Category Society

Mourning Time Again

For many people around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant sorrow and loss. Lives have been taken unexpectedly and early. In addition to the losses from the pandemic, today there are families remembering four individuals those taken before their time. Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the Kent State shootings. Their names are a […]

Another Castle

When I re-posted my reflections on Dracula’s castle a couple of days ago, I realized I should also let you revisit the other castle I visited that same day. Since no-one is going anywhere today, let’s take a trip back to 2014.   The suits of armour were very impressive. As was the entire armoury at […]

Social Distancing Changes This Holiday

I was planning on a May Day post today. I knew the holiday would be different this year, that there would be no large gatherings. But I thought there would still be some observance. So yesterday evening I dropped by the Sulzburg Market Square, thinking I would at least see this year’s Maypole being erected. […]

The Vampire’s Castle

Everyone seems a little stir-crazy these days. We can’t go anywhere or do anything. So I thought it would be nice to re-publish a few of my travel tales, places you might want to visit if the planes ever fly again. This one is from September 2014. Dracula is everywhere in Romania, perhaps the country’s […]

Vacation Time?

While the rest of the world seems to be paused, in some ways I am busier than ever. Which has me daydreaming about getting away from it all.  Remember when we could travel to places we wanted to visit? It seems like forever ago, not earlier this year. Back in January I didn’t own a […]

Striking It Rich

  The mines are still there on the edge of town if you want to try your luck. There are probably rules, but no fences to keep you out. There’s silver in there somewhere. Mind you, there can’t be much of it or someone would still be working the mines. I haven’t gone exploring. The […]

Gnomes Everywhere?

Maybe it is an annual event that I haven’t noticed before. I have no idea of the significance. Walking through Sulzburg’s Kurpark, the park behind city hall, in the past week I have noticed a proliferation of gnomes around the trees (and at least one in the old city wall). I have no idea who is […]

COVID Silver Linings

City officials in Ottawa, Canada, probably won’t admit it, but the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a blessing for them. People are focusing on health and not the city’s under-performing light rail system. The multi-billion dollar project was opened to the public with great fanfare in September, and the breakdowns started almost immediately. […]

Inflation!

I was chatting with my cousin last night, which naturally had me thinking about my mother and hers, sisters who died weeks apart in 2019. So it seems appropriate to share this post again, reflections on an outing my mum and I took in 2015. We pulled over to the side of the road so […]

Unnecessary Problems

Do the actions of politicians sometimes have you scratching your head in bewilderment? Do you frequently think you could do a better job? You are not alone. Especially if you are one of those people with common sense. Living in Germany doesn’t mean I am oblivious to what is happening back in Ottawa. I keep […]