This is a week where many shops in Scotland will be taking steps towards reopening their premises and so we travel a little further towards seeing our pattern of life being closer to what it once was. On the shopping list for the Irvin household is a decent shoehorn (recommendations welcome). Our previous shoe fitting implement was the rather ubiquitous IKEA shoehorn…

We are on the cusp of St Patrick’s day, which will play out very differently this year. Celebrations in Ireland and elsewhere will be curtailed and the usual mood of fun and happiness will be somewhat muted. My knowledge of Ireland’s patron saint is limited, but I am curious about how we can look back at his life story. The first things…

I am confident that I am not the first nor the last to point to the fact that the above power ballad has a link to our current political predicament – even if only in title. However, maybe along with blue passports we could get back hair styles from a bygone era too (I jest). My affinity to this track takes me…

I’m blinded by your grace Every night, every day And I was lost, yeah But ever since you found me I’m blinded by your grace Through the darkness you came And I’ll be alright With you by my side. The above words were sung by Stormzy as he headlined Glastonbury on Friday night. You can watch it here: At the time of…

Notre Dame – The morning after the fire. 16.4.19 Last night I caught a glimpse of the sad news of the fire that had taken hold of Notre Dame in Paris. Like many others I was sadden and shocked and reminded of my own visit there many years ago. As I went to bed, I wondered what tomorrow would bring for the…

When the above phrase was uttered to the agents in the TV and Film adaptations of Mission Impossible they all knew what they were expecting and with cool resolve did not overreact. What about something though that self-destructs when you are not expecting it, indeed something that causes shock and surprise? Last week the well-known, yet consistently illusive, artist, Banksy, pulled off…

When the above phrase was uttered to the agents in the TV and Film adaptations of Mission Impossible they all knew what they were expecting and with cool resolve did not overreact. What about something though that self-destructs when you are not expecting it, indeed something that causes shock and surprise? Last week the well-known, yet consistently illusive, artist, Banksy, pulled off…

When the above phrase was uttered to the agents in the TV and Film adaptations of Mission Impossible they all knew what they were expecting and with cool resolve did not overreact. What about something though that self-destructs when you are not expecting it, indeed something that causes shock and surprise? Last week the well-known, yet consistently illusive, artist, Banksy, pulled off…

Time Out – September 2018 On Saturday the 8th of September the church elders and I took some time out together. It was great. Here you can see our ‘Team Photo’. We made use of the excellent hospitality at Liberton Kirk. Their minister, John Young, kindly led us in worship and reflection and then facilitated some really helpful discussion. When he later had to…

The following post was written by Josh and Lindsay Bruce. Josh has recently completed his PHD and they will shortly be moving back to America. We wish them well and look forward to hearing about their next chapter. Legend has it that when the humble Scot, James Boswell, was introduced to the intimidating English man of letters, Samuel Johnson, he said: ‘I…