When we were children, my brothers would at times try to build a floating raft, using spare boards and bits of rope. We watched many dramatic films of life and death experiences aboard life rafts, battling waves and sharks and storms, and craved those exciting...
At the finish of October this year, I chanced to gaze on the inky night sky to admire the lovely round face of the blue moon. Perhaps you’ve heard the expression “once in a blue moon”, meaning “not very often”. Indeed, a blue moon is the second of two full moons in...
I once took a class in black and white photography at a local art school, our first assignment being to take interesting photos to develop in the school photo lab. I spent happy hours photographing the Rideau Canal locks in Ottawa, and the lovely sculptural art...
I have been fascinated with archaeology since I was young, immersed in our family’s National Geographic magazines and books. Many hours were spent looking at the finds in Egypt and South America! In recent years, I enjoy watching episodes of Time Team and Digging...
I have an artist friend who paints glorious landscapes in amazing detail. His depictions of the Atlantic waves breaking themselves on the rocky shores of Newfoundland, or the gentle slap of fresh water on the burnished, burnt rocks of Georgian Bay are so alive...
The forests of eastern Ontario are susceptible to fires in the hot summer months, especially if there has been a drought. The Fire Ban prohibits campfires and burning of brush; even a tossed aside cigarette butt can ignite the forest. Most dreaded...
I have had many friends in my life, ones from childhood, from my school years, university days, and adulthood. Many of these friendships waned, not for bad reasons, but simply because we moved on with our lives in career, location and life. I have had a...