Some things are so good they must be shared, in this case, annually. The choral music of Morten Lauridsen fits this category well, especially as we approach the threshold of Christmas together. From his home base on Waldron Island in the Sun Juan Archipelago in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, from where the... Continue Reading →
Here we go, it’s that time of year again. Christmas--the Feast of the Nativity, the holiday season, the day before boxing day sales, whatever you call it--here we go again. Some call it a holiday, others revere a solemn Holy Day. Some find it very unsettling, lonely, even disturbing. Others simply dissolve into the bliss... Continue Reading →
Did you hear the one about the Canadian peacekeeper who arrived in the middle of a conflict between two long standing national enemies? Hurling both insults and ammunition at each other, over historical grievances sometimes too old to remember, the Kanuck Keeper jumped between the adversaries, introduced themselves and shouted, “hey everybody, let’s be friends.”... Continue Reading →
Kamloops This Week Here in Kamloops it is time to turn our hands to the plough; well if not the plough, then the plow, the snowplow that is. With early winter upon us, the streets and sidewalks are slowly filling with snow. Next they thaw and then they often re-freeze. Vehicles, pedestrians and especially cyclists... Continue Reading →
In the Captain's seat So with Willie Nelson we’re on the road again, this time travelling from Victoria to Kamloops after a delayed departure following one false start due to extreme weather and highway conditions. Ken and Kathie had considered how best, and when to attempt travel back home for many days. Kathie was convinced... Continue Reading →
A diary, by definition, is a daily record. I very much doubt whether this proposed record of one year in my life will be a diary within the proper meaning of that word; certainly I can't see myself recording the events of every day. I feel, too, that many social events can't properly be mentioned... Continue Reading →
“That dog’s in a wheelchair!” exclaimed my Mama human Kathie. Puzzled and gob smacked, my Papa human Ken replied with uncharacteristic brevity “what?” “There’s a dog in wheelchair” mama continued. “Well, it’s not a wheelchair but some sort of harness or assistive device (Mama is an Occupational Therapist with a specialty in wheelchair configuration, hence... Continue Reading →
BEFORE YOU PROCEED, please understand that the text which follows contains more than one element of humour. Given that at the time of writing here in BC, many regions, communities, persons and places are negatively affected by extreme weather-related events. In various situations there has been loss of human life, death of livestock, loss of... Continue Reading →
A homily preached by The Rev. Canon Dr. Martin Brokenleg, OSBCn, Prior, Benedictine Canon Community of St. Aidan at St. Barnabas Anglican Church,Victoria BC CANADA on the Feast of Christ the King, November 21, 2021 Acknowledge my responsibilities as a guest on the traditional territories of the Lekwungin speakers of the Songhees and Esquimalt... Continue Reading →
Juno, in the home of Jan and Knut In the Biblical Book of the Acts of the Apostles the narrator begins: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven . . . Well I cannot pretend to... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 