Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

On Thursday… I watched ‘Robin Hood’. It was the old story – Robin facing adversity in the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham… the old characters Friar Tuck, Will Scarlett and Maid Marion… but it was presented as a pantomime for young children with conjuring tricks, singing and dancing, a pantomime dame, water pistols, and the squirrelContinue reading “Facing Adversity”

Songbird was played at the beginning of the service celebrating my friend Bruce’s life on Thursday. I first heard Songbird when I ‘discovered’ Eva Cassidy. I bought her CDs, heard her tragic story. Twenty-five years ago they were probably my most played, most enjoyed CDs. It was only later that I realised that ‘Songbird’ wasContinue reading “Songbird”

Five years ago yesterday, 11th April 2020, I wrote my first ‘Malcolm’s Musing’. It became a daily habit. Today I’m musing on musing… I grew up in a Christian family 25 miles South East of London, trained as a teacher, got married, had 3 children, moved around England. In 1986 we moved to Lowestoft, Suffolk,Continue reading “Five Years Ago…”

Yesterday a good number of us met to remember and celebrate the life of our friend Rev Bruce Upperton who died a month ago. Friends and family told stories about Bruce… his work in the RAF and as a Christian minister, his family, his many hobbies… Great statements of his Christian faith were included. WeContinue reading “Saint Bruce”

Yesterday morning was washing day. The washing machine was filled… an hour later I hung the washing out on the line. It was grey, but a good drying day. By the afternoon the washing was dry – blowing in the wind. I walked by the beach. Parents and children were flying kites. Gulliver, the town’sContinue reading “Blowing in the Wind…”

At The Seagull Theatre yesterday actors were rehearsing for ‘Robin Hood’. The publicity says: ‘Take a trip with us to Sherwood Forest this Easter holiday and join Robin Hood and his Merry Men on their adventures through jolly old England. With all the laugh-out-loud moments you have come to expect from the early years pantomimeContinue reading “One Day More”

Recently I’ve been reflecting on life-metaphors… Yesterday afternoon I played chess with Roy… with a big pot of tea… at a table in a local hotel… all very civilised. Our skill (or lack of it!) is on a similar level. We managed four games in a couple of hours… Life’s a daily game of chess…Continue reading “Two Metaphors and Reality”

Daughter-Jo and family came round yesterday. Rachel cooked an excellent Sunday roast – beef, Yorkshire pudding and all the vegetables… Son-in-law Allan had requested banoffee pie… It was a lovely time. Twenty-year-old granddaughter-Hannah, home from university, and twelve-year-old grandson-Luca, enjoying school holidays, reminded me of parenting responsibilities… particularly the challenge of intervention… If my childContinue reading “To Intervene, Or Not To Intervene…”

In two weeks it will be Easter; for now it’s still Lent. This morning at church we shall sing this song as we reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross You chose the cross with ev’ry breath;the perfect life, the perfect death.You chose the cross.A crown of thorns You wore for us,and crowned us withContinue reading “You Chose the Cross (Lost in Wonder)”

Three stories from yesterday: At our ‘Music for Wellbeing’ group we sung the old English folk song ‘Scarborough Fair’ (made famous by Simon and Garfunkel). It’s a story of unrequited love… The young man says that his lover must complete impossible tasks…. sewing a seamless cambric shirt – impossible because cambric’s a light fabric usedContinue reading “The Apparently Impossible…”