There is a short scripted service on the website Wednesday 11 November 2020 Armistice Day , which can be accessed by clicking the link

10 November The scientists working for the pharmaceutical company, the stock markets and most of the press are euphoric about the development of Pfizer’s vaccine. But when the Prime Minister sounds a cautious note about it (given his more usual style) then there’s reason to pause and reflect. It is good that the vaccine trials

9 November There was a piece in the news at the weekend about the difference between the two-petal ‘English’ poppy and the ‘four-petal’ Scottish one. Looking at photos of the Queen and Duchess of Cambridge at Remembrance events yesterday, they were wearing five-petal poppies. I don’t know if they have a special significance, but it

7 November When the Vikings sacked Dumbarton it is said that it took 200 longships to carry their ‘winnings’ (aka ‘loot’) back to Dublin. How do we respond when we win something? Are we the kind of folk who stop after one raffle prize and say ‘redraw it’, or take our equivalent of 200 longships

6 November The world is waiting – we may have an answer today, or maybe tomorrow, or maybe… Counting millions of ballot papers takes a long time, and so can legal challenges. Because America is the richest and most powerful country in the world, the outcome of its election affects all of us. But waiting

5 Bonfire Night No trip to Levengrove Park tonight for the fireworks display (and for once it should be dry and not windy!). There may be some in local gardens (but hopefully not as late as late night!) Occasionally, when we’re fed up with the politicians playing politics, we can feel an element of sympathy

4 National Stress Awareness Day Stress and pressure are a natural part of life, and learning to cope with them is part of the process of maturing into adulthood. Much as we might like the thought, life sitting around with no stress, no pressure, no obligation to do anything, would actually rapidly become boring. [Point

3 November You may not have heard, but there is an election in America today, principally to elect a new president, but also a series of other federal and state posts. America is still the richest and most powerful country in the world, so the choices it makes have an impact on all of us.

2 November We’re now in Tier 3. Not much change in practice for most folk. The challenge is not so much going into the new system as coping with restrictions the more we go into winter. Many people have real fears and anxieties about employment and the future, about putting food on the table and