T4D

"The speed of the love of god, walks." says the theologian Kosuke Koyama. 18/9/23

Althought the film is not based on one true story, it's made realistic and powerful by many true stories weaved together, mainly told by director's father and grandfather, who was there.

It's A level reveal week, tension are sky high. No one has taken A level forgets where they were, how they felt, who they told, and the confusion whether to say, "well done", "bad luck", "it's amazing", or just "sorry". This year, there's a complex extra layer, assignment of result for exams are not taken, the moderation of this process risks revelling aspects of privilege and injustice, as it causes concern in Scotland.

My grandfather who dies before I was born, once told my mum that education is the most important thing he could leave for his children, more important than wealth and riches.

While the dark shadow of war gathering on Ukraine, scientists have build a star, managed to generate energy from hydrogen atoms for a 4-5 seconds. It's a major milestone in developing new clear energy source. What is these situations have in common is that it shows the best and worst case scenarios for our use of artificial intelligence.

The year 1978, the match, Peru vs Scotland, we lost. It was too much for a 9 year old me, my stomped off to bed vowing never to watch Scotland again. Of course I was drawing back in. WorldCup in Spain Mexico and my favourite Italian 90 were irresistible. While I follow Scotland professionally 6 year, the high watch of our country was often punctured by the sting of defeat. So forgive me if I'm not optimistic about our prospect against England later today. I turned down the chance to cover the game as I'm BBC commentary duty for other game. Then the focus will switch to The Game, a small nation against its large neighbour. A chance, the team projected to get out its group, to hand a shock to one of tournament favourites. The fact we share a border, a language, a government, just adds to the mix.

Another night with record breaking low temperature, on being asked by presenter, "Was it being cold?" The happy person being interviewed said, "Absolutely!" At that point I sighed. So many times these day when asked a question in pretty much any subject, for example, "Will this help?" the answer is so often, "Absolutely!" And I cringe. I've always take it to mean, not a meeting exceptions, complete, utter, perfect. So was the temperature absolutely zero, is when nothing could be colder. So the answer to the question, "Is it cold?" should be a simple "Yes." Grrr...

I've reached that stage of life when you bend down to pick something off the floor, you wonder what else can I do when I'm lying down here. You feet seems further away when they used to when you put socks on. So my interests was piqued by a report, and I quote, "A robot that can dress people without injuring them". Well that's encouraging. It only take a nano second to grasp this technology isn't just for those who can't afford butlers. How about all the people, people with disabilities, restrictive movement due to accident or illness.

Achievement maybe remembered, but it is humility and humanity of Pope Benedict be truely respected 1/5/23

Scotland is facing a record number of new Covid infections, with numbers in horizon for coming weeks, so we might legitimately feeling apprehensive about what comes next. Whether it’s health, or economic concerns. Perhaps it’s difficult to feel positive for the coming year, with so much uncertainty ahead.

Last weekend on Pentecost Sunday, Scottish bishops published a letter to Catholic Scotland to mark 6th anniversary of publication of Lord See, in which Pope Francis noted of the ecological damage being cause to the earth and to listen to the cry of the poor. The bishops letter reminds us the COVID pandemic required us to undergo a complete change our way of life, to defeat the virus and likewise our radical on sustain change our lifestyle is require to stop abuse our planet. They go on to say the environmental crisis raises questions about how we live, how we work, how we holiday, and how we travel, and how the goods be purchased and manufactured transport to us. These are timely questions as we continue to come out of lockdown.

Couple of days ago, Scotland experience 3 earth quakes within hours, not life threatening, or property destroying, but it reminded us the earth we live on is not totally stable. And it come to light that in UK, we have come to accept the level of safety and security, both environmentally and socially, that most people in this world simply do not experience.

Over the last two years, since the pandemic drastically restricted our movement and social interactions, religious community everywhere have struggle to consistently carry out in-person services. Besides offering a glimpse of divine truth into the big existential questions, for many of us, religion provide set of rules to led by, and support in times of need.

It's often said you never stop learning, I certainly hope that's the case. During lockdown my new learning includes subjects as diverse as musicals, the history of the city of Berlin, as well as reviving interest in European football. I'm a person that's needs to engage to learn. When I was study for the professional qualification, I'm a qualified banker, parts of the course revolving others, such as contract law, I couldn't see far enough. Contract used to be simple, they defined as written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, seal the tenancy that's intended be enforceable by law. One of the world's top footballer has a contract dispute, he signed a 6 years deal in 2018, but he believes there's a loophole exist, a gentlemen's agreement with the club chairman to leave the summer. It brings to mind the saying, a verbal contract isn't worth the paper that's written on, typically attributed to movie producer, although it's likely a misquote.

Like many of you, I have being enjoy the excitement of Olympics, from the grace elegance of gymnasts to the speed of runners, to the power and strength of triathletes. The effort of every olympian is inspirational. They work so hard to get to Tokyo and under extreme challenge circumstances. It cannot be easy to compete when your family were not there cheering you in person. Early this week, youngest summer olympian won a bronze medal, competing along side other teens, the camaraderie relation was a wonder to behold as they celebrate the achievements and console disappointments. It's clear demonstration of being in it together, the energy was efficacious. And it was refreshing to see them approach Olympics with such freedom.

One of standard theological answers to the question why there's sufferings in the world is that God creates human beings to be free, and having freedom means we are all necessarily expose to suffering and loss. In other words, even the most benign inept deity cannot fully protect people from the vicissitude of the world.

Scientist announced this week, there could be 36 advanced civilisation in universe capable of communicating with us, this isn't just a random guess, it's a statistical prediction based on the number of starts being formed. The fact it takes about 5 billions years for life to evolve after star has first come to existence.

All of us, unique, unrepeatable individuals, that no community should ever take our individuality away. 9/3/23

Whether you are tennis fan or not, I suspect you’ve caught something of controversy surrounding world number one Novak Djokovic, and the decision around participating and sharing the Australia Open. At the centre of the debate is the issue of vaccination. As the issue has played out on public eye, it seems unlikely there will be an outcome that will please everyone, fair and health that used to be found in every side.

I don't know what set you off, but driving behind camper-van on a single track road for more than a few miles, definitely had me on a brink of outrage, and would seem, from records of prices of houses, environmental protest, or party conferences, I am with company, there's a lot of anger out there. But then there's a lot of stress out there. As one puts it, we're all boiling at different degrees. It said, when anger is dominant, it is reprehensible feat, it originate fire, dangerous to heart, and the effect of fire is emotion and restlessness. One philosopher once said, because anger is so markedly upsetting, its effect on reasons are more noticeable, more than any other passion.

Today is the 75th anniversary for the publication of George Orwell's Animal Farm, published in 1945, the book famously satirises Stalin's Russia, the animals of farm led by their pig compatriots raise up against neglectful farmer Jones. The new 7 commandments of the farm teach, all animals are equal, but the pig leader betrayed this vision and commandments are amended. "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." First Orwell exposes all politics turned into self-serving narcissism.

As we begin to assess long term economic cost of this pandemic, one area which has being particularly hit is the arts, especially the performing arts. With closure of cultural venues, our artists, musicians, actors, and composers, are struggling, despite the existing government support.

As long as we remember the huge reserve of kindness within, we don't need snow to fall, in order to let them to come out to play. 14/12/22

US completed the withdraw from Afghanistan, estimated 120k people have been evacuated from last 3 weeks, yet we know many thousands more are desperate needs to leave and don't have passages of safe routes out. The images on news feeds have been hard to comprehend, I felt heartbreaking watching everything unfold. Images of tiny baby been passed over razor wire at the airport to guarantee their safety is not one'll quickly forget. And more recently, image of an Afghan woman delivered her baby girl at 3000 feet on an evacuation flight to UK, the power of an image can speaks thousand words to us, and focus our attention, take our minds to an exact moment and time. It kind of allows us to imaging how it sounds like, felt like, living in print for days to come. Yet so many things binds to our attention, especially right now. We're aware of crisis and catastrophes across the world, the earthquake in Heiti, Hurricane in New Orleans, and close home we worried about Covid rates rising again, and NHS is come under pressure.

Recently I walked through a door that we walked through thousands of times, sadly this time, the door was closed, as I was trying to go through it, I smashed it. The result, glass everywhere, a wound on my wrist that required to be stitched. I literally regretted not taking more care to realise the door was closed, but such outcomes cannot be changed, what’s done is done.

Over recent years the phenomenon of reality TV has grown exponentially. Although there is perhaps question mark over the influence what we’re watching is real, it seems to be a hunger observe the life of beautiful people in stunning locations. Over this week thousands of residents in ByronBay signed petition called for a ban on a production of just such a show. According to the programmers the picturesque town of NSW provides perfect backdrop for online influencers living their best lives. Although local community facing environmental and economical challenges, together with high level of gender and domestic abuse does not want to be part of unrealistic portrait live, seems to be deep cry for authenticity, but also for help in dealing with real significant issues. The temptation to compare our lives to others sort of hide behind carefully manufactured images of ourselves is not new. Some of the pharaohs of particular religious group in the time of Jesus were known for make great show of themselves before the Christ. Caesor’s powerful fathers are powerful motivators as they flaunted the religiosity, generosity, and intellect. But Jesus saw through the created versad and accuse them more than once of hypocrisy, he was challenge them to be honest about themselves. In many ways the most powerful example we have to live authentically come from Jesus. He shared his life with disciples, and on his most painful moments he did not put up brave face, but allow them to see how much of he was struggling with his fears and doubts the night before his arrest to crucifiction. Throughout his life his conversation with man and woman of all ages and background, he ask insightful questions that demands truthful answers. For him, living a best life is all about authenticity. Perhaps we need to join our voice to those of the people over ByronBay, and calling for a bit more reality, and bit less of perfect backdrop.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, this is season to be jolly. Well, I suspect jolly might not be top of our agendas this morning after first minister announced new Covid guidelines in Scotland this this Xmas. A friend a mine recently describe it we’re doing the season of pandemic as enduring.

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

It's the 3rd day since some of the restrictions of lockdown were eased, more shops are now open, so are places of warship, not for public warship but for private prayer.

We’re now 3 weeks in January, I don’t know about you but I often find it being a month of stretches on, feeling extra long after festivities of December. Time, particularly this time of the year can seems stand still, we forget what’s being and sometimes can lose sight of what’s to come.

Barbie, the film, asked, do you ever think about dying? 2/8/23

While I stayed with friend at Bath once, I visited home of the late protestant theologian called Bart, in the basement where his personal library kept, I look for a copy of significant books. Bart has be deprived of his university education by Hitler, and then left Germany. 13/10/21

I was listen to BBC Scotland over the weekend and heard the presenter say, “It’s only the middle of January, and already there’s enough news to last for few month.” I doubt anyone would disagree with that, wether it’s national or international, or local news, alas not all of it good, it affect each and every one of us.

I couldn't help smile when I read about a new service in St Andrew's called Let's Chat. A cafe owner teamed up with community hub creating this kind of friendship cafe encourage folks of all ages to come have a blather, volunteers will be sitting at tables ready to chat or simply listen. What a lovely idea, especially as full impact of lockdown, restriction, job losses, and financial struggles take their toll on the nation's mental and physical well being.

Anyone who's agonised with baby names hoping to find one special enough for their precious child, most sympathise with Prince Harry and Megan Marco, before the family tradition the queen's family nickname for their daughter. There's been mixed response in social media, delight from some, as it does owner of a queen in all branches, and disgust from others. Displeased queen's special name has been hijacked, some even suspect financial motives.

Do you remember there was a talk about passport, whether they should be red or blue. Today passport related to Covid, Scottish government being discussing restrictions on those who do not have a Covid passport. Whereas in Europe some in lockdown protested even in violence. It raises a huge number of questions, do we restrict the liberty for the unvaccinated medically vulnerable? What prices freedom. But one core issue for me is, what you do when people just won’t agree with you. When all the arguments, evidences presented, and still people refused to agree.

How you feeling today? I should say, how you thinking? Because there’s a strong connection. Our thoughts can actually define our experiences in life. We wake up on morning grumpy with negative anxious thoughts, we don’t have a good day, do we? Like looking through lenses that make everything seems worse. They’re not worse, by the way, they just looked that way. Because the next day, for more upbeat, looking through lenses of positivity, the troubles we had yesterday seems disappear. Nothings changed externally, the only changes being our perception, driven by thoughts, ideas, beliefs.

This week I brought newspaper and takeaway coffee for the first time in 2 months. As I sat on the park bench, it's like the good old days before COVID, I felt giddy emerging in my new found freedom as someone feasting after fast. Thank you I said, gratitude for small things has coming easily recently. But the coffee had too much milk in it, and the newspaper too bi-. As I sat there reading about lift of restrictions and the people who are ignoring them, the anger people feel about this, I was taking back by something I've almost forgotten, the old paradigm of a nation stuck in shouty binary positions, divisions that for a few months at least, seemed have being replaced by kind of unity, even a vision for a different kind of world.

Same feels right now in terms of our lengthening journey through pandemic. Still feeling our way in the midst of uncertain territory. "We can't see too far ahead, because virus not allows us." Hard words to hear, if you're desperate for something certain to cling on to.

Let me tell. you about moving house, moving house is life lived in limbo, for weeks, in the run up to the moving day, you inhabit a kind of no man's land, between the old place and new place, never quite leaving or arriving. Our moving day is later this week, at last, at last, the end is in sight, even though piles of todo lists, still on the kitchen table, carpets are half empty, and we still cannot find umpteen things we stuff somewhere to keep the place tidy for viewers. We stare hollow eyed at each other, when we realise how much is still need to be done. Nothing but books, is the hardest thing for me. I can't take them all with me. There're piles of them, on the floor around me, and dozens more waiting to be culled. It's like leaving part of myself behind, I remember when I first read them, what age I was, the ones that read, reread at different stages of my life. Their stories and words became part of me, even the ones I haven't read, I'm thinking I will read them, one day. Too late, it's time divest, let go and take a step.

For the first time in three month this past week, we see the value of single bitcoin, a unique digital currency break through 15 thousand dollar mark. Looking down centuries, the idea what currency is has changed greatly. Once upon a time, bank keep your gold and issued you IOU, then the IOU themselves become currency, which is why we still see in modern bank notes, I promise to pay the bearer on demand. Such a promise rests on confidence, a word of latin roots, mean having faith together. After the 1st world war, governments found they could ditch the gold and base the currency on confidence alone. This was good for the environment, reduce the need to dig gold out from one hole in the ground, only to burry it again beneath the bank, in another hole in the ground. The production of a single ounce of gold amidst one tone of green house gases. You think the digital currency there should there be perfect for the world of climate change? Not paper money, just strings of coded numbers flow in thin air. But what folks might not quite realise is that crypto currencies are mined, by vast banks of computers solving complex mathematical problems. The electricity used in producing bitcoin alone is estimated equivalent to medium size European country. And dollar for dollar, mining bitcoin amidst 3 and 15 times green house gas emissions of mining gold.

Garden. It's a peaceful space, spending time in it gots me reflecting how our hearts can be a bit like a garden, full of beautiful branches we would enjoy, but unfortunately there can be harmful negative weeds too.

Book of Samuel states that humans looked out with appearance, but god looks at the heart. 5/8/22

Book of Sirach says, Reflect on what you've being commanded, for what is hidden is not your concern. 15/2/23

At midnight last night we saw the end of three days social media boycott, from athlete clubs, governance bodies, from range of sports, who joined force, as to send a clear message, that online abuse will be be tolerated. I heard someone remarks such a shame, they could not follow their favourite football club over match weekend, the chat, the photos, build up to the game. Yet, it is our collective deep shame, that our athletes and fellow citizens continue to experience racism, misogyny, abuse online spaces as well as pitch or track. It's whole unacceptable this still take place. Words can wound and scar deeply. And online abuse means the insidious creep into spaces of people's lives that are hard to escape. It can be constant. So this boycott draws attention, both from experience of sportsman and woman and the need to change. We need to believe changes are possible, and our online spaces can be transformed.

BlackFriday seems started early this year, technically it’s this Friday, the day after ThanksGiving, but my inbox seems full of deals all month. But do you know why we shop, the sociologist thinks it’s because we fear death, shopping keep this fear at bay, because it’s distracting, buying stuff in reality makes our lives feels more substantial. And buying cool stuff such as approved from our superiors makes us feel really alive.

In this Easter, we dare to hope that a newer brighter future beginning to beacon beyond the pandemic. Each of us always link spring time, fresh flower, brighter days, spiritually, it's a spring time of hope. Hoping death defeated, and evil overcome. I guess, for most of us, it'd be enough to just get back to some kind of normal, freedom to move around for family friends to socialise, to go on holiday. But even if we're not yet aware of it, the trauma of pandemic, have brought fundamental changes to our society, we all suffered, but prices have been paid more by some than others. The elderly, the poor more than the rich.

How are you? It's a simple enough question, but it's not an easy one to answer. In a nano second we must weight up whether the question is really enquiry into our wellbeing, or just being courteous. But even if we conclude that the enquiry is genuine, we may still incline to say, "Oh I'm fine." not quite being able to say how we really are. Because we don't want to burden the other person with long story about how we feel. Or we may feel uncomfortable opening up being vulnerable. Or we might just not have the word to express how we truely feel.

Call of god come from future. True human vocation is to improvise what our genes have made of us, to make the choices make us who we are. 21/12/22

Over the weekend we saw two very different scenes, each making statement about how the future may be. On Sunday morning, was the annual active remembrance at Cenotaph, with members of royal family although her majesty the queen could not attend. The dignified ceremony recognises year after year the horrors of war, bearing witness of so many ways to suffering and loss, but it does so with calmed dignity with affirms hope for the future, and reaffirms aspiration to peace, meanwhile COP26 came to an untidy end in Glasgow, there was an agreement, as much as some could live with but far less than many hoped for. The issue, of course, are huge for climate crisis already changing our world in so many ways, rising sea level, extreme weather events, rising temperatures, all over the world, migrants struggle to move to places where they can have a better life, shortage of water, crop failures, produce political instability.

