A Letter from Grandpa
Rodney Gascoyne gives good advice to a young relative heading towards university.
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Rodney Gascoyne gives good advice to a young relative heading towards university.
Rodney Gascoyne gives good advice to a young relative heading towards university.
Rodney Gascoyne finds that bridge players are no longer welcomed on sea cruises.
"Some years ago I learned the magic of tracing your family tree and searching your heritage,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
"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.
"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)" »
Rodney Gascoyne finds that changing planes on long distance journeys is becoming increasingly tedious.
"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.
...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.
Rodney Gascoyne brings a sombre assessment of the World Economy.
"Canada has had a checkered existence with the US,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
Rodney Gascoyne was enchanted by magical Memphis.
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 " »
Rodney Gascoyne experiences days without sunset above the Arctic Circle.
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.''
"I awoke early one recent morning and started to think about London scenes,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
Rodney Gascoyne tries to prevent giving a dog a bad name.
"...I have always remained a minimalist: expect little, make the most of everything and create what you really need,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
"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.
" 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.
"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.
from the greatest shame have come these things, the greatest joys...
John Paul Newbury reviews Amanda Curtin's novel, ElementaL
"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.
"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" »
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 " »
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" »
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" »
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" »
...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" »
Rodney Gascoyne spotlights new ways that cruise companies have devised to empty the wallets of their customers.
"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.
"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.
"Unconstrained Capitalism has proved itself a hopeless way to run national or worldwide economic affairs,'' writes Rodney Gascoyne.
..."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.
"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.
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" »