“Uncle Tim, you go on Grandpa’s side,” urged Sam, as he eschewed a sensible game of attacker/ defender/ goalie in favour of using both goals on the field. Yes, 9-year-old Sam would take on the combined might of 35-year-old Tim, once a fine junior football striker, and Grandpa, the manager of his then team. But,Continue reading “Grandchildren – exhausting, or invigorating?”
Tag Archives: Challenges
O Brave New World!
(title of a dystopian novel written by Aldous Huxley in 1931) Parting with an old, beloved power tool is an emotional affair. My Black & Decker Sanding Mouse had served me faithfully for 15 years. It’s reduced the burden of sanding the Wendy House (summerhouse), balustrade and the wall of our neighbours’ shed (all onContinue reading “O Brave New World!”
The Slow Train to Rome
A Learning Experience Help! We’re in the wrong place and the train leaves in 15 minutes! Let’s pray, then ask this bloke…Scusi, signor, farla inglesi? -o-O-o- Yes, the timings were a bit tight. Our train from Paris hadn’t arrived in Turin until 9:30 p.m, taking longer than usual ‘cos we’d to take a bus journeyContinue reading “The Slow Train to Rome”
Which Great Commission? Joining the dots…
Why, oh why am I doing this? I’m working my socks off to organise the screening of this film, the People’s Emergency Briefing. I pray about how we’ll publicise the film, which projector we’ll use… I live and breathe it. I began this article just before Ascension Day. We were remembering Jesus’ final words toContinue reading “Which Great Commission? Joining the dots…”
Hip Hop
Too clever by half, that’s my trouble. lt had all looked so tempting, that wobble board with a maze sunk into its upper face. My challenge was to balance on top, moving two marbles in towards the centre, then back out to the edge. [The picture shows a similar model with a third marble] AsContinue reading “Hip Hop”
Felicity’s Choice
A dialogue set in Nigeria, with acknowledgements to Women’s World Day of Prayer, 2026. I wrote it to support a Lent group session that Jane and I led, exploring, ‘One Faith’. Olu, a recent graduate in Agriculture aged 22, is looking for work. He’s talking to his aunt Felicity, recently widowed with 3 young children.Continue reading “Felicity’s Choice”
Puffing Billy
“C’mon Billy, don’t just stand there!” shouted Mr Jones, the games teacher. “You’ve got to run for the ball if you want possession! Move, will you? Your team mates need your help back in their own penalty area.” It was the same old complaint. Billy would have liked to be good at football, but heContinue reading “Puffing Billy”
2066 and All That
Charlie: Grandpa, where did you live when you were a boy? Grandpa: I lived in Dagenham, in a house that’s now been washed away as the sea levels have risen. My dad used to work at a big car factory. You won’t believe this, but we actually drove our cars ourselves in those days. DrivingContinue reading “2066 and All That”
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”
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