Category Archives: Characters

Small Business Management

Homeless can collector, Spring Garden Road, Halifax: “Well, the first year students don’t drink as much as they used to; just have their heads in their books. I lost a lot of clients when the school year changed over, and … Continue reading

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Christ in Disguise

As I sat with a Rosary after Mass today, my attention was arrested by a grunt at my ear, which sounded like “Excuse me”. I became acutely aware of a form looming over me from the aisle, and a hand … Continue reading

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Moomins

Good children’s books give as much pleasure to the adults reading them as the children being read to. Which means Tove Jansson’s are phenomenal. Give these two a glance for starters, and see if you know a Hemulen, a Little … Continue reading

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Clothes Done Right

I figure speaking at an event with the words “World” and “Congress” in the title means I get to buy a new garment. So on Tuesday, I went to my local clothier for a really top-notch shirt. He looked at … Continue reading

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Humour at the Bottom

Then there was the aboriginal woman I picked up during paramedic preceptorship a few blocks from the notorious intersection of Hastings and Main in Vancouver. We found her lying in pain half on, half off her bed, surrounded by well … Continue reading

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Anyone Seen Sparky?

The other day, I found myself speaking, as one will from time to time, with a man who thinks all the mainstream media are controlled by nefarious Jews. He even pronounced it ‘Jooooos…’. By way of evidence, he showed me … Continue reading

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Virility

I don’t like much of Anthony Hopkins’ work, but having watched “A Bridge Too Far”, I now see why he’s famous. Lieutenant-Colonel Frost is one of the best written, best acted heroes in Hollywood. He speaks softly. Maybe too softly, … Continue reading

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Ortho

There’s this idea that orthopaedic surgeons are basically neanderthals with an interest in shop activities. “Bone break, me fix” was how a medical oncologist prof of ours summed them up. Today we had a talk from a real live orthopod, … Continue reading

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A good friend

There’s a man in Fort Nelson General, (let’s call him Zechariah), who is slowly recovering from a stroke. Aside from the wheelchair, he is a comely gentleman, bald, with glittering eyes and a well-trimmed peppery moustache. He understands what is being spoken to him, … Continue reading

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Liard Hotsprings

OK, I can’t not post this stuff. The intersection of the Liard River and the Alaska Highway is four hours north of town, in the geographical centre of no-where. The water from the springs is hot enough to support an eerily … Continue reading

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