Category Archives: Characters

Small Business Management

Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 by bt

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

Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 by bt

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

Posted on Sunday, February 6, 2011 by bt

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

Posted on Thursday, August 6, 2009 by bt

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

Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 by bt

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?

Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 by bt

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

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 by bt

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

Posted on Friday, November 23, 2007 by bt

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

Posted on Thursday, August 9, 2007 by bt

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

Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 by bt

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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