So, we’re back, and during our absence Notre Dame burned and 350+ people were murdered in Sri Lanka, but the UK didn’t leave the EU. Our trip to Japan was fascinating in many ways. It was partly a visit to see family, but then morphed by...
The Blogger is leaving on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Far East (Japan), so there will be no posts on 12th, 19th or 26th April. Just in case any of my readers is connected to the criminal underworld, I should point out that we are not...
I know we're all obsessing about Brexit at the moment. But here is something completely different. If I asked my readers what they knew about King Richard III, I suspect the answer would be something like this: “He was the last king of England before the...
Unlike Christmas, which has a predictable and lengthy countdown, Lent always seems to take me by surprise. It is also a season that even in church is a bit “take it or leave it/do your own thing.” Many Christians don’t do anything, except maybe eat...
(The planned post on Lent has been set aside for this even more topical one.) In the current confusion about Brexit, I’ve been struck by many things, but one is personal. (None of what follows relates in any way to ordinary friends and acquaintances who voted Leave,...
(Thank you for your kind comments and encouragement following last week's post. Hmm.) This week I’m again comparing the Church of England with the Church of Scotland – looking on the lighter side. (Please remember that my experience of the Kirk is now 22 years old,...
I had a pleasant meeting with my publisher about two weeks ago, and “The Servant’s Voice” has been accepted for publication. I am hoping to supply the final final version by the end of April. This needs to include Acknowledgements (recognising of course Judith Renton’s contributions...
Apparently the 1981 British Nationality Act allows the Home Secretary to deprive a person of their citizenship if it would be “conducive to the public good” - provided they wouldn’t become stateless. But if I travelled to France and committed a crime there, I would not...
Before I start, in case anyone didn't read Malachi's comment last week, inspired equally by modern politics and by our church's sermon series on Daniel, here it is: "If you want a challenge you could perhaps try interpreting the dreams of Nebuchadnezzer’s political descendants. I...
This is just a note to advise that there will be no post on Friday 8th, as the blogger will be in the Lake District. In the meantime, "The Servant's Voice" has been sent off to the publisher. What shall I write next? Any suggestions? Love from the...