Every family has certain traditions that have developed over the years. Frequently they are small, sometimes silly, things that don’t mean much but are fun to have. In our family one of those rituals involves having your picture taken with the pigs in Lippstadt, Germany, my wife’s ancestral home. The pigs in question are public […]
It was our last day in Europe and we were just strolling along the banks of the Thames River in London. After 30 days of travel the idea of a museum or other such attraction was less than appealing; we were too tired really to do anything that would require engaging our brains. However, I […]
The once rich baritone voice is a little thinner now as time has taken its toll. Some of the notes have gone wherever it is notes go when you age. The memory is no longer perfect, which means sometimes the lyrics aren’t quite right. But it is still the same voice and these are still […]
It’s Sunday, a day of rest and worship, and I thought today I would let the pictures tell the story. On our trip to Europe in July we visited a number of churches, some to worship in, others as tourist and cultural attractions. Today one church from each of those countries. We’ll start with St. […]
In shopping malls across North American the excitement has almost peaked: Santa Claus is coming! Indeed, many communities celebrate with a Santa Claus parade, held now about three weeks earlier than when I was a child. With no young children in the household I think I will find something else to do that doesn’t involve […]
“We tried to get him music lessons and it just didn’t work” – Alf Bell, father of Canadian musician Steve Bell; from the documentary film Burning Ember: The Steve Bell Journey. How would you feel if video cameras followed you around for a year recording your life story? What would they show? Would you be […]
How do you encapsulate a 25 year career? How do you celebrate a quarter of a century in music? In Steve Bell’s case it was a surprise gift, a CD of his songs recorded by some of his musical friends. He liked the gift so much he included it in his latest album, Pilgrimage, a […]
Twenty-five years ago the word download had nothing to do with music. You heard it occasionally when a senior level of government decided to dump some responsibilities onto a lower level. They could them claim to have cut costs, though the same taxpayers were still on the hook for whatever the service was, they were […]
I remember going to see The Concert For Bangladesh in early 1972at the Dorval Cinema in suburban Montreal. That movie (and the triple vinyl disc album of the same name) was my introduction to pop music as a fundraiser for a good cause, though there might have been earlier efforts I was unaware of. Yesterday […]
The snow is falling as I write this on Sunday night. I don’t think it is going to stay on the ground this time, but I know it is only a matter of days and winter white will be here to stay; or at least stay until sometime in March. Several times a year, usually […]
random thoughts from lorne 
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