Everyone Gets to Play
My Dad recently passed away. It was beautifully peaceful, with his family around him … singing. What a privilege. This is the first piece of creative writing I have done since that event. In a sense this writing is part of my mourning. It centres on how we see our time here in the light… Continue reading My Place
I wrote this one Monday morning. It was not long after a time of fasting (intentionally going without food for a period, often accompanied by prayer) where positive changes had occurred in me – quite naturally and almost effortlessly. After some weeks, though, “tentacles” began very slowly to pull me towards reversing the changes. It… Continue reading Keeping it Lean
The occasion for writing this short story came as I had an unstructured hour or so. I had some issues in my head and no real inspiration. I intended to write about duty, as seen in the opening lines of the piece. I was part way through when a different story formed. Sadly I was… Continue reading The Glass Ceiling
The idea for this piece of writing formed after contemplating interactions with others over a number of years. I don’t say it is well thought out, rather it is a current view on a long-term difficulty that I have experienced. If you have experienced this challenge whilst getting to know people and being known, my… Continue reading Ah…. I thought we were friends
I wrote this piece after being privileged to attend a talk by Dr Gabor Maté on “The Myth of Normal.” He asked us to engage with his talk and weigh it up by listening with our heads, our hearts and our gut. He reminded us that there are neural connections between these areas and so… Continue reading I am one … or am I?
I wrote this piece of prose a little while back after a wonderful afternoon nap. For the last number of years we have enjoyed the afternoon “Nana Nap”. I struggled for many years to fall asleep. It may well have started back at boarding school. After it became a real issue to me, I decided… Continue reading Napping: Sleeping and Waking
This is the first creative piece I have written in a Creative Writing journal I was recently given. Perhaps it is an important reminder for this whole journal and time: While you have life, there are important things that need your attention. Creative writing is part of what I need to do. Music is another… Continue reading The Prime of Life…
I have been privileged to teach at He Puaawai Young Parents’ Centre for the last number of years. I teach Science and Maths to some of the bravest, most resilient humans I have ever met. Much could be said about so many of them, but as they know, if I say too much I may… Continue reading A young mother with her young child
I wrote this poem while feeling somewhat sad at giving away a beautiful gift that a dear friend, Wambali Mkandawire, gave me. He was a musician who I was privileged to play with in a touring band back in 1984-5. He sadly passed away from Covid-19 in 2021. I never really used the hardwood, hand… Continue reading Friends Passed
On the first Saturday in December last year I woke again before the rest of the household. It was the day after I had said goodbye to my students for the year. The previous night we had done “church” at our house and my heart was still soft from a beautiful time of tender worship… Continue reading My Best Prayers