Map shows the south-east tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia 1912 – A limestone quarry on Vancouver Island Jennie Butchart surveyed with horror the scarred landscape, the hidden cost of her husband Robert’s success. The rich limestone under the forest floor had proved ideal for making cement, but after 8 years it was now exhausted.Continue reading “Beauty from Ashes”
Author Archives: johnhearson
Nostalgia in Victoria, BC
Who would have imagined we’d meet up in such a far-flung corner of the planet, 57 years later? The last time Roger, Ned and l spent time together was in late July, 1968, aged 17. ‘A’ levels were over, school had finished and so we, plus two others, spent 10 days walking from Hawes inContinue reading “Nostalgia in Victoria, BC”
Exploring the Okanagan
“Well, John and Jane,” said sister Di(ana), your holiday’s been a real kaleidoscope.” We returned a week ago after spending a marvellous fortnight in the Okanagan valley, in British Columbia, Western Canada. Di and Darrel were marvellous hosts, and with them we had the very best experience of what the northern Okanagan has to offer.Continue reading “Exploring the Okanagan”
Easter People
(Continued from ‘Bad Thursday’ and ‘Why Good Friday’s Good’.) Wendy’s café. Saturday before Easter, One year on “What a difference a year can make!” remarked Ben as he sat drinking his coffee. “When I think back, I felt my life didn’t amount to anything worthwhile. My only aim was to lower my golf handicap, butContinue reading “Easter People”
Why Good Friday was Good
The cover picture is by ChilVera, via Pixabay Saturday before Easter Day (continued from ‘Bad Thursday’) “C’mon Wendy, talk to us” we said, as she flitted too and fro amongst the dozen-or-so other café customers. Saturday morning was ‘peak hour’ when working people joined us ‘economically inactive’ folks. A leisurely breakfast cooked by somebody elseContinue reading “Why Good Friday was Good”
Bad Thursday
that is, the Thursday before Easter “Aw, thanks Wendy,” we said, as the café owner deposited a tray on our table. This held four steaming mugs of tea; our bacon sandwiches; jars of ketchup and brown sauce. It was warm for the time of year, so we’d decided to sit outside looking onto the road,Continue reading “Bad Thursday”
Half Term Fun, Games and Gismos
[The cover picture is AI-generated, not showing ‘actual’ children] “Hello Trainer, are you ready for your Pokemon journey? I can read your mind and guess which Pokemon you’re thinking of. You just have to picture it in your mind and answer my question. If I can guess which Pokemon it is, it will be addedContinue reading “Half Term Fun, Games and Gismos”
Robbing the Poor – An Urgent Appeal
Cover picture from Tearfund’s campaign against the cuts in aid. Imagine the boss at work telling you there’ll be a 10% cut in pay. Hard times, have to accept the reality of life, don’t like doing this but ‘it is what it is’. Then the boss gets sacked; he’s been blamed for the poor stateContinue reading “Robbing the Poor – An Urgent Appeal”
Ordeal in the snow
“It should be here any minute now.” The six of us gazed hopefully up Nelson Street in Bradford city centre. One after another, buses were cautiously negotiating their way through the snow drifts, pulling to a stop beside the three shelters. Our own stop was positioned round a bend on a road called Hall Ings,Continue reading “Ordeal in the snow”
As Many as the Stars, Concluded
If you missed Part 1, please don’t by-pass this post. I think the story is mind-blowing! Here’s the concluding sequel to my post about Robert Glover and his ministry, ‘Care for Children’. In Part 1, I explained how Robert and his family had established a remarkable work in Shanghai, seeing 500 orphanage children transferred intoContinue reading “As Many as the Stars, Concluded”
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