The Thoughts and Ramblings of a Growing Man

  • Roots – Knowledge or DNA?

    Some years back I visited Kenya and Tanzania. I had never been before – although I had spoken at length to someone who lived in Kenya during the 60s and left when he was 16 – and I had no idea what it would be like apart from the descriptions of another person living there.…

  • Thames Sailing Barge “British Empire”

    About 15 years ago I got involved with a group of people intent on restoring the Thames Sailing Barge “British Empire”. For various reasons the endeavour didn’t work and the idea folded. At the time I distinctly remember visiting the barge at Battlesbridge and being able to walk on the deck, albeit treading carefully around…

  • Uncle Fred, Paras and Badgers

    It’s all been a bit of a whirlwind of a week in one way or another. My Uncle died last Saturday and it will be his funeral tomorrow. There has been lots of to-ing and fro-ing and telephone calls and a lot of sadness. He would have been 85 this week and in March he and my…

  • Rambling Discourse

    I don’t know what I want to write, so here goes …. Stephen moved in on December 14th and brought a Luton van full of boxes and bags. After the removal men had gone we were left standing amongst the mountains of his belongings wondering where on earth we were going to put it all.…

  • I’m happy, You’re happy

    I was a bit concerned at how I was to tell my elderly aunt about Stephen and that he is moving in with me. The morning I went to visit her recently I texted my cousin and asked for some advice. His reply was, ‘She’ll be happy because you’re happy’. He was right.

  • Power and Fear

    “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. It is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous. Actually who are you not to be. You are a child of the universe,…