Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Yesterday we went to Beccles and saw a most enjoyable production of ‘The Sound of Music, with a super talented cast. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of the individual characters of the children… The old story of Maria, a young postulant in a convent… the seven children of widowed naval officer Captain Georg von Trapp…Continue reading “So Long, Farewell”

Yesterday morning… …musing on, writinging about donkeys …talking to Helen about a wedding she’d attended last week – with therapy donkeys present. Everybody had wedding photographs taken with the donkeys. …discovering the ‘paradox of Buridan’s donkey’, a philosophical illustration that started with the Greeks. It’s named after the fourteenth-century French philosopher Jean Buridan, but hasContinue reading “The Donkey, The Bull, and The Magpie”

Yesterday I read: ‘I thought I might be left standing here like O’Donovan’s donkey’. I’d never heard that expression before. Mr Google told me: ‘To be left ‘like O’Donovan’s donkey’ is an old Anglo-Irish idiomatic phrase meaning to be left waiting endlessly, abandoned in a situation, or left ‘standing here like an idiot’. The phraseContinue reading “Random Donkeys…”

Our Men’s Shed, built a hundred years ago as a net drying shed for a local fisherman. needs new windows. Having been repaired and patched up many times they now need replacement. Yesterday we had the silly conversation – grandad jokes, window puns… those who are a real pain/pane… avoiding being framed… using a smashingContinue reading “Needing New Windows”

This morning I was reading Isaiah… well-known ‘Christmas’ verses about the Messiah who will come – ‘A virgin will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel, God with us.’ ‘He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ Less well-known verses about Isaiah’s own son: ‘The Lord saidContinue reading “Two Boys, a Cat, and a Church”

At church on Sunday, we sung the old Fanny Crosby hymn ‘To God be the Glory’, first published in 1875. The third verse starts: Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; It always reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. The Mock Turtle tells Alice:Continue reading “Tortoise Ramblings”

This Weekend… …We’ve enjoyed some wonderful sport – cricket, tennis, football… For each sport there are the ‘experts’, presenters who analyse games, express opinions, describe how they would do the job better. This World Cup has created thousands of new experts. Ordinary folks who previously have had just a passing interest in football now areContinue reading “Listen to the Experts!”

At our ‘Music for Wellbeing’ group on Friday we sung this Bob Dylan song. I’d forgotten how beautiful and poignant it is. Many artists have covered it. Although I still think that Dylan’s is still the best version, I particularly like this version from Lifein3D:   When the rain is blowing in your faceAnd theContinue reading “Make You Feel My Love”

Yesterday… …I read the Lowestoft Journal. We’ve failed to be shortlisted in the UK Town of Culture competition. Des, who helped put together Lowestoft’s application, wrote: ‘The bid gave us the chance to celebrate Lowestoft’s cultural heritage and amazing people… From arts groups and music venues to sports clubs, book groups, dance, drama, and soContinue reading “Seeing Failure in a Fresh Light”

Mum would sometimes say that she knew something because ‘a little bird told her’… Yesterday at our church community café Dave was telling us that he’d bought a pair of parakeets. Looking after pet birds is one of many areas of ignorance – so I was pleased to learn about where to buy them, howContinue reading “A Little Bird Told Me…”