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They say every day’s a school day. Yesterday’s curriculum was pretty full as we continued our Irish holiday. I was prepared for: History: We heard some Irish history. The 18th century revolutionary Wolfe Tone was fighting for Irish independence against the British… the French seeking to invade Ireland in 1796 arrived in Bantry Bay toContinue reading “The Old Man”

We arrived at Stansted Airport… At five o’clock yesterday morning there were many people, many different languages… There was a little girl carrying a pink unicorn, an old man drinking beer, energetic, purposeful walkers, a young man sleeping on the floor… We sat people watching, waiting for our flight. An elderly couple walked past. TheContinue reading “Searching for Understanding”

Over the last week I’ve been listening to an old Nina Simone CD. It was good to remember ‘Feeling Good’. It’s a song of joy, optimism and fresh starts. It’s about feeling good now, whatever’s happened in the past. Birds flying high, you know how I feelSun in the sky, you know how I feelBreezeContinue reading “Feeling Good”

The Lowestoft Journal reported on our local theme park ‘Pleasurewood Hills’. Under the headline, ‘Refurbishment of ‘much-loved’ and ‘one-of-a-kind’ rollercoaster begins’ a spokesman says, ‘The refurbishment of Cannonball Express, the world’s only Schwarzkopf Jumbo V, has started with the trains leaving the park.’ Another headline caught my eye: ‘Food factory cuts the waffle with £2.2mContinue reading “Refurbish, Refresh, Renew,”

The build-up to the World Cup continues. The England team are training in Florida… Yesterday I learnt that the shirt worn by Pelé in the 1958 World Cup final is to be sold. Bidding opens at Sotheby’s in New York on 29 June — 68 years to the day since the 17-year-old Pele scored twoContinue reading “What’s it Worth?”

This morning I read the familiar Psalm 23. ‘The Lord is my shepherd…’ I reflected on ‘Your rod and staff protect and comfort me…’ My ‘Step by Step’ book says: ‘…the shepherds rod was a defensive aid used to ward off enemies of the sheep – so protecting them. …the staff was a disciplinary toolContinue reading “Protecting, Prodding and Poking…”

It rained yesterday. Hard. We’ve had a dry spring. We’re told we need the rain. Our gardens need it; the farmers need it. Our grass looks greener this morning, our roses and rhododendrons are looking well. Rain is good. On my bike, getting soaked, those weren’t my immediate thoughts. The garden weeds are looking remarkablyContinue reading “Needing Rain, Socks, Bandages, and Donkeys”

Talking about holidays and travel someone mentioned London’s St Pancras Station. We asked, ‘Who was St Pancras?’ Mr Google told us… St Pancras: Pancras was a Roman citizen, born around 289. His parents died when he was young. Brought up by his uncle, he converted to Christianity. Offered wealth and power if he renounced hisContinue reading “My Train of Thought…”

Over the weekend… …At church, Minister-Lou was describing Gideon, fearful, hiding thinking he’s a nobody. An angel appears and says, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’ Another Bible calls him, ‘Mighty Hero…’ Gideon doesn’t want to be noticed, important, take on leadership responsibility… a mighty warrior, a hero? …On TV we heard about GlaswegianContinue reading “Mighty Warriors and Heroes”

When I was a child ‘I am not skilled to understand’ was in our hymn book. Written by nineteenth century English poet Dora Greenwell, we sung it from sometimes. I forgot it. In more recent years Aaron Shust ‘rediscovered’ it and revived it. We learnt his version in our church – we sung it forContinue reading “My Saviour, My God”