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Yesterday… …Reading… Gavin Peacock describes the pressure that professional footballers are under: ‘Thirty, forty or fifty top-level matches plus daily training takes its toll on the body and mind.’ He describes the physical pressure: ‘You are always recovering from kicks, bruising, cuts, muscle pain and strains… inescapable and relentless.’ And the mental pressure: ‘…pressure toContinue reading “Under Pressure”

On last night’s news there was… a focus on Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. Anticipating an election later this year, both explained why they were the best person to lead the nation…  a report on Vladimir Putin’s Russian leadership and presidency, his advances in Ukraine… an update from ex-president Donald Trump’s trial, and speculation regardingContinue reading “Leadership… And the Piece of Towelling.”

Socrates said: ‘The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they alone knew everything and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for girls, they are forward, immodest and unwomanlyContinue reading “Young People Today…”

Last night we went to ‘Beyond the Barricades’ – a concert of musical theatre songs sung by touring West End. There were songs from Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton, Blood Brothers, Les Misérables… and this powerful song from Dear Evan Hansen. I love this children’s version: Have you ever felt like nobody was there?Have youContinue reading “You Will Be Found”

A couple of days after my birthday I was amused to receive this message: ‘This is a bit late – but hope you had a happy birthday. It is on our calendar, but J thought that it was J&F’s (son and daughter-in-law) cat’s birthday (also called Malcolm).’ … I don’t think I’ve ever been confusedContinue reading “My Mixed-Up Identity”

This morning I read… King David, who’s has established a strong, stable kingdom, dies. He’s succeeded as king by his son Solomon. God says, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you’. Solomon doesn’t ask for peace, wealth, a loving family, good health, or anything to do with His God and the temple he’sContinue reading “Praying for Wisdom?”

Apparently the Hokey Cokey has been around for over two hundred years. In some countries it’s ‘Hokey Pokey’ or ‘Hokey Tokey’. In Denmark, it’s the Boogie Woogie. Nineteenth century Scots called it the ‘Hinkumbooby’. Whatever. ‘You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out, In, out, in, out, you shake it allContinue reading “Putting In, Taking Out”

This morning, I read: ‘David was old and full of years’. I understand ‘full of joy’, ‘full of excitement’, ‘full of charm’… but ‘full of years’? Pouring years into my life-jar that will one day become full? Yesterday I found myself singing ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’. Bob Dylan wrote it for the film ‘Pat GarrettContinue reading “Filling My Life-Jar”

Yesterday… …I learnt about ‘Botides’ …Son-Andrew and Partner-Emily told us about a recent holiday to Corfu. They saw red pots being thrown off balconies, smashing on the street below. I googled it. It’s the ancient tradition of ‘botides’. On Easter Saturday morning at 11:00 Corfu residents throw pots from their windows and balconies… Some sayContinue reading “A Celebration, a Song and a Story”

Many years ago, Christopher Trace, when presenting the children’s television programme Blue Peter, would link unrelated segments of the show with ‘And now for something completely different’. Years later, in the surreal comedy series ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’, a sensible-looking John Cleese, sitting behind a desk, in some ridiculous location – perhaps behind the barsContinue reading “And Now For Something Completely Different”