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On Wednesday… …watching Miss Saigon, we heard the song: They’re called Bui-Doi, The dust of lifeConceived in Hell, And born in strifeThey are the living reminder of all the good we failed to doWe can’t forgetMust not forgetThat they are all our children, too ‘Bui-Doi’ in Viet Nam originally were starving country people, who cameContinue reading “It’s the People that Count”

Yesterday, reading Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’ I came across the Latin phrase ‘ad astra per aspera’. Literally it means ‘ad astra’ – ‘to the stars’; ‘per aspera’ – ‘through suffering’. It’s a familiar idea. Every problem is an opportunity. Difficulties can lead to learning and personal development. Hardship and suffering aren’t obstaclesContinue reading “Ad Astra Per Aspera”

Last night I was reminded of the children’s chasing game ‘Stuck in the Mud’. I played it when I was a child; I’ve watched children playing it… One child is chosen to be ‘it’. They chase and attempt to touch the others in the game. If they’re touched, they’re ‘stuck in the mud’, standing stillContinue reading “Stuck in the Mud”

Several weeks ago, Paul was in hospital. His strength, energy, mobility and confidence weren’t good. He came home ten days ago. Yesterday. with support and uncertain steps, he walked from his house to the car, then from the car park to a bench overlooking the sea. Later he was able to walk from the carContinue reading “Starting and Finishing with Nothing”

Reading ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ again… Atticus, an Alabama lawyer in the 1930s, tells his children ‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ Mockingbirds cause no trouble. All they do is ‘sing their hearts out for us’. A black man is chargedContinue reading “Mockingbirds, Matilda and Mediators”

Last week I revisited my Simon & Garfunkel CDs. They contain many favourite songs from my teenage years – including ‘Homeward Bound’. I bought the music and learnt to play it on my guitar. It’s said Paul Simon wrote whilst he was in England whist waiting at Widnes railway station. He’s alone, longing to beContinue reading “Homeward Bound”

Three young male lions have arrived at Africa Alive, our local wildlife park. On Tuesday Bertie, Will and Mak travelled 140 miles from Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire. Zoo director Ross Snipp said: ‘You don’t get to do this every day so these moments are sort of career highlights. I’ve been as excited today as everyoneContinue reading “The Lions, the Deer and the Blackbirds”

Thirteen-year-old-grandson Luca and I were discussing two negatives making a positive. In maths, 8 – – 7 is the same as 8+7; in English, don’t not eat means do eat… Hitting somebody that annoys him is wrong; if he hits them twice, do two negatives make a positive – so that’s good? Stealing a chocolateContinue reading “The Positive-Negative Dilemma”

Recently several folks have said, ‘I’ve had a busy day’. I’ve realised that ‘busy’ means different things to different people. An older friend drove to the hospital for an appointment, waited to be seen by a doctor, waited for test results, drove home, had a cup of tea and a nap… They’d had a busyContinue reading “Busy-ness”

Some stuff you know. Other stuff you don’t… Minister-Lou mentioned ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’ in Sunday’s sermon. The church was divided. Some knew what she was talking about, others hadn’t a clue. I’ve read or recited ‘Bear Hunt’ many times. Some friends, since Sunday, have been met the book for the first time.Continue reading “Clarity of Perception”