As the clock struck midnight, I found myself behind the wheel, driving alone through the enchanting yet intimidating landscape of London. The echoes of laughter from the wedding reception faded, replaced by an unsettling silence. The vibrant celebration had been a joyous mix of cultures, with the bridegroom hailing from a Nigerian background and the…
I really like this poem by Spike Milligan: Smiling is infectious You catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today I started smiling too. I walked around the corner And someone saw me grin, When he smiled I realised I had passed it on to him. I thought about the smile And…
Today is the 19th September, here are seven questions about the number 19: 1. The World Health Organization recommends that individuals consume a minimum of 19 grams of what per day? 2. In the game of bingo, what is the number 19 is sometimes called? 3. In the game of golf, the highest score one…
We had a ‘last day of the holidays’ day out with our grandchildren at the beginning of September. It is a strange day, the transition from August to September and in my mind, to the best month of the year. Generally, but so far not this time, September delivers lovely weather and while it may…
This year marks 75 years since CS Lewis’ famous children’s book, “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” was published. Sadlers Wells have put on a ballet to commemorate this anniversary and I was fortunate to be able to go with my daughter and 12-year-old grandson. In preparation I borrowed the book from a friend…
This week, our 10 minute service reflects on Matthew 7:7-12.
There is so much on social media that I question if it is a “set-up” rather than a true life experience. One such (based on my recollection) shows a young boy watching a parade of animals (possibly part of a circus), and as the elephants pass him, he offers a baby elephant a piece of…
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 21st September 2025 Lectionary Readings: Amos 8 v4-7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2 v1-7; Luke 16 v1-13. God and money. Amos was send by God to the northern kingdom of Israel during a period of prosperity to expose its rotten core. Amos warned the people of impending…
My son and his wife are expecting their first baby any day now, (my first grandchild). You might have heard of the nesting instinct. Does that include the garden? Perhaps it’s a male version of the nesting phenomenon. Their lawn has always been very poor with dead grass and humps and bumps, so about 2…
In our recent move, these questions filled our home again: How does it fit? Where should it go? Where will it suit best? I imagined that the furniture asking me Where will my place be? Will I still be useful in this new atmosphere? In life, we ask the same questions of ourselves: Where do…