Yeas ago I passed driver's test which allows me to drive buses of all kinds, it opens the door to many several holidays in weekends as a driver for companies in Glasgow, it brought my youthful mind that no too people that are the same. This was fascinating, the routes didn't change much, but the colour and interests comes from the rich variety of people I encountered on the daily basis. Following those years I later volunteered to drive coach for a charity for disabled people. We had, I recall, one of two memorable adventures but mostly my memories are of can do attitude of those disabled, and in some cases, profoundly handicapped. Without realising I discovered a life long interest which continued as a teacher, latterly a minister.

Sunday evening brings Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. I have childhood memory my mother preparing the Hanukkah candles, which we kindling increasing numbers, one on the first up to eight the final night. I want big ones, not those tiny birthday cake candles, I insisted as any four year old might. I didn't understand then it's not their size, but the light they gave that matters.

Celebrate victories along the way, as bible praises, you're fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, regardless all. 1/12/22

We live in a valley where my husband spent lot of his time mountain biking, where he meets his friend at car park as if aggressive crew, rocks up early to pick up fight with another crew, all puffed up in precocious, he really go for it, fighting, his reflection in a wind mirror of a car. I've been thinking about crew with their daily fighting with themselves. I feel I never care to admit, what's that phrase about the greatest enemy being ourselves, unrealistic expectations, perfectionism, self-doubt, all the stories we tell about ourselves what other people think about us.

A Sutherland Scottish port would see rockets launch soon sending satellite into orbit, advocates of the plan, known are space crafters, argue for economic benefit bring jobs to local community that experienced population decline that can be traced back to the clearances. Critics argue that development could degrade eco system provide habitats for rare wildlife, and pit land that plays key role of absorbing carbon dioxide.

I’m sure over the last week, plenty of us has been thinking about our household bills, as the cost of living crisis deepens, many people are worried about energy bills, interest rates, the impact of inflation, a huge strain has been felt on scores of household finances. All of these rises have the most devastating impact on those of lowest incomes.

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.

I hope is that may well be that little special yesterday, if you didn’t, couldn’t not pay attention about, so for weeks now we’ve been bombarded with reminded with valentine’s day special. You couldn’t miss it. Every where you look, big red heart shaped balloons, cards, you name it. All them declare a message don’t forget to show your loved one you care.

Trails of pines along the pavements, folk hobbling along slippery roads balancing a big tree. Yes, it's a that time when Christmas tree had to go.

One of the guest at prayer vigil in Glasgow St George Square at start of COP26 was a Ginkgo tree carried out there all the way on foot, from Southwest England. Introduced to the present as belonging to a species that could be trace back 290 million years. Its ancestors predating human beings on this planet, at time when no footprint on earth, be they dinosaur, human, or carbon.

Commandment fifth, as in bible, thou shalt not kill, ends any argument about guns. 7/7

Our countryside at its very best side, as many of visitors, at last enjoying a break away from wherever they endured lockdown, as a sense of hopefulness to be found among people as vaccinations allows us glimpse away out of this pandemic, no two ways about it, the weather, here at least, adds a warmth, to that climbing out of cold darkness that has being so much a part of our lives for the last wee while.

As the government announced sweeping relaxation to lockdown rules, you can sense a wave of relief. From prime minister who had at last what sounded like good news to announce. And people picturing themselves simultaneously getting haircuts while drinking beer in pubs. It comes with caveats of course, reminders of the risks, and the urging to apply nebulous commodity of commonsense. There's even, according to some, a special strait of commonsense, known as good old British commonsense, which will give us advantage as we negotiate re-emergence.

New discovery of underground lakes has been found on Mars. Of course the report of this new find renewed hopes about life elsewhere is the solar system. Are we alone in the universe. The fear of being alone, together with faint pride of being unique goes right to the heart of humanity.

This is the time of the year when we get plenty of advices by what food for Xmas dinner, how to cook it, and how to set a beautiful table. So I’m thinking perhaps it might be more useful to get some advice on how to deal with certain people sitting around that table in Xmas day.

I’m coming off a busy week, full broadcast of four days spell, it’s something I’ve done before, but it’s a little different this time. You see I have a temporary crown in place at the moment, I have to battle the fear that anytime when the temporary tooth decide to part away from my mouth will introduce a whistling sound to my voice. Thankfully, all went well. You may think this was an unreasonable worry, but given that the first temporary crown fall out before I left the building, I was concerned. I should acknowledge this happened only after sterling work removing a broken post.

At time of writing this, the cricket is about to start, and I'm not sure what my thought for the day is going to be about. I'd like it to be about cricket, that way I could watch it whilst write about it.

The timber of resolute disk in Oval office made from failed rescue mission to NorthWest passage quest to Arctic.

I don’t think David’s Jab would mean anything to you but it’s the one for the future. Nigeria born David moved Aberdeen at young age, a talented athlete then went to America to play high school basketball, with a dream of playing professionally. Despite his effort he was told he wouldn’t make it, however his athleticism didn’t gone unnoticed, and a coach suggested he give American football a go, it was a suggestion that was to change his life. You won’t find a better example of old cliche, “when one door closes, another one opens.” From having no ideas about the rules, David adapted quickly, recruited to play college football Michigan 2021 was his breakout year. Michigan were likely to play for national title, now that’s a big deal believe me, while David’s play has projected in early round in NFL draft pit, he’s passed success in the professional game. But I last spoke with David, I was struck by his strong faith and his ever present gratitude that when one dream ended, somehow someone was at hand to show him a different path.

Take some fresh milk and eggs, cook, boil some rice and mix, if execute properly you get a dish called Kedgeree, executed poorly by a school boy in home economics, you get life longer version to fish, and rarely you want to give a second chance.

No so long ago this Coronavirus was something happening to other people in a faraway land, the footage of empty square and lifeless avenues, and people in hasmask suit was gripping the same way that movie is gripping. But it didn't seem real. As Camus wrote in his novel The Plague, people disbeliving pestilence, we tell ourselves it's a bad dream and it will pass away. But then at work you found yourself being asked if you've being to Italy in the last 14 days, you hear that local school might have to close, then you take a wide berth around someone wearing a facemask in street.

Creme Egg was invented at recession time. for us to hold onto our determination to celebrate, like an egg, that remind us of hope, of new life, and better days to come. 10/2/23

What a time to be here, as spring emerges from dark shadow of winter, and nature explodes into life with colour and vibrancy, we're blessed with reopening this week, of our favourite garden centres and nurseries, not only that, but hairdressers and barbers again are able to give us professional grooming some of us desperately need. Rarely have I so look forward to a haircut.

A mysterious artefact believed to be the world’s most ancient star map going to display at British museum. Although some scholar debating its exact age, authenticity, the nebula sky disk recovered in Germany in 1988 is widely believed to be 3600 years old, they think from bronze age. The small disk has gold symbols representing the sun, moon, star, solstice, and other cosmic phenomenon.

A mysterious artefact believed to be the world’s most ancient star map going to display at British museum. Although some scholar debating its exact age, authenticity, the nebula sky disk recovered in Germany in 1988 is widely believed to be 3600 years old, they think from bronze age. The small disk has gold symbols representing the sun, moon, star, solstice, and other cosmic phenomenon. Examining the image of the disk, I am struck by the fact this ancient artist depict the same aspect of reality as I experienced today. I instantly recognised the depiction of those celestial bodies visible now to all of us, and their connections to our ancestors in deep time, and to our fragile earth place in universe. It’s easy to think that ancient people had no knowledge of astronomy, but ancient Babylonian and Greeks developed the roots of signs of the stars as we knows today. For them it’s inseparable from astrology, from the interpretation of sings above could divine events in our lives. It is separated now, astrology is more popular ever in this social media age, I see this as evidence of our natural longing for meaning and connections with universal patterns of life, and a sense of participation in our divine plan. I’m not a fan though, I wouldn’t tell you my star sign. But I share the sense of ordinary aspect of heavenly mentor, being of the way of solar and lunar cycle, and seasonal changes help us to ground ourselves in a cyclical view of time that is more real than, a industrial 24/7 treadmill of materialism, where each day is much the same as the last. It’s the foundation for the year, repeating calendar of feast and fast, give order, variety, and meaning to time and space itself. In contemplating the night sky, just like the creator of the Nebula sky disk, we may realise the nature of the universe is undivided wholeness, and discover the oneness, peace where there is, join us onward to our place in the beauty of god’s creation.

The government website setup to distribute £50 bike repair vouchers crashed this week because of demand. The scheme is part of strategy to tackle obesity, and of course, getting on a bicycle is good for us physically.

Covid has made me realise how important it is to have certain conversations at the right time. 2 weeks ago my sister in law past away, she's been ill for a while with an aggressive breast cancer, which returned after 10 years. We'd hope she's safe now, but it spread everywhere. When we first heard her news of illness, the sadness was overwhelming, she was the eldest and seems like we're coming to an end of an era. I remembered when she first arrived family home as a young bride, she was pretty and glowing, full of energy and hope. Her immediate family living in England, and she was fortunate surrounded by her grown up children til the very end. With Covid restrictions to those of us who lived in distance, like myself, kept in regular touch mainly by phone and text. Towards the end I was simply writing "Salamu" and she simply reply, "praise be to god' each day was a blessing, but eventually she became too weak to reply.

Getting bad unexpected news can be challenging, but of course the manner which the news was told can make a big difference. A boss in US made headline this week for completely lack of empathy, as he fired 900 employees on one Zoom call. He has apologised for the way he dropped that particular bombshell has already caused lot of hurt.

Having long for a new world when Covid would stop dominating our lives. Many of us still anxiously anticipating a better world, it all around looks bleak and empty, whether it's the war in Ukraine, global food shortages, threats to democracy, the impact of global warming, as if to emphasis that the victory day parades taking place across Russian today.

Over the past two weeks, our news has been filled with realities of war in Ukraine, the actions in Russia, and their impact they've had on Ukrainian civilians. Over a million people have fled, and those remained have witnessed terror and trauma.

We entered what's others called Business end of the season, while the Scottish football plays off for promotion underway, under the top division while the lead is decided, the spec of relegation looms for three clubs. It's both an exciting time for fans and nervous one. Players and managers have the ability to affect outcome, fans simply don't have that luxury. They have to watch on the sidelines, current the electronic ones, while hoping and praying for the best. Parents of children setting exams this time of year finding themselves in similar situation. They can provide their offspring with encouragement, but the act at the exam or assessment at this time of the year, you have to sit back and watch.

Prince Harry's intervention early this week, continues the debate about the need to confront the past, present attitude to racism, in the course of which attitude of public figures continues come under scrutiny.

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, a lot could be painful. We all know about what we did about climate emergency, but what of the scientists who know the most, they’re human beings, very well informed human beings with educated anxieties, how do they cope with those? They integrate their knowledge with action, they do things. One climate scientist plants mango sapling by her own site, she conceited that’ll hardly sort things on its own, but it’s not nothing. Some might become activists, advise government on climate change, because they’re really anger, and want to shake things up. Others could be artist, want to share how they feel and inspire us. None of these things sounds like comprehensive solution, do they? But he goes on to say, Great, we need that, we need everybody.

It was queen's speech this week, many policies were announced, but the one that caught my attention is the one that actually doesn't apply to Scotland. The notion that your neighbours get to decide on housing applications for extensions and the alike.

I imaging many if not all of us have had cause to be reflective during the pandemic, especially when we look forward to Xmas and NewYear. Nearly 2 years on and all we have been through, it’s a natural reaction, we have our own stories, to tell our own experience of living through the pandemic which has stung our lives upside down.

Here’s the question, What you think would be most difficult, to look back in time, through massive telescope across space, to see the old stars in the universe, or persuade two governments to work together, to bring your wife back from captivity in Afghanistan. Richard Ratcliffe knows the answer, on Saturday, the husband of Nazanin entered his 21 day hunger strike outside the foreign office in London. After 5 and half years, the UK and Iran still not won’t compromise to resolve a political problem.

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, a lot could be painful. We all know about what we did about climate emergency, but what of the scientists who know the most, they’re human beings, very well informed human beings with educated anxieties, how do they cope with those? They integrate their knowledge with action, they do things. One climate scientist plants mango sapling by her own site, she conceited that’ll hardly sort things on its own, but it’s not nothing. Some might become activists, advise government on climate change, because they’re really anger, and want to shake things up. Others could be artist, want to share how they feel and inspire us. None of these things sounds like comprehensive solution, do they? But he goes on to say, Great, we need that, we need everybody. Individuals, yes. But the complacent corporate, political world have to act if climate emergency is to be tackled, the despairing, what can anybody do attitude just lets them off the hook. Can individual action challenge structural complacency? can the hopeful defiance of some inspire millions? One of central idea of gospel is all about defiance, the kingdom of god, it might sounds pious, religious, irrelevant to 21st century, but if we can ask what it really means, its relevance is breathtaking. By “the kingdom of god” Jesus means the world the way it should be, Jesus called people to live the life of kingdom of god, to live the way the world should be, not the way it is; and to defying how things are in the name of how things should be, and faith with that as they shall be. But there’s something sacred about defiance, it gives us all hope, but also summons us all to our responsibilities. We need to listen to the defiant but also as Jesus were put it, “Go and do likewise.” better to live as the way it doesn’t have to be this way, until live as the way it does.

It’s St George’s day today, and I often wondered what the patron saints do for each others’ birthdays. Does David take George for a dance, while Patrick plays the harp, while Andrew pour him wishkey?

I’ve kept family photograph from early 1980s taken on a sunny day showing us all walking along the road outside the house arm in arm. I love it because we’re in open air all smiling striding along together shoulder to shoulder. That’s what I’ve craved this year, like everyone else, to be in the same real physical space with those we’ve been separated from. I remember my aunt telling me about her mother’s youngest brother who immigrated to Australia for works in 1920s, the family never saw him again, there were letters of course, but no phone calls no chance of coming home for holiday. That’s going to the other side of the world would meant then. I’ve missed walking with my two sisters, our own mother had dementia, my London sister would travel up to Scotland regularly, to help with exhausting caring. Once or twice we managed precious time away together, just three of us for a long walk in the hills, we talked and talked, voiced our worst fears, drink coffee from a flask and eat crisps, comforting each other, laughed, we’re ourselves again.

Each one of us wakes in the morning to our own story, looking ahead to what we think we know about the future, how else could we go forward each day? 25/3/24

Earning a living, working hard for the betterment of society is a moral duty, as if warship itself. 5/9/22

Something remarkable happened with unset of Covid-19, with half the world in lockdown, perhaps for the first time in history, the whole of humanity is in roughly the same situation. Facing the same threats, and feeling the same fears. Reminded me of the impact of the first images of the earth from space, which eye to see the planet as a whole, and sense how much we're having in common.

A celebrity announced she’d have a baby at age 46, her decision was met with surprise by some, anger from others, the child was born via surrogate and sperm donors, and recently has being talking about her experience of motherhood first time, but her decision still devise opinion. So what are the challenges of having child late in life, and how does it shape your relationship withal…

Over last few months the world's imagination has been captivated by report from China of 300 miles trip by a herd of Asian elephant, from their natural habitat to a residential area close to one of China's major cities. The journey which starts 17 month ago included a 5 month sojourn after one of the female elephant give birth. Like an army of old marching on foot, the elephants have wrecked havoc in villages in countryside as they pass through in order to satisfy their hunger and thirst. More recently, the authority have been carefully monitor the herd progress to help on their way and safeguard local populations. But this week's news is that the elephants have decided to go home. Some experts has speculated that the elephants touristic excursion was triggered by large scale human engineering developments, which together with dramatic shrinkage in size of their habitat has exacerbated disappearance of traditional buffer zones between humans and elephants, not for the first time,

If you have many men in your life, you might have noticed recently, some of additional facial hair. That maybe because we’re in the middle of Movember, the annual event where moustache grown to help raise funds awareness around men’s health issues. But do you know that today is International Mens Day, I suspect that might take most of us by surprise, for going under the radar, in much the same way as the topic as mens’ mental health.

I don't normally read science fiction but someone lend me a book about a world devastated by a killer plague, by strange accident, one man finds him survived, and he drives all over America observing the deserted towns and houses. At last he meet someone. And she invite him to have a meal.

Many of us might in need of bit of laughter, however, I remember as a child in school being in the receiving end of some fairly unpleasant prank in the form of April Fool joke, perpetrated by my peers, often involving sticky mess. Feeling the foolishness on my side was match by one of the superior glee for the prankster. Glorying in their annal permission, to inflict minor misery on others with impunity. This year the 1st of April coincided with Maundy Thursday, reaching the business end of holy week in Christian calendar. Indeed one theory for the ancient origin of April Fool's Day as that, it comes at time of the year, when Jesus was arrested and cruelly mocked by his capturers, as they prepare to do away with him and enjoyed revelling in their power.

Jared Smith, don't forget his name. Sometimes feelings which are inexpressively painful spell over into the news in ways which are surprising. Jared Smith is a 20 years old, one of 13 American marines who died in the bomb in Afghanistan airport in the final stage of evacuation. Various news outlet reported that visit as US president Biden met with the marine's families, nothing strange about that, but it was a visit that didn't go very well for a surprising reason. Jo Biden has often seen as survivor, his wife and daughter were killed in car accident 1972, his son died in cancer in 2015. It wasn't surprising on the visit to a family who lost their son in a terrible way, president Biden was reflect on his own loss. This hurt family that wasn't the time, they want the whole attention but found him too absorbed in his own feelings.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Traditionally a time of fasting and abstinence of 6 weeks offer space for sorrow and repentance before the celebration of new life and resurrection that is Easter Sunday. Last year's Ash Wednesday services was sombre, sitting in a church building, unmasked, but already spaced out. None of us knew what sorrows next few months would hold, nor I suspect, that almost a year on, we will be still living with restriction. But we had some inclination, that the road ahead wouldn't be long, and here we still are. It's tempt to feel though, this particular version of Lent has lasted a long time.

