Category Archives: Uncategorized

At our Singing for Health group yesterday we sung several songs from Rogers and Hammerstein’s ‘South Pacific’. As usual we sang with smiles and enthusiasm. I particularly enjoy the South Pacific song ‘Happy Talk’ Happy talk, keep talkin’ happy talk,Talk about things you’d like to do.You got to have a dream,If you don’t have aContinue reading “Happy Talk”

As a child I lived in Surrey, about 20 miles south of London. Each year we went for our annual holiday – to a nearby seaside resort in Kent or Sussex. Some people went ‘abroad’, overseas, usually across the channel. We didn’t. Abroad originally meant widely apart – a broad distance from each other. ThenContinue reading “A Broad”

Dance to your Daddy my little laddieDance to your Daddy my little man You shall have a fishy on a little dishyYou shall have a fishy when the boat comes in This old folk song, about a hungry boy from a poor family, who knows that ‘when the boat comes in’ he will be fed,Continue reading “When The Boat Comes In”

I first met the notion of ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ as a teenage student. In my studies in mathematical history I learnt about Sir Isaac Newton, the brilliant mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian and philosopher. Newton wrote, ‘If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants,’Continue reading “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”

Yesterday… …Unjust-God Discussion: At Men’s Shed we were discussing religion… Getting the penguins into Noah’s ark… Jesus’ virgin birth… Negative childhood experiences of Sunday School… The universe’s size and science… Someone quoted Stephen Fry: ‘The world is very splendid but it also has in it insects whose whole lifecycle is to burrow into the eyesContinue reading “Injustice, Hatred, Forgiveness?”

Yesterday morning Minister-Lou told this story: On June 15, 1815, Napoleon fought Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Reports from the front lines were carried by sailing ship to the southern coast of England. From there it was relayed by signal flags to London. When the report was received at Winchester cathedral, the flags speltContinue reading “The Whole Story”

As children we learnt the Easter narrative. Jesus, the good man, who bad men had cruelly and unjustly killed, came back to life. He appeared to his friends. Sadness became joy, despair became hope, failure became faith, fear became courage. And we had chocolate. It was great. I had two problems with Easter. Firstly IContinue reading “I Want Jesus To Walk With Me”

Dusty Springfield’s hits in the 60s included this Hal David and Burt Bacharach song… Wishin’ and hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’Plannin’ and dreamin’ each night of his charmsThat won’t get you into his armsSo if you’re lookin’ to find love you can shareAll you gotta do is hold him, and kiss him and love himAndContinue reading “Wishing and Hoping”

King Charles was unable to attend the annual Royal Maundy service at Worcester Cathedral yesterday. However, in a recorded message played at the service, he said of Maundy Thursday: “It has its origin in the life of Our Lord who knelt before his disciples and, to their great surprise, washed their travel-weary feet…. in doing soContinue reading “Jesus’ Hands”

One of my favourite local stories this week involves a Norfolk distillery, whose single malt whisky was named the best in the world. Their English Sherry Cask whisky beat off competition from Scotland, Ireland and more than 40 other countries, at the World Whiskies Awards in London. 200 expert judges from around the world, assessingContinue reading “Do They Deserve It?”