It is the time of the year when the pigeons provide entertainment as they perform acrobatics in pursuit of the holly berries on our small tree. Watching them the other day reminded me of this tree’s story. Several years ago I was weeding under our fence and noticed a seedling in all the wrong place.…

I recently half heard a discussion about the hard work and discomfort associated with recovery from a particular operation. The person concerned had acquired a new joint to replace one that was unreliable and painful but had not entirely allowed for the commitment needed to make the most of the process. I have not had…

For people of a certain age and interest, The Royal Yacht Britannia was instantly recognisable, and we may not ever have realised that she did not have her name painted on her hull as is the case with most ships. There is a reason for this buried in the past. The ship’s name was a…

In 2010, for the first time, World Homeless Day was held. Unusually for special days, this one does not have a theme although it could be argued that its very name is its theme. The website gives a simple overview and can be found at www.worldhomelessday.org – it states the purpose of the day. “This…

When Julien Alfred won a gold medal in the 100m at this summer’s Olympic games it was an Olympic first. Many other athletes won gold medals, but she had not. Three other countries achieved their first gold this year, namely, Botswana, Dominica and Guatemala, and three other countries won their first medal of any colour,…

You do not need me to tell you that green plants move in the direction of sunlight because they need the light to photosynthesise; the process that is they key to their life. After a week away in Scotland recently, where the weather was less than ideal, my return to my usual walking routes soon…

It is quite likely that a church near you will be celebrating Harvest Thanksgiving sometime in late September or early October. Despite the all-year-round nature of harvest the traditional celebration is fixed following the end of the cereal harvest. Raspberries, potatoes, fish and fuel are all very well but the place of bread in the…

Today’s reading is Joshua 24:19-24 It may not be your experience but making choices can be difficult. The more indecisive we are, the longer we spend looking at arguments on both hands. ‘On the one hand this and on the other hand that’ goes the dilemma. People who have found their way to faith in…

A river in flood is powerful and daunting; to cross safely is risky and requires good local knowledge. According to the bible, as the leadership of Moses gave way to that of Joshua one of the new leaders first tasks was to get the people across the Jordan into Canaan, their ‘Promised Land.’ The vision…

I am not sure why, but I have always subconsciously categorised bees as good, wasps as irritating and hornets as outright dangerous. I am irrational; bees are lethal to those who react badly to stings, wasps are important pollinators as are hornets, which also have a part to play in balancing other insect populations. They…