Thinking About Lottie

My mother told me that religion was 

love thy neighbour, love one another.

That’s it. That’s what it is.

It isn’t anything else. It is that simple.

That was what my mother taught me.

And we go to church at Xmas and Easter,

to be together and to sing songs.

Because that’s what we do.

There is a certain joy in being together,

and doing that.

My mother wasn't a Christian, in fact, she thought most of it was nonsense, but she did believe in the basic message of love.

I can still hear my mother's voice saying those words.

"Anything else is, well, whoever is saying it, it is their baggage." She'd smile that gorgeous smile of hers. "It's just about love, it's really that simple."

You know, I often wished I had more video of my mum – and my dad, for that matter – I think it would be lovely to be able to play it now.

But, you know, when I think about it, all the good stuff is inside me anyway.