Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

The eightieth anniversary of the D-day landings this week reminded us of those who gave their lives for our freedom, those who survived with permanent scars… I remembered this Graham Kendrick song, often called ‘Battle Hymn’. There’s a sound on the wind like a victory song,Listen now, let it rest on your soul.It’s a songContinue reading “There’s a Sound on the Wind”

Joseph Conrad Wikipedia states: Joseph Conrad… was a Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language… Wetherspoons named their Lowestoft pub ‘Joseph Conrad’, saying: ‘The Station Square pub is named after Polish mariner and writer Joseph Conrad, who disembarked in Lowestoft in 1878 and signedContinue reading “Joseph Conrad”

This morning’s headlines included: ‘Zelensky and D-Day veteran call each other ‘hero’’; ‘ Police escort D-Day veteran, 104, to memorial’; ‘Guard of honour for D-Day veteran, 100…’ Yesterday, as we remembered the Normandy D-day landings, the emphasis was on the surviving veterans and their stories. The youngest I saw was 96 – just 16 whenContinue reading “Veterans”

Resolving Disagreements… The Beatles sung ‘We Can Work It Out’ about two people who had fallen out: Try to see it my wayDo I have to keep on talking ’til I can’t go on?While you see it your wayRun the risk of knowing that our love may soon be goneWe can work it out… DailyContinue reading “We Can Work It Out”

The Expert… …Last night Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer had their first TV election debate that was described and analysed by political experts. …Tomorrow is the anniversary of the D-day landings; we’re reminded of the events of eighty years ago by historical experts. …Sporting experts talk about the French Open tennis, the European football championshipsContinue reading “The Expert, the Dilemma and the Solution”

Last week, at Priscilla’s funeral, we sung ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd’… read ‘a time to be born and a time to die’… thanked God for ‘Cilla’s life… prayed for those mourning. Funerals can be sad occasions. Cilla liked Cliff Richard. We were invited to reflect on our memories of Cilla whilst we heard Cliff singing:Continue reading “Summer Holiday”

Last weekend it was Gloucestershire cheese rolling; this weekend it was Essex mud racing. More British bonkersness. Hundreds took part in in the Maldon Mud Race, a charity event that marked its 50th anniversary; thousands of local spectators watched. Contestants race 500 metres through thick, knee-deep mud, many entrants wearing fancy dress. Last year’s eventContinue reading “Burden-Bearing Mud Travellers”

Job’s life is full of misery and suffering; life seems futile…: ‘My body is full of worms and scabs…My days…come to an end without hope…My eyes will never see happiness again. (7:5-7) And yet, in his suffering he makes his great statement of faith: ‘I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end heContinue reading “There Is a Redeemer”

Yesterday’s local paper told me… When Logan Willimott was six-years-old he decided to grow his hair so it could be to cut off and donated to a charity. This happened on Tuesday, one week after Logan’s 10th birthday. Logan said: ‘It feels a bit weird not having my long hair anymore, but there are loadsContinue reading “Cut Off”

Esther is an immigrant Jewish girl. by a strange sequence of events, she’s taken into the king’s hareem and becomes the Queen of Persia. Haman, second in command in the Persian Empire, plots to destroy the Jews. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, seeing Esther’s unique opportunity to prevent this destruction of their people, says: ‘Who knows whetherContinue reading “Such A Time As This”