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Those who document a history, decide how it is told

A video blogger named Dan Overes just contacted me with a video visit to the grave site of my father Ralph's first wife, Madge. What I didn't anticipate was the stone above. No mention that Madge had been married, no mention of Ralph, or his last name.

It's as if they just erased him from the story.

As many of you know, I've been tracking down parts of this story for a very long time, part of what looks like it will become a memoir in due course.

All in all, a story that just gets sadder with every turn.

And Then There's the NDP...

Living in France for a couple of years you slowly realise that every French politician carries one image in the back of their mind: La guillotine. Knowing that your actions might have a real personal consequence does tend to temper some of the untrammelled pro-Capitalist goals of Western political

Driving in the UK.

Finally, my column for the Globe and Mail, about driving in England, has gone live. Read the entire column here. “Left lane! Barry. LEFT LANE!” shouts my wife Susan for the tenth time in the first half hour I was behind the wheel of our rented Fiat 500, negotiating the

School Days in Montgomery

This is really more of note-taking than anything. Pictured above is the Terrace Road School in Montgomery, now part of Calgary, Alberta. In September of 1962 I entered the doors of that school and began Grade One. The year or so that we lived at 2007 52 St NW

Like father, like son?

Of late I find myself talking to a lot of people about their family history. You could divide them up in many ways, but I tend to choose between those who have pretty basic memories of their family, and superficial knowledge of their background, and those who have taken on

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And Then There's the NDP...

Driving in the UK.

School Days in Montgomery

Like father, like son?