Now what am I going to wear this evening?

I have never been known for having a great sense of style when it comes to dress sense. It was quite a relief when I was ordained as a priest as it led to me not having to think too much about my clothes each day. Of course remembering the liturgical colours is important and...

Not just Jamie Oliver but an evening with a Master Chef winner!

At the beginning of the Pandemic I started writing this series of blogs. In the early months I tried following Jamie Oliver and posted some recipes in the style of Oliver’s ‘Keep on cooking and carry on’. To help me out I had Paul Lion our All Saints chef and former owner of the Elva...

Scapegoat or hero?

I remember travelling to America with my brother Tim in the mid 1990’s and during a storm on the Outer Banks of North Carolina I recall hearing an advert on the television. It was a legal company asking the viewer whether they had been involved in an accident at work or indeed at play to...

Will people come back to church?

Charlie Mackesy is his wonderful book ‘The Boy, the mole, the fox and the horse’ offers the following insight. ‘What do you think is the biggest waste of time?’ asked the boy. ‘Comparing yourself to others’ said the mole. Last evening I had my ministerial review with a man who has been an excellent support...

Perhaps it’s time to hear some ‘Home Truths’

Last summer in the midst of Lockdown before live football had returned to our screens Ian Wright, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer shared their top ten FA cup finals. They have a podcast now which continues the top ten everything concerned with modern football. You get the 10 ten goal scorers, goalkeepers, saves and  best...

Meritocracy in Football – was it ever the case?

Even people who do not like football will have heard of the fuss caused by the proposed European Super League. In fact our prime minister Boris Johnson who doesn’t appear to have grown up being an avid reader of ‘Shoot’ or ‘Roy of the Rovers’ has got involved in the angry rebellion against the Super...

The problem of ‘PIG’ enters the arena of sport!

In an earlier blog I spoke about the problem of instant gratification that modern day living seems to struggle with. Basically the idea that everything in life has to be experienced and lived at breakneck speed. We need to get our food at a click of a button on our phone, or more seriously get...

The Duke of Edinburgh and his excellent Awards

During the late 1970’s I joined Rogerstone Church Youth Club. It was one of the most enjoyable parts of my life growing up. We experienced excellent curates taking us on parish camping and narrow boat holidays as well as regular fun days to places like Bristol and London, as well as providing regular week by...

The value of work and sometimes of play

There was a time when I first started writing blogs on the pilgrimage to Santiago that I did so with a light touch. I have noticed the few blogs I am writing these days sadly lack the humour of days gone by. Yes walking across Northern Spain with the sun on your back and the...

Linking Frenchmen, Les Miserables, The Maldives and Manta Ray with Grace.

I begin by writing that on this Sunday morning in March it is hard for me to find the grace to talk about France. Last evening in a pulsating game of Rugby Union the brilliant French team denied the gallant and dare I say equally brilliant Welsh team the Grand Slam with the last play...