We had a mouse. Several. Not pets, but uninvited guests. Nothing we did (traps, poison etc.) was effective. One morning I made toast for breakfast. Two slices of bread dropped into the toaster and on went the kettle for an accompanying cup of tea. A strange aroma brought me back…

The joy of delayed gratification in our relationship with God — The door bell rang one morning — nothing unusual in that. Postie handed over three bags held together with elastic bands — interesting. Opening them revealed seven packs of ink jet cartridges, and Cadbury mini eggs — intriguing. A question jostled for attention in the back of my mind. …

I used to take photographs of dog waste bins. A strange hobby? Actually it’s a public service. Let me explain. I took my dog for walks in new places now and again. But when that happened I did not know where the dog mess bins were. Of course, there’s an…

I had a hideaway when I was small. Actually… several. Places where the world was distant, I felt safe and had space to think and feel. The first I can remember was under a bridge. The second was a spot in some local woods. …

Penny and I took a stroll round Osterley gardens one day. The reason for going was to make the most of the opportunity to use our National Trust membership to the full before it expired on theSunday. …

Sometime life throws us the unexpected. Recently, strange weather events have been experienced all over the globe. Not so long ago I came across the scene in the photograph — buds encased in ice. It seemed symbolic of the random nature of life. I spent time with a friend who…

Why does it always seem to be one glove? Rarely do I see two lost gloves. A lost glove caught my eye on an early morning dog walk. The anonymous glove-rescuer had their wits about them. The glove was placed at eye-level and well secured amongst the tree branches. A…

The BBC reported on the awarding of medals to those involved in the Arctic convoys of World War 2. They have been a long time coming. One of the recipients was Eddie Grenfell, 93 years old. Another of his compatriots said, “I am not a hero, I am a survivor…

I remember the day well, though it was a long time ago in my teenage years. I was cutting it fine to process in with the church choir. Arriving at 10.59 am a decision had to be made. …