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Philip Goggin
My Blog in the early days of COVID
In early 2020 (March - May), when COVID hit and we were in lockdown, I took to my computer to keep in contact with local folk in the form of a daily blog. I hope you find it an interesting read and thought-provoking looking back at how we were living and my daily thoughts. The search box above can be used to jump to particular blog posts.
gailphilip4
May 21, 20202 min read
Ascension Day
I have been playing some of the Ascension hymns on the organ. We hail the day that sees Him rise and (should) sing Alleluia. It is a sort...
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gailphilip4
May 20, 20202 min read
Love your Churchyard!
Churchyards are good places to be! It might sound odd to say that, but are there many better places where you would wish to lay a loved...
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gailphilip4
May 19, 20202 min read
What goes on behind the scenes
It is easy to overlook the key role of people who don’t get the front-line publicity. For example, in a restaurant we see the waiter who...
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gailphilip4
May 18, 20202 min read
Maureen Lipman on Marriage
I wonder what you thought of Maureen Lipman’s recent comment, in an interview with The Lady magazine, that women mainly choose to get...
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gailphilip4
May 17, 20202 min read
Rogation
This is the season of Rogation, part of an ancient tradition when church people (that would have been everybody!) asked God's protection...
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gailphilip4
May 16, 20202 min read
The Princess who kissed the frog
Yesterday we were thinking about the way animals might teach us something eg resilience, trust, forgiveness, remaining observant. Let’s...
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gailphilip4
May 15, 20202 min read
“If I could talk to the animals...”
I wonder whether we fully appreciate the role of animals in maintaining folks’ mental health. Pets are central to this. The companionship...
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gailphilip4
May 14, 20202 min read
The Dambusters
Everyone knows about the Dambusters raid. Everyone has seen the film. Later this week it will be the 77th anniversary of that epic raid....
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gailphilip4
May 13, 20202 min read
Streaming church services
There has been much debate about the way our churches are functioning at the moment. Many feel that it is a mistake that they are closed...
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gailphilip4
May 12, 20202 min read
The Kennedy clan
Some of you may have watched the film Chappaquiddick on TV the other night, or perhaps you have seen it previously. It’s about the...
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gailphilip4
May 11, 20202 min read
A life worth living
What is a life worth living? This question was raised a week ago in a newspaper article. “Nobody has yet modelled the diminution of joy...
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gailphilip4
May 10, 20202 min read
A very cold winter
My daughter kindly comments on my Blog. She evidently thinks I should lighten up a bit, and proposes the following for today’s Blog. It...
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gailphilip4
May 9, 20202 min read
Land of Hope and Glory
It was great to listen to some of the stirring songs yesterday (Friday) associated with WW2 and VE Day. Songs in war (and peace) help to...
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gailphilip4
May 8, 20202 min read
Doing the Comparative
We continue to reflect on the life of Cecil John Rhodes - colonialist, entrepreneur, businessman, statesman, imperialist, mining magnate,...
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gailphilip4
May 7, 20203 min read
The legacy of Cecil John Rhodes
When I was growing up in South Africa and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) it was hard not to be conscious of the influence of Cecil John Rhodes....
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gailphilip4
May 6, 20202 min read
Try using a periscope
In the 1950’s the use of cardboard hand-held periscopes was a common sight. They enabled the viewer to see over the heads of the crowds...
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gailphilip4
May 5, 20202 min read
Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!
You would think that everything that could be said about the lock-down had been said. Not at all! There are as many perspectives and...
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gailphilip4
May 4, 20202 min read
42 Cathedrals from which to choose
Britain is well blessed with its cathedrals. They stand out in our towns and cities, proud and bold statements of faith, endurance,...
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gailphilip4
May 3, 20202 min read
Would you mind being pruned?
If you could have been in church this morning (Sunday) you would have heard the passage from John’s Gospel where Jesus says to his...
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gailphilip4
May 2, 20202 min read
Testing targets
I guess it focuses attention when you have been set a target. This has been the argument of the government in setting the target of...
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