‘Knackered’ was the word the surgeon used to describe my knee before my total knee replacement last Wednesday. ‘Beautiful’ was how he described his handiwork when he came to see me just over an hour later in the recovery room. This surgery was a gift to me from a good and generous friend. She had … Continue reading The Gift →

I celebrated my birthday at the weekend. I’m thinking about gifts. At 73 I don’t want or need anything, and am actually trying to declutter, rather than accumulate more stuff. Yet, a gift is nice - not so much because of the item, but because of the thought and love expressed by the giver. Of … Continue reading Gift Wrapped →

With overnight strikes the death toll of civilians and the remorseless destruction of Lebanon’s infrastructure is relentless. More than a million Lebanese are displaced, fleeing in fear with no safety and security in sight. And let’s not forget Gaza where UN workers say they’ve never encountered a humanitarian crisis like it. How we long for … Continue reading Eye for an Eye →

My brother, Barry, passed away at the end of last year, but he would have been 75 today. I’ve been remembering when we were young and he was my dancing partner. I loved ballroom and I would still have enjoyed a burl at a family wedding if we hadn’t developed vertigo and arthritis respectively! Barry … Continue reading Lord of the Dance →

Wipeable high chair, coverall bib, suction bowl and spill proof cup, I thought I was all geared up for my Granny Thursday. Lunch was a big success and we headed off for afternoon tea with my friends. No sooner had I left the house than looking down I realised I had soup dribbled down my … Continue reading Live in the Light →

Chile's Atacama desert is the driest place on Earth. It only receives about 1/2” of rainfall all year and usually in their spring from September- November. This blossoming doesn’t happen often; seeds and bulbs can lie dormant for decades in the sand. Last week, almost overnight, the Atacama sand dunes became blanketed by white and … Continue reading The Desert shall Blossom →

I’ve been thinking a lot about hospitality. Maybe it’s because osteoarthritis slows me down and I have to be willing to let visitors help more than I used to. I’m blessed with a husband who enjoys an orderly dishwasher and doesn’t allow me to meddle with it. Hospitality was a huge thing for me in … Continue reading Ten Camels = One Extra Mile →

Friends recently lost their old dog, so I’ve been reminiscing about our Sampras - so called after the Wimbledon tennis star of 1995. Sampras loved balls, sticks and anything that moved. Our children who were 11 and 14 at the time had pleaded for a dog for years. Thinking it would help them transition from … Continue reading Sampras and the Heron →

On Thursday I remembered with thankfulness that Jesus is the ascended King! Ascension Day passes many Christians by, which is a great pity, as it’s such an important faith marker for those who believe. All that Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection finds completion in his ascension to the Father’s right hand. He’s now … Continue reading The Blessing of the Ascension →

March is officially the beginning of spring, a celebration of new life with blossoms and lambs and the exciting announcement of highland cows calving in Pollok Country Park! Spring is my favourite season. To me it’s a much better time to call New Year especially if you want any hope of keeping resolutions. Plans to … Continue reading Spring Forward →