THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING….

Dear Friends, Above is a photo of an actual existing, operational Chinese robot. Hangzhou-based ‘AheadForm’ creates “sophisticated humanoid robot heads that can express emotions, perceive their environment, and interact seamlessly with humans.” This one blinks, speaks, answers complicated questions moves her head from side to side, smiles, smirks and can use her eyes to scan … Read more

A RADICAL THOUGHT….

Dear Friends, Many of you are aware that Trudi and I are generally ‘vegetarians’ People often ask us ‘why?’….so here’s our answer…… (We don’t try to convince others to join us so you can read this without throwing out the Sunday family roast….) Life eats life. It always has; and always will. Snakes eat mammals … Read more

Two more challenging thoughts…

This Week………. Two More Challenging Thoughts….. Dear Friends, This week I am sharing two more challenging thoughts that may hopefully be helpful…… The first is that “fear holds me hostage”…… Might I suggest it’s more correct to say that “I’m holding fear hostage”. We are the ones that stop fear from leaving. Our memory keeps … Read more

Two challenging thoughts….

This Week………. Two Challenging Thoughts….. Dear Friend, This week I am sharing two challenging thoughts that may well upset some people but are probably best considered…… The first is that birthday presents are a missed opportunity. Where and when did the custom arise? Obviously, the Bible states that “Wise men from the East brought gifts … Read more

IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD!

A correspondent last week wrote: “My pain issues are chronic, and I am struggling with the chaos and madness of this World….” I TOTALLY relate to even everyday healthy people struggling to come to terms with society’s madness and chaos. It’s endemic. War, social dislocation, rape and murder seem to be treated as normal. Theft, … Read more

SAYINGS NOT WORTH SAVING….

Dear Friends, Last week I looked at the popular saying: “Time Heals All Wounds”. I thought I’d throw in two others for you to throw out….. The first: “Curiosity killed the cat”…… and the second:  “Ignorance is bliss.” They’re both interconnected and stupidly suggest we remain “blissfully” unaware… Unaware of anything that isn’t slap bang … Read more

TIME HEALS NOTHING….

Dear Friends, A WELL KNOWN saying says “Time Heals All Wounds”. I hold a different view on this matter which may distress some people: Time Heals NOTHING. Thinking that it “might”, “should”  or “could” only exacerbates the trauma and distress that this erroneous saying purports to assuage. Yes, we might push the hurt, fear or … Read more

We are ALL gifted beyond measure!

This Week………. We are ALL gifted beyond measure…… Dear Friends, I’m not being flippant and elitist when I write the above statement. I’m being truly authentic. I found myself today singing “How Great Thou Art”…..and I was reminded that everyone of us comes into the world (and retains throughout their life) three amazing gifts. These … Read more

I, ME, MYSELF AND MINE…..

  The above photo shows an exquisite  gold pendant of two facing wasps which was discovered in an ancient Minoan cemetery in Crete. It is at least 3,800 years old. That’s roughly twice the age of ‘civilisation’ since Jesus. The goldsmith combined several techniques to create the piece — filigree, granulation, repoussé and incised decoration. … Read more

LIFE AFTER DEATH

We may not want to but we all have to face death: both of ourselves and of our loved ones. There’s simply no way to avoid it. This week, my dear friend and colleague Maureen Cooke, Minister of The Church of Enlightenment in Port Macquarie, quietly transitioned. She was 95 and had given her life … Read more