Category Archives: Uncategorized

Today, November 1st, is All Hallows Day, All Saints Day. Yesterday was Halloween – All Hallows Evening. For some it’s an opportunity for dressing up and having harmless fun, for traditions and celebrations; some focus on the horror books, films and characters that have become part of our culture – they enjoy the scary; othersContinue reading “Halloween – Where Good Meets Evil”

Yesterday morning I went to ‘Whitton Life’, our church community café, for ‘FISH’. Many families were there for a free breakfast. Our chaplains offered hand massages and chat around coping strategies and spirituality, the Town Council were doing autumn crafts, and our local police officer popped in to say hi & give out stickers. ItContinue reading “Mnemonics and Remembering”

I’m the third of four brothers. Throughout my childhood my grandmother lived with us, so together with my parents there were seven of us in a small, three-bedroomed house. I was never alone at home. Many of my childhood memories are with other children… an eight-year-old at school in a class of fifty… our churchContinue reading “You Are Not Alone”

Yesterday my friend Roy sent me a message: ‘Are you free for a game of chess this morning?’ I was. We met at a local hotel… The message got my attention – I enjoy playing chess; drinking coffee, chatting and playing chess held my attention for a couple of hours. Yesterday afternoon I received anContinue reading “Getting, Holding My Attention”

We’re busy doin’ nothin’Workin’ the whole day throughTryin’ to find lots of things not to doWe’re busy going nowhereIsn’t it just a crimeWe’d like to be unhappy, butWe never do have the time I’m grateful that I was brought up with my parents’ post-war work ethic. Keep busy. Make yourself useful. Find things to do.Continue reading “Busy Doing Nothing”

Norwich City lost to Swansea on Saturday – their fifth successive defeat. They’re second from bottom in the Championship. American owner Mark Antanassio is flying in this week; Head Coach Liam Manning is under pressure. Manning says: ‘I want to keep fighting . I want to get the lads on board in terms of themContinue reading “Facing Defeat”

I was brought up to go to a church where we sung traditional hymns written in previous centuries by writers with wonderful names – Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, Francis Ridley Havergal, Cecil Francis Alexander… and Fanny J Crosby. I was delighted that one of her hymns has been ‘re-discovered’ recently. Her original words have beenContinue reading “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”

Pat Barker’s ‘Regeneration’ is set in a Scottish psychiatric hospital in 1917. ‘The congregation struggled to its feet… A preliminary wheeze from the organ, then: ‘God moves in a mysterious wayHis wonders to perform…’ Since the Somme, this seemed to have been the nation’s most popular hymn… The horrors of First World War trench warfare…Continue reading “Mysterious Ways”

Yesterday we went David’s funeral. We’ve known David and his family for many years. David was a carpenter by trade, a skilled craftsman who could turn his hand to most practical tasks – he fitted our bathroom for us. David was a kind, generous man, always helping someone with something or other. He didn’t madeContinue reading “Working Wholeheartedly”

On Monday, in the greenhouse, I was sorting out my tomato plants. I put on my gardening gloves and started work. I felt a sharp stinging pain in the palm of my left hand. I took off my glove quickly. A large wasp flew out. He was as unhappy with the situation as I was.Continue reading “Seeing Through Different Eyes”