I am, it has to be said, somewhat intolerant of those who take a ‘we’ve always done it that way’ approach to new ideas or changes. And, I admit, impatient when, ‘we tried that, and it didn’t work’ is used as a response. That said, I am a firm believer Read more…
“Are you settled yet?” Rather like when I was preparing for retirement, we could have become rich from the number of times we’ve been asked that following our recent move. (“Have you packed yet?” was a similar repeated enquiry beforehand.) So, when people ask us if we’re settled – the Read more…
Having unpacked the seventy or so boxes from our move (despite the slowing down nature of Covid for both of us) it’s good to see some semblance of normality gradually returning. Some stability in this time of change. Moving house is a very good analogy to different aspects of life. Read more…
‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself,’ (Mark 12:31). Probably most of us feel comfortable with the ‘love your neighbour’ bit… thinking of others, being kind to people… ‘Yep, I can do that. That bit’s OK.’ But what about, ‘as yourself’? To love ourselves in the same way as we Read more…
Having returned from a lovely few days in The Peak District, we set about doing all that was necessary for our last week in the Haldon Team of eight churches and today’s Farewell Service. House moving plans in place (and no, we’ve not packed yet, to answer all those who Read more…
It was Oscar Wilde who said ‘Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.’ Far be it from me to call my books ‘art’ but life it seems is paying some resemblance to their titles. There are elements of Life with St Benedict with the sad, impending closure of Read more…
Last summer, Daisy the Vicarage Dog was very poorly. This normally lively (to put it mildly) now eight year-old Cocker Spaniel was barely able to move at times and had lost both her appetite and her bark. After many appointments with the vets, specialist interventions and different medications, she was Read more…
Stability. It’s become the watch word of the current economic and political crisis. We’ve had the whole Brexit palaver. The pandemic. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Energy and cost of living crises. Inflation and strikes on a level not seen since the 70s. The death of the Queen. Economic turmoil from Read more…
I first wrote a book over 30 years ago. Called All God’s Work it reflected on the nature of work being not just paid employment but also tasks done in voluntary, community and domestic roles. It also explored the experiences of being unemployed. After numerous rejections it was finally accepted. Read more…
The beginning of a holiday can sometimes feel like being in a badly landing plane. Whether ‘piloted’ by day to day work, family or other responsibilities, it can take a while to adjust to the change of pace and other aspects of being on holiday. Whether or not we like Read more…