My hill-walking season started depressingly late this year, due to unfavourable weather. This one was a warm-up – relatively short, relatively easy, and relatively not very far from home. It was great to be in the wilderness again; even the soggy ground for most of the walk was enjoyable (kind of). Photographically the weather wasn’t good, but for walking actually quite nice;…
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Years ago, when I came Scotland, to my shame I admit that my knowledge about this country had been next to nothing, limited to that of ‘men wearing skirts’ and of impressively beautiful landscapes. Leaving behind my homeland, friends, small achievements and the entire past that had shaped me, I started my life here pretty much from scratch, soaking up…
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Sometimes the bell ringing at the parish house means an unexpected visit of an unfamiliar visitor, looking for well and clearly defined help. After so many years I can say from my experience that the scheme is pretty similar each time. At the end of the story there is always a request for money. When I do a favour to…
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Last Friday it was revealed that, in Scotland, the number of humanist weddings is now greater than the number of Catholic ones. There are also funerals and name-giving ceremonies conducted by humanist ministers. Generally speaking, these mark the most significant celebrations of life, for so long reserved to the Church. The main difference is the absence of any religious aspect…
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Over the last three Sundays we’ve had a kind of chronicle of Jesus’ appearances after his resurrection: at Easter Mary Magdalene discovered that the tomb was open and empty; eight days later Thomas the Apostle had a personal meeting with the risen Lord, and today Jesus meets a group of seven disciples on the bank of the lake. Of course there are…