Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

I first met the notion of ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ as a teenage student. In my studies in mathematical history I learnt about Sir Isaac Newton, the brilliant mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian and philosopher. Newton wrote, ‘If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants,’Continue reading “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”

Yesterday… …Unjust-God Discussion: At Men’s Shed we were discussing religion… Getting the penguins into Noah’s ark… Jesus’ virgin birth… Negative childhood experiences of Sunday School… The universe’s size and science… Someone quoted Stephen Fry: ‘The world is very splendid but it also has in it insects whose whole lifecycle is to burrow into the eyesContinue reading “Injustice, Hatred, Forgiveness?”

Yesterday morning Minister-Lou told this story: On June 15, 1815, Napoleon fought Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Reports from the front lines were carried by sailing ship to the southern coast of England. From there it was relayed by signal flags to London. When the report was received at Winchester cathedral, the flags speltContinue reading “The Whole Story”

As children we learnt the Easter narrative. Jesus, the good man, who bad men had cruelly and unjustly killed, came back to life. He appeared to his friends. Sadness became joy, despair became hope, failure became faith, fear became courage. And we had chocolate. It was great. I had two problems with Easter. Firstly IContinue reading “I Want Jesus To Walk With Me”

Dusty Springfield’s hits in the 60s included this Hal David and Burt Bacharach song… Wishin’ and hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’Plannin’ and dreamin’ each night of his charmsThat won’t get you into his armsSo if you’re lookin’ to find love you can shareAll you gotta do is hold him, and kiss him and love himAndContinue reading “Wishing and Hoping”

King Charles was unable to attend the annual Royal Maundy service at Worcester Cathedral yesterday. However, in a recorded message played at the service, he said of Maundy Thursday: “It has its origin in the life of Our Lord who knelt before his disciples and, to their great surprise, washed their travel-weary feet…. in doing soContinue reading “Jesus’ Hands”

One of my favourite local stories this week involves a Norfolk distillery, whose single malt whisky was named the best in the world. Their English Sherry Cask whisky beat off competition from Scotland, Ireland and more than 40 other countries, at the World Whiskies Awards in London. 200 expert judges from around the world, assessingContinue reading “Do They Deserve It?”

Over the last couple of days, I’ve been scarifying my lawn. My electric scarifier, with vicious looking metal blades that spin round, digs into the lawn and removes significant amounts moss and dead thatch (brown stuff beneath the green grass) By scarifying my lawn, I encourage the growth of new grass, and enable water andContinue reading “Scarifying…Enabling Healthy Growth”

On Saturday we watched Little Shop of Horrors. Seymour, a flower shop assistant who’s down on his luck, discovers a mysterious new plant. As the plant grows, he gains fame and fortune. He falls in love with Audrey. His luck seems to be changing. As the plant grows its appetite for blood grows, demanding ‘FeedContinue reading “No More of This!”

This weekend… Eight-year-old Kai Tiffen won his first adult darts tournament. Kai started throwing darts at 18 months… he’s 4ft tall, so needs a step to collect his darts from the board… he needs permission to play in adult matches held in pubs… he won ‘The Wheatsheaf Open’, Sunderland, beating twenty-eight adults, including county players,Continue reading “Kai, Sarah, Jasmin, Seymour – and Me”