Expedition Canada

Ukraine Sat Feb 26th Of more immediate concern is the news from Ukraine and the Russian invasion (unless you live in  Russia where it is not an invasion).   I've posted a note on Linkedin, where many of my former colleagues keep the message of free and independent media alive. I have had the privilege of working closely with them and meeting many BBC World Service language journalists in their local bureaux, including Moscow. This is the post . After 35 years in the BBC, most in the BBC World Service, it is impossible not to be thinking of all the journalists working on the ground, reporting what is going on in Ukraine and Russia, and the dangers they face. For my former colleagues in the BBC, particularly the BBC World Service Ukrainian and Russian services who have family in those countries, it is even more difficult, as some of the reports have highlighted. We enjoy and sometimes forget that we have a free and independent media in most democratic countries, that brings us impart

BC State of Emergency  Fred's palm-size basil leaves! Wed Jul 21st Living on the Sunshine Coast one can feel a little distant from the rest of BC and Canada as a whole.  British Columbia has declared a 'State of Emergency' less than one month after ending its Covid State of Emergency.    " More than 3,000 square kilometres of land have been burned by 1,145 wildfires in B.C. this season so far, which is three times the 10-year average for this time of year, according to B.C. Wildfire Service director of operations Cliff Chapman." To put that in to context, Wiltshire, our home county in the UK is 3,48 5 km2.  An area close to the total size of Wiltshire, is or has been on fire. On the Sunshine Coast there are no active fires.  Across BC there are 277, up 18 in the last two days.  BC needs rain, none is forecast.   “Public safety is always our first priority, and as wildfire activity is expected to increase, this is a progressive step in our wildfire response to make