Energy is a sacred gift for people of faith, not just commodity to be valued momentarily, but a life force to be revered. 23/8/22

Today is twelfth day of Christmas, known in many Christian tradition as Epiphany. It’s the time when many children in Scotland returning to school. And that reminded an occasion almost 30 years ago, when I was working in the school when there was astonishing mixture of backgrounds and cultures, marinate our assembly every Tuesday morning. So 27 years ago Tuesday 6th January, the Rabi got up to explain the significance of Epiphany to 200 non-christian children. I probably said something about the 3 wisemen completing their journey, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

There are many stories of travels in Bible, but the one that sticks in my head is the Israel escape their particular lockdown and slavery in Egypt. That escape road trip took 40 years, which might not be an encourage observation today, but productive journeys do take time. During it they formed rules which the guide becomes their new normal. They had discovered new ways of being community, new dos and don'ts. And interestingly, developed rules how to treat the vulnerable in their communities.

As a child at 70s I grown up watching BluePeter. I still remember the feature he did about amazing work of the RNLI. While I never been on the ferry to the isle of White, I was hugely reassured that if I've ever got into difficulty at sea, the RNLI volunteers will be there to rescue me. Everyday men and women freely give their time to train, to be on 24 hour call, and even risk their own lives to save strangers at peril on the sea, or even loch Ness for that matter. The same is true of Scottish mountain service, who day or night, at all weathers scale mountains to rescue the injured or the lost, even those who're equiped with not much more than Google map to navigate their climb. No question asked about who the person is, who is in danger, or whether they're at fault. All that matters to them is the safety and wellbeing of a fellow human being. The selflessness is truely inspiring.

Expect everyone else view the world same way develops attitude, judgements, and prejudice that damages relationships and peace of mind. 13/9/23

I often look for the good news stories in what I hear read each day, so I’ve been following the attempted rescue of caver who’ve been trapped in broken beacon after a bad fallen on Saturday, keeping hope of good ending. It was great to hear on Monday night, that the injured man has finally being brought to the surface taken to the hospital, and despite significant injuries, and an ordeal lasting for 50 hours that things are all set in positive.

Yesterday on this program, an employee of Belarus national TV channel Katia explained why she just resigned, "I couldn't allow myself to be an employee of an organisation doesn't tell the truth." She said.

Scotland is top of European League, sadly it's for drug death, and this week we're back at top of UK alcohol related death too. There're a lot of people inject drugs all the time, for diabetes, or fertility treatment. But we directly disapprove those who break the law, regardless of the tragic stories behind the statistics. And in some ways that's right, if we didn't disapproval laws breaking, it'd become normal, and the law ceases to work. But alcohol isn't illegal, and we still look down those who found themselves dependent on it. And if drugs were less criminalised would we be less judgemental? I doubt it. I think our disapproval are deeply rooted. Because we really struggle the idea for anyone, life might only be bearable through drug or buzz filled haze. The Greeks had a word for it, Soul Sickness. One had call it the Sorrow of the World.

Faith compels me to believe whenever dictatorship defaces the earth, but in god's ultimate justice, even the most powerful tyrant cannot escape forever. 24/5/23

Families that make us feel safe and loved are the things sustain us, the most essential and rewarding gift of life. 10/1/23

We enter the second week of Ramadan, when Muslim people fast between dawn and dusk from eating and drinking, and from all others thoughts and actions that can corrupt the soul and the person. Fasting during the pandemic and forced Muslims in Scotland to observe it in solitary ways. But this has helps to retrain themselves on private worship and the mind on spiritual reflection within the home. A special prayer custom that distinguishes the evenings of Ramadan from the rest of the year is the prayers address time after nightfall. This involves reading sections of the scripture, and prostrating prayers throughout the night. It is best appreciated when done in congregation at mosque, but with restriction preventing most from communal worship, the home is where they’re done this year. Where the calm and quite of small hour before sunrise can become most mystically awakening to the mind and spirit. One favrioute prayer before laying one’s head to sleep is “O God, I submit myself to you, and trust my fears to you, turn my faith to you and lay myself down, depending upon you, seeking you and venerating you. There is no refugee and no escape except to you.” May we be inspired to explore our spiritual traditions for nourishment, be moved to share them with our loved ones, and may we all be blessed with peace in our homes.

Admits the solemnity of funeral of Duke of Edinghbour this weekend, there was one image that stood out, that’s a casual snap taken on a summers day, an elder couple relaxing on a rug against the majestical backdrop of Aberdeen shire countryside, his hat rest on his knee, the sun catches their faces, and both smile boardly at the photographer. Of all the formal portraits and press photographs taken during their life together. This is the candid image chosen by the queen as one of her favourites. Our best loved photos are often unguarded snapshots of happiness. As I scroll through my cameraroll, I’m struck by how vibrant and cheery last 12 months of my life had appear to be. There are lots of images in my local park obviously, but also outdoor meals and walks with family and friends. Of course I didn’t record the overwhelming times of anxiety and grief, nor the sheer monotony of the days. But perhaps the negative experience make the joyful snapshots all the more memorable. If we were to see a cameraroll or album of our lives, it’s undoubtedly be formal portraits that we would want to show to the world, achievements, and moments of great pride and significance. But I suspect each of us would have candid shots we’d be less keen to display to others, moments of great sadness, or shame. Perhaps it is the fear of being truely seen that could turn us away from idea of a god who knows us intimately. But I think that hinges on what we believe the character of that god. The book of Lamentation says, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never comes to an end. They renew every morning, great as your faithfulness. The knowledge of a steadfast god, who sees us in our candid moments, and nonetheless continues to love us, help us to make sense of every part of our lives. Because the desire to be seen, known, and loved, is surely what it means to be human.

Did you heard about the Hamster on Wheel? No, not a joke but a story on the news this week about a hamster call Mr.Cock, who successfully trading in crypto currency, even beating human investors with their traditional tactics. Now I’d be the first to confess I don’t understand much about crypto currency, and that maybe while I was amused by the story, this hamster has a specially created trading office attached to his cage, whereby the time when his ran his wheels it triggers buying and selling at random in crypto currency, while he had some loss along the way, as of a few days ago, his investment has seen 20% return, which is better than many professional traders in finance. There’s a lot that’s random in the story, that two men in Germany might find time and inspiration to setup such a creation during the lockdown boredom, that crypto currency has seen variety highs and lows in the past year or so, and there’s a lot of online followers of Mr.Cock the hamster, who cannot wait to see what he does next.

Today is world's Health Day, set aside to draw attention to what we need to do to keep the planet and its people healthy, and to encourage the nurture of community with a focus on wellbeing.

How the BBC's god's slot trains you to be concise. I started of with attempt to explain why this slot matters, and then listening to others understands it as God's Slot. One of the festival says to me, but you don't fits into my ideal of someone doing Thought4Day. It was a noisy task to explain what myself and other Thought4Day writers attempt to do across our diverse religious affiliations. I read 3 scripts from 15 years, to highlight variations and how my thoughts connected.

With winter in full swing and the morning still dark, it can be difficult to feel motivated this time of year. And somehow my resolve to ignore the remaining Xmas chocolate and live healthier is melting faster than the weekend snow.

I must confess I am a total kill joy by the April's fools day. I'm haunted by memory of one of my primary teachers sending a heartless boy down to the corridor to ask another teacher for a long stand, and I could still clearly remember the teacher being endeared for fooling something foolish.

I’ve been following the recent news of India experience of Corona virus with perhaps more attentions than most. Here at the Cathedral parish, I live work with two priests from that country, who’ve left their families friends and familiar surroundings to come to minister in Scotland here. It’s a sacrifice at best of times. But perhaps best in these days, when restrictions on international travel, however necessary, makes the distance that separates them from their loved ones so much greater. Over dinner last week, one was telling me of his concerns over his elderly father, who had been taken into hospital and is now thank goodness making a good recovery. The other shared how his brother’s wedding, which has been postponed several times so that he could come to Scotland and affiliate at it, would now, be going ahead in a few weeks time without him. Both of them told stories of relatives, neighbours, and friends, who have been affected in even more serious ways by pandemic.

Only a few days into this new year, I find myself looking both backwards and forwards. I took time over Hogmanay to reflect all the photos I taken on my phone during 2021, it tells the story of my year, and in many ways, it wasn’t a bad year for me personally. Yes, there was lack of personal contact, with family and friends at times, but generally the year offered more opportunities previous year had. Now I looking forward to what will unfold in 2022. I do hope to see more people in general, working from home for nearly 2 years does make you start to feel you are an avatar on screen, rather than a human being at times. But in general I have little to complain about.

“Tell you this, the next drink I have is going to be a larger, ice cold, when we get through this, I’m going to buy you all one” that’s the quote from that remarkable film, Ice Cold in Alex. It’s world war II, John Mill’s fragile character Captain Anson, fleeing across the baked desert to safety with crew of his rickety ambulance, is doing what human beings do, when in the wildness, he imagines the first thing he’s going to do, when he gets out of it.

Today is Chinese New Year, the year of Tiger. In the Chinese zodiac two of the traits associated with tiger are power and rebelliousness. Characteristics which we’ve been rather familiar this morning. But the person in my mind today has nothing to do with politics or power.

In the year when I’m looking forward to postponed olympics of 2020 taken place, I love to read stories of great courage, perseverance, endurance of people achieve their goals, I never going to be someone who runs a marathon, or wins an olympic medal, so I’m quite glad to be amazed by achievement of other people. This week, one Scottish woman has smashed the record for running 212 miles, Southern Upland Way by more than 17 hours. Anna Rutherford managed to run whole route in just 62 hours 34 minutes, and only slept for a total of 90 minutes during that challenge. Wow, if that’s not enough, she’s a lawyer, a mother of two, and completed the challenge just 9 months after given birth. I’m not sure if I can begin to imaging what those 62.5 hours would feel like, mentally and physically, running in daylight and darkness, and ascending over 9000 metres on route, which is higher than mountain Everest. I’m in the midst, there’re real moments of doubt to live through, some significant pain and discomfort too. Such challenges will never win easy. There’s humility in Anna saying that, if she can do this, anyone can. I really don’t think I could. But I can certainly be inspired by what she has achieved, and apply that to smaller goals in my own life.

One of the most powerful images I see this week is that photography of empty pram at train station, left there by Polish mothers, to the Ukrainian mothers flee their countries would have somewhere to put their babies. A heart-breaking and beautiful act of generosity, and a visible representation of the fact that there is no such thing as other people's children.

He was one of the most accomplished philosophers intellectuals of our times, one of the finest people I've met since coming back to Scotland a few years ago. His death is great loss to not only his Jewish friends and families, but to the whole of British intellectual religious life. His book is definitely worth reading too, actually at this time of the year as we approach Easter. I was given one of the books which starts, unsurprisingly by looking at the book of Genesis, the first book of scriptures that we share. Two of my priest friends I have been reading it, and one of them said to another, "isn't amazing how Jonathon Sack sounds so catholic?" And the other replied, "Yes, but isn't that because we are so Jewish?" And we get to see that overlap in these days in a special way. As Jewish prepare to celebrate passover starting on Saturday, just as Christian celebrate holy week starts this Sunday.

If you're the many people who're experiencing further ease of restrictions today, I wonder how you feeling, perhaps it means return of some of the things we once take for granted, a meal out, a cinema trip. Or for someone it's finally be able to give someone we love a long awaited hug. So many of us are feel excited and cheerful at the prospect of these changes. I've noticed I've experience a complex mix of emotions, while I'm looking forward to spend time with loved ones in person, I felt sense of trepidation, at the thought of having to readjust. Every time a new change kicks in, I find myself worrying about the social expectations. Many of my friends dive straight in to go to pubs, or meeting up in groups, whereas I need a bit more time to get use the stretching boundaries or what's allowed.

This week I had my annual Christmas party with an old friend from University, it consists of mince pie, a bottle of Scotch, and ghost stories. Christmas is a surprisingly spooky time of year. Many people like to dig out stories by M.R.James and Charles Dickens, and it's intruguing that the most famouse Christmas tale involves a man being tormented by the dead.

On Monday, pope Francis spoke pasty about what he called the bashfulness of poverty in its hiddenness. Over the last few weeks I've being going to a nearby hospital helping with chaplaincy, and a few weeks back I met some of the lowest paid, the most invisible people there, invisible, and yet indispensable. Their worth and their necessity is not measure in money though it should be, but it's measured in love. It was meeting, which I found greatly blessing, I hope they found some.

Ordinary women who do extraordinary things, like running a home bring up kids, exceeding careers, overcome illness, coping with unemployment… All these, and still managed to offer wisdom and advice, and even find time to share a laugh.

Glimpse of wild bird can lift and transport us to another world, became guests to stay connected with fellow creatures, and sense our roles within this different world of theirs, and god's. 30/1/23

As the war continue to isolate Putin over the invasion of Ukraine, many researchers at British universities are prepare for sanctions, affecting academic partnerships with Russia. These sanction could include joint-funding opportunities, and collaborative research, which would effectively cut off many Russian academics, including those who spoken out strongly against the war.

God is given a geography, a house, a postcode, only people cannot agree who has the title deeds, or in which house god lives. 17/5/23

God sent his son among us, in humility simplicity to live like us, so that we could become like god, in spite of our self absorption, silliness, and messes we made the world. 23/11/22

God wasn't fooling around when making each and everyone of us, to be special, precious, and loved. 18/4/23

God’sCreation is sacred, this is home for us all. 13/10

Cup26, the global conference on climate change will begin in Glasgow, the the feeling is growing, this is the single most important issue which the world’s community faces, but the successive meetings tells us a story of dashed hopes and disappointment, of target just won’t ambitious enough, and the inabilities to hold these nations to their commitments.

Archeologist in Egypt uncovered remains of ancient mummies who have golden tongues, the mummies themselves not being preserved well, but their tongues of gold have survived intact, it’s thought dead were given these tongues, so they could speak in after life. I find discoveries like this fascinating, but also made me think how much more important it could be in life, rather than death to have a golden tongue. Of course, not a tongue actually made of gold metal, but rather a tongue that speaks well and kindly, as leave behind a legacy that worth something.

See the sunshine on TV made me long to be there. The decision allow 25000 people into stadium that holds 66000 is met by some opposition. But the crowd provided an atmosphere for players and viewers alike. To see a Super Bowl is in my bucket list, I’ll get there one day.

Last week my youngest sone turn 21, and over the weekend we had a small party to celebrate. It was a crisp and sunny day despite the storm Arwen threatening to disrupt travel, in the end, everyone managed home safely. As he sat surrounded by food and family, all I can think is how fortunate I was have stay with him. And by the course of our children’s lives marks our passage of timing, moments turn quickly to memories, reminding us the greatest gift we have is simply to be here, to be grateful to the presence, and take none of life’s joy for granted.

Gospel messages are important enough to have survived the changing media of two millennium, and will still be around in some form for centuries to come. 12/7/2022

Grace, the radical idea freely given love of god, when experienced by individual, likely to spill over into relationships, attitudes, and change the world. 12/1/23

Where I live in Glasgow, yesterday's partial social eclipse was, well, eclipsed by low cloud. I was working at home and become aware the birds outside window were acting unusually, and the gloom of a cloudy morning felt more intense. I was on internet researching the thought, and spotted an article explaining "gradual creep" I have partially aware of was a genuine astronomical occurrence. Gradual Creep was the phrase come into mind when I read the recent report about sexual harassment amongst teenagers. Although it applies to English school and Colleges, in Scotland we'd be wise to heed its feuding. The report describes much of harassment experienced by children and young people as been so common place that they did not see any point in reporting it. Explicit pictures, sexist name calling, and other harmful sexual behaviours have become a normal part experiences of high percentage of young people.

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.

2 hours and 44 minutes, that was the amount of time it took for Sir David Edinburgh to reach a million followers on Instagram last week, a new world record.

Happy Valentine’s Day. I don’t what it means to you, maybe it’s a new love, or perhaps another full on attempt to putting the fire back into relationship, or it could be Valentine’s Day just an annual chore that you better to get it right. Whichever way maybe, I do wish you well.

The sight of the young woman of reputation of the best gymnast in the world unable, at times to perform at Olympic stage due to evident inner distress, made me want to reach across the world to give her a sympathetic virtual hug. It was another reminder that human beings, no matter how skilled, finely tuned, remain fragile creatures.

We appreciate something most of all when there is a danger that we'll lost it or when we've lost it already. This truism is embodied in the Jewish festival of Pooring, which we celebrate tonight until tomorrow.

When I was a young priest, once I got a phone call middle of the night, the phone goes off 3 at morning as the young guy has to pick up, so as the phone went, I sort to spring into action, the man other end wanted urgently, to speak to the pope, interesting. I replied, quite truthfully, I didn’t have the pope’s the number to hand, sorry. But the man at other end insisted, doesn’t catholic church has everywhere, isn’t it just like a big rental company with branches all over the world.

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.

This holy week I discovery resistance within me. Imagining Jesus's proceeding into Jerusalem, hearing he's calling out the voice Hosanna, which would save us, I find myself face with the question, what do I need to be saved from. Preparation are well underway for New Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, which is calling result for humbler, fair, more adjust way of living. Lockdown prompted consumerism, and I've been force to admit, it's not just about convenience and single use warpers. Time saved from these things I use consumerism to cover up. Fears and frustrations and sorrows, the things that hurrying and exhaustion pre-lockdown life stop me from facing up to, so much time and wasted energy, so much avoidance of what really matters.

The news last night that prime minister Boris Johnson has being moved to intensive care, have caused huge distress to his family and all those who loved him. I know I wan't be alone when I say I will pray for him and for everyone who suffering today.

