Category Archives: Uncategorized

Yesterday we went with daughter-Jo and grandchildren to our local ‘Africa Alive’. It used to be a ‘wildlife park’; now it’s a ‘zoological reserve.’ We saw lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinoceroses… I felt obliged, duty-bound, to tell grandad animal jokes… ‘How can you tell a weasel from a stoat? …A weasel’s weasily distinguishable… a stoat’s stotallyContinue reading “Animal Non-sense”

It was good to have our French family with us yesterday. Before they left niece-Sara went for a run along the sea-front. Sara enjoys running and goes running regularly. Running 10K… blue sky and the Lowestoft seaside… I wished I was still fit enough to join her… I met Chris last night. Chris is anContinue reading “Running The Race”

Yesterday evening we had a family gathering – 15 of us. Our local family was joined by some of our French family – Sara, Fred, Camille and our dear sister-in-law Genviève. There was a lot of conversation (in French, English and a bit of Portuguese), food (the obligatory barbecue) and laughter (I may need toContinue reading “Burying Your Underpants”

At church we sing: ‘Up from the ashes hope will arise…’ It sounds like: ‘Up from the ashes soap will arise.’ I smile an irreverent smile. This week there’s been a lot about women’s football… years of not being able to play… fighting for the right to play… battling misogynistic views… 2,567 watched England loseContinue reading “Up From The Ashes…”

Last night we watched England’s lionesses beat Germany to become European champions! Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal! She said: ‘This is what dreams are made of…’ Chloe is the youngest of seven siblings. Playing football with her five brothers and their friends in the football cages in Ealing, West London taught her to beContinue reading “Making Dreams Come True”

Amazing grace! how sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like me.I once was lost, but now am found,Was blind, but now I see. With ‘Amazing Grace’ I sometimes lose the simple but profound truth in the familiarity of the song… ‘Conversion’ in some Christian circles is a cliché, but my life and perspective on lifeContinue reading “Amazing Grace”

This is Cat and her Dad Dave. Cat writes: ‘…he has been my one constant male influence, that he never gave up on me, that even through the dark times he always supported me, that to this day he holds doors open for me, puts himself on the outside of me when we’re walking, thatContinue reading “Old-fashioned But Not Out-dated”

A growing pile of rubbish had accumulated outside our back door. As the kitchen has improved and taken shape indoors the workmen have piled old pipes, broken panels, wood offcuts, polystyrene packaging, flattened boxes… Yesterday Richard turned up with a big van and took away the lot. I’m not sure where he took it –Continue reading “Getting Rid Of The Rubbish”

I smile when advertisers use the term ‘pre-loved’ to avoid describing an item as ‘second-hand’. A pre-loved wedding dress must be better than a second-hand one; pre-loved toys sound more attractive than second-hand toys. I’ve bought many pre-loved books. Recently these have included Pinocchio, The Railway Children… To Kill A Mockingbird, Of Mice And Men…Continue reading “Pre-loved”

Progress on our kitchen has been slow but steady; it’s not finished but it’s useable. I’ve just gone through a snagging list with Scott-the-fitter… jobs that still need doing… the cracked cutlery tray and panels that need replacing, the painting and decorating, the collection of the rubbish… My memory isn’t what it was. Lists areContinue reading “Lists, Lists And More Lists”