Happy Birthday

I know you thought i forgot, because i normally do. But this time I'm on time. Happy Birthday. Hope ya have a good one. May you drink yourself so drunk you forget what age you actually are ;)

Harrr Harrrr

See ya soon. Christmas break is on the way.

kisses and hugs.

Confronting my fears

It started last Wednesday, when Nikki - whom you all know as the publisher of the Low Down - handed me a flyer for tree climbing in the enchanted forest in Wakefield, with these words: “This story is going to be focused on you. I want to know how you feel; emotions, fear…everything”.

Immediately, motion sickness rushed trough my stomach as I tried to conceal the involuntary shaking in my left knee. Climbing a 100-ft. tree was not a good idea for someone who suffers from acrophobia – a fear of heights. Going against every rational thought and ignoring a dry throat that turned every breath into an uneasy gulp, I took the flyer.

Before allowing myself to come to my senses, I called Jamie from Wild Adventures Canada and arranged the climb. One pre-climb lesson and an explanation on the ten different safety aspects later, I find myself standing at the base of a 300 year old white pine tree, trying to convince myself that today was the day to confront my childhood fear, while wondering how I got myself into this.

Jamie gently ushers me into the harness. Strap the shoulders, belt the legs, buckle the chest and tighten the helmet. Quick hug of the tree and I’m on the 40-ft. ladder that leads to the first branches of the ancient white pine.

Left hand, right foot; right foot, left hand; keep looking up. Somehow, I don’t know how, I convince my body to slowly but steadily go up. I finally reach the top of the cold metal ladder and I feel a sense of terror rush over me. I can’t let go.

I think of the safety equipment: harnesses, buckles, the just-in-case extras. But rational thought becomes a distant murmur and my senses start to convince me this climb is impossible.

Suddenly, without thinking, I reach up and grab the first branch. Then, almost without instruction, my body pulls my mind, and its fears, up into the tree. My heart is racing, but I regain full control of my knees, pulling and pushing my body from branch to branch.

I take a breath and look around only to realise that I’ve made it: I’ve actually reached the top! Unexpected screams skip pass my lips and sail across the outstretched valley. Excited, I sit on one of the branches and listen to the empty silence.

The trees flow across the hills in waves of reds and yellows and I once again become aware of myself. My heart slows, my body relaxes and the sensation of warmth and movement return to my fingers. I am completely…calm.

Slightly overwhelmed, a few tears run down my cheeks as I start my decent. Fearless now, I look down and realize what I’ve just accomplished. As my feet become reacquainted with the forest floor I feel strong and alive. Emotional, I wrap my arms around the trunk of the mighty pine and thank it for helping me conquer my fear of heights.

Hommage to the doggy-doh

I said after Major i would never let a pet into my heart again... I was wrong.


Farewell Doggy-doh. You are more than a pet, you're family.


je t'aime, masha.
Tu me manque.

Aboriginal teachings. Harvet festival

(Men's traditional dress. Wearing his family colours and the marks of his spiritual guardian, the wolf. His Bustle carries 100 feathers in memory of the fallen warrior that went before him.)

So last weekend was harvest season, i know it was celebrated a week early, but that was to make sure everyone had the chance to attend. In past years people were busy with their own Thanksgiving custom to attend any of the festivals.

Anyway, as you can see from the photo, the tradition is highly treasured by the aboriginal population here in Wakefield. ( it's about a 10 minute drive from where i live now). The warriors name is Thomas Clair and he is part of the Mi'Kmaq tribe in New Brunswick.

The Bustle he is wearing is made of 100 feathers; each one symbolizing a fallen warrior that went before him.

Talking to Thomas, and another man who is Chief Hereditary of the Mi'Kmaq tribe, was a very humbling experience. They are bound to the earth and see themselves as willing servants, responding to the needs of mother earth.

(Photo: ladies traditional shawl dance.
The colours represent her family who made the dress for a ceremony that is performed when two tribes meet.)

According to Chief Augustine, we are here to provide the earth with what it needs and not the other way around. During a sunrise ceremony the Chief spoke about how it's necessary to utilize the energy of the earth, rather than exploit it, and he preached that friendship, like nature requires nurturing, in order for it to grow.

During an interview with the Chief i was amazed at how calming he was. Even though I was on deadline, which usually has me rushing, his calm, relaxed tone was passed on to me and i felt a kind of soothing connection.

From the moment i started the interview, i was taken a back. He started the conversation by getting to know who i was before telling me about himself. This is highly uncommon as there is usually a clear line between me and the people who need to use me for media related purposes.

But the Chief actually sat down and allocated time to speaking with me, which made him very focused on the interview.

He went on to explain about traditions and our roles on earth. Then he talked about a river that was near by and how it was important to included the river in the harvest festival. He said that the river is like the blood of the earth and that it is the life force of the planet, saying it was important to embrace its energy in order to truly connect with the earth.

I am still in awe at the wisdom of the Chief ( who said he had Irish connections, of course) and how he made complicated issues simple by reducing problems to their essence.

It is experiences like this, that make this job amazing.


(an aboriginal wooden canoe.
Constructed from the bark of local trees)

Talk to you all later.
Nat.