A Letter from Grandpa
Rodney Gascoyne gives good advice to a young relative heading towards university.
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October 30, 2013
A Letter from Grandpa
Rodney Gascoyne gives good advice to a young relative heading towards university.
October 24, 2013
Bridge At Sea
Rodney Gascoyne finds that bridge players are no longer welcomed on sea cruises.
October 17, 2013
Family Magic
"Some years ago I learned the magic of tracing your family tree and searching your heritage,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
October 10, 2013
Odd Beginnings
"My parents met at work in an office during the early stages of the war, but there is some doubt how much both were really in love,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
October 03, 2013
My Australian Heritage (By A British Migrant To Canada)
"We seem to have been a much-travelled group well before my arrival, let alone since,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
Continue reading "My Australian Heritage (By A British Migrant To Canada)" »
September 26, 2013
Layovers
Rodney Gascoyne finds that changing planes on long distance journeys is becoming increasingly tedious.
September 19, 2013
US Market Hustlers
"For quite a few years now, since the recovery from the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) failed to take off the way they wanted, almost everyone in the US markets and political life has been hyping thin air.'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
September 12, 2013
Sailing for Life
...The following morning we set sail and crossed Southampton Water, heading for Cowes. The Commander told the young men what needed to be done and I was just one of the crew...
Rodney Gascoyne tells of a project which helped young men to realise their potential.
September 05, 2013
A Wedge Of Black Swans
Rodney Gascoyne brings a sombre assessment of the World Economy.
August 29, 2013
For Us Or Against US
"Canada has had a checkered existence with the US,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
August 22, 2013
Visiting Magical Memphis
Rodney Gascoyne was enchanted by magical Memphis.
August 08, 2013
Insights From Past Battlefields – Part VII
Rodney Gascoyne tells of visiting the site of the Battle of New Orleans where, in 1815, for the last time British, Canadian and American armed forces were drawn against each other.
Continue reading "Insights From Past Battlefields – Part VII " »
August 01, 2013
Svalbard – The Norwegian High Arctic
Rodney Gascoyne experiences days without sunset above the Arctic Circle.
July 25, 2013
Cool It
Musing on the big issue of global warming, Rodney Gascoyne writes "There is also now almost no agreement or action by most major nations, as the debate continues as to which nations should be answerable for making achievable targets, to reduce future deadly or harmful emissions. We need to do far more.''
July 18, 2013
The A5 Kid
"I awoke early one recent morning and started to think about London scenes,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
July 11, 2013
A Dog's Life
Rodney Gascoyne tries to prevent giving a dog a bad name.
July 04, 2013
Transitions And Change
"...I have always remained a minimalist: expect little, make the most of everything and create what you really need,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
June 27, 2013
Ego And Control
"Looking back, I realize I have had the privilege of knowing and working with some remarkable and stimulating people. But the ones who stand out are those driven by ego and the need to control others around them or the overall agenda. They are the negative ones,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
June 20, 2013
Fear And Anger
" I am guessing that the main challenges, to the stability and peace of Western society, come mainly from our own state of mind and reactions we have to our own institutions, than it does to any external threats,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
June 13, 2013
Envy And Greed
"Why can we not take a community approach to economic performance and growth, with reasonable increases and advances that can be shared far more widely, and not just meeting the obscene greed of the few?'' demands Rodney Gascoyne.
June 01, 2013
Elemental
from the greatest shame have come these things, the greatest joys...
John Paul Newbury reviews Amanda Curtin's novel, ElementaL
May 30, 2013
Two Navies And The Mail
"It is hard to imagine how Britain’s territorial interest could have been established, let alone maintained and defended for so long, without her two navies. When they declined in the late 20th century, the empire itself was drawing to a close, as power and control moved to the US,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
May 23, 2013
Insights From Past Battlefields - Part VI
"I believe that the Commonwealth could still have a valuable contribution to make to world events and opinions, speaking with a greater united voice that its various members, but only if it can be run in a collaborative, democratic manner.'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
Continue reading "Insights From Past Battlefields - Part VI" »
May 09, 2013
Insights From Past Battlefields – Part V
Rodney Gascoyne tells some of the history of Old Fort Niagara, held at different times by the French, the British and the Americans, and a place at the centre of fighting between the three nations over centuries, that helped determined the final settlement of North America.
Continue reading "Insights From Past Battlefields – Part V " »
May 02, 2013
Insights From Past Battlefields - Part IV
Rodney Gascoyne tells of the tactics devised by a Canadian general which troubled the Germans during the first World War.
Continue reading "Insights From Past Battlefields - Part IV" »
April 25, 2013
Insights From Past Battlefields - Part III
Rodney Gascoyne considers the botched Dieppe Raid which was staged 70 years ago during World War Two and has gone down in Canadian history as one of the biggest disasters suffered by its army.
Continue reading "Insights From Past Battlefields - Part III" »
April 18, 2013
Insights From Past Battle Fields - Part II
Rodney Gascoyne visits the battlefield of Balaklava, one of the sites of fighting in the Crimean War in 1854, and reassesses the charge of the Light Brogade.
Continue reading "Insights From Past Battle Fields - Part II" »
April 11, 2013
Insights From Past Battlefields -Part 1
...Nowadays it is easy to appreciate the field of battle, with ridges and hills on either side of a broad valley, and many replica artillery pieces still occupying the positions deployed on those days. More than anything else, though, is the ability to walk the same land of The Peach Orchard, The Wheatfield, Devil’s Den and Little Round Top, which lets you appreciate and understand what was asked of the troops involved...
Rodney Gascoyne surveys the site of the battle at Gettysburg.
Continue reading "Insights From Past Battlefields -Part 1" »
April 04, 2013
New Cruise Destinations
Rodney Gascoyne spotlights new ways that cruise companies have devised to empty the wallets of their customers.
March 28, 2013
Euro Problems Again
"So they have done it again and with the usual hype that this solves everything. They have saved Cyprus. You really do have to wonder whether the European Union (EU), or the Euro zone can find any workable solutions to their problems. As before, their latest moves only worsen the likely outcomes.'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
March 14, 2013
Mobility - The Modern Curate's Egg
"Personal, handheld smart phones are ubiquitous and their popularity is growing exponentially worldwide. But those that have them, must have noticed by now, how the costs of trying to do everything, wherever you are, at any time using the internet and social networking options, can consume enormous time and resources,'' writes columnist Rodney Gascoyne.
March 07, 2013
Unconstrained Capitalism
"Unconstrained Capitalism has proved itself a hopeless way to run national or worldwide economic affairs,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
February 28, 2013
The Micawber Principle
..."Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."...
Rodney Gascoyne says that the principles expounded by Charles Dickens's character Mr Micawber are a philosophy by which we should all rule our lives.
February 21, 2013
Central Bankers’ War
"When you also think of the rising national deficits and overall debt among most of the major nations of the world, let alone state and local government debt and unfunded liabilities around the globe, we are in for a long hard run before any of us regain stability and reasonable, sustainable rates of growth,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
February 14, 2013
The Burma Misnomer - For The Chin And Shan Peoples
Today we welcome a new contributor to Open Writing - Rodney Gascoyne.
Writing about Burma, a land still ruled by an oppressive military regime, Rodney reports "Constitutional changes two years ago, continue to ensure the Burman Army retains control of the Government.''
Continue reading "The Burma Misnomer - For The Chin And Shan Peoples" »
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