Author: canadaslim

Moving heaven and earth 1: Amatrice no more

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 26 August 2016 The village of Amatrice is no more. The villages of Pescara del Tronto and Accumoli lie in ruins. An earthquake, measuring 6.2, hit central Italy two days ago (24 August 2016) at 03:36:32. Its epicentre was close to the town of Norcia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, 75 km (47… Continue reading Moving heaven and earth 1: Amatrice no more

Burkinis on the beach

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 25 August 2016 As I read the headlines of recent newspapers I can´t help but feel a sense of sadness about how much discussion can be generated over themes of relative unimportance while other themes that should be talked about are often marginalized and ignored. More headlines are devoted to athletes and Hollywood… Continue reading Burkinis on the beach

No sex, please. I’m online!

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 23 August 2016 Perhaps it is a bad idea to watch Cyrano de Bergerac and Bridget Jones’ Diary while drinking copious amounts of alcohol, for the mind may take a funny turn down dark paths that it shouldn`t. I think of Cyrano… Hercule Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac, a cadet (nobleman serving as a soldier)… Continue reading No sex, please. I’m online!

How to build a railroad

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 22 August 2016 As the few but faithful regular readers of this blog may recall, I am in a marriage wherein my wife is away four days out of seven working in Zürich bringing sick children there the love and professionalism by which she is already known in her particular circles. So, while… Continue reading How to build a railroad

The last ride of Vittorio Scarmaglia

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 20 August 2016 As I sit at my desk, up and about far too early on a Saturday morning, I am trying to recapture the enthusiasm and energy by which I am known both as an ESL teacher and a part-time Starbucks barrista for working later today. I will never claim to be… Continue reading The last ride of Vittorio Scarmaglia

Shining through

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 18 August 2016 As those who read this blog regularly know, I enjoy hiking in nature: fresh air, surprising encounters with flora and fauna, the solitude that allows me the freedom to simultaneously think as well as forget about the problems of Life for a while. But I have another addiction, another obsession,… Continue reading Shining through

Shadows on the stadium

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 17 August 2016 In less than a week the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics will be a thing of the past and to no one’s surprise the United States leads the medal standing, with 28 gold, 28 silver and 28 bronze, with swimming being the leading sport that the Americans are excelling at. American… Continue reading Shadows on the stadium

The Name Game

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 16 August 2016 Recent events have made me aware of the importance that humanity gives to names. A colleague and her husband, both good friends of mine, brought a new soul, a baby boy, into the world at 12:27 pm today. This past weekend the mother was honoured with a baby shower – a party… Continue reading The Name Game

Canada Slim and the Genius of Glarus

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 12 August 2016 In my last blog post, Yesterday’s Children, I wrote of boarding a train to parts unknown in an attempt to restore my composure after attending a memorial service in Benken, Canton St. Gallen. The day then was much like today’s weather: chilly, dark, unpleasant… Glarus, Canton Glarus, 21 March 2016 Glarus, the… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Genius of Glarus