much hard work gone in by all, loved it and very grateful for (daughter) to be given the opportunity to be part of this production.’ ‘Brilliant show. You could tell howContinue reading “Just Say Thank You”

Yesterday we went to see ‘Annie’. It really was an excellent production. We knew some of the children who all sung and acted really well. Flo was particularly wonderful as Annie… It’s a great story about the little orphan Annie in 1930s New York. When Annie is down on her luck she sings ‘Tomorrow’. TheContinue reading “Tomorrow”