I have had an injury for some six weeks now and it is really beginning to irritate me at times. My wife and I recently joined a gym and one of the things we like to do is what are commonly known as ‘chin ups’. We even have a chin up/pull up bar in our home and until recently, it was my daily habit to do several chin ups in the morning. I say ‘several’ Read more…
Complete not Compete. This is the single most significant piece of advice I discovered in my early research of doing a triathlon. But I am also acutely aware that it is a huge mind-set I am having to overcome. I was in the pool yesterday and whilst I was encouraged by the fact that I was completing full lengths, swimming front crawl in the correct way (well, a lot more correct than I’ve ever done Read more…
So Wimbledon is upon us once again. One of my favourite times of the year. Also, undoubtedly one of my least productive times! As I look back over the years I have watched this wonderful tournament, it has got me thinking about some of the greatest showmen in this beautiful sport. My favourite player ever was the super cool Swede, Bjorn Borg, who won the Men’s Singles title five times in a row in the late Read more…
Yesterday, we went and did our weekly shopping. Not so long ago, that would not have been enough of an interesting opening line to generate much interest would it? In these strange times however, who knows what might be revealed or adventure encountered by such a journey? For example, not for the first time, I actually managed to walk into a supermarket via the ‘new exit’. I had wondered for a second, how perfect my Read more…
If like me, you have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the daily news agenda – largely due to the fact that it is mainly all bad news, then you may not have heard about Captain Tom Moore but I would be extremely surprised. You can read the full story by using the link above but in short, the man is a walking miracle – literally! First of all, he is a relatively healthy man Read more…
There is an Old Testament Proverb that says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) For Christians, Easter Sunday is a celebration that hope has come. Hope is here, right now and you can receive it if you want. Inevitably, as human beings, we all come to a fork in the road in one way or another. For some of us, it can Read more…
For the past thirty-one years of my life, I have made an effort to think about the significance of Good Friday before celebrating the happiness and joy that surrounds Easter Sunday. Whatever faith you may or may not have, I believe everyone appreciates the story of good triumphing over evil. Of dashed hopes somehow finding victory – just when you had given up. I know I do anyway. As I take time out to think Read more…
I fully intended to post something yesterday and then plain forgot! I got caught up in some material that I’m having to absorb as part of my ‘transitioning online plan’ and then finished for the evening. I realised hadn’t posted something when I was dropping off to sleep several hours later! At the risk of stating the obvious, it is beginning to dawn on me today that this whole period of isolation, social-distancing, call it Read more…
Here is another guest post from Serendipity… As I relax into a slower pace of life, I wonder how things will change when we get to the other side? Before I start, I want to point out that I am very aware of those who are still working relentlessly – namely those in the NHS and other fields of care-giving. The nationwide applause last night indicates that I am not the only one who is Read more…
Last night we had a ‘bonfire’ in our small garden. I love bonfires. I’ll take any excuse to make a fire and throw all the wood and other bits and pieces on… cardboard, garden foliage waste etc. The thing that struck me about the fire last night was that whilst it was raging away, we couldn’t get close enough to enjoy the warmth – maybe it was the situation and the location of the fire Read more…
Firstly, a caveat; there is much to be concerned, prayerful and sad about. Please understand that I am not suggesting – for a second – that this is not the case. However, were we not to look for the good, we could easily get disheartened. I am also aware that parents of young children reading this blog could feel cheesed off – unable to relate. Never mind. I trust that each of you will find Read more…
I have never liked the idea of virtual reality, simply because I’m a bit old-fashioned like that. In the same way, I don’t approve of mass mobile phone-video recording of anything that is supposed to be a valued experience. If you’re going to video the concert for example, that you’ve probably paid three figures for, why not save a lot of money and video a similar show off the TV is my logic? Anyway, that Read more…
As you may or may not have noticed, my ‘daily self-isolating blog’ was absent over the weekend. So, not very daily really but it was the weekend and I now realise, I need to pace myself in this relatively new lifestyle. Today, and partly inspired by the wonderful words written by Allison Pearson about her sadness at not being able to see her Mum on Mothers’ Day, I thought I would dedicate today’s blog to my Read more…