Thought for the Day

The First Minister reportedly said yesterday, ‘If it feels normal, it is wrong’. Sounds like an exam question in English: statement followed by ‘Discuss’. I am grateful to the late Ian McCrorie (of steamers, Toad Choir and Clic Sergeant) for highlighting in a Presbytery debate the difference between ‘normal’ and ‘natural’. ‘Normal’ is about conventions, […]

We have new freedoms today! And we must wear a face covering in shops. Freedom is always conditional – my freedom to do one thing is limited by your freedom not to be affected by it. Many of us (but not all!) were brought up – and tried to bring future generations up – to

Opened the front door yesterday to find a pile of feathers and bits of mud lying on the front doorstep. It transpired that house martins had built a nest in the apex of the gable, but a large part of it had collapsed and fallen to the ground. Don’t know why, don’t know if there

Young people finishing school or college and looking for a job or apprenticeship, young people still at school or college looking for holiday, weekend or evening work to boost their income and give them work experience for their CV, young people who had already left school or college and were working. It is reported that

Ideas have been drip-fed, and the media are speculating, about what the Chancellor will say tomorrow regarding measures to protect/ stimulate the economy. Statistics, prices and interest rates are quoted, but at the end of the day it comes down to people, their livelihoods, money to pay for basic necessities, a sense of well-being rooted

The NHS was 72 years-old yesterday. It had been suggested that after clapping for key workers, neighbours should raise a glass or mug to toast them and each other. Not in any street anyway, with a torrential downpour at the appropriate moment! We want to express our thanks and support for NHS staff, social care

Where shall we go today, with our new-found freedom? Weather, public transport, age, mobility, availability of ‘facilities’ may all have an impact on our answer, but we have the freedom to travel (almost) anywhere. The restrictions of the last few months reminded us of a freedom we usually take for granted. For reasons of health

We can travel more than 5 miles today ‘for leisure’! So it rains. Can we read into it a hint that we don’t go mad with our new-found freedom, overwhelm beauty spots, and leave a trail of litter around the countryside? Lord, we appreciate the ability to travel further from today. Hopefully it will help

Waiting, wondering. Will The First Minister announce an easing of the physical distancing rules today (some businesses would like it, it might make it easier to accommodate children in school classes, but some people will be very worried if it happens)? Will the number of infections in Scotland dip to nil soon, or will there

Ask most people how they are feeling, how they are coping, and the answer is likely to be some variant on ‘weary’. We want to be able to meet up with friends and family, go places, do things that we would have done before, or particularly at this time of the year. We want life