London Riots
Last Monday morning, I went up to Tottenham. Ikea is up that way, and we were short on juice glasses. With the in-laws about to arrive, more glasses seemed like a reasonable idea.
Blogs
A Widow Waits
What will you have me do, Lord
Now that I’m all alone?
Living Shape
The anticipation of a move dislocates you. You begin to live elsewhere before you’ve even left home. I’m feeling a little in limbo right now.
Part of it is the long process of saying goodbye.
Prudent Pat
As a child of the 30s I tend to be somewhat prudent … well, maybe more than “somewhat” prudent.
How to avoid conflict
We know it’s okay to experience emotions, even anger. And now we have some ways to deal with anger when it happens. But how can […]
Houseplants
I came home to wilt. One sad basil plant, suffering on my all-too-sunny kitchen counter. It looked exhausted. And rather pathetic. I mentally added basil to my shopping list as I equally pathetically showered the shrivelled remains under the tap. I confess I did it with no hope at all.
Follow the Leader
My husband was not the “strong, silent” type. He was the “loud, laughing” type and he captivated all he met, including me.
(sm)All Ages Services
Just because there are animals in a story doesn’t mean it’s a great story for kids. We tell some pretty horrific stories to children. I am not the first one to point out that most of the Bible stories we tell to children are not meant to be children’s stories. But mostly we do, I think, because of the animals. Kids like animals so we roll out the stories, two by two. (Althought, strangely, Elisha and the bears seldom makes it to Sunday School…)
A Year of Learning
A year is gone and still I weep. His memory fills my days … my sleep. Yet aching pain has eased somewhat And so God […]
Be the boss of your anger
It’s okay to get angry. God gave us emotions so we could share them with others and experience life together. It’s not good to let […]
Leftovers
We are still about a month and a half away from moving, but already the kitchen in beginning to feel different. We’re beginning to think in terms of using up rather than storing away. How are we going to get through that bag of lentils?
Unseen Vistas
The autumn leaves, blazing golden just two weeks ago are being torn apart by the west wind. Exactly the same thing happened in September on the day my husband died.
Family and the Big Blue Sea
I put my parents on the plane this week. Which, I’m sure they will understand, was both very difficult and a relief. Blue helped at the airport by running around madly to distract me when needed, and waving enormously when it was time to say goodbye.
The First Year of Mourning
Daughter Lyn emails, knowing I will be a bit blue … it is a year since Harry’s death.
Cathedral visiting
On Saturday, we went to Canterbury. Redy to wenden on pilgrimage and all that. But we went by train. The Spouse and I, Beangirl and Blue and my own aged parents.
My Daughter’s Dad
Just a photo in a frame.
Is all I see today
But when I close my eyes
A million memories come my way.
Bullying Theme
Hello friends!
I have heard that some of you have been teasing other children at the playground—not just once in a while—but every day. Others have been telling tall tales at school about certain kids and persuading other kids not to hang out with them. I would call these things BULLYING.
Without a table
“The Rat brought the boat alongside the bank, tied it up, helped awkward Mole safely ashore, and swung out the picnic basket. The Mole begged to be allowed to unpack it all by himself. He took out all the mysterious packets one by one and arranged their contents, gasping ‘Oh my! Oh my!’ at each fresh surprise.”
Kenneth Grahame, the Wind in the Willows
A Foreign Land
“How can we sing a song in a foreign land?” This extract from Psalm 137 is a cry that most widows would well understand.
Kids have Feelings too!
Do you sometimes feel like no one acknowledges that you have feelings, or cares that they are? The way a person feels inside is very […]