John Macnaughton’s Walk

| November 10, 2019

One Day Soon… There is another place to visit, following in the footsteps of Professor John Macnaughton’s walk to his son’s grave at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Found within the pages of the Canada Illustrated Weekly, a letter of thanks to St. Barnabas Hostels, a brief note of gratitude…. Will you kindly allow […]

Dancing On My Own

| November 9, 2018

For the pilgrims… The bells are striking nine this morning in Ieper (Ypres) as we sit amongst the goodness of this a.m. feasting. The morning window is fresh and, through its clarity, I see the stretching greenery in search of rejuvenating sunlight. I struggle finding my thoughts this morning but happen upon a phrase to […]

…and now we have been

| August 19, 2018

Thread Fourteen …and now we have been…and we have returned. The landscapes of France and Flanders…London…have offered of themselves…their connections to us. We have rediscovered, found, observed and, above all, we have become connected. In finding the threads between the thimbles and needles we have bore witness the fabric of history…perhaps patchwork…but ours for all […]

The Colour of Peace

| August 12, 2018

Thread Eight Despite those of us who have been drawn to Ypres because of the Great War there are other colours to this town. It is alive and filled with the voices of today and hopes for the future. Ypres – Ieper is filled with community – its own community – its own people. There is colour […]

When We Are Absent One From Another

| August 8, 2018

Thread Four Near to the early evening the bells call, an announcement of faith or on this day of the Great Pilgrimage a note for every unit, every battalion. The notes grow faint as if to start speaking the names of all who are recorded here. Standing near to four Yorkshire men, their banter speaks […]