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Try to imagine a house that’s not a homeTry to imagine a Christmas all alone…. It’ll be lonely this ChristmasWithout you to holdIt’ll be lonely this ChristmasLonely and cold… Each Christmas we hear Bing Crosby, The Pogues, Johnny Mathis, Band Aid… and ‘Mud’, singing about memories, emptiness and Christmas loneliness. Our friend Ben wrote inContinue reading “Lonely this Christmas”

Yesterday was present wrapping day. Rachel finished hers; I did mine… As a child, Christmas presents were put under a blanket, on the sofa, in the lounge (only entered on special occasions). We all bought presents for each other – Mum, Dad, 4 boys, and Gran… Duty… From an early age I was given pocketContinue reading “Aspects of Giving”

Yesterday we saw ‘Little Red’, a Christmas family show telling the story of Little Red Riding Hood. In yesterday’s version Little Red is given a pie to take through the woods to Grandma. Her mother, a woodcutter, tells to wear her red coat, speak to no-one and keep to the path. Mr Wolf persuades herContinue reading “Little Red & Mary”

I spent a large part of yesterday on the phone… five calls… friends I don’t see very often but I care about… friends I’ve known for many years and have kept in touch with. I listened to their personal stories… life-limiting illnesses, hospitals and significant medication, bereavements, family concerns and upsets, mental ill-health, house moves,Continue reading “5 Friends and Winter Solstice”

The University of Brighton has issued a directive advising staff not to use the word ‘Christmas’ because it is too ‘Christian-centric’ and runs the risk of insulting non-Christians. Instead they should refer to the end of term as the ‘winter closure period’. The UK is increasingly a secular country… Christmas is cancelled. Tonight we wereContinue reading “Christmas Cancellations”

The big news this weekend has been the conclusion of the World Cup. Described by commentators as ‘the greatest final ever’, Argentina won thanks to the ‘magical magnificent Messi’… surviving early defeat against Saudi Arabia, a draw and penalty shoot out against Holland in the quarter-finals, and France’s heroic efforts in the final. Argentina survivedContinue reading “Surviving Christmas”

I’ve seen this old Chesney Hawkes/Nik Kershaw song in a different light… I’ll still be doing it the way I do itAnd yet, you try to make me forgetWho I really amDon’t tell me I know bestI’m not the same as all the rest Identity, self-confidence, self-worth, value and purpose remains a huge issue forContinue reading “The One And Only”

Yesterday morning the fire engines, blue lights and air ambulance arrived. A house round the corner from us was on fire. Neighbours were evacuated, the road closed for a couple of hours… ‘The fire spread to at least three rooves along the row of terraced houses but was stopped from taking hold. One patient, anContinue reading “Fires – Extinguished or Burning”

It’s all happening on our bird feeders. The current cold weather has brought chaffinches, goldfinches and a host of other small birds – as well as ‘Woody’ the woodpecker who’s a regular visitor. They’re all enjoying their breakfast. I hear a noise. I look out the window. The air ambulance has just landed opposite ourContinue reading “It’s All Happening!”

The Seekers: Someday, one dayTime’s not so far awayWe can share the dreams we plannedOh, someday… Craig’s the manager at our local ‘Jolly Sailors’. Last week, on the front page of The Lowestoft Journal: ‘…I went to put the roast potatoes on when I realised we were out of cooking oil. Just about to headContinue reading “Some Day, One Day,”