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Every morning I go to the bathroom, shave, shower… Looking in the shaving mirror what would I like to see? A newspaper report states that one in four primary schools – more than a million primary pupils – go to schools without any full-time male teacher. Experts warn of a rise in misogyny due toContinue reading “Looking in the Mirror…”

Yesterday my friend Jack mentioned the ‘horse and water interface’. He was referring to the old English proverb, ‘you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink’. Mr Google tells me that it was recorded as early as 1175 in ‘Old English Homilies’ and it appeared in John Heywood’s 1561 publication:Continue reading “The Horse and Water Interface”

On Saturday we went to Norwich for the football, our final pre-season friendly, against the Dutch side Breda. We have a new manager, Liam Manning, and a number of new players, so we weren’t sure what to expect. The team looked strong, skilful, well-organised; we won 2-0. New players were good; the manager has startedContinue reading “The Best Person for the Job”

This morning I had a weird dream: We were staying at someone’s house. We needed to come home; we couldn’t… There was a car to drive; I didn’t know how to… We had extra stuff to bring; it wouldn’t all fit in… We had to return the car to its owner; we didn’t know whereContinue reading “Anxiety and Stress”

Yesterday I read the words of the Jewish prophet Micah: And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ ‘I reflected on his world of international conflict and spiritual decline 2,700 years ago. Today’s world of war, injustice and hunger, where theContinue reading “God of Justice”

Yesterday ‘The Greatest Gathering’ was well publicised. This weekend 40,000 enthusiasts will see 140+ rail vehicles at Britain’s biggest and oldest remaining train factory in Derby. They claim that it’s the world’s largest-ever gathering of historic and modern trains. It’s part of Railway 200, a year-long celebration, remembering the opening of the Stockton and DarlingtonContinue reading “Celebrate and Remember”

The Rhyme: ‘Pinch, punch, first of the month.’ We said it as children; our children said it. This morning grandson-Luca messaged me with the greeting. I asked Mr Google about its origin. Some think that it came from the fear of witches in medieval times. On the first of each month a ritual pinch ofContinue reading “Pinch, Punch, First of the Month.”

Yesterday I was reminded of ‘Wonky Donkey’… With only three legs he’s a wonky donkey… with just one eye he’s a winky wonky donkey… liking country music, he’s a honky tonky winky wonky donkey… The list of the donkey’s odd characteristics grows… by the end he’s a ‘spunky hanky panky cranky stinky dinky lanky honkyContinue reading “Wonky Donkey”

The Lord is my shepherd… Familiar… Danny preached about it on Sunday… eight of us reflected on it last night… they’re words we know well… we like the old words ‘maketh, leadeth, restoreth…’ It’s the much-loved teddy; we take it everywhere with us. It’s the comfortable well-worn jumper; we put it on. It’s the elderlyContinue reading “The Lord is My Shepherd”

The squirrels have been playing in the garden this morning, chasing each other, looking quizzically in the open back door. We’re entertained. The squirrels are our friends. Keith, our neighbour, sees squirrels as vermin. He has shot squirrels on local farms. He would shoot those in our garden if he could. The squirrels are Keith’sContinue reading “Friends, Opponents and Enemies”