Jane Howitt

Awe-inspiring nature reminds the staple presence of god, in the beauty of all that he has made, be it tramp in hills or walks at park, may you find the time to celebrate the wonder of natural world. 23/4/24

Whenever people assemble, ideas and experiences are shared, lives enriched, differences explored and even reconciled. 22/5/23

Great works of Mozart and Flute or oratorial of Handel and Haydn, still have power to move and touch our emotions in ways we struggle to explain.

Workers worthy their wages, as Jesus said, advocate not the social capital but the willingness to be good human. 29/7/22

In the days when travelling was easy and routine part of many people's lives, my work often involve visit Soviet states include Ukraine. Communists' experience was to be invited into the homes of co-workers, and to be treated to astonishing hospitality. First all, when two servings being brought out and then dish after dish, where appears out of nowhere, and guest was feted as long lost relatives, a lasting memory of generous hospitable people.

What a great way for the winter Olympic to end, golden silver medals for Scottish women teams of Curlers. Congratulations to them. Most of us don't realise what an extraordinary achievement is to become Olympic champions, and how thrill that feeling must be. Five woman must sacrifice much in order to train, horn skills, and mould together as a team, will now find their lives changed, by this moment in time, on the ice.

Sometimes news is just too hard to watch, and that’s being my experience this week, as we see more man and woman lost their lives in desperate attempts to find a place of safety in refugee for themselves and their families. They’ve experienced danger of their home country, danger of a migrants journey, they place their lives in hands of ruthless man and woman, who care more about their bank balance than their value of human lives. In this journey they hope there will be places they can live without violence, a place they can truely live and strive, contribute and flourish, for at least 27 this week, those hopes literally sank with them.

Couple of days ago I needed petrol, it was pouring rain, so I decided to eat, when I went down the next day I was kicking on myself because price has risen, like 2p a litre, unbelievable at the moment how quickly the prices are rise, the cost of living is shifting up, has become harder and harder to make ends meet. And adds to that, the number of energy firm got busted, people being put on different energy contracts, all more expensive than the last, and it’s no wonder many people are anxious and nervous about next few months. Every few week has being roller coast.

Picture seen, a mother wakes her son up, time to get ready for school, hurry up or you'll be late. But mum, I don't want to go back to school, all the kids hate me. Tough luck dear, you're the headmaster, so you've got to be there. Well, it's an old joke, but there're a lot of people preparing to go back to school, and for their staffs and pupils there will be a lot of mixed emotions, our children or a young pupil had a particularly raw deal throughout pandemic with their schooling and learning disrupted, and their social activity severely curtailed. So getting back to school is a huge milestone, and one to be valued. The opportunity of school education as one that's denied too in many around our world. A recent report estimated about 264 million children are denied access to eduction, that's about 21% of primary school age children and 33% of secondary age teenagers. And it's no surprise to learn that the lowest incoming countries of the lowest education rates. There's huge inequality across our world, affecting the younger generations and stores up problems for years to come.

I often wondered why some weeks seem longer than other. Sometimes the phrase "Thank god it's Friday" is truely heart felt. Usually it's great feeling to reach end of the week, that we know there's an opportunity to rest and do something different over the weekend. Although for those who work weekends that Friday might feels like Tuesday or Wednesday instead.

I can’t breath. A year ago today, those are the last words by George Floyd, his death caused reaction that continues to this day. In many ways, it was a pivotal moment that led to protest, highlighting inequalities, in the way black people are treated. Such as those who involved slave trader over-turned, statue removed from public display, the spotlight were shown in Glasgow and other universities, as so much 18th century wealth was derived one way or another from slave trade.

As World's Health Day, health has not being far from any of our minds over the last year. Through this time, we've been reminded our health does not just have a physical aspect to it, but it's also very much a psychological aspect too. We've heard many initiatives to promote good mental health as we've been living in who ever shrinking world through lockdown. One aspect of our health we hear less about is our spiritual health. In the NHS Scotland, spiritual care has been recognised as integral healthcare, regardless which faith we align ourselves with, and even if we have no declared faith.

Daydreaming set my taste bud tinkling, recall the days from coffee and cakes with friends was such a simple pleasure, oh, for a slice of lemon drizzle cake, and a sit-down catch up with the bros... Not quite wake up yet, but now with hours of online meeting ahead, I long for the opportunities to move beyond virtual reality, the days we could bounce ideas off colleagues enjoy that creative process once more. That's all very well to daydream though.