Category Archives: Local Culture

Roadkill

Posted on 20 June 2025 by sheg4184

Such small, sweet, chocolate brown corpses,crumpled and bloody by the side of the road.So maligned by the residentswho snarl about invasive species and say‘they do enormous damage to native wildlife…’ On this remote archipelago of ground dwelling birds,where the immigrant … Continue reading →

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The Oddity of Old Words

Posted on 3 June 2025 by sheg4184

I am meant to be working on a conference paper entitled ‘Conversing with the Past’. But I got distracted by one of those odd Facebook postings: a definition of an unusual and old-fashioned word. “Balter.” It is, apparently, pronounced BOLL-tuh. … Continue reading →

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A Day in Bali

Posted on 31 October 2024 by sheg4184

Bali. An island of contradictions and contrasts. Modern technology and ancient crafts. Modern tourism and ancient rice fields. Modern shopping malls and ancient temples. Spicy food and soft smiles. Up in Ubud for the Writers & Readers Festival, I have … Continue reading →

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“Tomorrow’s wind will blow tomorrow”

Posted on 23 August 2024 by sheg4184

This Japanese saying encourages us to live in the present and not worry excessively about the future. And as Japan is our final stop on this year’s circumnavigation of the globe, I am happy to take advantage of such useful … Continue reading →

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To Be Seen, To Be Heard: Art as Action

Posted on 27 July 2024 by sheg4184

Colonialism is not a beautiful picture sometimes. When we talk about Native people, we’re wards of the Crown, we are under separate citizenship. It’s a polite way of saying you’re a slave to colonialism. It’s still “us and them.” ~ … Continue reading →

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…Where the Deer and the Antelope Play

Posted on 20 July 2024 by sheg4184

The road from Toronto to Jasper goes on forever, and mostly in a straight line. It makes you believe in the possibility of a flat earth, and I find myself watching the horizon fearfully In case we should tumble off … Continue reading →

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O Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam…

Posted on 13 July 2024 by sheg4184

According to an article I have been reading on line there were once about 30 to 60 million buffalo roaming across the Prairies and through woodlands of North America. Although, in fact, they were probably bison, as the buffalo is … Continue reading →

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Aspects of Food Writing

Posted on 22 November 2023 by sheg4184

The study of food has become a hot topic in the past 25 years or so.  Most people think of food writing literally, and there have certainly been millions of words – and photographs – expended on restaurant reviews, cookbooks, … Continue reading →

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Back to Bali

Posted on 25 October 2023 by sheg4184

I have flown to Indonesia for the Ubud Readers & Writers Festival 2023 (URWF), a fascinating four days of inspirational talks with a wealth of literary talent that is held in Bali every October. The programme introduces a plethora of … Continue reading →

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Blogging 101

Posted on 16 September 2023 by sheg4184

I went to a writing class some time ago that, in retrospect, seems a little daft. Blogging 101, after I have been writing this particular blog for over a decade? So, why did I go? You might well ask. I … Continue reading →

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