Keeping Focused

I’ve always been a keen photographer, but thought I would have a go at digital photography and bought a simple compact to give it a try. I was amazed at what it could do. The colour rendering was brilliant and the images consistently sharp. There was one problem however, the photos were sharp all over. [...]

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Father and Fathering

I have a great love for my father, even though he died years ago. I have some warm memories of him, especially the times spent watching him at work in his woodshed. It was because of him, that I became competent in practical things, such as carpentry, gardening and photography. However, as I grew out [...]

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The Hidden Life – 2

Of the few photos of my childhood that have survived, one stands out. It’s of an angelic three-year old with an impish grin and holding a little stick. I had obviously been up to no good, because my eyes were closed, in the false belief that no one would see me. I have grown up [...]

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The Hidden Life – 1

I used to be centre stage, on the front line for all to see. I felt wanted, stimulated, fulfilled and even, dare I say – successful. After all, I had letters of thanks and praise and a lapel badge displaying my role. So you’d be right in thinking. I was just a touch proud. Then [...]

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The Big Picture

My wife and I are part of a lovely encouraging art group in our village. Each year they decide upon a painting by a well known artist and produce a sort of large mural, for display at the annual art exhibition. The person who has the master copy, divides it up into tiny rectangles and [...]

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Blossoming Through Difficulty

It’s almost June and I suppose I can now go out without a coat? That is if the old English saying “Ne’er cast a clout ‘ere May is out!” is true? I only recently discovered that this has nothing to do with the months of the year, but refers to the May blossom. It was [...]

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Knocked Down But Not Out!

Our steep seaside garden abounds in foxgloves. Although there were fewer this year, they promised to be the best ever. Their tall erect spikes looked magnificent with their purple flowers. The blooms at the base were already well formed and as the name implies, you can fit your finger tip into their delicate freckled inner. [...]

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Fling Wide the Gates!

I feel that this can apply to anyone, young or old, believer or not, newly-awakened or ‘mature:’ Call out to Him from the very depths of your being Call out as never before Turn from the old ways Let go of the old and yield to Him, surrender He is waiting for your response He [...]

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Committed to Follow

Dartmoor is almost on our doorstep. It’s one of the few real wildernessess left in England and it was my ambition to walk across it from north to south. I researched the route and reckoned it was achievable in a day, provided I was adequately prepared. I set out on a fine summer’s day, booted [...]

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Whose Voice are We Listening to?

We have had so many intrusive calls from tele sales, that we signed up to a national scheme to stop them. It has really worked on the whole, but some still get through the net. The other day we had a call from an insurance company we hadn’t dealt with before. The salesman launched into [...]

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