It has been fascinating to watch how my grandchildren have embraced the concept of “home schooling”, as the restrictions introduced during the Covid 19 pandemic, turn their whole learning experience upside down. My own children, and now their children, have always had face to face learning in the classroom, but as a child, I undertook…
“Styles letter to the Southwell family” France 1916 – Reading for 26 April
Bloggers note: Yesterday we took time to acknowledge those who had given their lives in the service of their country, especially during World War 1. ANZAC Day was celebrated in a different way this year during the COVID 19 restrictions but it was still a chance to pause, remember and pray. The reading I have…
15 November
France – 2016 They arrived early in the morning. It was cold and still dark. If there had been a sunrise, it was merely a changing of the light from the heavy blackness of night to a paler, but more depressing, mantle of greyness and foreboding. As they alighted from the hire car, the gates…
“Every Day with William Barclay” William Barclay – Reading for 19 April
Bloggers note: The Easter message, one of hope and promise, is very important to those of the Christian faith, but surely it can be a message for all of us during these strange times. I have really settled into the routine calling my elderly friend each week and sharing a reading with her. It is…
Bunnies and Eggs
As a child, growing up on a farm, there was always that annual dilemma of allowing the Easter Bunny to romp through the paddocks and into excited dreams, to deliver a bounty of treats on Easter Sunday. The rigours of Lenten observance, meatless Fridays and committed attendance at Holy Week church services, gave way to…
“Every Day with William Barclay” William Barclay – Reading for 12 April
Bloggers note: During this time of enforced separation and distancing, I have chosen to make a weekly call to a very special person in my life, and share a reading for the day. A lot of Churches have recently brought us an opportunity to celebrate the blessings and ceremonies of the Easter Season with on…
MAKING BUTTER
There was a post on Facebook the other day that made me laugh.
How often do we check what is going on in the rest of the world by quickly scrolling through posts on social media, glancing hurriedly at photographs, cartoons and the never-ending run of motivational quotes and misleading headlines? We skim through trying to put aside that feeling of guilt for time wasted.
And there it was, a photograph of someone milking a cow.
ANNIVERSARIES
I was with my Dad when he died. It was a Tuesday. Each year on 1 April, when grandkids are putting into practice those well-rehearsed April Fools’ Day pranks, my inclination to laugh and join in is often contrived, and at best, a half-hearted attempt at appearing amused. The day holds significance for me in…
NO SCHOOL TODAY
“Nan, what’s your internet password”? We were into Day 3 of home schooling yesterday, and were patting ourselves on the back as our Y7 student showed great promise in being able to structure her new daily routine around classes, online tutorials and solitary study. It all came to a crashing halt just after breakfast and…
WARNING: PERSONAL OPINION!
I cried myself to sleep last night – a flood of tears, a myriad of reasons. It has been happening frequently and while I try to convince myself I am letting the side down and or even wallowing in self-pity, the reality is harder to acknowledge. This is then the article It has been a…
Generation Gap 