Getting over the line…

An old post I found I hadn’t published…. I type this I am watching the closure of the Commonwealth Games. I’ve not watched most of the events but there has been some really good competition. What strikes me is all the effort that goes in in the background over many years to get to this

The last (blog) post…

Yes, folks after 2 years it’s my very last blog as my subscription runs out on Thursday. Thanks for being part of the journey. I started the blog to record 60@60 and the 60 activities I did that year to raise money for persecuted Christians via Open Doors. Together with you we raised over £6

End of an era…

Tonight there is no other thing I can write about but the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. For my 62 years she has always been there, even though I only saw her once and not very close. But in in a strange way it is quite emotional, as if a part of the background to

Do I matter?

I have had a four day weekend which has been great. On Thursday a piece of work I have been involved with for nearly four years got delayed yet again and it didn’t seem it had even been read. There must be reasons but it was feeling a little like “does what I do matter”?

Growing strong

I failed this year with my sunflower seeds. Planted, watered but nothing. Disappointing. But we have a bird feeder in the garden and the sparrows are very messy eaters. Sunflower 🌻 seeds were spread everywhere and they started growing in the cracks and everywhere. I transplanted three and this is the result-small but lovely. Sometimes

Jigsaws

Earlier this year the girls brought a 1000 piece jigsaw (actually it was a 998 piece jigsaw…) It sat around on the table with the edge and a few bits done for a long time. Then I decided to move it on. I discovered Jigsaws are both extremely addictive (just one more piece..) and very

Gardens

This week has been tiring as I prepared for an interview. Cramming my head with knowledge about where I might be going but then not properly thinking about where I had been. To anyone doing an interview that would be my advice-think thoroughly about examples from your past career. Anyway, the garden. Lots of weeding

Axes, Blokes, Big Top and Abba

Yes, it’s been #TheGathering22 this weekend in a field near Swindon. 1 400 men gathered in a big top to sing, listen to talks and hear seminars on things as diverse as the workplace, creativity and mental health. https://thegatheringformen.com/ And there was lots of sport and other crazy activities. From zorb football to climbing walls;

Who is right?

Tonight I watched a Council meeting on YouTube (some may call me sad..). Councillors at Castle Point in Essex voted to withdraw their Local Plan and start again from scratch. The big issue was new houses. In a sense what’s happened is not unusual as this will be the 5th attempt to produce a plan

Relaxation..

I’m writing this from Scargill House, a Christian retreat centre in the Yorkshire Dales near Kettlewell. It’s a beautiful place with a walled garden, 92 acres of woodland, a grade 2* Chapel and some lovely views. I had been busy with work, Jubilee, Big Church Festival and visiting friends on the way up here. I