Sales pitch

In 2017 I published a story for children, "Gloriana and the Twins hunt for Pirate Treasure." This story has a long incubation time: it evolved from a story I made up to tell two toddlers on a long sea voyage back to Australia in 1962 after a year in London. Long John Silver, the villain of "Treasure Island," Robert Louis Stevenson's wonderful adventure story, had a parrot. I gave that parrot a name, Gloriana, conferred by Good Queen Bess herself at an investiture in Windsor Palace in 1590. Parrots have long lives, and in 1931, Gloriana is purchased from a pawnshop in Port Adelaide by 9-year old twins, Jennifer and Christopher. Three villains chase Gloriana and the twins across inland Australia and out to an island -- Treasure Island -- near the top end of the Great Barrier Reef.

You can buy a copy from Amazon, or from me.

50th Anniversary Order of Canada

It was a perfect day for the 50th anniversary gathering of members, officers and companions of the Order of Canada. Rebecca came with me to Rideau Hall, both of us proud to see me wearing the regalia of an Officer of the "Snowflake Club" - a large medal that hangs on a red and white ribbon around my neck. Over 2000 Canadians have received this honour since its creation 50 years ago, and over 1300 attended this celebration. The photo shows Rebecca and me at Rideau Hall, Saturday August 26, 2017

failings of democracy

It's just as well that I'm not a serious blogger. If I were, I could write reams about the psychopath who currently holds the office of president of the United States. I did write a few comments on his unfitness for this office when rumours were rife that he might be a candidate, but after the electoral college declared him president, I switched off. It was obvious that he would drag the USA's reputation down. When I awaken long enough to observe events in the formerly great nation south of Canada, I glimpse briefly what is happening -- he is indeed  dragging the USA down. So long as he doesn't start a nuclear war I'll be content to stay on the sidelines, watching, shuddering at the growing evidence of his incompetence, grossly flawed judgement, ineptitude, unfitness for the office he holds. Like the Brexit vote in the UK, his election illustrates the fundamental failure of democracy: it can't protect an otherwise stable democracy from demagogues and plausible charlatans.