Geoff: Posted on 29 December 2019 09:42
So, here we are at the end of 2019. Which means, for those of us reading the Bible through in a year, we're just coming to the end of Zechariah with Malachi still to go, end of Revelation, finish off the Psalms and Proverbs, before then going back to the beginning on January 1st - Genesis, Matthew, and the beginning of Psalms and Proverbs. I've kept this going for some years now, to the point where leaving the house without reading the Bible is on a par with leaving the house without brushing my teeth, it's just not something I would do. |
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Geoff: Posted on 21 December 2019 07:16
So, the general election has come and gone, returning a large Conservative majority. On Thursday Her Majesty the Queen made her speech setting out the legislative programme for the coming year.
I would like to pick up on one point which, as far as I can make out, politicians and journalists regard as completely uncontroversial. The Conservative party manifesto (pages 21-22) promised an 'Australian style points based system' for immigration which will prioritise, among other things, people who 'have good education and qualifications', looking to attract also 'the entrepreneurs of the future who want to start great businesses here in the UK'. |
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Geoff: Posted on 10 December 2019 13:57
The UK has a general election on Thursday. I put my own political and personal feelings to one side at this time, if your wish to know what they are, by all means ask by private message! If I may I would like to share with you the prayers I led at St James's Bramley near Basingstoke on Sunday, it is very important to me that you cannot tell from these prayers how I am intending to vote - or what my view is on Brexit, for that matter. At all times, in all places, in all things, to God be the glory! |
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Geoff: Posted on 09 August 2019 01:59
Greetings from Luwero District, Uganda! Visiting the Kampala Christian Orphanage, home to about 60 girls and boys aged 3-10, has been a wonderful privilege, I've particularly enjoyed encouraging them to read outside of normal school time:
You have my solemn word this picture is not staged! They asked for the books, a small collection I was able to buy locally, and sat down and started to read - or in the case of the younger children, follow the story through pictures. No easy feat reading in English when your mother tongue is Ugandan. |
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Geoff: Posted on 04 August 2019 06:08
Here I am in Uganda! Such a fantastic place to be. Arrived on Monday having forgotten how horrible flying is - well, fun the first few times, but the grind of security, long queues, hanging around, being herded from one place to another. Travel is very definitely a means to an end as far as I'm concerned, fantastic to be in other places but the process leaves a great deal to be desired....
And visiting the Kampala Christian Orphanage! The children are fantastic, know in general terms the kind of stories which mean that children end up living in orphanages (not necessarily because both birth parents have passed away) but don't know - and think it's best not to know - any details of the individual children who come across as happy, friendly, loving children who love to play and show every sign of enjoying the extra attention I'm able to give them, occasionally getting into scraps with each other. |
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Geoff: Posted on 21 July 2019 10:54
End of term is almost here, delighted to tell you that I'm spending part of the summer break in Uganda visiting the Kampala Christian Orphanage, really looking forward to this as you might imagine! So lots more about this visit here on Facebook shortly.
Meanwhile, on Friday I was very pleased to speak at full school assembly under
the heading of 'making good choices', please see below pretty well what I
said, as always, any comments very welcome!
Desires, I suggest, come in two broad categories. |
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Geoff: Posted on 02 June 2019 04:51
Dear Dr Welby,
Can I
introduce myself as a lifelong member of the Anglican Church, brought up in a
clergy home and, with two brief periods away, a communicant member of Anglican
churches throughout adult life.
Over the
years I've kept an eye on press coverage concerning you and your
predecessors. Have to say, being the Archbishop of Canterbury must be one
of the toughest jobs in the world. Whatever you do, at least 2/3 of your
members will disagree, whilst non-members will consider you irrelevant, out of
touch, or even evil. |
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Geoff: Posted on 26 May 2019 09:05
One of my colleagues, of a similar age to me, told me of a recent conversation with one of our pupils, in which he was trying to explain what life was like in the days, well within our memory, before video recorders, let alone DVD, multichannel TV, on demand services such as Netflix and iplayer. "So what you're saying," the pupil asked, eyes open wide in sheer wonder, "is that, when you were my age, if you wanted to watch a certain programme, you had to be in at a particular time to do so? |
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Geoff: Posted on 12 May 2019 10:01
Some months ago my head of year told me that a group of boys, including a
number from my tutor group and others from my maths group, were organising an
event to raise money for charity Fantastic! Pupils taking the
initiative, looking to help others whilst promoting a sense of community,
developing organisational skills and having fun all at the same time.
Which teacher wouldn't want actively to encourage this kind of undertaking?
And the event itself? A football match. |
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Geoff: Posted on 17 February 2019 11:43
I was very pleased to be asked to speak, for the first time, at
full school assembly. Fixed points were the title, 'Who has control?'
and the Bible passage Luke 4:1-13, the temptations of Christ, which I
arranged to be read before I spoke. Please see below what I had ready,
had to make some real time cuts in order not to over-run but this is
pretty well what I said. Interested to know what you think! Very
pleased with a number of positive comments from colleagues and pupils,
and a very nice card from our headteacher - if you're reading this,
thank you, very much appreciated! |
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