I was preaching recently at a local church and my theme was “are you half empty or half full?” One of the hymns I chose was that well known hymn by Frances Ridley Havergal: Take my life, and let it be…, The hymn proceeds through various parts of the body including hands, voices, lips, brain…

This TFTD is another inspired by Rev Rach Ward’s recent visit to Bristol. The Helios sun sculpture is by the artist Luke Jerram. (His previous works include the Museum of the moon, Gaia and Mars art installations). Helios was the god of the sun in Greek mythology, and would ride his four-horse chariots across the…

A few weeks back I was attempting to tidy up the garden a bit and noticed something red amongst the greenery growing in the cracks of our patio. Lo and behold there was a strawberry plant with two bright red strawberries. Laying beside them was a bright red slender red chilli. (I suspect this was…

My friend Rev Rach Ward recently visited Bristol and posted some photos of Facebook. As I was seeking inspiration for TFTD I am very grateful to her for the images!  John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Church and his “New Rooms” are to be found in Bristol – replacing the “Old” ones that fell…

I just happened to gaze out of the window and there were two (very well endowed) rams sauntering down our drive. My husband and I managed to corral them into the back field whilst I rang their owner. (The farmer next door, whose field they normally graze on, had left the gate open by mistake).…

A couple of weeks ago whilst we were visiting my son and daughter-in-law, my husband took the opportunity to get his camera out and take some photos of the new family. Bill, who had been quietly wandering around, was not happy and started barking at the camera, trying to chase it away. (Apparently the hoover…

My husband has gone to have his hearing checked, as I write this piece. He is concerned that he does not pick up everything said to him. I wonder sometimes if he perhaps has “selective deafness”?!? My nephew was born with complete hearing loss on his left side. Unless he could see their face, he…

Two weeks ago today I was sitting anxiously at home awaiting news of the birth of our 1st grandchild in London. The day dragged on and the evening came. There had been various messages about progress, and by 11.30pm I was exhausted! Our other son lives in Australia so he took over the “sideline encouragement”…

This month would have been my father’s 101st birthday and earlier in the summer I was reminded of his role during WW2. He joined up in 1942, before he was called up officially – he was afraid he would be assigned to the Royal Navy and he couldn’t swim. He was in the Duke of…

We have a small vegetable patch, about 1square metre at the back of Elmsett Methodist Church, which has produced tomatoes, courgettes and sweetcorn. We even have our own compost heap(s), as well as dead hedging and wildlife patches to attract a whole variety of insects. How many of us have grown courgettes? Every year I…