My husband and siblings are in a process of selling their family home, the beloved mum, our kids' nanny, my lovely mother in law, passed away last spring. So the gangs are on process of packing up and clearing out her home, their first home, the home they grown up in, our children spent so much time in, birthdays, Christmas, sunny Sundays in the garden, 9 grandchildren running around as something delicious bubbling on the stove, and always time for another cup of tea. The memory deep in every room reminds us all of the love inhabited in every space in that house. Important places homes.

Over the coming days and weeks we are going to see a wider roll out of Covid vaccines. The thousands of people across Scotland receiving their first vaccination, many are speaking about the light at end of a tunnel, in many ways this feels momentum and significant.

I suppose I can start by singing "DingDon merrily on high, in heaven the bells are ringing". But my singing is so terrible that a part from being seen as very political aghast entirely unacceptable, you would all suffer.

Hope of Christians is found in Jesus, the God who became, died and rose to life again in order to put things right. 30/8/22

With the release of vaccine, it’s natural to start planning what we used to call normality. Less commuting, fewer social events, or not having to tax the kids around, most of our lives have been changed, by the freedom from choice, and expectations we placed upon ourselves. As we glimpse return to normal times, it is important to consider how we might shape that new normality.

The confirmation that football fans will be able to watch Euro2021 at fan zone at large outdoor space at Glasgow has met with extra reactions. The fan zone will host up with 6000 ticket holders a day, including family areas, big screens and serving drink, the event will appear here to the COVID guidelines, but there's some worries about safety at fan zone, particularly given Glasgow only recently moved to level 2, after almost a year restrictions. I live in Glasgow and have mixed feeling even move to level 2, gratitude and excitement but also feeling cautious about being with other people again and needing to climatized.

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.

Sometime a complete stranger can be very person whom we wish to unload our emotions, share our deepest secrets. And I think that’s OK, I’ve done it myself in the past. Talking to stranger can come with uncertainty, but also possibilities, as so much of our lives are spent at arm stretches. We all missing our families and friends. But I also missing the experience of being around people I don’t know, share a train journey, a flight, sitting in a cafe watching people go by. The comfort of simply be surrounded by different people.

In this time of hatred and brutality I think we need a story to remind us human kindness. This is ancient tale who's origin attributed to variety of cultures, Egyptian, Arabic, Roman, Jewish... It doesn't really matter. The uncertainty of its root shows its universality of its message.

Recently I've been think about selling my car, but this time, not in exchange for another one, for most of my working life I relied on a car, it's just easier for daily demands of a young family. But now while having one may still giving me more flexibility, this moment seems like a real opportunity, a small commitment to a greener and healthier life style.

There's nothing easy following a sport you really enjoy, it can be emotional roller coaster, be you Scottish, or English, or Germany, might made those emotion even more pronounced when it comes to football. But no matter your country or team, the experience is a shared one, and that's half the fun. Watching Andy Murray play at Wimbledon on Monday was certainly a test for me. Although I was watching from the comfort of my armchair, I find it hard not to shout encouragement at the screen at times just left the room. It was great to see Andy went through that first round, but certainly wasn't a breeze when Andy kept everyone on edge of their seats. I was once lucky enough to attend Wimbledon in person, it was 2016, and with ticket to semi-finals and saw Andy went on to win the Wimbledon championship.

Imagine a group of people trying to hold a face to face conversation are suffering all the disruptions that are frustration features of video call, a dog barks over one’s speech, another repeatedly rejected from the room, a third try to make a comment that lips move but the words remain muted. During lockdown I can spend hours of each day in virtual conferences, so when I saw the sketch described in social media last weekend, I laughed out alone.

In less than 24 hours I'll move into a new home, taking about 20 bin bags, 6 large boxes, and thousands coat hangers, as well as life-time memories. Although I felt quite overwhelmed now, I'm also excited, looking forward to new beginnings. It's being quite cathartic as I'm trying to declutter, wrestling with what I absolutely need and what I can get to charity. After all polkadot flare, patchwork pockets might be back to fashion soon.

Many of us not believe that the last 9 days news headlines would be dominated by a war, not in Europe's doorstep, but inside its boarders, our disbelief heightened when diplomacy failed, then division began, resistance do the invader organised.

I am a fool first of all. I am human, then I am a man, then I believe in god, then I'm a Christian, and only after that am I a priest.

I am a well mannered, polite timid young man at heart, wanting to be well thought of by his betters.



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I choose to be happy. saying these words stop tension escalating, we buy ourselves time to think. 6/9/22

I may sometimes giving people impression of living like an exile, but hardly anyone knows that my weekness is the crippling self-doubt that afflicted me every step of the way, and that is the price I've paid for remain sanity and individuality. For me, having to make up your own mind of the surroundings is a terrible burden, and the inevitable cost is massive solitude.



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I wish you well for the day, and have a laugh along the way. 1/9/23

A respectful society is built on mutuality, a shared sense of purpose between men and women, both at home and outside, appreciate the beauty of male and female relationship, lies both on its strength and fragility, where no one should have to live in fear.

If I am often scornful of the technical failings of others, it is because I know how hard it is to acquire good technique. I acquired mine by constant labour and study, year after years, day in and day out. It did not come naturally or easily, and it is the one thing I am truly proud of. Naturally I protect my voice against those who dismiss it as redundant, or insignificant. To express what you want, exactly the effect you have in your mind and no other, you have to have mastery of your sound, otherwise you are like a man trying to speak English with only limited vocabulary. Unless you have that range, you end up saying what you can say, not what you mean.

In maelstrom of war and destruction, inhumanity and suffering our world no doubt see in coming week, let us seek peace in ourselves. 8/4/24

In space time of immured, unsure of what to do or where to go, often is moments God whisper most clearly. 20241231

In the ebbs and flows of life, we can be the providers of help, just as much as the recipient. 31/7/23

As you mentioned the climate is in my mind at the moment with car-free day today and Cup26 in the news, and it's likely to be on the news sometime. It's the conference in Glasgow world's leaders gets closer to the stark reality of the extend of climate chaos, and the world need to combat is become clear. This week a group fo 50 religious leaders, signed a declaration concerning climate change, they promise to think about the issue, to amend the way they do things as a result, and to advocate and speak up for change. It sounds pretty feeble, doesn't it? A group of faith leaders promising to have a think, and then promising to do more, and to be bladder about it.

It's holy Thursday, the day during holy week that commemorates the last super, and Jesus's washing of disciples' feet. It's so often associated with customs of foot washing rituals, with emphasis on the humility of service symbolised by this humbling gesture.

This week storm Arwen has wrecked havoc for the length and breadth east-coast of the country, which let thousands homes without electricity, gas, or in some cases, water. Being out of electricity for almost 24 hours, which in our case, left us freezing cold with no means of cooking, or even making a cup of tea, was a solitary reminder of our dependency on the public infrastructure that works day and night to maintain our basic life style.

For those of us involved inter-faith work, it’s those who work the talk across different traditions, seem to find it’s easy to encounter the goodness and beauty in people different from themselves. Often it’s those who obtain peace and truth through their own tradition are free to generously share a spirit of fearless inquiry and sincere curiosity. And by so doing, find it possible to move beyond mere tolerance and to genuine respect of inter-being.

On Desert Island Discs last month, Daniel Radcliffe choose a song by Nick Cave, ‘In to my arms, so lord’, a love song, it begins by a sonorous line, “I don’t believe intervention of god, but I know darling that you do...”

I find it inspiring in these last few days to read and hear the stories of some of those who taking part in the Invictus Game in Netherlands. This is fifth year the game have been able to meet since the inauguration. And the opportunity for injured service men and women to compete at highest level against their peers.

Covid-19 is simultaniously driving us apart and pushing us together. Self-isolating, social-distancing, and lockdown that's happening in countries ahead of us on the epidemiology curve, all forcing people to withdraw from each other. Then there's the isolating effect of worry and stress, we draw inwards when we tracking: my tummy tightened, my chest contracts, my thoughts spiral, and our rectile brains seem to protect us by claim, fighting, or grabing the last packet of dry pasta. In the same time, we come in this situation together.

It's the context, not the content of gifts that counts. 20241210

As someone who's idea of perfect holiday involves Scottish mountains and pile of books, I was less affected than many by the restriction on foreign travel this summer. But I must confess to a twinge of holiday envy, when a friend upload to social media some picture of herself sitting out on the famous Camino de Santiago across Spain. I went Camino myself as student, and it was life changing experience, I can't wait to go back one day. Of course, Spain doesn't have monopoly on pilgrimage, and Scotland can be proud of her own heritage. The medieval cathedral in St Andrews, draw crowds from across Europe. As I do this another Scottish priest is lacing his boots, strapping on this rucksack on a pilgrimage of his own. Father Jim Walls has spent pass few weeks of his summer holiday walking, in the footsteps of 7th century monks, he's being relies on the kindness of hospitality of others, in order to raise awareness of migrants and refugees, and through sponsorship, raising money for the charities minister to that.

Over the weekend, the clock went forward, moving into British Summer time, announcing longer daylight hours, and also the Palm Sunday, marking the start of holy week, whereby Christians were called and commemorate the events leading up to Jesus's death and resurrection. With the changing of clocks, I was reminded I did a T4D in October, just as the clock went back. It was the time when the world seems holding its breath as it steps into the winter month, not knowing what's ahead. I remember a distinctive sense of hopelessness. In a strange way, my words have acted as bookends to this winter. And yet, in this moment, I am strike by a deep sense of hope. There's signs of new life, flowers, birds, plants. The evening is growing lighter, vaccine to be rolled out to millions of people across the country, and some of these restrictions will be soon lifting. Perhaps, Hope has been slumber through the winter month, and now is waking up in time for Easter.

Five months into pandemic, I've come to a simple way forward, everyone else should keep the rules, but I should be allowed some flexibility. Social distancing is good but when I see a long lost friend, I cannot bear it when he can't hug me.

With harvest and autumn chill, comes the nagging thought that I must get my account in order and submit my tax return before the end of year. There’s a strange satisfaction in doing this, taking stock of my income and paying my dues feels like a moral act, as well as fiscal one.

Keep talking and remembering, with one another, for someday to understand fully how fragile and precious our lives are. 14/7/22

American TV host Ellen DeGeneres has been called the queen of kindness, her daily show feature stories of people acting kindly, and she signs of each day with words "Be kind to one another".

And how are you all today, this is something we say all the time, isn’t? But it can trip out the tongue without much thought. But I really think, in these days, I say this with much sincerity than ever before. Perhaps that’s because we’re all on the same boat, living from day to day with uncertainty. And there is a special bond that we going through ourselves together. There’s instinctive feeling of wanting to help one another.

Yesterday was around the fact of Kindness day, a day in which we are encouraged to do notice and celebrates such act, from given a person smile, or compliment, or given a helping hand at bus stop. The idea of a special day to emphasis importance of such acts came from initiative and US in 1995 and since spread world wide.

February is LGBT+ history month, an opportunity to offer awareness and education around experiences of LGBT+ people. It’s 50 years since the first pride march in UK. When I was born in 1976, homosexuality between men is still criminal act in Scotland. Attitudes about diversity and inclusion has changed in great deal for the better since then.

I love the word, Landscape. It evokes in me far more than just lovely vista. I will try to explain it by telling about one of my favourite artwork, landscape with a flight in Egypt by 16 century painter. Basically a bird-eye view from top, where people small on ground merged into background. But it's only your position, up here looking down gives you that perspective. You can't stay here forever. Real life reclaims you. It's the holiday experience in miniature. You go on a holiday, you come back, but for a short time, you lifted out the everyday, looking down on other people's lives, other people's journeys. Sooner or later it comes to an end, and you have to return old route parish.

Like so many of us, I walked a lot over last year, most weeks I walk to top of the forest by our village, where an impressive tower stone look like a risky game of Jenga the higher it goes. Our kids love the thrill of can they add another one on without knock any down. And that's the tradition, isn't it? Carrying stone from bottom of hill, place at ever growing care at the top. "I'll put a stone on your stone" as the Gaelic blessing goes.

Leave this world better than you found it, so can die happy, and feeling done your best. 22/2/24

It may seem trivial or even embarrassing to look forward this week, to the opening of non-essential shops and restart of primary-league against the backdrop of the weekend violent protest, and serious issues raised by BlackLifeMatter, getting children back to school, and continued Covid death.

A couple of days ago my younger son tells me he passed end of year university exams, mixed results, but he passed overall. He said, I just want to get the pressures of last year behind me, and look forward next year when I can be myself again. As a parent and educator, I was attempted to go into discussion modes, the results attitude matter. But I soon realised what he really needed is to feel bit of joy and encouragement, to know that he's done his best and succeeded, despite the stresses of this past year and half.

I shall not look upon his like again. Spoken by prince Hamlet’s late father, these words may summarise many tributes to duke of Edinburgh, amidst details of remarkable life three features stands out for me this morning. Despite severely disrupted childhood, prince Philip displayed enormous resilience fortitude all his days, persists of strong personality with inclination to lead, he learnt to act a loyal consort after his wife’s succession to the throne. And his links to people on land of Scotland where deep through Balmoral to Edinburgh university to his support to over 50 voluntary organisations.

Life is fast, technology races, but who is in control of what? Do I exist for the technology, or does it exist for me? 28/9/23

While the count down is almost over, by end of today, the pre-Xmas preparation will likely be completed, soon patient meticulous preparation energised by rising excitement, and I suspect, no little anxiety will mark tomorrow. I’m not referring the Santa who slide with his team of reindeers, I’m referring to those who have build James Web telescope named after the formal NASA administrator for the moon landing half a century ago.

Yesterday was the equinox, it's the symbolic reminder of passage of time from summer to winter, it's also reminder of balance, balance between night and day, darkness and light. This is a powerful metaphor for the fragile balance of our social world. One feel light of positive relations, but also at the same time, darkness, hostility, and violence. The light and dark not only exist outside of us but also inside each of us. Acknowledging the dark side, we're able to let our light, the inner light, as our quakers call it, shine more fully over it, and check its impulses. And thus prompt us to love open towards others.

The now pronounced downwardly carol on the branch of my Christmas tree tells me the holiday season is moving on. Transitioning from high point of Xmas in today’s date that marks endings and beginnings, edging our way from 2021 towards a new year. Yet another step into an uncertain future, marked by the stoic present threat of Covid, and by the hope might be lie beyond it.

Last week thanks for the organised festival by the Lunar calendar, it was festival of Hanukkah, it usually falls close parallel to Xmas, but this year it started at November. Like for many winter festivals Hanukkah is a festival of lights. For lights grow longer and darkness along with the chill seeps into diminishing daylight hours, life always seems a little gloomier and somehow more daunting.

We've got a word to describe this calculation, to speak of calibrate the risk, just enough to make a point but not enough to lead to disaster. But it's a dangerous business, it's not usual wars to started almost by accident. A line is crossed no one knew it was there, until tradings of insults gives way to total conflict.

There's a first time for everything. I've never brought chocolate for undertakers before. But they too, I realised, as we sat socially distancing from the weeping moaners, were risking their health to bury our dead with dignity and compassion. It's not as if I never met them before. My role as rabbi takes me to the cemetery too often. I never properly appreciated them until now.

On Tuesday, I spent most of the day listening, I was at conference of ministers and lay people. We gathered to explore ways of opening up churches to local communities, so they’re more engaged, inclusive. How to break down barriers getting close to people. Churches wrestles with these question all the time. But what struck me the most throughout the day was the emphasis on the act of listening.

Listening to voices of people with wider interests enable deeper understanding and border appreciation can be invaluable 8/7/22

As the doors of COP26 close, the climate change is all over the news. The need to limit global warming is the defining issue of our time, and the news of it can be quite overwhelming. So much changes needed. For my part, I find myself cycling through denial, lament, and desire for action. It can be exhausting. But last week I have got an unusual perspective, pilgrimage.

It's getting harder with each Thought4Day not writing about Ukraine. Not only because the war is everywhere, in news, social media, every minute, stories, videos, voices, streaming into our homes, and phones like a swollen river. Not only that, but because of the human catastrophe banishes so many other thoughts from my head.

Call The Midwife is one of my favourite TV series, on Sunday evening I sit and watch it as it beautifully captures the joy and miracle of birth. It also brings into sharp focus, the stark grim truth about poverty in east-end London in 60s, the limitations of medicine, the pain and suffering when babies and mothers do not survive childbirth. As well as where as power healing, simple kindness in faith.

Today is 14/7, which by French woman immediately says, Bastille Day, Bank Holiday, and fireworks. It takes me back to my school days. We always got taught that the day Bastille prison was taken by people of Paris, king Louis 16th throw the word, nothing, as his dairy entry. Of course historian taught us that his diary was only concerned of recording the royal hand. Still, it tells us something the king's field of vision, his priorities, what he saw and what he did see but choose not to see.

Last night marked the beginning of Jewish festival of Passover, which recall the saving of Jewish people from Egypt, which was to have all Jewish subjects killed. We celebrate by dressing up reading the book of Esther, making loud disapproving noises to blot out Haman's name every time it's mentioned. No guess whose name should be substituted for Haman today.

A married couple celebrated their 60th year anniversary, local newspaper headlined it “Love Conquers All”, indeed it’s a great feel good story of a couple who had a long and good life together. One thing that caught my attentions is they met as dancer in 1960s in Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom. The Beach Ballroom had been the remain of such central feature of Aberdeen’s life. I hear various stories that romance being kindled there in 60s, although others are taking a rather different memory from it as a place where they take their covid examinations.

love is not something that comes easy to people like me. It is too much bound up with duty. Love for God, that is simple. Love for your fellow man is also straightforward, if, generally speaking, quite unjustified. Love for a friend, quite easy although not without its complications. But love for a woman, ah, well now. That is the hardest, because it involves the carnal. Such feelings should surely be reserved for the low and unworthy. To love a fine woman is to bring her down to the gutter.



