My daughter Rachel, who relocated to the south east England county of Kent a few month’s ago, has been back home in West Yorkshire for a few days. My youngest offspring taking advantage of her partner’s weekend in the Lake District; he dropping her at her childhood home on his way to Cumbria. This morning…
Tag: travel
Phil, Tony & Britannia
As I commence this essay it’s 3.04am on Friday 18th October. Yours truly currently seated 39009 feet above Newfoundland, travelling at 612mph on an Air Transat flight to Manchester. GPS data available to fellow passengers and me highlighting we have four more hours and seven minutes until we reach our destination. I’ve started penning this…
Poutine On The Ritz
Following a highly enjoyable two weeks on the North American continent, this evening my feet will leave Canadian terra firma for the first time in a fortnight when I board my return flight to Blighty. That’s unless you count the occasions when my feet metaphorically left the ground, a consequence of awe manifesting from the beautiful…
Room With A View
I’ve seen some beautiful, awe inspiring breakfast views during the half century years I’ve ventured aimlessly through this oft idiosyncratic existence. For instance overlooking Lake Windermere from the restaurant of the Bowness’ Olde England Hotel. Accompanied by comforting warmth from late spring solar rays in Cumbria, a sight that in conjunction with my full English…
Odyssey To The Falls
Niagara Falls is the destination on my penultimate day in Canada. Views that have long been on my bucket list, which’s grown ever shorter during my odyssey in the land of the maple leaf. Visiting the globally famous waterfall a tourist aspiration I’ve held since old aunt Ada who in 1970’s arbitrarily advocated “Niagara Falls…
Giving Thanks
The final week of my Canadian odyssey has coincided with this vast and beautiful nations Thanksgiving. A time when it’s populous give thanks for a plentiful Fall harvest, gratitude at living in this beautiful country, along with honouring unofficial king William Shatner. As an Englishman I’m unsure if I’m allowed to take part in these…
Two Firsts!
My last two days in Canada have seen a couple of life firsts for GJ Strachan. My half century or so on this planet never previously exposing me to experiences of watching close hand a theatre production sound and lighting team at work, or in a position where I’d been required to undertake pool maintenance…
Step Away From The Edge!
This morning, an Ontarian fall chill greeted me as I jumped groggily from my bed. The warmth of yesterday, which was my weather companion as I meandered the harbour and town centre of Westport, Ontario, a distant memory as I stood shivering in my undies checking my phone. Prior to announcing I was awake by…
I’m A Human Being….
“You’re Welcome!” A retort I’ve heard on numerous occasions from my hosts since arriving in Ontario; ordinarily in response to gratuitous responses of “Thank you.” I’m unsure if that is a nationwide Canadian trait or merely the good manners afforded by residents of the Ontarian province. Irrespective, it’s behaviour I find endearing and worthy of…