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Tens of thousands of people were in Lowestoft this weekend for the ‘First Light Festival’. Our local paper explains: ‘The multi-arts festival – celebrating the first midsummer sunrise in Britain’s most easterly town – had dozens of international acts, award-winning performers, live music, DJs, poets, comedians, fashion parades, workshops, wellbeing zones, art, unique sculptures…’ YesterdayContinue reading “Monday Morning Blues”

It’s the middle of summer. This morning the sun is shining. I look out in the garden – green grass, red salvia, yellow roses, purple violas… birds at the feeders, squirrels chasing around… No-one sings ‘What a wonderful world’ like Louis Armstrong.. I see trees of green, red roses tooI see them bloom, for meContinue reading “What a Wonderful World”

My friend Bob sent me an email: ‘I wonder if  you  could  do  me  a  favour  Can  you look over my book…’  He’d attached a document… A number of years ago my friend Peter said, ‘Can you help me with my book?’ Peter was brought up in Southwold, Suffolk, he’d joined the British Merchant Navy,Continue reading “Telling the Story, Learning the Lessons.”

Last night Rachel (the good lady-wife) asked very politely, ‘Have you remembered to contact Rod?’ I hadn’t. This morning, she asked, ‘Have you contacted Richard about our leaking conservatory?’ I hadn’t. I thought of other things I must do today… too many to hold in my tiny mind… I need a list! Six people IContinue reading “I Need a List!”

Three recent conversations with older friends went in a similar direction, raising similar questions… Health: Each started with health issues – the heart condition, prostate cancer, knee replacement… local doctors, our local hospital, good caring professionals, the future of an overloaded, underfunded health service… Humour: We moved on to humour – often totally inappropriate, relatedContinue reading “Getting Old…”

Yesterday this gull was leaning over the refuse bin, pulling out one fish-and-chip wrapper, then another wrapper, then another. It flew off. A passing gent saw the mess, returned the wrappers to the bin and walked on. Within a few seconds the gull returned, removing all of the wrappers from the bin again… Alan andContinue reading “Walking Men and Seagulls”

Destructive Truth: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ tells of a 17-year-old suffering with social anxiety and depression. His therapist encourages him to write letters to himself: ‘…I’m giving up, I’m giving in, I’m not fighting it any more. Nothing changes. It doesn’t get better. It doesn’t get easier. You don’t get any wiser. You just get older.Continue reading “What Is Truth?”

In ‘One leg too few’ Peter Cook plays a casting agent; Dudley Moore’s a one-legged actor auditioning for the part of Tarzan. As the interview progresses Cook points out that Tarzan is ‘a role which traditionally involves the use of a two-legged actor’, and that ‘it is in the leg division that you are deficient.’Continue reading “The Advantage of Two Legs”

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemerThere is no more for heaven now to giveHe is my joy, my righteousness, and freedomMy steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace To this I hold, my hope is only JesusFor my life is wholly bound to HisOh how strange and divine, I can sing, “All isContinue reading “Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me”

In ‘Half a Sixpence’ Arthur Kipps feels out of place with the rich upper class. His speech, interests, and life experiences are very different from theirs. He gets out his banjo and, after a hesitant start, everyone joins in singing: Pick out a simple tune.Pick out a simple tune with rhythm.People start to clap, yourContinue reading “Pick Out A Simple Tune”