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As we've been hearing yesterday we went to the poll to elect those who will represent us as local councillors. Although local politics doesn't usually provoke the headline grabbing excitement of Holyrood and Westminster, the decisions they will make for us and our communities in the coming month will have a very direct impact on our everyday lives.

This year marks 700 year anniversary for death Italian poet Dante, series of special events and commemoration are taking place. He's best know for his DivineComedy, one of those classics that formed part of our collective memory, whether you read or not. If you ever whispered "Abandon all hope he who enter here." or heard someone say, "There's a special place in hell for the enemy." You are familiar with Dante. The timeless incite of his work speak to predicament of ours today. In our pandemic purgatory, we are with the poet when "midway upon life, I found myself within a dark wood for the right way has been missed." At its heart, DivineComedy is allegory for the individual journey to god. We journey with them through hell, with the consequences of our collective harmful actions illustrated in detail. Taking a detour pass special place reserved for corrupt politicians, and those put too much more stocks in expenses of others. Finally we ascend to the beatific vision of paradise where we experience divine union with God.

Everyone suffers grief and shocks in life at some time, whether it's by natural causes or accident, or incident, we all go through. Devastated as we are we try to find ways to carry on. The bible says a great passages about love. And now this three remain, faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of three is love. And these are the things that get us through.

This week has seen the reopening of number of kinds of business in the beauty industry, including nail bars and beauty saloons. The governments guidance describe the phased approach towards ease of lockdown by reference to goods and services that are essential, initially, only essential trade could continue, and now as lockdown eases, some non-essential services can resume.

In scripture, there's little about the Magi, but in Matthew's gossip he records that the trio never asked question "Where is the infant?" They set out following a star and were utterly engaged with an answer. This is a sense of wonder about their response, they trust in god however difficult the outcome.

Did they meant the way they looked? Three Russian cosmonauts arrived at international space station dressed in yellow flat suits with blue trim, to be warmly greeted by their waiting Americans and Germany colleagues. Might be only 21 days, blue and yellow had acquired huge significance for us, Ukraine.

I love sir Cliff Richard said this week of the time when he guided Dame Vera Lynn to the stage through crowds of battalions for the 50th celebration of VE Day in 1995. They were reaching out to touch and get a smile from Vera, he said, I heard the words, "God Bless You", "Thank you", "We love you." Of course, many of those first hearts to be captured by the forces of sweethearts, have long since gone ahead of her. But the fact that her most iconic song, 'When We Will Meet Again' is cherished, not just by the class of 38, but by their children's children, shows the power of a song to move us.

This week marks 700 anniversary of the death of Italy's most famous poet philosopher, Dante Alighieri, who died in excel from his own hometown Florence, his most famous work the Divine Comedy tells of an imaginary journey in the hereafter, from the horrors of the inferno through realms of purgatory, eventually reach the blissful splendours of paradise. Along the way, the stories he relates encompass all earthly activities, from political corruptions and other evils, to the pursuit if love, both human and divine. In essence, it's a treaty of medieval Christian believe on after-life. On the consequences of sin, the purity of god's unconditional love for mankind.

For the past week I’ve been isolating, having being tested positive for Covid-19, life being punctuated by illness, sleep, jigsaws, more sleep, hot drinks, and trying to decide what to watch on Netflix, an infamously indecisive, it’s all left me feeling not very festive if I’m honest.

As we remain consumed with grief and concern about war been waged in Ukraine, how do we make sense of this conflict, and who could we look into for inspiration and hope. I always turn to one of my heroes Oscar Romero, a saint of our time, during his time. During his three years as Archbishop of San Salvador, he became known as fearless defender for the poor and suffering. His work on behalf of oppressed earned admiration and love from communities he served, and sadly an assassin's bullet.

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.

Moment in calendar, presents an opportunity to be still, to notice, to appreciate change, and find beauty in goodness of everyday.23/9/22

Thanks to the dreadful Corrona virus, millions of people are suddenly forced to stay indoors to lock the world out, but some of us, daily life hasn't changed that much, I am a writer and like a lot of shy people I am used to be alone. Use could say, I have being self-isolating for 37 years.

I don't know about you, but I remember Soviet time thrown in Czechoslovakia in 1968 when topple the government. Of course I wasn't actually there, in fact I was only 7 years old, but the kids know what's going on much more than we think.

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.

Ramadan begins on muslin today observe a months fasting and prayer, it starts when the first crescent of new moon is sighted this week, our cosmic communisation with the end of Easter, which begins on the first film of vernal equinox, both are sacred seasons which are naturally coincide with hope and new life of spring.

It's a long hauled summer in Scotland and people have being emerging from lockdown to enjoy lochs, mountains, and coasts. It's no surprise we're long for contact with outdoors after restrictions on travel and activities were necessary. There's a growing body of research indicating that greater exposure to nature is associated with increase health and wellbeing. There's spiritual benefit too. A love of god's good earth can create feelings of all connections and gratitude, and inspire us to work to protect creation. As St. Benedict puts it, you'll find something more in woods than in books. Rain and storm will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.

Earlier this week the BRIT Awards celebrated its 40th anniversary through powerful music performances, and ask us to make social commentary on songs and lyrics. Music has always being an effective way of conveying emotions and concept, which would otherwise tricky to express, like songs about heartbreak or lost love speak of example.

And here we are the lingering days between end of Xmas and the prospect of a new year coming up to surround the corner. Time for Xmas movies, playing board games, and I do like the up-side-down challenge, and trying to social distance with the fridge, this is all the time look at the past and forward to a future, but with a pandemic seems to be unclear, we had nearly two years of being unable to know where we will be in 2 weeks time. So many voices are between anxiety that comes with uncertainty, not least my own boys, in his poem. Patric asked “Is the music playing behind the door of despair?”

One 1st April 1968, the reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assasinated. The civil right leadership has brought him to the city in support of ongoing strike by black sanitation workers. He's being about to lead their march in protest against poor wages and working conditions. Two and half weeks earlier he has delivered a speech on the intertwined nature of racial and economic injustice, telling crowd that all labour which serves and builds up humanity has dignity. He held up the striking sanitation workers as an example. Their work collecting rubbish is as crucial as doctors' in preventing spread of disease.

So much happening in the news right now, extreme climate events in America, Germany and else where, and all the misery that has got. Pandemic still has you and me, not quite sure where things goes from here, and how much longer we have to "endure". It's tough enough to get heads around, all it takes is just get through the day. All these extra anxiety, from events we have little or no control of, can start give us a bit of sinking feeling.

Does it irritate you when people mispronounce words, apparently that's a lots of people in recent poll has come up with 10 most irritating mispronunciations, there's some old favourites in there, "Percifically" instead of "specifically", "Probaly" instead of "probably". but my only irritate seems be around names, my denomination is perhaps unwisely call Scottish Episcopal Church, but it's often pronounced EpiscoPal, which sounds less like a religion more like a medial procedure.

Is it just me or our idea of moving much faster these days. We live in a technological boom, where we seeing things much quicker than ever before, but our interactions with people who's different from us everyday living, is also often fast. And the amount of stories we hear, people getting human interaction wrong are numerous.

We're on neighborly terms, them and I, we nod to each other, smile occasionally as we pass by but have no desire take our acquaintanceship further. I'm a stranger after all, they do not wish to burden me with their stories. If they did, what could I say, I would listen politely but could do little more.



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“Eating unites us all—rich, poor, stupid, clever, male, female, black or white. If you want to know someone, the first thing you do is to ask him to dinner. Eating is purely selfish, so a shared feast becomes a symbol of generosity and love. The symbol of Agape is not the act of sex but the act of nutrition. Just because eating is the one primal act common to all living organisms irrespective of species, race, age, sex, or consciousness, the one act in which, since we demand all and give nothing, we are necessarily completely alone, therefore only this act can testify to the utter dependence of all creatures on each other, to the fact that everyone is our neighbor."

NeighbourlyDining 30/12

It is often referred to as new normal, where people would be as frequently called “the other side of the lockdown”. It is pretty obvious that people’s confidence isn’t that high. And it is published yesterday that more than 60% of people would be uncomfortable to use public transport, or visiting a pub or restaurant, whilst around 40% expressed resolutions about going shopping or their children going to school, all ages were asked the question. But it was 18-24 year old who found the lockdown most difficult.

Newness of life proclaimed by Paul shall be celebrated by all of us at this time and all times. 22/8/22

What’s the pandemic has impact on all generations, the challenge that children are facing are not always recognised.

Marc's story of Jesus raise the woman from dead, 12 years old, being bleeding the same length of her life. What nourishment is called for in our times, and what to stand against the patriarch?

For those of us who've spent lockdown on our own, our pets have been a godsend. On more than one occasion, colleague has reminded me that I am not alone, I live with my cat. Oh yes, my feline companion, Sulla, adopted me in 2015 when I moved to Cork from Miami, and he turn 6 tomorrow. Sulla is named after the idyllic Atlantic island of Scotland. Sulla being a Gaelic word for bird, but in Punjabi it means to reconcile, bring in peaceful resolutions.

I'm probably not alone in being haunted by film of explosion in Beirut on Tuesday evening. The fearful images so powerful themselves, they also provoke a terrible sense of awe, that destruction and death rolled by apocolypitic suddenness of such violent event. Observing from a distance is bad enough, being there must be surely appalling at every level. 6/8/20

The old lady rest contentedly beside Heidi, the cook spaniel, where the facebook caption says, making friends, no language barrier. The story behind that picture is of a daughter take her elderly mother from desert on the black sea back to Edinburgh, but they ended up in Dublin, where one of my friend has taking them into her home. Now it's all about getting the Visa.

On a good day, enjoy yourself. On a bad day, examine your conscious. God arranges for both kind of days, so that we won't take anything for granted. 23/8/22

I began to ask questions, why is this happening, how can it stop, what can I do to help, God, where are you in this? I'm not sure I have the answers, but I think god cares. With all my questions, and 7 billion people in this world. It sounds weird I guess, but I still believe god sees me. He sees individual, he sees the one and later.

One Day, that’s the theme of this year’s holocaust memorial day observed from January 27th every year. One day probably in the not too distant future, there will be no one left to tell the first hands their harrowing story, of how they survived horrors of Nazi death camps. One day it would be left to us and future generations to imaging scenes that are impossible to imagine, the unthinkable cruelty and brutality of humanity in its most inhumane.

To conceal anything from those to whom I am attached, is not in my nature. I can never close my lips where I have opened my heart.



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It felt like a significant moment when heard the news of 1st phase of vaccine being rolling out. Significant, yes of course, but also time of our lives often in the shadow of COVID moves from months into years, it makes no immediate difference to anything while others remain unprotected, and human contact still at risk of all prospect.

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.

OriginalSin, in church that is how to call the prejudice 4/7

Jerusalem calendar week that recalls the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem, on the exile of Jewish nation by the Babylonian some two and half thousand years ago. The exiled were eventually return and rebuild the temple as the new testament narrative attest.

Over a billion people are enduring record breaking extreme temperature at Indian Pakistan, the heatwave said by scientist to be test the limits of human survivability. It's premature to attribute this solely to climate change, but it's consistent with what's known about we're altering our planet, heatwave are becoming more frequent and intense.

Focus of international search of 16th century painting worth millions, the master piece by Palo to express a story Jesus healing a man in Jerusalem, was purchased by Catherine the great and eventually gifted to museum in Germany, where it was last documented in 1904. But by that time, its true value has become much obscured.

Pain is but experience, connect with god helps us accept distressing situations with gratitude, and turn it into opportunity to re-discover ourselves. 29/6

Imagine today, taking all the eggs you have in the house, and all the meat too, and anything with fat in it, and making a great big dinner out of all of it, and then imagine, not going to supermarket to buy any of these things for the next 40 days. Well, that's what many people used to do. Because today, as you may already heard, it's Pancake Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday in New Orleans, or Goodbye to Meat Day like Venice, where they're famous for big street celebration.

Wake up, breath, thank you god for breathe;

This is a season to be glad, we're officially two 2 days in spring, trees are bloom, birds are nesting, and a long last light at end of dark tunnel of pandemic. As of yesterday, places of worship are open, albeit restrictions on numbers and necessary measure such as masks, sanitiser, and social distancing to protect ourselves and others. For the Jewish community this is particularly timely, tomorrow night we begin to observe the festival of the passover, we celebrates both spring and liberation, marking the beginning of barley harvest of ancient Israel, and commemorating the release of jewish people in captivity in Egypt more than 3000 years ago. The formal event on the first night known as the seder, is full of symbolism, that was devised by the rabbi, to encourage children to ask questions, so we can answer them with the story of Exodus. Everything we do read even at eat of the seder is design to remind the sight of captivity and joy of liberation. 11 breads to remind ourselves that Jewish people didn't find time to bake properly as they fled from slavery. Bitter herbs recalls the cruelties they suffered, salt water to represent their tears, the hard unflavoured Matzo is also a symbol of hardship, but we take with wine, recline on pillows and have a feast of meal to symbolise freedom.

Today should have being opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics. Japan has being gearing up for last 7 years to be focus of world's attention for The Summer's Game. And then the Pandemic stuck. Tokyo year 2020 has now being delayed to exactly a year afterwards due to begin.

Not means to like what’s happening, but this mind allows us to stay peaceful from unable to handle situation. Respond difficulties with negative thoughts, it never help, and often makes it worse. It’s like glasses makes view of reality distorted, and challenges seems greater.

I don’t know how you’ve been find news in the media for the last week, but when scrolling in mind, listening to the radio, and watching TV, I’ve been strike by the strength and breadth on contents on serious and important issue such as COP26. If entirely honest, I found overwhelming and anxiety do sink, so much so, that I had to disengage from social media quite lot news media outlets.

This summer Isle Martin in loch Broom on west coast is going to have its 1st resident living, on the 400 acre island in over 30 years. The island is owned by community trust, there's no running hot water only a small solar panel that might just power a phone, a laptop, or even some light. So it was utterly astonished when inundated with applicants when it was advertised for volunteers to keep 3 houses on island prepared for guest, clean the public toilet welcome visitors to this birds sanctuary.

This day concludes a month long of Ramadan, may your fasting efforts, prayers, devotions, over the past month be rewarded with happiness and well being. This years Eight comes again at extraordinary time, with COVID-19 still very much in our lives. But it also comes at a time of heart breaking unrest on one of holiest city on earth, Jerusalem. While the last week of Ramadan has seen disruption to Muslim worship happen at dome of the mosque, and wide spread violent unrest. The chain of events is multilayered, and the grievances behind these events are historical and complicated. But 73 years, the conflict has devastated communities and displaced populations across the holy land and beyond, and cost many lives and livelihoods.

20 years ago I knew very little about Afghanistan, head brutality of post-soviet regime wouldn't allow people listen music, stop girls from attending school, and routinely carried out act of violence against its citizens in the name of religion. But they all felt very remote and news are hard to come by. Now, news from Afghanistan arrives real time on our phones, TV screens. We're familiar with this far away land, perhaps we know people who serve there, or lost loved ones in conflict. We read books by Afghan authors, or scene portrait in popular films. We know more of this land and its people, and yet seems we are no closer to know how to help it to live at peace.

On the 24/12/1968, 3 men have seen something no human has ever seen before, Apollo 8 was coming out from far-side of the moon, suddenly the astronauts see the earth rise above the lunar horizon, half of it was lit by the sun. They could see the south-pole and the swirl of cloud and the bright blue of the oceans of our planet. A breathtaking light in the darkness of space.

I tend to love this time of the year, this part of the autumn. Despite the recent weather all altering rhythm of leaves changing colour, sunlight being different, in the countryside the sky is dark enough to see the stars by.

With pending election again I find myself begin to ask particular question, What is truth. It's the question Pontius Pilates put out during his trial, and at these days of fake news and alternative facts, it's a very important one; Now I suspect, all these piece of papers reading it one way or another contain truth, there're things lays in election material, but truth is very much matter of perspective. To Pharisees, their truth is very clear, Jesus is a danger to everything they hold dear. To Pontius Pilate, history assembles Jesus was threat to the peace. And because of these clear and simple truth, an innocent man get killed.

Like so many people I’ve been caught out by my laptop’s spell check program, I recently to “play” with someone who was ill. Of course I meant prey for, not my greatest hour. In the depth of contemplative prayer, people often find that sickness, reflection, anxiety, and countless other natural needs, keep them from hypes that they seek. But the writer on spiritual guidance written in late 18th century consults that you should remain contemplative prayer as it were earnest, or it were playfully.

A new study in shifting bird populations in Europe has found the numbers of house sparrow are sharply in decline. These small noisy sociable birds are familiar the world over, and be found in cities, countryside, and in our gardens, and yet, the number of European house sparrows has declined by 247 millions over the last four decades. And numbers of their cousins Tree Sparrows have also fallen drastically.

Yesterday the government announced the curriculum next year's GCSE has being amended, with Poetry being one of the topic become optional. This following the concerns schools may not be able to cover all areas, because of the pandemic.

Poetry, painting, baking, or in being outdoors, observe natural world, lift eyes from rubble, helping us discover joy of create, noticing beauty, and find hope. 29/9/22

One of sad behaviour phenomena of recent years has being the increase of vindictive, even death threats directed at public figures from people who disagree what they see.

Doing something I haven’t done for months, not a haircut, I’m afraid I was among the first in line for that on Monday morning, but a wedding rehearsal, a preparation for my first celebration of this year. Hopefully, as lockdown restrictions begin to ease, it will be the first of many, as couples who have been postponing their big day can at last, begin to make plan to celebrate. This particular meeting would be a quiet affair, still with only 5 people permitted in our vast cathedral. And yet somehow this is not so inappropriate, many of most important moment in the life of Jesus, including his birth and death, were witnessed not by huge crowd that followed him when the going was good, only by special chosen faithful few.

