My first proper bike, a two wheeler had a bright blue frame and splendid white mudguards.  My dad had got it from a bloke at work because his son had grown out of it, I remember pushing it home, on that journey it was a tatty navy blue with no mudguards and I guess looking…

Before coming here everyone warned Drew and I about the humidity and they were correct. It is around 33 degrees at the minute but the humidity is quite hard to cope with so air conditioning is very welcome as is the swimming pool. We have also seen torrential rain and plenty of thunder and lightning.…

I’ve just read a report from Loctite, the glue manufacturers (others are available!), revealing that there are more than 100 million broken household items lying around. I’m not sure how they know.  Surely the prevalence of having young children in the household would make a difference? Anyway, they surmise from this that at least 38%…

A few years ago, I remember, I tentatively suggested that a Church I was working with may like to consider having a service on Ascension Day. We agreed to go ahead and for a year or two a faithful few gathered to remember this remarkable moment in our liturgical year. Now many of us let…

As a limited Twitter user, I was interested to read a political commentator criticising – and I quote – “so many folk desperate to take snippets of conversation out of context at the moment to create outrage or be outraged.” It reminded me of an incident many years ago when I was walking along the…

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding An investment company’s full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal began with these words: “Information is everywhere. Insight is all too rare. For insight goes beyond information to discern underlying truths. Today, we are long on information and short on insight. Television offers scores of channels.…

I was sent the image and the words attached to this TFTD via Social Media and wanted to share it further. “Sorry I stole your car. Saved my family!”- an incredible story from a resident of Kyiv.“ I left the bomb shelter and saw a car with keys in the ignition near the store. I…

One of the biggest challenges of the current era seems to be that a whole range of familiar experiences have disappeared from our lives and I am finding it challenging and exciting as dormant memories are reawakened.  This little chapel in the village of Conistone in upper Wharefedale has been important to me for almost…

Did you watch The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration on Sunday evening?  There was debate in our house about whether or not to watch it and some confusion as to how ‘live’ the event was. I got to wondering how a person starts to organise such an unprecedented event. There’s no guidebook or manual on what…

My son, Richard, relocated to Singapore in January. We obviously miss him very much but Drew and I were excited at the prospect of visiting him. Neither of us had ever been to Singapore before and we were looking forward to the holiday. As the date of our departure approached, I started to get increasingly…