How often have we said in recent weeks that we are experiencing once in a lifetime events, or being a part of the process of writing history? Just as we have witnessed the whole experience of the Queens platinum jubilee, something never seen in history before and the proclamation of a new king, this week…
At the ripe old age of sixty-three and fifty-nine, with arthritis and diabetes, my wife and I have decided to take up camping, just at the point when folk of our age are promoting themselves onto motorhomes. To quickly kill the image you have in your mind of two of us crawling into a two-man…
Dear friends, A lot has happened since I wrote my letter last week. One of my pet hates as a minister is training, when I am told that I have to participate in compulsory training, I become irritated and never take part with joy, rather with utter reluctance. In May of this year several of…
While on holiday recently we had a day out in Northumberland. I adore this part of the country and love to travel down the coastline from Bamburgh in the north to Tynemouth. Time and tide permitting we will also take in a visit to Holy Island, another of my favourite haunts. We were staying in…
Dear Friends, The words “living in unprecedented times” have been quoted over and over again during the last two years and following one of the most challenging weeks that I can remember, I believe that the last fortnight definitely qualifies. I will normally write my letter to you first thing on a Wednesday morning, when…
Dear Friends, One of my mantra’s that I have found to be true over the years is something I learned a long time ago, surround yourself with good people and you will experience the very best that life has to offer. I believe that was true of the wonderful welcome service we offered to God…
I spent several remarkable weeks binging on the excellent Netflix Drama “The Crown” earlier this year. I would hardly claim to be a Royalist, but I have always respected our monarchy and admired our Queen. Perhaps my motivation at the time was the platinum jubilee, when, not for the first time in my life, I…
Dear Friends, I always look forward to September with a mix of emotions, on the one hand, it is one of the busiest months of the year for me, with a string of meetings, several of them quite heavyweight. I also find it quite depressing as the evenings start to draw in. On the other…
Without any shame whatsoever I am taking the opportunity to advertise a brilliant book, North to Alaska by Trevor Lund. Over the years I have loved reading about people who have set out to do the impossible. Just over twenty years ago, Trevor set out from Ushuaia at the southernmost tip of Argentina with all…
If you have ever considered the idea of taking up either surfing, or wind surfing, I thought that you might appreciate a bit of advice before investing in a board, wet suit and all the gear you will need. Not that I have even touched a surfboard in my entire life, nor am ever likely…