It used to be we make a noise to remember people during this year of Covid, we used to clap for carers, stand doorsteps banging pots and pans for frontline workers. It will stay with me forever, the sound of that cracking gust of applause from flats where I live. And the sight of people leaning out of their windows. But noon today, a year on from first lockdown, we remember in silence, we mark and moan all the lives lost. More than 126k people, a wordless, soundless act of remembrance for the dead. A silence of deep jaggy loss, the silence of incomprehension still, that how the world has changed. The silence of solidarity and love, of facing hardship together and supporting each other.

This week Tom Hanks received Oscar nomination for his role in 'A Beautiful Day in a Neibourhood', a film which is about open in UK. Hanks plays TV presenter Fred Rogers, the host of Mr Rogers' Neibourhood, a show which enthrolled millions of Americans preschool children for 30 years. In the US, Mr Rogers is a household name a thrown back to a forgoten friendly age. But the film is about his relationship with a journalist, who profiled him in Squire magazine in 1998, 3 years before his death.

Have you ever worried about losing it, or have you tried against the odds to pass it on to your children. This is UN's International Mother Language Day is all about. Where even Glasgow Banter being counted as a dialog.

It is said that the early summer is the time of year when Armies go campaigning. Well I don’t know about that, but it’s certainly the time of the year when prayer breakfast go breakfasting. What am I on about this time, well, every year about this time, there is a thing called national prayer breakfast, many folks get together in Edinburgh, Christian of all denomination and nun to pray. We invite politicians and business people and come from all over, and this year prayers breakfast is about to start, in fact, in about 40 minutes from now at 8 clock this morning. Does it involve prayer and bacon and eggs? Well, yes, usually they does, but last year and this year, the breakfast bed had been either virtual or homemade, as prayers breakfast has to be hold online, so it’s not only cholesterol free, also extremely low calorie. It also means that the emphasis has definitely being on the prayer and reflection.

We’re entering the season of Pentecost that marks the descent of holy sprit onto the first followers of Jesus 50 days after the resurrection. Often called the birthday of church. Scripture says those gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem felt the rushing of divine went from heaven, and were touched by sacred fire, is the holy spirit came to rest within them, and sweat them up to gods transforming presence.

As a child I want to play the piano very badly, my dream came true, now I play the piano very badly. Dancing, don’t even ask. So I am filled with wonder by two profound human stories from the arts over the last 10 days.

The current political events and debates emerging from Westminster and across the media, throw out questions on all of us, but what sort of society we want to live in? And what role political and social leadership have in shaping and forming our society. Questions about what we value, who we are, about what we do, about the way we want to live.

We're living in interesting times, I'm sure you don't need me to remind you of that, especially at 7:23 in morning. Pandemic has touched all of us, perhaps it's only when circumstances begin to ease, we discover precisely what we have missed during restrictions, families, friends, freedom, community. And as friend said the other day, singing together.

There has being a new hashtag appears on social media, one of those words phrases that flag up fashionable means. When I look at it 20 years yesterday, Don’t Look Up, I’ve been hash-tagged more than 200 times in the past hour, being a tide of disaster comedy movie, albeit the one with very mixed reviews.

In any other year, this jewish festival would lack atmosphere, mainly to remember events in ancient Persia around 2 and half thousand years ago, as biblical story describe.

One of remarkable story that came out aftermath terribly heavier of the few after England's defeat on Sunday, has been wave of people has flocked to Manchester club house mirror at midnight, they literarily covered whole area with cards and pictures of support. It reminds me a well-known passage from John's gospel, "The light shine force and the darkness comprehend it not" comprehend does not means to understand, as if darkness is somewhat plausible child, but rather overcome or contain. Here indeed that dark act has being overcome by those numerous positive acts. Quakers are often study John's gospel precisely because of this image of light, not so much of transcendent light, as in a light within all of us, which if we allow to shine, enable us well, overcome the dark side, which is in each of us.

You may already heard, her majesty the queen is 96 today, she's been queen for 70 years, by the time of her platinum jubilee in June, she will be the world's 3rd longest serving monarch. By the Christmas she'll be second only to one King if France, who top the league tables with a reign over 72 years and 110 days.

Quietly relax, turning attention inwards, amongst day dreams, anxieties, and self-preoccupied thoughts, there's space that's feelingful and heart-felt place, and that, is your own natural kindness. 2/1/24

As we continue to pray for the end of conflict in Ukraine, hopes turn to negotiations and peace talks, watching the images of destructions and devastation filled us with sense of urgency of immediate cease fire. It's hallowing to see millions of people force to flee their homes and cities, leaving everything behind to find refugee in other countries.

On my local church we just finished the sermon series on St. Paul's letters to the community of Philippians, generally accepted to be letters of encouragement. On the last part on Sunday the issue of happiness verses contentment arouse, and through that presume I've been reflect on this week.

Today the 1st Thursday of March is World Book day. Around country many Harries, and Hermiones, Peter Roberson, Gangster Grannies are tripping off to school. Dressing up to celebrate a favourite charactors is an engaging way to celebrate the fun of reading.

Parish council meetings tend to be pleasant and uneventful, conducted in a spirit of friendly civility, and deal with such hot-button political topics, such as responsibility for recycling bins, cost benefit analysis for fair-trade biscuits, and cost for double glazing... I'm sure if we have standing orders, if we do, I confess not having read them, please don't tell the chair person.

The sound of that banquet should feed them nothing but herbdee and muscles, because Sheld has that build-in carbon capture. Anyway as united nation sit down to

Free man after 44 years spent almost solitary confinement, his experiences tested his mental fortitude almost beyond human endurance. He had to dig deep into reserves of compassion and resilience, he never knew he had, and forced him to learn how to live the absence of human touch.

While that must have being weridest week of my life, for the past 8 days I've not being with a single human being, or at least not in the full meaning of the phrase. Yes, I talked to people non-stop, my eyes are watering from looking at the screen during online conferences, my left arm is sore from having a phone clamped constantly to my ear. But I live on my own, so have not being once in the same physical space with another person.

I was lucky enough to get my covid vaccination last week, it was a very interesting experience. First to witness such an amazing feel of our organisation. It was the SCC in Glasgow, so can you imaging, so many people there, help it to go smoothly all with smily faces, of course wearing masks. But we're now learnt smile with eyes and ear, I felt really cherished and cared for. Now when I left I felt less vulnerable. I had this strong feeling that it's all OK now. Governor's advice is to not change our behaviour, I know this. So what is going on with me? I realise although we still have to be super cautious, but this is definitely a big step in the right direction. This is all we want, isn't it? Just the feeling of moving forward.

Remember who speaks as a human, therefore, may make mistakes, misspeak, and be swayed by feelings and experiences.

On this Remembrance day, as we just had, I’ve been thinking about how things united us, and how we can work together, for the good of all, for the good of the planet, in the margins of COP26, I bumped into an old friend, who once like me, worked in the heart of United Nations, we briefly re-lived our glory days in New York, then talked about what actually going to be on the negotiations taking place. Because this time he’s in there, and I am not.

Resilience, that's the word I hear most often to describe stoic response to corona virus. But there's problem with resilience, the original latin means to recoil or rebound. Resilience suggests that we can spring back to where we were before, something which usually is simply not possible. Whatever ordeal we've endured, the future presence fresh reality in corona virus terms, it's our new normal.

It's been reported the damage done by the winter storm has been reassessed, whereas it has been thought 4000 hectares been affected, now it's seems that the true picture is more like 8000 hectares, or some 60 millions trees that are fallen. Scottish head of forestry operations said the storm has put demand on lot of pressure, but it had been up to the task, and the environment minister said the forestry sector had its mettle tested, had showed its resilience, is managing the aftermath very well.

The Scottish Greens minister has come under fire this week, for reported not to asking not for work 14 days straight during the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. Apparently the minister asked for 2 days off during this period, as well as time eat and no early starts for going workdays which finishes after 10pm. She’s being accused of being a Holyrood diver by some of her political opponents, following the revelation of these details.

I don't know if you're part of the shed evolution, the image of a ramshackle by a hut with few rusty guard and tools in it has become a thing of the past. This week seen the announcement of final ascend for "Shed of the Year" award 2021, and they're quite some thing. The shortlisting includes a hipster office, replica of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and no less than two Scottish chapels. Over the last year we all spend more time than usual in home. Some of us has to share a space more and feel the strain as the result. So perhaps it's no surprise that escaping to a garden shed and doing it up has become so popular. Whether it's somewhere to do DIY, read a book, have a quiet drink, a simple wooden structure can become a heaven.

The lockdown on places of worship has begin to ease, and after 4 months of attending online church, many christian are rejoicing as they gathered to celebrate the Eucharist. I remained at home still unsure how long it will be until I can safely join in person.

A recent exhibition of John Thomson’s early photograph from China are being exhibited in University. The Scottish photographer took photo on his visit to the Far East in 1862. The photos are the fascinating insight to the past. Some might argue that Thomson was incorrect to peer into this world as an outsider, whilst others may consider these photos a priceless part of material history.

The heaven has been set on fire this week, patches of social media has being blazed with debate about Gaelic language, later this morning, the university of Highlands and Islands were hosting public webinar on what's being called "Gaelic Crisis". The crisis codifies far more than langue and isolation. For example in this year of Covid, we seen rave homes more than ever snapped up as holiday house, leaving the younger generation priced out of their own communities.

After many weeks of wondering if the time would ever arrive, here we are on what the tabloid daubed Super Saturday. Like many of your no doubt have being wondering how the new normal might look in local cafes, restaurants, hairdressers, of course pubs.

Past few weeks being some kind of treat for sports fans, football, golf, cricket, rugby, and Olympics on screens. As if being provide something of hopeful distraction from more difficult headlines in the news. The withdraw of troops in Afghanistan has give me a lot of pause for thoughts. I know many folks who served in military, people who lost friends in that conflicts, and as Taliban gains ground makes people who served there wonder, whether what they did, what they suffered, what survived has been a good effect. In sports, it's easy to know what victory looks like, you have rules everybody agrees. You have criteria of success, be it fastest time, of most goal, lowest score, and in which time-limit to achieve it. And even if your victory is by fraction of a second, you know the difference between winning and losing. Real life is not that easy, because the rules keep changing. And in the place like Afghanistan, it's hard to know what victory look like, or when the work is done.

Are you an adrenaline junky? I am not. Watching some of the competitors in winter olympics has made me realised what a coward I am, I am a big fan of Terror Firmer, and more firmer than less terror.

In amongst all the news of current affairs in our country at large, Tuesday came with much needed good news, relaxation of most of the COVID restrictions in Scotland from the coming Monday, this comes just in time for our Scotland annual celebration of Burn’s Night, and Glasgow’s annual music festival Celtic Connections.

I was seated at a table in a quiet area in sport centre trying to read. A man was talking loudly on his mobile, which he had on speakerphone. I waited him to realise I was there, the either didn't notice, or didn't care. I sat there wrestling with desire to say something, but also fearing his reaction if I did. Eventually heart pounding in anticipation of confrontation and escalation, I asked him as politely as I could to turn it down, without breaking off his call, the man got up, walk towards me, give me a look of contempt, as though I was the one being rude, and then left.

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.

17th October marks 100 years of birth of one of Scotlands finest poets George Mackay Brown. Born in 1921, Brown had what was once very normal and a really extraordinary life. He was the 6th and youngest child, his childhood was steeped in Island gossip and story telling, where his imagination was fired by Orkney history, lores, and ancient sagas, as well as by elemental presences of land. He spend time in Edinburgh study English literature in 1950s, but afterwards returning to his native land producing critically acclaimed poetries, short stories, novels, plays for children and drama, nearly all of which were set in Orkney. He was completely uninterested in travel and literal celebrity, and remained rooted in that beautiful corner of the world committed to Orkney’s people and its rich history.

17th October marks 100 years of birth of one of Scotlands finest poets George Mackay Brown. Born in 1921, Brown had what was once very normal and a really extraordinary life. He was the 6th and youngest child, his childhood was steeped in Island gossip and story telling, where his imagination was fired by Orkney history, lores, and ancient sagas, as well as by elemental presences of land. He spend time in Edinburgh study English literature in 1950s, but afterwards returning to his native land producing critically acclaimed poetries, short stories, novels, plays for children and drama, nearly all of which were set in Orkney. He was completely uninterested in travel and literal celebrity, and remained rooted in that beautiful corner of the world committed to Orkney’s people and its rich history. Brown’s work has sustained me through momentous events in my life, and especially through the last year of pandemic isolation, having a baby and moving home. His work is infused with a deep catholic spirituality, and his tender compassionate view of human life has much to offer in the way of consolation at times of uncertainty or distress. Brown never preach us and he’s often very funny, but his work is imbued with a sense of sacredness of everyday, the preciousness of natural world, and the value of the past. His short stories are perhaps his best work, they full of fisherman and plows, saints, monks, and vikings. Read one and being transported to vivid elemental world. As itinerary of Brown’s birth, it’s no better time than any to get acquainted with his writing, his voice is prophetically for our time of emergency and cherishes human connection and beauty of the ordinary.

On Wednesday, the disaster emergency committee launched crisis appeal for Afghanistan, the country slipped into a wide spread famine, caused by combination of factors, the chief causes are the severe draught that is hampering agriculture the main base of the economy, and then packed with pandemic, but also freezing of the country’s assets, and the ongoing conflict. But Scottish and British governments are supporting the public appeal with substantial sums. In November the BBC report John Simpson told us about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, where starving families have resolved to sell their children to save, and save their remaining family. How desperate must parents be to resolve to these measures. But the need to survive makes people do the unimaginable things.

The biblical book of Proverb contain sage advice about words and how we use them, in likens of our prudent choice of words in certain situations to that of life being given water, providing nourishment. But it also says words can be like swords, wound, We are taught those who use words wisely, not only bring assistance to others but blessings on themselves.

Live music is one of the great gift of this life, which shared across humanity. Every culture, every generation develop their own signs and styles. Music is able to draw us in, to inspire us, rest our spirit and ease anxieties. It allows expression of self which can resonate deeply in the heart of a listener. If you give out words and melody that somehow articulate exactly how we're feeling, and it can evoke memories very deep within.

Our town is in one of those areas where extra measures being introduced for addressing increasing Covid cases. It's bad news, especially for single or older people who cannot visit each others' homes. But there's also deeper emotional impact. It may just be me, but I find it hard not to feel guilty. I always want to apologise to families and friends as if I personally responsible for the spike.

Scottish patron saint, St Andrew's welcoming personality in gospels had tighter grip of me than realised, be generous and inclusive. 30/11/22

Today maybe a bank holiday, but for many, it's hard at the moment, to distinguish one time from another. Accustomed routine to school and work, clubs in social engagements, much of life have lost shape. There's still be much to do, the dairy may even be full, and yet the focused attention we need to meet deadlines and find satisfaction maybe elusive.

Season for wait and hope. As anxieties fears part of 2022, waiting for brighter times ahead, hoping soon clear the darkness emerge into the light. 8/12/22

Since the end of lockdown, people working in public facing jobs, from NHS staff, to shop workers, has experienced hostility, verbal abuse against them. This is even more shocking when we remember, when it was only a year ago we all clapping for them. But today, we’re living in a pressure-cooker. Life is overwhelming, anger, frustration, fear, is all bubbling away. We’re bombarded with different opinions of what we should or shouldn’t be doing. Even with climate change, there are so many competing views about right way to attack it that we left lost despairing.

Seeing things from transcendent perspective, beyond football matches: who we are, where we really from, what counts in life's big beautiful game. 9/8/23

Season change like apt metaphor for this period of Lent, which began fortnight ago, which often felt as solemn time, a time of fasting, repentance, time of self-denial and spirit preparation, a time of penitence before the celebration of Easter.

It's been a momentous week for me, after 5 long months I got my haircut, it was desperately needed, on Easter Sunday, one of my flock made me laugh by saying, you're rocking the Suzi Quatro look. Secondly I got my first Covid jab, it was organised with military precision. As I registered I realise it was the first time since primary school that I stood in a line of people are all on my own age. We were getting the astrazeneca vaccine, as the queue moved along with surprising speed, we could soon overhear the doctor speak about the risk associated with the jab. Blood clots are extremely low risk, but feeling unwell for the next few days was common. As we all remain stoically in line, it struck me how amazing it was, that all of us are willing to have the vaccine, despite knowing we're likely to feel lousy for next few days, and for tiny minority it could be worse.

While the conversation is growing around the issue of violence and abuse to women, Scottish government task forces are currently examining the case for making misogyny as standing alone offence. So that which the UK Labour party also published in paper yesterday and also raised in queens speech. As often happens important issues like this arose I felt a sense of shame. Violence against women has being going on far longer than my life time, but it's only now that we even began to give it prominence it means.

There was a splendid interview this week with Actor Merianne Margolis, in which she proclaimed in relation to achievement of being so long with her partner, but what a remarkable person. It brought to mind another remark I heard recently as memoir service of a friend. Just before he die, he said, "I've being terrific, haven't I?!" Those around the bed, assumed he had, and indeed he had.

Sense of Home as the people we love, we feel safe with and assured by, where we declare ourselves welcome. 6/10/22

I was fascinated to read about a DJ, who has recorded the internal workings of 300 years old flour-mill in Suffolk, and turn it into music with visuals. Ben Osborn said he wanted to get people pay close attentions to ancient building, and bring its architecture to life.

When I was 7, two elder boy walking in front of me on the way to school asked me, "Are you United or City?" Referring to the two major football teams in Manchester. Mildly terrified, I said I didn't know. When they asked me again, I still didn't know. The next time I panicked, boldly asked them who they're supporting. And when they said City, I said, So do I. And we carried on to school. That evening I confessed my new allegiance to my dad, who quickly informed me, "No, you're United" And so began a life-time support for the Reds. Earlier this week while I was playing tennis, it started raining. Yes, here in Glasgow, believe it or not, I mentioned to a friend I was playing with, I held from Manchester with its proud tradition of rain, his immediate response was to ask me whether I was Red or blue.

