Month: June 2005

Every day, I used to have the pleasure of driving nine miles along the coast road between Maybole and Dunure, in the west of Scotland. The scenery was outstanding — a mixture of patchwork fields, rolling hills, and always the … Read more

There are a few advantages to not having a dishwasher. I get plenty of time to think as I slow down to face the sink and the growing mound of dishes it holds. I get a feeling of accomplishment as … Read more

One of my friends is definitely a leader. She leads her husband and her children. Her husband is very easygoing and just accepts her as she is and goes with the flow. They have always wanted to learn how to … Read more

When I have the time, I love making chess sets. Over the years, I have moulded, modelled, and painted several different sets, which include soldiers from the Civil War, elves and goblins from Tolkien's books, and a medieval Scottish set … Read more

Our son's wedding was a very enjoyable day. We were all relaxed — all except the bride, who had those "I'm-the-centre-of-attention jitters". The bride had nothing to worry about; she was beautiful, and all went well! As mother of the … Read more

We love pancakes in our house. Along with bacon and eggs, they have always been a Sunday morning treat. One day as I was flipping pancakes, I thought about our lives. Often we are on the "hot griddle" of life. … Read more

Some of my earliest memories are of visiting Doctor Wilson's surgery in Springburn, Glasgow, where I grew up. The outside window had a plain sign depicting the surgery hours, with two tall glass bottles (one red, the other blue) at … Read more

After a night of heavy rain, I started out on my morning walk. Though busy dodging squirmy earthworms, I spotted a small tree clinging to life on the edge of a culvert. The rain had left its root system totally … Read more

When it rains, it pours. Here in Newfoundland, it does that very well. Just last week, we were inundated. As I watched with some trepidation, the small stream behind my house, which in the summer slows to barely more than … Read more

Many years ago, when I was a preacher in Scotland, two young women appeared at the manse door on a stormy winter's night. Both were slightly inebriated and had come to make a special request. One of them was a … Read more