
Pa rum pa pum pum
Pa rum pa pum pum DM 29th November 2025 I have a friend who goes into paroxysms whenever he hears that Christmas classic, ‘The Little
My son is getting married soon, and one of his friends, who owns a winery, has generously offered to supply some cases of his best reds and whites. I hope it’s not too good, otherwise the question of whether there’s enough will raise its awkward head. At least the guest list is fixed, and some other beverages will be available during the canapés, and there’s always the bar as a backup. And so any possibility of running dry ought not to spoil the party.
The Book records a wedding in the town of Cana that narrowly averted a hospitality-hiccup. In typical Middle East fashion of warm and generous hospitality, invitations were sent to one and all, making the guest list more of a guess list. And unfortunately for the happy couple, not just the ‘all’ rsvp-ed to say they were coming, but extras too. And with no plan B, plan A was looking decidedly difficult.
Predictably the awkward moment came: “They have run out of wine!” But then unpredictably came another moment. Someone, one of the guests, unexpectedly supplied numerous cases of the most excellent vintage. But how and from where? From his Father’s vineyard, special edition, special delivery. The master of ceremonies was unimpressed with the disrespect for protocol – best wine first, not best wine last! – but not all the guests were unhappy. And not so much because they had tasted the most delicious drop, but because they had seen a miracle. The first of many.

Pa rum pa pum pum DM 29th November 2025 I have a friend who goes into paroxysms whenever he hears that Christmas classic, ‘The Little

Star of wonder DM 19th November 2025 This year’s Australian Christmas stamp has just been issued, and bears the first-day postmark of our suburb of

The Sun and the Wind DM 8th November 2025 One of Aesop’s fables begins this way: ‘The North Wind and the Sun had a quarrel

Six Seven DM 1st November 2025 The kids all think they’re cool with their sing-song ‘six seven’ – glad most of all, for the way

Serious Twitching DM 25th October 2025 A twitchathon is happening in Sydney this weekend, where participants will try, during a set period of time, to

Stay away from pretty gardens DM 18th October 2025 C S Lewis would have to be the most quoted Christian author I have ever encountered,

Mulberry prayers DM 11th October 2025 I do love mulberries. Particularly enclosed in warm pastry and served with ice-cream. There’s luscious tree in a suburb

Seeing double DM 4th October 2025 Twins come in two varieties: identical and fraternal. Some might put the distinction another way: annoying and really-annoying! Think

The Healing of Regrets DM 27th September 2025 Tolkien wrote some wonderful books. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit must take first and