As a huge fan of Novack Jocovic, I feel sorry about circumstances that led to his disqualification on Sunday night, in an act, borne of frustration, he hit a ball which bounce strike line women on the neck, breaking the basic grand slam rule against physical abuse staff. He apologised both at the time and later on social media, express concern for the injured woman, and relief she was feeling better.

Can this really be happening? Are we really in the verge of another war in Europe? The war to end all wars ended just over a 100 years ago, and yet was followed by another, just 2 decades later. Once again it would seems the sky above the continent is about to fill with latest weaponry. Humanities creativity focused on ever more ingenuous way of wrecking destruction and death on other human beings.

When Scotland won Six Nation on Saturday, after 38 years wait, I longed for our living room to be full of families and friends, all jumping up and down, hugging each other. That's how celebrating used to be. It made me remember all our agonising world of football matches, when Scotland raised his hopes and cast them down, over and over again.

Our shared humanity mean we are as one body, and suffering anywhere should be our collective responsibility.

When I heard the air raid siren in the news report from Ukraine, my heart sank. This is direct sound of my teenager years living in Bagdad during Iraq war of the 1980s, a war that seems to start suddenly between neighbours with history of antagonising each other. A war that lasted 8 years and at the end of it, no one won, but hundreds and thousands die, cities destroyed, communities displaced, and a legacy felt today.

So begins another day of visits by political leaders of Moscow and Ukraine. Maybe a slight pulling back but the stakes are still very high. The three words War in Europe dread in my heart I think in my time trenches and all the conflict, refugees trying to get ways to safety. Human cost and tragedies on all sides. Any sensible person would pray let’s not come to that.

Valentine's day. I don't know how you mark it or whether you choose it at all. Perhaps, you grab any excuse to show your affection to your loved one, or would you rather let it pass by. This year it feels particularly challenging, the usual way to show affection might not be possible, your loved one might live far away, or perhaps we experience loss, making a holiday we don't want to pay attention to.

During the Christmas season of advent which began last Sunday, we were presenting scripture readings that ask us to reflect the possibility of finding new life in unexpected places. The advent readings invite us to recall our faith history, to assume the disposition of people of Israel, waiting in joyful hope for the coming of the messiah as promised in old testament.

One often overlooked aspect of social distancing is at our habitual predilection to have a quiet word or two at someone else's ear, has in last 14 months been severely inhibited. Whether it's a piece of advice, warning, or a story about another person, it can only be repeated in hash terms, we've have to find other ways of communicating what we are transmitting in confidence. Bearing our finest inner thoughts, wherein the majority of cases no malice forethoughts, in other words, gossiping. One of many reasons we go to cafes, pubs, gatherings, generally, is to mingle with others, and hear that chant.

As we gradually emerge from lockdown, we have little idea of what the new normal might be. But whatever the future brings, the last three months has brought us face to face ourselves in sometimes challenging ways. For people like me, who have so far not fall ill with Covid-19, and who have spent lockdown in relative tranquility, there have being many opportunities for reflections and discovery.

"My name is Patrick, I'm a sinner, a simple country person, and least of all believers, and I'm looked down upon by many." These are the words of St Patrick himself opening of his confessions, his statement of faith.

It's easy in an age of constant communication to feel overwhelm by achievements of other, by the need to do great things. Yet, I do not think our life together as a society should be defined solely by great act, rather it is defined by daily life.

All the attentions of world media is focused on Melbourne, the ongoing trials and tribulations of Novak Djokovic. Our own Andy Murray was on court in Sydney doing what he does best. Easing, and chipping, and smashing his way to the semi-final of tennis competition.

Let me tell you about the rich, they’re different from you and me, that’s Gatsby begins its stories. Different they certainly are, a report just published tells us that a new billionaire has being created everyday of the pandemic, the wealth of the 10 richest people, that’s the likes of Elon Mask, Jeff Bezos, has doubled to 1.2 trillion dollars, while 160 million people have being pushed into poverty. Some called Windfall tax to readdress the balance, the sort of Robin Hood response.

Snow storm triggered unexpected joy and life saving connections between grocery delivery driver and an old couple by the road side, who opened their doors welcomed the stranger driver, and stayed with him for 5 days through the storm. When asked why they have taken him in, they said, "If it had been their child, they would want others to act the same way." This made me ask, in their shoes, would I welcome the stranger.

Two weeks ago, with a priest friend of mine, I drove over to a beautiful island Perbank near Swanage, and we walked across headline towards HarriRocks, the sun were shining we had great pub lunch. And as we drove back through M27, listen to the latest on the corrona virus, I began to felt a bit downcast: Would this be the last for a while we could do this. Little did we know then what was coming with all the current restrictions.

Some people stand alone because they are strong and disdain the world; others do so out of fear, desperate to belong and be accepted but not knowing how to do so, afraid of being spurned. With my quiet manner, it's easy to put me in the second category, but believe me, I am not.



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Audience merely thought it was stage entertainment, I knew how good it was, you see, and that was all that mattered. For a brief moment, the sound, the motion, the combination together changed the reality. And that is what dance is. Someone who prays with their movement, something an spectator can never do and a non-dancer can never properly understand.

I wonder what your favourite song is and where it takes you. I ask because yesterday's papers reported a study of more than 150 thousand songs, which found that sunny outlook of early pop has given a way to a more forlorn landscape, they analyse lyrics of top 100 selling songs in US for each year from 1965 as well as global hits. They noticed consistent decline the use of positive words such as Love and Joy, and consistent rise in words such as Hate and Pain.

I have coffee with a friend who's a singing teacher last week. We talked about how much we miss singing in a large group, making beautiful sounds, words in harmony with other people. I told her I sometimes worry that I will lost the ability to sing, that months of hymning behind a mask in church will mean my muscles forget how to form the shapes that produce a tuneful praiseful sound.

It was Franklin D.Rossevelt who coined the phrase, "1st 100 days" in the radio broadcasting 1936. And UK politics has in recent years taken on this American benchmark as a useful way to access the impact of an elected government. Today is day 1. The morning after the night before, and we're waking up to a conservative majority government led by Boris Johnson.

Galloway Hoard exhibition, mixture of valuable metal and religious artefacts, but some puzzles as well. There was two carefully preserved lumps of mud. So bizarre, when subjected to detailed chemical test, which suggest they're in fact earth relics. It seems pilgrim to holy land would rub earth on the shrines they visited, then bring the earth home as sacred memory of their trip. I know kids do something similar, collecting sand from every beach they visited.

After 2nd winter storm, some strong wind still forecasted today, it was only on Sunday night that the electricity was restored to all the 135 thousand Northern Scottish homes that lost last time. But amidst tradition of blame, spare a thought for whom we used to call the Hydro-boys,

As I strolled around city parks with my baby in the pram this week, I’ve been struck by the beauty and colour of cherry trees and field bloom. And I’m not the only one. Last weekend the national trust celebrated Bloosom Watch, as part of the celebration, members of the public going encouraged to share pictures of blossom online. Social media has been saturated sumptuous delicacy of pink and white cheery blossoms. There’s something really special about blossom. Every year it inspires a century’s old festival on Hanami in Japan. People gather together in parks and open spaces enjoy the beauty of blossoms. Food, drink, dance, and music were revelled under canopies of richly coloured pedals and buds for around a week, before they scatter, fall, and disappear for another year. Japanese verse cherished loveliness of flowers and bloom, while western acknowledging their impermanence.

Salisbury cathedral has just celebrated its 800 years since the lay of its foundations. It’s in lockdown now of course. But in more normal times, this is one of our most eluded ancient buildings, it inspire John Constable’s painting, which shows its 400 foot spire framed by a rainbow. The construction of the spire inspired a novel by William Golding exploring ambitions of those who set out to build at the time seems impossible. This spire also portrait the cost of realising those ambitions. Cost was not only financial but also physical and spiritual.

I wonder if you like your new online life, there're so many things to like, if you're working, you could be having cup of tea seconds after the meeting ends, no squeezing yourself into packed commuter train. And the choice to dip in and out whatever you like at any moment of the day, is by turn accelerating and bewildering. But I find that my eye hurt, my back gets stiff, I long to look at further horizon than the screen.

We're all wonderful, everyone of us. Now we don't heard that too often, do we? You see, we all have the ability to feel love, compassion, kindness, not just for those who're close to us, but for all others. But our limited sense of self thinks, no, that's not possible, while buddha says, we can. We actually do experiences. When we hear of tragedies of lives lost in floods or other disasters, we immediately feel compassion, don't we? It's just there, spontaneous caring.

Happy St.Andrew’s Day, for more than 1000 years St.Andrew has been celebrated in Scotland, his name has being mentioned in the decoration of growth, as Scotland special patriot saint. During the centuries, churches and cathedrals were built in his honour, kings and solders have called on his aid as they went into battle, and medieval pilgrims have travelled to this country from all across Christendom to honour his relics. Although the great medieval cathedral is now in ruin, and today’s pilgrims are much more likely to come with golf clubs than prayer petitions, his name still associated with university which became his final resting place.

Living as I do, close to the Euro fans zone in Glasgow green, made even easier to be caught up when atmosphere of eager anticipation that seem to infect so many of us yesterday and bought a sense of common purpose. If passionate desire alone shape the result, it would be a very different. Yesterday was also a reminder of the world we are still missing, not just football but in so many aspects of community life. Singing, for example, be it at football or in church, one of the ways we express ourselves and our belonging together that's been painfully lacking under Covid rules.

Last night we arrive back home after spending a week in Paris, Audrey Hepburn once said, Paris is always a good idea. and so it was, not least because it gives us precious privilege to be with our daughter who we haven't seen for almost a year. To be able to spend time with loved one after an enforced period of separation is an indescribable emotion of joy and relief. Over the last 18 months, so many people have been rob that opportunity, at critical, or important, tragical, as well as happy moments in their lives with those family and friends. In too many cases, suffering loss of human contact has been traumatic.

At 5am yesterday, a risen statue appeared at central of Bristol. A slave trader was replaced by Jane Rid, a BlackLivesMatter protestor. She stood on a plane for her way back from a match on 7/6, yesterday she said, this sculpture is about making a stand for my mother, my daughter, the black people like me. The sculptor is Macqueen, who's previous work includes inspirational statue I walk pass many times that was for two years in the Square, Alison pregnant born with a condition means she has shorten arms and shorten legs, she said more than once, I love my body, I'm not shamed of it at all.

As Glasgow city church centre closed to COP26 raises a sign which also raised a few eyebrows, it claims the world's most urgent need for this church is to preach

Stewards of Eden is our role given by God 4/11

The community in Applecross Scotland has asked to be withdraw from NC500, the North Coast destination that puts them on tourist trail. The issue comes up because too many tourists are going to Applecross, and putting pressure on local infrastructure, especially on the narrow roads, which is the highest, steepest path of UK, enjoyable for spectacular view, that if not stuck. it's quite understandable dividing the community.

Lockdown wonderfully is easing, the successful vaccination program is bring hope, but covid still stalks us, the horrendous suffering in India reignites fears, and life remains hard. When our youngest daughter is just three, she out of blue announced, “You know praying,” as she then called Prayer, “It’s just talking to God.” I was left dumbstruck by her insight. This wee child had an instinct describe the heart of prayer. That is about relationship with god, who we can chat to as easily as we can to a close friend. I also must admit that I was heartened that our chatterbox find someone else to talk to too. But just as it is with good friend, words are not always needed.

Two years ago tomorrow, first minister warned us on no certain terms that restriction we're still facing in the days ahead would be, stringent, difficult, and unprecedented. In London, the prime minister said, I know the damage, and this disruption was doing and will do to people's lives.

Over the weekend tribute has been paid to actor Sir Anthony Sher, whose death was announced on Friday. I was fortunate to see him perform once, it is one man adaptation of a survivor’s account Auschwitz, on a bare concrete set with only a table and chair, he held the audiences’ attention for 90 minutes without a break. Story he told was not grant historical account, but detailed description of one man’s experience of daily indignity and horror. He spoke of the removal of personal items like reading glasses, the importance of finding and keeping sturdy boots, the feelings of shame live as experiences as a survivor. Anthony Sher’s performances has remained with me, because offered a picture of one man’s ability to endure the most inhuman experience, and to try to make sense of it.

Last week a junior doctor caring for patients with corona virus wrote a profoundly moving article. He describes his experience of listening to the daily press conferences, politicians, he said, seems almost god like to him, offering their Birdseye view, the politician god must map, plot, plan, intervene, and turn the tide. But contrast, he talked about how un-god like and vulnerable he felt. His time now filled with constant tension to the smallest most detail tasks, one patient at a time, listening, observing, adjusting, gently moving.

Born inner Mongolia of China from a Chinese military dad and Mum of obscure origin. Mongolian or USSR (Soviet Union) was what she interchangeably referring to according to situation mainly for avoiding political persecution.

I was fascinated to read this week a couple who successfully walked 40 miles in a straight line, in the path of Scotland, without cross any paved roads. The line on ordinary survey map without path. And you just have to navigate through whatever is in front of you to keep a straight line. You probably think of straight line as being something easy to navigate, this is anything but. It meant climbing up, or down steep rock faces, wadding through water, moorland, high heather. And it's something they were pleased to achieve, but not something they'll do it again. The lady said the simplest idea of walking in a straight line isn't always the simplest thing to do.

Strength and purpose in the years to come. As always, time and future will tell. 1/7

Two years ago in Edinburgh festival, city was heaving with tourists and street performers, as I pass a young woman step forward and held out something towards me, it was a small square badge, on it were two lines of words of capital letters. In red at the top with the words, "I CANNOT GO ON", below in white, they changed to "I'LL GO ON", Edinburgh as last return a festival city again. And I never forgot that encounter, the badge was advertise an installation by an artist, he designed a huge neon sign with the words from Samuel Beckett, "I cannot go on, I'll go on." The artist said it spokes to the world what he calls chaos and confusion of the times. That was 2 years ago, before the chaos and confusion of Covid, and the overturning of much we thought we knew about ourselves and the world. Now the words stands out even more strongly. The fact that Edinburgh festival are back, albeit smaller in scale and different, it's testament to the unquenchable spirit and determination of artists, performers, and organisers. They've kept going through dreadful times, to bring back theatre, music, and dance, stories, imaginations, the things we need to help us understand, and question the world.

Striking a right balance between information overload and complete ostrich behaviour, knowing where and when to find out more is the key. 14/11/22

When I was preparing thought for the day a year ago, which has became the first thought of lockdown in an unprecedented year in peacetime. Over night, the freedom we took for granted ceased, we were forced to live differently, each of us has a story to tell, I guess that, even as I speak, your story maybe forming in backdrop to my words. There will be sorrow, sadness, separation, there will be resilience and endurance, and the long slog to suppress Corona virus until arrival of life saving vaccines.

Superforecasting. It's a great word and it's something many people learnt about for the first time this week. The term was coined by the Canadian-American academic and political thinker. He noticed some people just have a gift for predicting the future, in almost any subject area regardless of their level of expertise.

It's been a long dark winter, and whatever the joy this spring brings is bountiful and unbounded. April in Scotland has come with beautiful warmer days, and the characteristic signs of Spring, the first smell of freshly cut grass, and field full with snowdrops, primroses, daffodils, and even bluebells. They could hardly fail to lift the spirit. And for so many of us, our spirit need lifting.

I confess I've been ambivalent when it comes to Rugby, partly because my school made me play instead of football, which I thought is pure snobery at the time. It didn't help either I injured my neck scarily when the scrum collapsed.

"The end of civilisation as we know it." John Richard, funder of the apostrophy protection society has concede defeat. Grammar is dead. When I was an agony aunt, I received a letter from St. Paul's girlshool, you know the word apostrophe? I asked my editor. I just being told our new address in Diane Feckerage Parsons Green has none. "I was at St. Paul myself." she said. Years later, our youngest daughter's girl school launched its logo with apostrophe. Unlike St. Pauls, perhaps didn't trust their parents to get it right. In a sense such attention to detail couldn't matter less. The abbreviation of text speak, you and U, 4 and 8, does create innonvation, grammar cannot die while humans talk.

This morning, British photographer and film director Steve Macqeen has unvealed a massive art project in the Typo gallery and Billboards across London. The project is titled Year 3 and it comprises photos of more than 76,000 children from London primary schools. They are standard school pictures, teachers sitting among rows of pupils. It's the contents rather than the style which celebrates diversity of children from all kinds of backgrounds. McQeen says his attention is to encourage children to creativity by engage them with art.

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The evening after election I was singing carols in Westerminster, all that day commentators have being talking about the seismic shift in north of England. The minster in York soon to be the venue for the installation of Steven Cultural as 1980 archibishop of York was built at the time when the north was centre of power, now it's a region, still pround, but aware that the seat of power had floated from the Woods to the Thames.

I'm about to experiencing something biblical propotions. It has nothing to do with floods, it's about numbers. Within 24 hours, I will be 3 scroll years and 10. I'll be one of the aging population. But I always have being. Any baby born a minute ago will currently be aging at the same rate as their great granny.

The tragedy of another terrorist attack at London Bridge has political debat of series questions of invest in and policies on Prison Probation and Justice. It underneath the fear of future incidents, remains the deeper issue of the rehabilitation of real offenders, whether individual could be redeemed.

This morning a ComRes survey for the BBC was published into what we think right and wrong in Britain 2019, based on interviews with more than three and half thousand adults each 16 and over. In many respects, it's uplifting, the majoring of the people say they have strong sense of right and wrong, 70% say it's important to have moral frameworks for your life, and very tolerate almost 17% people say people should be free to live their life as they want, as long as they don't harm others.

On Saturday, the flim Blue Story was banned in a number of cenimas following a brawl in Berminham. Cenima says they took this decision because the risk of further violence. And some have said rereleased the film with a number of security measures in place.

