Category Archives: Uncategorized

Teenage grandchildren were chatting – loudly. ‘Duel’ was mistaken for ‘Dual’… then ‘Jewel’ entered the conversation. Misunderstanding became confusion. Duel… I grew up watching duels on children’s television – Zorro’s rapier duels, Robin Hood’s sword duels, cowboys’ gun duels. The duel was the story’s climax… goodie beats baddie; justice prevails. …Today sport is civilised man’sContinue reading “Duel, Dual, Jewel…“

Yesterday at Men’s Shed… We’d been given a load of pallets. Yesterday a group of us were pulling them apart – extracting nails, stacking timber… What’s next? Some wood will be used use it to make bird boxes or hedgehog boxes for a local wildlife group; some will be transformed into fancy planters – possibleContinue reading “What’s Next?“

Teenaged grandchildren came to lunch yesterday. Random conversation turned to ‘The Muppets’. Zak googled and sung its theme song. It ends: It’s time to get things startedOn the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, MuppetationalThis is what we call the Muppet Show! I’d heard the song countless times; I’d never noticed ‘Muppetational’ before. I can think ofContinue reading “I Never Noticed That Before“

I’m pleased but humbled to return to Graham Kendrick’s genius lyrics that point me again to the mystery of the meek but majestic life-transforming Jesus… Meekness and majesty manhood and deityIn perfect harmony the Man who is GodLord of eternity dwells in humanityKneels in humility and washes our feet My faith is built around Jesus,Continue reading “Meekness and Majesty“

Theo: GCSE results arrived for 16-year-olds this week. This is Theo – pleased with and proud of his. And now: Decisions, opportunities – courses to take, subjects to study Preparation – for their next stage in their education and life Delight – they never have to study French/maths/history ever again! Musing… The privilege of aContinue reading “Education: Theo, Air-ambulance, 1984 & Daniel”

I was walking along the beach this morning. There were the usual early-morning swimmers, joggers, dog-walkers. A herring gull paddled beside a gent walking by the water’s edge. It looked up at him and walked alongside him for about 20 metres. Perhaps the gull momentarily bonded with the man; perhaps the man has strange powersContinue reading “Herring Gulls and Unsatisfactory Answers“

Several friends have said: ‘You haven’t mentioned your new kitchen recently…’ In June we had our old kitchen, loved, well-used for many years; we knew where everything was. July was messy and chaotic; the new kitchen was fitted – everything was everywhere! August has been calm again; we’re really pleased with our new kitchen… althoughContinue reading “The Importance Of Disorder“

Musing… …Looking out of the window. The grass is brown, leaves are already falling from our apple tree… our parks are brown, crops in the fields of local farmers have suffered… it’s more than 2 months since we last had rain. The rain we desperately need is out of my control. …Chatting to my friendContinue reading “Control, Bones & Sticks“

‘Plate spinning is a circus manipulation art where a person spins plates, bowls and other flat objects on poles, without them falling off…’ Single plates Yesterday I was chatting to our neighbour Mark… at the end of the garden tinkering with spanners and bikes. ‘Kelly’s bought a new bike…’ He explained his tinkering. ‘If I’mContinue reading “Plate Spinning“

“The elephant in the room” is an expression that describes a topic, question, or issue that everyone knows about but no one mentions… …Musing on random roomed-elephants that I’ve encountered… Accepted elephants… Growing up we didn’t talk about sex, love, the war, feelings, emotions… These elephants were accepted, almost part of the furniture. Most ofContinue reading “The Elephant In The Room”