Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

I woke up this morning unusually anxious about what I should write in my blog this morning. I thought round several ideas; nothing seemed right. I knew I had a busy morning planned. I worried a little more and went back to sleep. I awoke a little later, thought though other stuff. It still madeContinue reading “Seeing With Fresh Eyes”

Edward Hopper (1816-1888) was an American Pastor who spent most of his ministry at the Church of the Sea and Land in New York City where he became well known for his ministry to sailors. In the last week I have chatted to a number of Lowestoft men who worked at sea – in theContinue reading “Jesus Saviour Pilot Me”

Re-Utilise a local organisation makes ‘waste things into great things’. Unwanted materials are transformed into works of art. The ‘Scrap Store’ is full of  fabric, vinyl, plastic… they take in unused paint… Numerous workshops for children and adults include pottery, jewellery making, scrapbooking… There’s support for the unemployed and people struggling with their mental health…Continue reading “Making Waste Things Into Great Things”

Avoidance: Some say, ‘You should try everything once.’ Some say, ‘Everything in moderation.’ There are many things I’ve never tried that I don’t want to try – even in moderation. I don’t want to try taking heroin, joining a terrorist organisation or walking across a busy motorway. Age, preference, and common sense says I don’tContinue reading “This Is It”

When we were children, if we asked Mum ‘What’s for tea?’ ‘What’s for pudding?’ ‘Are you making chocolate cake or coffee cake?’ the answer was always ‘W&S’.   When Mum ‘W&S’ it meant ‘Wait and See’. Although Mum wouldn’t give us the answer that we wanted, eventually we’d find out. Waiting came first – thenContinue reading “W&S – Wait and See”

Some good friends of ours recently had a lovely holiday in the Yorkshire Dales. The obligatory pictures on Facebook showed hills, rivers, waterfalls… stone walls, rocky crags, village churches… Returning home they discovered that two hundred ducks had moved into their house. There were ducks in many interesting and unexpected places downstairs – apparently ducksContinue reading “Two Hundred Ducks and a Dead Crow”

An old fable… Donkey says to Tiger: ‘Grass is blue’. Tiger replies: ‘Grass is green.’ There’s a heated argument. They go to the King, Lion, to settle the argument. Donkey asks: ‘Is grass blue?’ Lion replies: ‘Yes. Grass is blue.’ Donkey continues: ‘Tiger keeps annoying me by saying grass is green. Punish him.’ Lion replies:Continue reading “Arguing With Donkeys”

In last night’s football a few men, representing England and Spain, playing in Germany, were watched by millions. Studio experts explained, analysed, criticised; at home, enthusiasts who watch every match, occasional fans taking an interest; all armchair experts. In the recent general election, we heard about immigration, the national economy, law and order, healthcare provision,Continue reading “Armchair Experts”

As I went down in the river to prayStudying about that good ol’ wayAnd who shall wear the starry crown?Good Lord show me the way I first remember listening to this song in the film ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’. The Alison Kraus version is wonderful; I enjoy this version from our own local concertContinue reading “Down to the River to Pray”

The Southwold Maize Maze, cut from a large field of maize, has been an annual tourist attraction for many years. Yesterday’s Lowestoft Journal revealed that this year’s, due to open next Saturday, features a lifeboat in the centre surrounded by swirling stormy seas, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Apparently ‘Maze’Continue reading “Responding to the Amazing!”