Challenges

It’s a Mad World, but What if…?

Are you having a Merry Christmas as a means of escaping from our messed-up world? Or could there actually be something to celebrate? And, might there just be hope after the COP30 summit? -o-O-o- The noises coming out of the Belem conference centre weren’t optimistic. Fine words, but very little finance to help preserve theContinue reading “It’s a Mad World, but What if…?”

A Wonderful Read from the Balkans

The Migrant, by Paul Alkazraji “The opening lines make you, the reader, feel that the story has already been rollicking along like a bolting horse, and it is a pace that the storyteller never eases up on.” (from the back cover) -o-O-o- As a member of my neighbourhood book club, I’d just dawdled through theContinue reading “A Wonderful Read from the Balkans”

A Happy Hipster?

‘Do not raise your knee above hip level…” said my exercise sheet. “Are yer kidding, mate? I’ve no idea how it’ll get any higher than my ankle!” I yelled. -o-O-o- In my post, ‘Ouch! I’ve got the hippy hippy shakes’, I shared my experiences as I awaited my Total Hip Replacement. Sure enough, it tookContinue reading “A Happy Hipster?”

Forbidden Corner, The Strangest Place on Earth

It took us all Saturday morning to prepare for their arrival. Macaroni cheese made up and into the oven. Salad nicely prepped with a light dressing. Feeling my fingers around the Isofix bars and clicking into position the jaws at the back of Grace’s car seat. Beds made up… The mac cheese disappeared without traceContinue reading “Forbidden Corner, The Strangest Place on Earth”

The Hippy Hippy Shakes (ouch!)

The cover photo is generated by AI. All the pictures within the post are Stock Images. “So, can I dismount by swinging my left leg over his back instead of my right?” I asked. “Well…we can try it, but it’s not the conventional way and Donald won’t be expecting that,” said Mia, my instructor. “I’llContinue reading “The Hippy Hippy Shakes (ouch!)”

Beauty from Ashes 2

In ‘Beauty for Ashes’, I tell the story of Jennie Butchart’s wonderful garden on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and describe our visit last month. I quoted the wonderful Biblical promise made to the people of ancient Judah who were in exile, Isaiah chapter 61 vs 3: “To grant to those who mourn in Zion—to giveContinue reading “Beauty from Ashes 2”

Easter People

(Continued from ‘Bad Thursday’ and ‘Why Good Friday’s Good’.) Wendy’s café. Saturday before Easter, One year on “What a difference a year can make!” remarked Ben as he sat drinking his coffee. “When I think back, I felt my life didn’t amount to anything worthwhile. My only aim was to lower my golf handicap, butContinue reading “Easter People”

Why Good Friday was Good

The cover picture is by ChilVera, via Pixabay Saturday before Easter Day (continued from ‘Bad Thursday’) “C’mon Wendy, talk to us” we said, as she flitted too and fro amongst the dozen-or-so other café customers. Saturday morning was ‘peak hour’ when working people joined us ‘economically inactive’ folks. A leisurely breakfast cooked by somebody elseContinue reading “Why Good Friday was Good”

Half Term Fun, Games and Gismos

[The cover picture is AI-generated, not showing ‘actual’ children] “Hello Trainer, are you ready for your Pokemon journey? I can read your mind and guess which Pokemon you’re thinking of. You just have to picture it in your mind and answer my question. If I can guess which Pokemon it is, it will be addedContinue reading “Half Term Fun, Games and Gismos”

Ordeal in the snow

“It should be here any minute now.” The six of us gazed hopefully up Nelson Street in Bradford city centre. One after another, buses were cautiously negotiating their way through the snow drifts, pulling to a stop beside the three shelters. Our own stop was positioned round a bend on a road called Hall Ings,Continue reading “Ordeal in the snow”