Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Yesterday I played chess with Roy. We sometimes meet up in a café overlooking the sea. He brings his chess set; I buy a pot of tea. We have a pleasant afternoon together. I like chess. The move of each piece is predictable; there are rules. Problems can be solved by strategies and logic. YesterdayContinue reading “Problem Solving – with Roy, Polly, Felix, Lou…”

Yesterday’s two discoveries I discovered that Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Coins are returning and will be on sale for Christmas. Discontinued in 2014, their reintroduction will delight chocolate lovers across the UK… I discovered that ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ was the first verse of a five verse poem written in 1806 by Jane Taylor, aContinue reading “Pairs of Discoveries”

Weak and wounded sinnerLost and left to dieOh, raise your head for Love is passing by Come to Jesus, come to Jesus and live Now your burden’s liftedAnd carried far awayAnd precious blood has washed away the stain So, sing to Jesus, sing to Jesus and live And like a newborn babyDon’t be afraid toContinue reading “Come to Jesus”

Our friends Kerry and Julian have been constructing a room in their loft. They planned it carefully; builders did the structural work about a year ago; Julian’s been busy gradually doing an excellent job completing it… It’s their house – made of bricks, wood… and stuff. It’s their home where their children grew up, whereContinue reading “There’s No Place Like Home”

‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.’ Yesterday I visited our church community café. About 30 of us, chatting, catching up with news… …good news about holidays, new jobs, good exam results, a young man who’s been clean of drugs for two months… …bad news aboutContinue reading “It’s an African Saying…”

Yesterday we continued filming for ‘The School That Grew Wings’, a film about the history of The Seagull Theatre. I was involved with some interviews… Folks shared matters close to their hearts… personal stories, enduring memories… community and friendship, lives changed for the better. I’m privileged to be part of this community. I’ve been privilegedContinue reading “Conversion, Commission, Compassion,”

My friend John is making a film called ‘The School That Grew Wings’…. Morton Road School opened in 1897, with four large classrooms for 165, 130, 60 and 60 children respectively, and a ‘marching corridor’. It served the local community well until 1939. Because of the war local children were evacuated and the school closed.Continue reading “The School That Grew Wings”

Over the last few weeks some white birds have been visiting our garden. Rachel and I have had an ongoing discussion… are they white pigeons or doves? We have lots of grey-pink-bluish pigeons in our garden – at best they’re stupid pests at worst they’re aggressive, feral vermin. Doves, however, are beautiful, gentle birds, aContinue reading “Pigeons or Doves?”

When I was a young maths teacher, we did lots of practical activities… One of the regular April 1st ‘tricks’ was: ‘Johnny, we’re doing some weighing and measuring this morning. Please ask Mr Oldfield if he’d give you a long weight.’ Mr Oldfield would be busy teaching his class… Eventually Johnny would return to meContinue reading “The Long Wait Is Over”

The ‘Twelfth of Never’… …is a song that’s been sung by many singers …is an expression that defines the date of a future event that will never happen …describes love that will last forever. You ask how much I need you, must I explain?I need you, oh my darling, like roses need rain.You ask howContinue reading “The Twelfth of Never”