Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

I was visiting Jack. ‘Look what I’ve got,’ he said, pointing to a box on the floor. I picked it up. It contained an inflatable, over-six-foot-long alligator. He asked me to blow it up. Choosing not to inflate it I asked, ‘Why does a man, with significant mobility issues, living in a first floor flat,Continue reading “Inflatable Alligators, Lolly Sticks and All That Remains”

Buckingham Palace has announced that the Royal Train will be taken out of service by 2027. This cost-saving measure ends more than 150 years of tradition. We’re moving on. I was reminded of Elton John’s beautiful song ‘This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore’. He describes how love, fame, riches and a celebrity life style haveContinue reading “This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore”

Yesterday morning, at our Men’s Shed, Steve said, ‘Why is there a skull and crossbones on number of the grave stones in St Margaret’s churchyard?’ We thought it might be related to the seafaring history of Lowestoft, with the skull and crossbones symbol associated with pirates. A number of us looked for an answer onContinue reading “Random Musings on Death and Mortality…”

At church yesterday Pastor-Lou reminded us of C.S. Lewis’ ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ and the conversation between Mr and Mrs Beaver and the children about Aslan the lion, the God figure. Lucy asks if Aslan is safe. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “…Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’sContinue reading “Good and Safe?”

I first met this song a few years ago and wrote about it then. I’ve revisited it during this last week. It’s stayed with me. Jesus said that if I thirstI should come to himNo one else can satisfyI should come to him Jesus said if I am weakI should come to himNo one elseContinue reading “Jesus Strong and Kind (again)”

Yesterday morning the fixture list for the coming Championship football season was published. Norwich City fans learnt that their season kicks off on August 9th playing Millwall at home… the key games against arch-rivals Ipswich are in October and April… our season ends on May 2nd away at Hull. There’s continuing speculation over whether theContinue reading “Part of the Team”

This morning, I read words from the prophet Jeremiah: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls…’ Nine miles away, St Michaels Church, Beccles, has a fine 16th-century bell tower. Yesterday I learnt thatContinue reading “Crossroad Choices: Protective Aggression or Dignified Vulnerability”

This story has many versions… A boy watched with fascination as a skilled sculptor used a hammer and chisel on a large block of marble. The boy went away; sometime later he returned. What had been a block of marble was now a lion. Amazed, the boy asked the sculptor, ‘How did you know thereContinue reading “The Lion in the Marble”

Last night on our local BBC news I learnt about Grace Cope, a nineteen-year-old girl from Bedford who was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome in 2021. For the past three years, whilst campaigning to reduce the stigma around her neurological condition, her own tics worsened, preventing her taking her A-levels, and forcing her to leave herContinue reading “Being Misunderstood”

Yesterday… …I visited Patty. Patty’s having a grand clear out. What was ‘useful’ in the past is now rubbish. Much has already been turned out and been dumped at the recycling centre. I helped remove wood from a shed. Patty’s being pretty ruthless… …At Men’s Shed Kenny said, ‘If you ruled the world and couldContinue reading “Looking Forward, with Patty, Kenny, Debbie and Henri”