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…
Under pressure? Want somebody to love? Or just to ride your bicycle? Recently, I went to see Queen with Adam Lambert. A presence in the music industry for over five decades, most of Queen’s songs are over 30 years old – and yes, I knew every single one of them. Read more…
‘We’re in the funeral generation now,’ I said as we walked away from having said goodbye to Elizabeth. A kinder person you couldn’t have wished to have known. Jane and I have been to more funerals in the last three months than in the past three years (and that’s without Read more…
‘Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, Turn and face the strange’. In my last job I was (and knew I was) very fortunate to work alongside people who were supportive, encouraging and had a default answer of ‘yes’. The last three years have been a stark reminder that not everyone else is like that! Coping Read more…
Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. It seems somewhat foolish to being calling it ‘Freedom Day’. With a third Covid wave charging onward, Tennyson’s famous lines have for me found a very uncomfortable echo in the lifting of restrictions in England on 19 July. Not though Read more…
… when the FA Cup Final started at 3 o’clock? When there was a piece of card in a Bounty bar? When the BBC used to play a hymn on Ascension Day? Life is always changing, isn’t it? And in this coming week we see more changes as lockdown restrictions Read more…
Sarah Everard is the latest of many, many people whose tragic death has uncovered deep, long-standing issues within society. Think too of others – Sarah Payne. Suzy Lamplugh. Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. Emily Davison. You can probably think of others. People who have been more influential in death than Read more…
Last year was a year like no other – and the next 12 months may not be that different! Lest you think that to be a ‘Unhappy New Year’ greeting, please read on… In the coming few days as we mark the Epiphany, many will reflect on how the travellers Read more…
‘The virus has robbed us of many things. It continues to rob us of any certainty.’ In many ways, those words by BBC correspondent, Chris Mason sum up these last few months. Our local churches have begun opening for public worship for the first time since March. Many might have Read more…
“What’s the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian?” asked the young enquirer. “About ten years,” replied the vicar with characteristically dry wit. Despite often being at the forefront of social change and community action, the church is often seen as being behind the times and, sadly, it doesn’t take Read more…