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Bob Dylan songs were part of my formative years. ‘Blowing in the wind’ was one of the first songs I could play on the guitar; I knew all the words to all the verses of ‘Mr Tambourine Man’. ‘Forever Young’ is still one of my all-time favourites… Yesterday I was reminded of the old DylanContinue reading “Something Is Happening Here But You Don’t know What It Is…”

I’ve just read: ’Faced with trouble, some people grow wings; others buy crutches.’ I understand the principle. Troubles enable us to develop courage, resilience, strength; we cope with difficulties and fly above them. The alternative is to be disabled, crippled by our troubles; we can only limp along with crutches… Christians may quote: ‘But thoseContinue reading “Wings or Crutches?”

David was a Christian gent who helped, supported and got involved in the lives of many. He often described those whose lives were messed up as ‘in a bit of a pickle’… Sky News:‘Boris Johnson is battling to survive as prime minister, despite throwing himself on the mercy of MPs and apologising for the “bringContinue reading “In A Bit Of A Pickle”

Untenable: indefensible, incapable of being held against attack. The French verb ‘tenir’, meaning ‘to hold’… tenable is something you can hold on to; untenable is something you can’t… It’s alleged that Boris Johnson attended a drinks event in the No 10 garden in May 2020 when lockdown rules in England banned large outdoor gatherings. MembersContinue reading “From Untenable to Tenable”

I just looked back. A year ago today I wrote about this old ‘Two Ronnies’ sketch. Ronnie Corbett arrives at Ronnie Barker’s house with a bird in a cage. The man down the pub had sold him an ‘Argentinian racing-pigeon.’ The gullible Corbett believed him. Barker can see that this bird is no racing-pigeon –Continue reading “It’s Still A Duck”

It’s funny how conversations repeat themselves. In the last week I’ve spoken to three different people who explained how recently they’ve taken up painting. After my ‘Is it all magnolia?’ and ‘Did you have a B&Q colour chart?’ I realised they were serious… Bruce showed me the water colour trees he has been practicing, EricContinue reading “Lifelong Learning”

Make me a channel of your peaceWhere there is hatred let me bring your loveWhere there is injury, your pardon LordAnd where there’s doubt, true faith in you This song, usually called ‘The Prayer of St Francis’, is so simple that it can speak to children, yet so profound that it challenges all. It speaksContinue reading “Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace”

A year ago protesters stormed the US Capitol building. Commentator Ryan Diaz speaks of: ‘…men and women who believed God was on their side, waving flags that proclaimed: “Jesus is my saviour, Trump is my president.” Many of the rioters who stormed the Capitol saw themselves as agents of divine justice, taking America back fromContinue reading “God’s on My Side”

Yesterday, January 6th, was Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, Twelfth Night. It’s the end to the festive season; Christmas decorations come down… It’s the day when traditionally the church remembers the wise men visiting Jesus and presenting their gifts… Nadia Bolz-Weber describes the story: ‘A story of 2 men – Herod, who is aContinue reading “Epiphany”

I get emotionally involved in ‘The Repair Shop’. Last night it was Mike, a professional 1970s speedway rider who had recently died of cancer. Wife Wendy and daughter Hayley wanted to restore his racing boots… it was on his bucket list, they wanted to honour his request and memory. They missed him… A tear cameContinue reading “As Tears Go By”