Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Yesterday we visited Calke Abbey, a National Trust property in Derbyshire. We learnt about the original medieval priory, the rich and famous, links with royalty, falling into disrepair… We walked round the house… old pictures, old furniture, artefacts linked to the Calke of bygone days… I’m spending a couple of days with my two olderContinue reading “Calke Abbey: Getting Old”

We’ve gone away for a few days. We went out for a meal last night to the nearest pub – The Drum and Monkey. I googled the origins of the name. Some claimed that it refers to powder drums and powder monkeys used on ancient battle ships or in mining communities. Others claim that it’sContinue reading “The Drum And Monkey”

And I can’t tell the bottom from the topAm I standing on my head or on my heels?Is it cloudy is it bright?Is it day or is it night?Am I wrong or am I right?And is it real? This old Hollies song has been going round in my head… …Musing on times when ‘I can’tContinue reading “Getting Comfortable With The Uncomfortable”

Yesterday morning… Saturday’s winds and a rotten fence-post resulted in a trellis, heavy with clematis foliage, falling onto and crushing some rose bushes. Dad’s would never work on ‘the Sabbath’. Jesus talked about an exception, the sheep falling into a pit that had to be rescued. This was a sheep-in-a-pit exception. I removed the rottenContinue reading “So Far, So Good…Ebenezer”

In Christ alone my hope is found,He is my light, my strength, my song;This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,Firm through the fiercest drought and storm… Throughout  my life I have expressed my faith in many different forms – in story, drama, music, writing, humour… in many different places – churches, homes, beaches, fields, pubs… to manyContinue reading “In Christ Alone”

Musing on this picture… ‘Your perception of reality depends on what you see…’ Sometimes I only see part of the picture and so my perception is partial… I was reading ‘Gardeners’ World’ yesterday. It tells me stories of expert gardeners; pictures of their beautiful gardens inspire me. I see what can be grown and whatContinue reading “Perceptions and the bigger picture”

I walked by the sea this morning. It’s windy and the browny-grey sea is rougher, with bigger waves. At school I learnt about sound waves and light waves. The news tells me of a crime wave; the weather forecast predicts a heat wave (but not today!!). We wave to others in recognition and greeting –Continue reading “Waves”

Last night we watched ‘The Girl with a Colourful Leg’. Bernadette Hagans is a Belfast student whose cancer required her right leg to be amputated below the knee: ‘I didn’t really start living until I was faced with cancer, that’s when I realised life is so short and I wasn’t really making the most ofContinue reading “Disabled? Disadvantaged? – Bernadette, Peter, Betty…”

Regrets, I’ve had a fewBut then again, too few to mentionI did what I had to doAnd saw it through without exemptionI planned each charted courseEach careful step along the bywayAnd more, much more than thisI did it my way. Familiar words from the old Frank Sinatra song… A few of us last night wereContinue reading “Regrets – I’ve had a few”

Mum had a hand mincer. That is to say it was operated by hand – not that it minced hands, although when Mum allowed me to operate it… Cold leftovers from Sunday roast went in there, usually to become a minced meat pie. It taught me an important lesson – that I now relate toContinue reading “What goes in…What comes out”