Category Travel
At Essex Farm
I listened to the national Remembrance Day ceremonies from Ottawa on the radio this year. Felt strange to be observing a time of silence at 5 p.m. my time instead of the traditional 11 a.m. As always on November 11, I was thinking of my maternal grandfather, who came home from that First World War, […]
Remembrance Day 2020
I’m not sure what the ceremonies in Ottawa will look like today. Normally I would tune in for the 11 a.m. service, and will probably still do so. Here in Germany they don’t remember their war dead on November 11, so I won’t be attending anything locally. Over the years I have taken many pictures […]
The Child Soldier
Continuing our lead-up to remembrance day, a post from November 2014. When we visited the Commonwealth Military Cemetery at Essex Farm, near Ypres, Belgium, our guide pointed out the grave of V.J. Strudwick, who was killed in action January 14, 1916 at age 15. The official age to enlist was 18, for overseas service 19. […]
Time To Remember
I was planning on continuing my commentary on the US election today, then I looked at the calendar. It is almost November 11, Remembrance Day. We who have never experienced war can only dimly understand the sacrifices previous generations paid for our freedom. Today though, and for the next couple of days, some older posts […]
Fall Continues
Time to take a break from looking at the US election. Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest after all. Friday afternoon we went walking in the Black Forest with friends from another village and came across this blaze of color. All discussion of the election was forgotten as we drank in the […]
Sunset Over Laufen
Life goes on while America figures out how to count the ballots cast in Tuesday’s presidential election. I think I’ll have some observations on that tomorrow, whether they have finished by then or not. There is beauty in nature, whether you are looking for it or not. In this case I wish I had had […]
Not So Black Forest
When I leave my apartment for my daily walk there are so many options, but the two main ones are vineyard, or forest. If I have lots of time I walk in both. It was a grey day when I walked in the Black Forest this week. Lots of clouds, no sunshine – but lots […]
A Golden Day
The fall colors in Sulzburg are nothing like the vibrant red, yellows and oranges that I am used to in eastern Canada. Yet they have a beauty of their own. Walking by Castellberg, on the outskirts of Sulzburg this week, I was struck by the beauty of the vineyards in the late afternoon sun. The […]
You’ve never heard of him, but…
…he was a big deal long before Christopher Columbus “discovered” America. Three years ago yesterday, I happened upon his statue while wandering through Bern, Switzerland. Adrian von Bubenberg was such a big deal that, after he died and was buried in Bern’s cathedral, the Pope wanted to dig up his grave and move the body […]
Autumn in the Vineyards
For some reason, the leaves on the forest trees don’t seem to change colors here. Which explains why so many Germans come to eastern Canada and the US northeast at this time of year. You don’t get to see displays like this in our part of Germany. Friday was a gray day, typical of a […]
random thoughts from lorne 
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