Stop Harper

The Mongol Derby

Cheers to my friend Katherine Friedley who is about to embark on a 10 day, 1000 km endurance horse race across Mongolia! She is the only Canadian participant in this year’s Mongol Derby, billed as the longest toughest horse race in the world. Her race name is ‘Outlaw Kate’ and she will be riding for the race’s official charity MercyCorps Mongolia. For more information about this incredible adventure (or making a donation) go to TheAdventurists Mongol Derby website or read Aleesha Harris’s Vancouver Sun interview. In this photo, Kathy is riding another friend’s Icelandic pony, Dropi, during a recent visit to Hornby Island BC.

Happy Birthday Paul McCartney

From the first time I heard the Beatles as a young teenager, I knew nothing would ever be the same. It was a musical (and cultural) turning point for me and remains so almost 50 years later. 

Like most parents in the 60’s, mine were skeptical. My father in particular was not impressed. This largely had to do with the fact that his father was Scottish musician Hugh Roberton, conductor of the world famous Glasgow Orpheus Choir. Now that was real music, my father insisted, and if there was any doubt, Hugh Roberton had become Sir Hugh in 1931 as a result of his musical achievements.

Just the same, I persevered and the years went by. One day, shortly before his 90^th birthday, my father completely out of the blue and in his broad Scots accent announced that “the Beatles were wonderful composers”. I was astonished and reminded him that he certainly hadn’t thought so in the 1960’s! “No”, he said.”I didn’t then, but I do now.”

Sadly, my father died in 1993 so didn’t live long enough to see Paul McCartney become Sir Paul as a result of his musical achievements. Nevertheless, I think he would have approved of the honor.

 I’d like to offer this little story as my gift to Sir Paul today on his 70^th birthday.

Hotel Ware From The "Alicco" - Where Was The "Alicco"

One of the things I like to collect is old hotel ware and in my travels between Alberta and British Columbia, I’ve found three pieces marked “Alicco”.  The lettering has always made me think of something exotic, like Morocco  perhaps, and a dining room full of palms and lazy ceiling fans. But it’s probably a lot more likely to have been an ordinary cafe or hotel in some little Western Canadian town.

Does anyone know where the Alicco was?  If you know anything about it, I’d be interested in your comment or an email.

Remember the “Alicco”!