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I learnt a new word last week: ‘conjobbling’. According to word guru Susie Dent its 19th-century English dialect for getting together for a good natter (or gossip), usually with a bite to eat. Last Tuesday it was great to conjobble over an al fresco lunch (which was very good) at the Ebdon Arms (in WickContinue reading “A little bit of conjobbling …”

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus  –  Happy St.David’s Day Most people reading this will be familiar with both the Daffodil and the Leek being symbols of Welshness. But Kellogg’s? The story goes that while touring the USA in the 1920s, Welsh harpist Nansi Richards, visited the (Michigan) home of the American industrialist and inventor William Kellogg.Continue reading “Daffodils, Leeks … and, er, Kelloggs?”

Yesterday Helen & I broke with tradition and instead of pancakes we had Welsh cakes. Delicious! Hot off the griddle and, unlike pancakes, what we didn’t eat went into the freezer so that tasty treats would be available in Lent – which is yet another break with tradition. During Lent the tradition is to giveContinue reading “Were you ‘shriven’ yesterday?”

It’s happened again! A news item telling us that something happened 50 years ago which I remember very clearly and which, therefore, makes me feel older than I want to. Not so long ago it was the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Severn Bridge. Pontypridd Urban District Council decided to run bus excursionsContinue reading “50th anniversary”

Last Thursday Helen had a scan at the RD&E in Exeter and her Consultant phoned this morning describing the results as “excellent” and adding “there is no visible evidence of cancer”. He went on to say that there may still be individual cancer cells remaining (or there may not be) which would grow without treatment,Continue reading “Latest scan results are good news :)”

May you know God’s blessing in 2021! As I was preparing prayers for Sunday’s service at Worle Baptist Church I thought that a wider audience might appreciate this simple prayerful reflection. It’s less than five minutes, but by hitting PAUSE you can take as much time as you need. I hope you find it helpful.Continue reading “Prayers for 2020 and 2021”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “Let it be to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38) Mary was chosen for the greatest privilege God could surely have bestowed upon a young woman. Hers was an unrepeatable ‘one of a kind’ part in the eternal purposes of God forContinue reading “Full surrender”

“… so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:35) Christmas without Easter has little or no meaning. The whole point of the incarnation (God taking on human flesh) was so that there could be atonement. This was achieved through the sacrificial deathContinue reading “The shadow of the Cross”

Yesterday (Monday 21 December) turned out to be unexpected in a number of ways. For one thing Helen was offered an afternoon dental appointment (in Exeter) to check out the toothache she’d experienced at the back end of last week. To say I was surprised at such a quick result is an understatement! Anyway, sheContinue reading “Just an ordinary day …”

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19) Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51) What memories of your walk with God do you treasure in your heart? Some thingsContinue reading “Treasured Memories”