Joy amid pain – the ‘Arts’ in a troubled world
Music – aspirin for the soul? They say people of a certain age should take an aspirin a day to keep illness at bay. Not advice I follow. My own remedy is a bit of singing or playing the sax, preferably both. In the world at large, joy seems in short supply at present. The […]
The importance of language
Kind words and positive feedback There’s a special feeling when you get positive feedback and know it’s genuine. We had some of that yesterday when we played a lunchtime gig at Leatherhead Theatre. An experiment. Did people want Greensand’s jazz with their coffee and BLT? It seems they did. We were told it was a ‘divine […]
A day to focus on the positive
Positive? Okay, it’s a tricky day. The day the US abandons decency, respectability and leadership, for now at least, by appointing a saloon bar blowhard to the presidency. But let’s not dwell on that. There are positives out there. For instance, the President elect may be a flat earther in the context of climate change, […]
Hospitality – a conundrum
A first world problem? I’ve been worrying about the offering of hospitality lately. I’ve always liked to have friends and family round for meals, parties, discussions, music, coffee, you name it. So I think of myself as hospitable. But when the question of hosting a family of asylum seekers arose I couldn’t do it. Happy […]
Epiphany – and the Magi
If you’ve taken down your decorations, you’re early! Traditionally it should be Twelfth Night – the 5th January, or Epiphany, when the ‘wise men’ arrived. Ready for tomorrow, here’s my ‘Magi’ offering… Magi Summoning his courage, the man dismounted and, hand on back, prepared to enquire Had King or court seen the sight […]
Happy New Year – now, about those resolutions…
The wrong time It’s the wrong time of year for weight loss So cold we need our starch A stone lost in January Returns with more in March So it’s no go your mind gyms and it’s no go your diets And it’s no go your healthy food, let’s find some fat and […]
Christmas ’round robins’
ROUND ROBIN Digging through Christmas cards received, I came across this. Not sure who it’s from… ‘December again, greetings all from the Smith family, who have achieved much this year. Jamie continues his studies to much acclaim and is confident of a great career. Penny carries all before her at the tennis club, passed […]
Santa’s on his way
It’s been a tough year, so time for a more light hearted look at things. St Nicolas, Santa, sleighs… Rooftops Brushing soot off his tunic (new, wipe clean, breathable material) he surveys the rooftops. He belches, the last lot’s food offerings (whisky, milk and breakfast cereal) playing havoc with his digestive system. […]
A cold snap
Ice Walking the dog this morning with a friend we came across an iced up gate. Water dripping from an overhead pipe forming a wealth of icicles with a weak winter sun making very little impression. It was beautiful but not good to the touch. Not unlike the experience many voters are about to have […]
Threats to the Downs and Weald – the ‘Save Leith Hill’ campaign
Beauty and the beast We live in a beautiful country. So why do our government seem so intent on despoiling it? We’re faced with a need to break our reliance on carbon and fossil fuels. So why have successive governments been more enthusiastic about supporting drilling for yet more oil than in supporting next generation […]