I sometimes make use of my free bus pass and go by bus from my village into Ipswich. The behaviour of bus passengers varies from the straight ahead stare conveying a wish to remain silent and apart, to the smile, which starts things off, often at the bus stop, and progresses to conversation that may or may…
The following is an extract from a Facebook post a few days ago: “When Japan’s electronic toll collection system unexpectedly failed for 38 hours, toll gates were opened to allow free passage. In most countries, that might have meant a financial loss that no one would recover — but not in Japan. After the issue…
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).…
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. 2nd November 2025 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah1 v10-18; Psalm 32 v1-7; 2 Thessalonians 1 v1-4, 11-12; Luke 19 v1-10. Hypocrisy and Honesty. Isaiah speaks for God in challenging the hypocrisy of the Temple worshippers of his day. God says, “No matter how much you pray, I won’t listen. You…
Today is the day the clocks change so, if you haven’t yet reset yours, pause and go do it now. I always enjoy this change back to GMT because it means getting an extra hour in bed. The downside, of course, is that the sun sets an hour earlier and this day is a very…
Thirteen years ago my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. We booked a holiday in a lodge in a forest near York. The lodges were all situated in a way in which you couldn’t see the next one. Both our sons were able to join us which was amazing. The walks through the…
For many years I resisted the temptation to watch ‘Strictly’. Eventually I was an outsider in so many conversations from October to Christmas, that I took my sister’s advice and began to watch – first on a Saturday evening, then on a Sunday and finally succumbing to watching the spin off ‘It takes Two’ every…
Matthew 14:34-36 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all who were ill to him 36 and begged him to let those who were ill just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it…
I don’t think any of us would choose to have a dose of covid, even though the illness is not generally as severe now. I recently isolated for 11 days with it, and in some ways the enforced rest did me good. I was able to spend more time reading and one of the things…
A recent Facebook post reminded me of the day I attended a bank talk on marketing by one of the executives, and he told the following story. A vicar of a parish church was delighted when his Bishop attended a Sunday morning service unannounced, especially as the church had almost a full attendance. Afterwards, as part of the conversation with the Bishop,…