Black Friday in America after Thanks Giving has become the feast of shopping. This year, it falls couple of weeks before this country goes to the polls. Black Friday and the Election Day had one thing in common. They're both the celebrition of our ability to choose. The items, many of us put in our shopping trolley represent choices we make don't matter. After all, one fall slice of ivory toaster is very much like another. By contrast the cross we put in the box on election day represents the choices we made that do matter. Because the different political party protray rival notions of human flourishing and how to achieve it.

For the 4 artists nominated for this years Turnner Prize, followed conversation, they quickly decided they didn't want to compete against each other. They asked to be judged as a single collective, and this week, the prize was shared between them.

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.

Some may have noticed I was cut off from broadcast of last Tuesday, although reference was made to the line being lost, the truth was just as I was about to launch into a great call to the late Desmond Tutu, I got a little over exuberant, and knocked my phone onto the floor, thus cutting the connection, not a great start for the year, professionally.

Some years ago I works in Manchester, I had an office which looks out toward Pine Nales, there they were everyday, green, grey, shruded in misty, or white with snow. It reminded me of the Psalm, "I will lift up my eyes onto the hills, from whence come with my help."

There's very human need to reconnect with loved ones, is the reason why the TV program Repair Shop has become such a compulsive lockdown viewing. In it, people bring in cherished items for restoration, later, they return to repair shop retrieve their mental possession, then the tear starts, the feel of the leather or the word, the sound of mechanism or the chain, the smell of the inside, or the fulfilment of a promise to a long dead father. It's like having trance they say.

The acronyms D.G.REX.F.D stand for by the grace of god, king, defender of the faith. 3/10/22

The basic human truth here is we only become full round and mature if we move outside ourselves in openness to others. 23/5/23

The journey of a pilgrim in spiritual sense, is a journey inward, to mine the deepest resilience of your soul. 1/9/22

The sky is white as clay, with no sun, work has to be done. 12/8/22

The story in bible believed that civilisations are always confronted with challenges. 29/8/22

These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also. 25/8/22

This life is a gift, but not a given. 26/4/24

Thrived we shall, at World Cup moments, when we were set alight to witness miraculous and be part of massive tribe, in presence of sacred. 7/12/22

Last week I discovered, or rather rediscovered two of the best gifts I was ever given. On Tuesday my colleague and I decided to close our office and work from home, by Wednesday I learnt that all my engagements should have kept me on the road until June had being cancelled, and that I have time in my hands.

To confront our mortality, imperfection, sin, the most unpalatable aspect of Christian faith, comforts me, because person kneeling next to me, is as fallible as I am, as dust. 15/2/24

While we shop online as much as we can, but I buy online too, and I read the website review when I do. Here's my tip, read the one star reviews first. Sometimes they're so awful, that reassure you there can't be much wrong with the product. "This Italian DVD is Italian, I'm not kidding." "This rice cooker wouldn't cook my potato." In the news again our fake five star reviews on website of products and services posted by or on behalf of the sellers themselves.

Out at back of the house, there’s a horse chestnut tree, and its leaves are almost out, but if you look at the old oak trees, there’s hardly a sign there spring is here. What we have here is perhaps the nature’s version of risk assessment. The horse chestnut comes out early take advantage of lengthening days and hoping there won’t be any devastating damage from frost, the oaks are still comtemplating dangers over, and it’s safe to start puting out leaves again.

Over the last few weeks I found almost everyone speak to tells me they had enough work from home. Initial novelty of the situation when home became container for our whole life was met with both humour and despair. But after a year of various strain and stresses, the physical world of work, commerce is again opening up, hopefully, this time for good. Not everyone is rush to return, and of course, it's not everyone is fortunate to have a work. Many continue to struggling losing their job and income.

Last week I attended a clergy training day here in Edinburgh, the coffee breaks for such day are great opportunity to catch up news from priest of other parishes.

So tells the story of a king who witness a scene of ruthless villan, beating and degrading, the personification of Dharma. The king immediately arrested him and is ready to punish the villain. So they ask Dharma for his testimony, "tell me perpetrator of your suffering." Now Dharma has satisfied the justice has prevailed, the criminal has being apprehended and is no longer danger to society. So he uses the kings question to explore how he as a victim may cope and move forward.

For the first time in my life, I'm going to plant a tree, after 27 years of living in the top floor flat, we've moved. We've got garden now, so the moment has come. And something else has changed. When you young, trees are for climbing, we have a huge tree at back of our house, we used to race to each other to the top, and stand at the highest branch surrounded by big flappy leaves.

I'm thinking about the song from Caberai, "Money makes the world go around". Of course it's the laws of gravity that do, but we get exactly what the song means.

It's Monday, wether we're working or furloughed, on the frontline or multitasking at home, many of us beginning this week tired after another not quiet weekend. It seems our initial energies to find new routines and ways of coping challenge of this virus and its restrictions are running low. As it begins to daunt us just how far the horizon might be, of a return to some kind of normal life. And just how many phases of adjustment there maybe ahead of us.

Recently trust has taken a bashing, both trust in the media and also in other people. This week the Oxford university royal institute for the study of journalism found that only about third of us trust the news, with a significant reduce in trust over the past 4 years.

Trust crisis of Western Democratic world, moral effort need to be made from each and everyone. 13/7/22

Over the weekend I was at the checkout of my local supermarket, when the sales assist adjusted his mask away from her face for couple of seconds, saying, “Sorry I just need to breath, it’s get so warm in here.” I sympathise with her, as she sat in her small behind the tell continue to chat away about her shift, and how she was resigned to wear masks for as long as rules are still in place.

Today as marks of being of a festival in space and science for Big Bang week. And this year Scottish astronomer royal hymn is to celebrate the works of James Clerk Maxwell. Maxwell is a not well enough know 19th century's Scottish scientist, his work as according to Einstein the basis of thesis for relativity, and it paved the way for the Big Bang theory, which stated that the universe in fact billion of years old rather than biblical belief, only a few thousands.

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tunes without the words, and never stops at all" says Emily Dickinson, and you hope she's right.

Now that we entered March there may be a little brightness in our week at the moment, but the news of these days bring in darkness of its own. Seeing images of a war unfolding in Ukraine, at one and same time confront us with a challenge. Feeling intimately connected with the horror we observed, and yet being able to watch at safe distance. Our inter-connected world with all its technology allows us to stream stark scenes and see the pictures of reality of war and its consequences, leaving us feeling both disoriented and disempowered.

A new Matrix film has opened premier this week, 20 years after the original trilogy stunned millions fans of its grand mind benders, science fiction, expose action, and philosophy. Story of Neo, an alienated hacker convinced the world wasn’t as it seems, who maybe the prophesied One, to librate mankind from the suppressors, technological dystopia inspired a generation.

This year's Noble Prize for literature has been awarded to US poet Louise Gluck, I never heard of her before, but I spent last few days dipping into her poetry, and beginning to get a feel for her style, evocative, and unsettling, at times, terrifying, with some illusive presence whispering just beyond the reach of language.

Until we figure out how to manufacture love, we humans have something to offer that no machine can replace. 21/11/23

Curiosity fatal for cats, marks out human as a species too, things spark our interest... But it gets us started and takes us so far, but to get beyond that, and build on it, takes perseverance.

Friends a mine who climbed Ben Nevis last week was surprised, to find a banner at the summit, this was to advertise a far right group that he never heard of. I know there's a piece in the news about another group that I never heard of in America, called Deselect Nation, which described as white national movement. On the other side of the climb, there are a number of far-left groups, who are committed to revolutionary Maxim. A way back to 1945 some two years before the discovery of dead-sea scrolls, there's was another found ancient manuscript, and the writings of these scrolls are often dualist in nature, that is to say, they don't have belief in one god, but rather in two, one good and one bad. This satisfies the human conditions that seeks to identify with the agreed. You see yourself as being one of the children of light, then you see others are children of darkness. It's here that religious intolerance raise its ugly head.

We communicate through words, both written and spoken,

Today is Valentine's day, traditionally associated with expressions of love. I wouldn't normally speak about it because it's not a Jewish day. It's history goes back to early Christian martyns, then the age of chivalry, to Chosha, to Shakespears Philia. It's a lovely day, just not ours.

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.

I have a confession. I forgot while I was on the on route to Thought4Day today, so yesterday morning when a text arrived wondering what I was thinking about, I

Early this week, the children's author Michael Rosen spoken on this program of survival in Covid-19 to be on a ventilator for several weeks, he said he felt feeble and lopsided, and you could hear his voice cracking with strain and emotion of that trauma, as well as gratitude towards those who save his life. Asked if the experience has changed him, he said, it had showing him vulnerability is part of life, not separate from it.

Another steps towards normality. A walk with couple of more people may feel like what we really need, particular a year being cooped up or forcibly separated from folk we love, our longings go deep, we realise how much we relies on social interaction and simple human touch, things we've take for granted until they were taken away.

War and Peace, over recent months, I've been reading Tolstoy's epic novel, about Napoleon's invasion in Russia. Over 1300 pages in my copy of paperback was thick and heavy that I have to borrow my wife's hair drier to melt the glue that bounded all together, and separate it to four parts to render the experience of one more of reading than weight lifting.

We are not god, but we are not nothing, if anything taught by palmist or space telescope. 21/7/22

We live our lives in stories, constructed narratives that make sense of the past, but faith has something else more tentative and more tender. 22/3/24

Former US police officer Derek has been convicted of murder and manslaugter by the death of George Floyd, a death ignited a world wide reaction with people taking to streets and calling for action against racism. It sparked a reckoning of our past. We’ve came face to face with how racism still has a hold in society and stories we’ve heard have been painful. This was echoed by president Biden yesterday when he spoke of the pain and exhaustion that black and brown minorities experience every single day. At the core of these protest is a desire for us all, especially black lives and minorities to feel secure and supported. I was left quite emotional after seen a photo being circulated last night of George Floyd as a toddler, being cradled by his late mother, the image of him being held close to her as he slept, her smile is a powerful one. Especially when as we reflect on George Floyd’s final words, “I can’t breath.” and his death plead, “Mama, mama.” Today is also international Mother Earth Day, a day for us to reflect on our connection to our environment, and we’re been called to action, to care the safety security of our earth. UK secutary general has said, We must act decisively to protect our planet from both corona virus and the existential threat of climate disruption. It’s made me think the way we treat one another and how we treat the earth are connected. Our responsibility to act with compassion and love, in a way that’s moral and spiritual. One thing we’re learning during this pandemic is that we might all be in this together, but our lived experiences are vastly different. By rising awareness of these issues and thinking how can help care and support one another, we’re moving in the right direction for positive action.

A few weeks ago I was asked what I was hoping for. I was taken by surprise the fact that I couldn't automatically rail out a list of things. At times of crisis, I felt that descprate sense of hope for things fall outside of my control, the hope of having a family, a home, a dream job, the hope of healing and recovery for loved ones facing death. But in that particular momment, I hoped for nothing. I realised this lack of wanting hadn't come out sense of profound contentment, but instead represent a feeling that perhaps hope was futile. Perhaps I hope for nothing, after saying prayers never answered, wishes never granted, flashbacks of hopes never realises.

We travel for Romance, for architecture, for the feeling of being lost, and hopefully left some good behind. 22/7/22

Yesterday we were given news of report on covid vaccine which is sobering to say at least. It suggested the efficacy of vaccine declines with time, which raises the possibility of another dose. But that report also found some people who are on immune repressions, may have little or no immunity at all by taking the vaccines. There are many people I know who have arthritis, transplants, or other sickness require use of immune repressions, and for those people, whilst for many of us start to enjoy some of the freedom we've lost, while their shielding maybe permanent. This make it especially difficult that we're not all in the same boat. It's very hard decision have to be made during this pandemic, and I don't envy those who've have to make them. The balance between civil liberty and communal responsibilities has been at height of public than ever before. Do we risk creating more vulnerable people due to loss of income or jobs, or mental health in more lockdowns, or do we protect the medically vulnerable at all cost.

A Noble winning professor, and an elderly clergy man, and a boy scout were in plummeting helicopter with only two parachute between them. The academic seized package said he was the cleverest man in the world and jumped, "My child," the priest said, "I've lived long, I'm going to heaven, you take the other." "Chill, said the boy, the cleverest man in the world just jumped out with my rocksack.

Government has launched new heath campaign to encourage us to shed some pounds. It's a mix of better information, regulation of advertising, and opportunities to exercise. And the context, obviously is COVID19. Being overweight, says the expert, put you more at risk which is why "Buy one get one free" deals of unhealthy food would be banned, as part of government act to tackle obesity in England, and junk food adverts would be banned before 9pm in the UK.

I've got Mongolian blood, Russian blood, and Chinese blood, even one percent of Mid-east blood, I don't how I am now sounds like fucking Scottish, I think it's just like any other stories that gonna put a lot of people off when researching their own family trees.

Whatever the challenges, there's music for every moment, making lows bearable, highs memorable, brings joy strength and peace. 22/11/23

When legs frail, he taught more, listened more; when hearing went, he prayed read more; when sight diminished, he remembered more and shared more; 27/4/23

Quarantine, Social-distancing, you need to turn the mute button off! Certain words and phrases crop up more often in this uncertain era. But the one I noticed the most is this, "When this is all over..."

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

Whether a Nessie believer, perhaps there's some wisdom, and even joy in embracing mystery. 31/8/23

Covid has changes lives of all of us, constrains what we can do, anxiety, and for too many, painful bereavement. We tend to focus on figures and statistic, including of course very hopeful vaccination figures, but we need to hear the voice of lived experience of people, and not just in our relatively hopeful context. I was fortunate to travel a lot as a church leader, I have friends and contacts in many places, and I listen to their voices from Brazil, where there has been 10 million cases nearly half million dead, a friend says, "it's sad to hear as increasing pace, the people we know including friends relatives are dying because of the virus" another in South Africa said "We used to hear figures, and now we know names".

Shocking pictures emerged this week from our northern neighbour Faroe islands, over 1400 white-sided dolphins were killed with knifes being driven ashore, turning the water to red with blood. It's part of century old communal hunting practice, which locals argues as part of their culture and livelihood. But this week's largest killing of the entire super port of these intelligent sensitive creatures was acknowledged, even by the chair man of local whale association as wrong and excessive. In our part of the world, coastal communities from millennia fished, and hunt, whaling was practised from bronze age until as recently as 60s. It's easy to understand our ancestors supporting themselves in tough environment, and making the most of resources and surrendered them. Nowadays much more is known about the sentients' capacity to suffer, even possibly culture and language that other wild life possess.

While living as I do in remote countryside, when the season of spring is in full flow, I start to get itchy feet. The hills around me call me a bit, I have a desire to get in the middle of nowhere, to be in the wild.

The 18th century is not just age of revolution, exemplified by American independence and Napoleon's France. It is also a period of great science advancement, huge leaps were made in human understanding of nature world around us. Things had previously being assumed to be random, or acts of god discovered to be the effects of universal laws, often expressible in terms of mathematical formula. On the basis of these laws, it became possible not only understand the presence, but predict what might happen in the future.

Through window of this room in York I can see a neighbourhood school. It's the source I confess mischievous remark I play on visitors, I invite them to guess the year of the school's foundation. Generously promise full mark for anything within a century.

Wisdom and grace, to use the right of the time that is left of us here on earth. 21/9/22

I don’t know about you, but I really didn’t expect yet again facing such uncertainty of Covid, increasing restrictions, the likelihood of even bigger wave coming, and plans we all having for Xmas feeling ever more fragile are yet again on shifting sands, everything not is we unexpected.

Wondering curiosity, mind full questions, heart open to friendship, hope still be child-like even at end of life. 16/8/23

Yesterday the BBC interviewed several people recently lost their jobs as result of Covid 19. This comes as people are talking about the looming cliff-edge, when unemployment is set to worse as furlough scheme winds down. Restaurant, retailers, raft of UK businesses are already planning job cuts, with approximately 140k redundancies announced in June alone.

Work nourish the souls, we need meaning as well as money, catechism of book of Common Prayer. 4/1/23

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

I'm reading yesterday about a young man in England was found guilty of downloading thousands of white supremacist documents and bomb making instructions. Jury convicted him of possessing information likely to be used for preparing act of terror. But the judge thought differently, he considered the young man was lonely and misguided, and not intended of causing harm. So he gave him a 2 years of suspended sentence, and told him to engage with great literature, instead of trolling the internet for right wing hate, he was ordered to start reading the classics, Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, Shakespeare, and come back a few month to talk to the judge about them. The story reminded me of my uncle who was a sherif, who's known for issuing unusual punishments, one time, a man appeared to his court convicted of stealing a flute, and my uncle told him to go away and learn the instrument and then come back and play a tune in court, and he did.

"Where are you going to spending Christmas?" it's the beginning of every conversation these last few days, but it names too halves of a paradox.

Being in the public eyes is clearly very uncomfortable experience, unimaginable by those who haven't experienced it. Watching the strom raging around you, everyone have an opinion on your appearence, your behaviour, person, and value, can be debilidating even for the most experienced heart-beaten individual. You feel powerless to correct misinformation, misjudgements. 10/1/19

A chatty person normally wears his dry west coast humour, but that morning she had no words. After a few moments of silence, I said, "It's all bunkers, isn't it?" She laughed with relief in her voice. When I marks how things are I reply with ridiculous line, "I'm living in the dream." At least it make folks laugh, but it underlines reality we all struggling to find the words to express how we feel. Mental health experts rightly raising awareness of devastating effect pandemic is having on people's mental health. We're all encouraged to talk about how each really feel, cause when we do it helps relief the burdens we're carrying. But what happens when we have no words, or the words we do have we are afraid to say, because they are shocking in their desolation and despair.

Are we chasing unrealistic aspiration of youthfulness as we getting older. This is the question has emerged after American actress Cockney Cook said in interview that she was left feeling more grunted after accepting cosmetic injections have left her looking strange. As near to her 60th birthday, the friends reviewed her scrutiny of being in the public eye has adding pressure of looking young.