Malcolm’s musings
It Started With Mrs Blackbird…
Yesterday… …Sitting in our conservatory we heard a dull thud. Outside, a dazed-looking Mrs Blackbird was standing on the path, recovering from flying into the window. Five minutes later she was still there. I guess she had a bit of a headache. Then I heard a squawking-bird-sound. Our Neighbour’s Mr Grey Cat had caught Mrs…
Reflections on Aberfan…
Yesterday was the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster which killed 116 children and 28 adults. I remember, as a teenager, watching the TV pictures of emergency services, miners and local people digging out those trapped… Yesterday the King was there, describing the ‘most tragic of days imaginable…’, 21st October 1966, when mining debris from…
Life’s Jigsaw Puzzle
My wife Rachel usually has a jigsaw puzzle on the go. Visiting family or friends often assist. Yesterday her latest was competed … On a good day my life’s jigsaw puzzle is coming on well. A recognisable picture is forming. New pieces are added, pieces on the side don’t yet fit in, but that’s OK.…
Motorcycles, Sheds, Football, Sparrows…
Robert Pirsig, in ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’, describes two forms of human understanding – the ‘classical’ and the ‘romantic’. A classical understanding sees a world of rules, laws and reason with structure and facts, science and technology; everything’s analysed, controlled and measurable. A romantic understanding sees a world of inspiration, imagination and…
Something You Don’t Learn In School
At our Friday ‘Singing for Health’, we often sing ‘It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it’ with subsequent verses, ‘It ain’t what you do; it’s the time that you do it’ and, ‘It ain’t what you do; it’s the place that you do it’. In Ella Fitzgerald’s version of the…
This I Believe (The Creed)
On Wednesday we had our weekly church music practice. We went through our songs for this morning’s service – making sure we knew them, agreeing how they would be led. They included ‘This I Believe’, a song from Hillsong that we learnt about ten years ago. Our Father everlastingThe all creating OneGod AlmightyThrough Your Holy…
It’s All About Understanding
In yesterday’s Lowestoft Journal an article was headed ‘Rare Lowestoft Porcelain Items to Go Under the Hammer’. I smiled. Apparently, Lowestoft Porcelain was first established in 1757… Household pieces such as teapots, tea bowls were produced… Specially commissioned pieces were inscribed with names and dates… The Crown Street factory closed in 1802… The auction’s on…
Expanded Noun Phrases
Yesterday evening Hannah, a young teacher, was explaining to me that today she’s teaching her Year 2 class about ‘expanded noun phrases’. I had to confess my ignorance. It sounded a bit grand for 6-7-year-olds. She explained that she’ll be encouraging the children to use adjectives… instead of writing about ‘a dog’ it’s a ‘big,…
It’s All About Men
Yesterday’s conversations… Keith’s in his seventies. Keith’s wife died a couple of years ago. He went to a good mate’s funeral last Friday. Life’s tough for him at the moment. Thom’s in his forties. Thom’s directing a play locally. His main character broke his hip, his replacement dropped out… Thom’s taken on and has to…
Including All of Us
At our church home group last night, we read through Psalm 145. It starts, ‘I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.’ It’s about the greatness of God, His power, reliability, compassion… We paused and reflected. Roy said, ‘I like the verse, ‘The Lord is good…
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