Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Yesterday I visited our local James Paget Hospital. The sign by the car park entrance said ‘SPACES’ in green illuminated letters. It lied. There was no room. I joined thirty other cars driving round the car park waiting for someone to leave. Eventually a space became available. This ‘No Room’ required patience. In ‘Alice inContinue reading “No Room, No Room!”

Yesterday was Sunday. I went to church where minister-Lou preached a sermon. All of my life I’ve listened to sermons. Some Christian traditions have brief ‘homilies’. The churches I’ve attended have had full blown sermons of some length. Sermons have taught me, encouraged me, angered me, and occasionally sent me to sleep. Some preachers areContinue reading “The Unpredictable Sermon”

Yesterday morning I was thinking about A Christmas Carol, that highlights a divided society – particularly between the rich and the poor. Scrooge a self-centred, miserly, grumpy old man has money, but doesn’t understand or care for the poor… West Side Story also tells of division, between rival New York Gangs – the white AmericanContinue reading “One Hand, One Heart”

Yesterday we watched a wonderful production of Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. It was fun… many characters played by just four actors. Ebenezer Scrooge, an miserly, unpleasant old man, is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of Jacob Marley… The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come, show Scrooge how hisContinue reading “Meeting our Scrooges”

Over Christmas Granddaughter-Hannah (19) and Grandson-Zak (21) talked about ‘adulting’… paying bills, being independent, getting life organised, taking responsibility… Yesterday I was reminded of the song ‘When I grow up’… from ‘Matilda’… sung by children on swings… about what they can’t do now but will be able to do when they’re older… It’s about adulting.Continue reading “When I Grow Up”

We all face failure… Yesterday I chatted to Phil, a lovely, gentle, kind, skilful, generous guy with a wealth of positive life experiences… Phil’s had two marriages, two divorces; it’s a long time since he’s seen his children. His relationship with his current long-term partner is falling apart. He’s uncertain where he’ll live, he’s uncertainContinue reading “Failure… Leading to Success”

On Monday afternoon there was a pile of white feathers in our garden. Sitting on top of the pile, Mrs Sparrowhawk was enjoying a white pigeon for her dinner. I guess she’d forgotten she was a sparrowhawk and thought she was a pigeon-hawk. Yesterday morning – eighteen hours later – Mrs Sparrowhawk was enjoying herContinue reading “Sparrowhawks or Geese?”

Saturday’s football… Norwich had a mediocre first half; Coventry scored after twenty-four minutes. At half time we deserved to be 1-0 down. Our second half is better but we can’t score. After eighty minutes spectators start to leave. Defeat’s inevitable? O no it isn’t! The manager brings on substitutes… We go into extra time. AfterContinue reading “O No It Isn’t!”

Last night on The Masked Singer. ‘Pegasus’ sung that wonderful song from Oklahoma: Oh, what a beautiful mornin’Oh, what a beautiful dayI’ve got a beautiful feelin’Everything’s goin’ my way … but she sung it badly and was eliminated. When the mask was removed Pegasus was revealed to be Bake Off judge Prue Leith. Today, 6thContinue reading “Epiphany – When the Mask Comes Off”

One of Jesus’ disciples comes to him and says, ‘Lord teach us to pray.’ Jesus replies with the prayer that has become known as The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come.Thy will be doneon earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive usContinue reading “The Lord’s Prayer”