When I arrived at UBC in September of ’63 I was pretty green. It took me a day and a half to register for all my courses. I kept running into conflicts between one course and another, until someone kindly informed me that there was a master schedule all in one booklet. Finally, I got…
the Greek bus: London to Athens 1984
About midnight, the old bus pulled to a stop. Out the window, I could see signs that indicated we were on the Italian mainland at the place people would exit for Venice. The Greek driver ordered, “Everyone get off the bus and take all your stuff!” The unruly passengers started shouting, “What’s going on?” “You…
The Liberal Candidate
“Which would you rather be, rich or famous?” “Rich”, the guests, several young middle-aged couples, replied.” My father, the host, argued that he would much rather be famous. He certainly didn’t end up rich although he’d started out in life the son of a relatively rich man. He did succeed in achieving something between fame…
Trabajadores Por La Paz y Solidaridad
In 1982 the Nicaraguan government sent a message out to the world asking people to send supporters to their country to help with the harvest. It was to help the people of Nicaragua see the support that people around the world were giving to the new government that had overthrown the old corrupt government. They…
Creative Nut Butter Cookies
On a recent trip to Vancouver, our friend Nancy brought me some hazelnut butter from a women’s group in Oregon. It looked delicious and since I love hazelnuts, I was eager to try it. I liked it but soon defaulted to my usual peanut butter – maybe it has more salt to suit my taste….
A Tale of Three Cities
This story starts on the tripod base of three cities on the West Coast of North America, starting with Portland, Oregon then Victoria, B.C. and Vancouver,B.C. Bob and I were active members of the A.R.S (America Rhododendron Society) in 1975 and when we heard that the Portland Chapter was planning a trip to England, we…
I ‘Climbed’ Mount Olympus
For most of the time I lived in Greece I lived on the mainland about an hour south of Thessaloniki and about half an hour from Litochoro, the village at the base of Mt. Olympus. My best friends in Greece were Jane and Stathis – she Scottish, he Greek and we did most everything with…
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
I came home to an empty house every day after school when I was in grade five. Mom was working in the office of Dad’s new fuel oil business. George and Agnes were babysat by the next-door neighbour, Mrs. Ottenbreit. That was considered safe enough in 1958. I was a reliable child, who could be…
Memories of Children
As far as I know, our family was not that affected by World War 2. We lived in Toronto, Ontario. Our Mother and Father were born in the 1930s and were children during World War 2. Neither of our grandparents were in the military at that point. I became curious at one point, and I…
Tales from and about my Grandparents
Our paternal grandfather (John Victor McGuigan) came to Canada from Northern Ireland in 1914, six months after his father (John Campbell) had arrived to set up a home and business for them in Lindsay, Ontario. My paternal grandmother told us the story of how Grandpa McGuigan, usually called Jack, at 14 was the eldest son,…