An Ode to canada

I’ve recently returned from a 2+ week holiday travelling through the Western part of Canada, and it was such an exhilarating experience I thought it worthy of a mention here, plus a photo. The main image is Lake Louise, where the water carries a turquoise colour; this is derived from ‘rock flour’, a fine powder created by the glaciers grinding the bedrocks into silt as they pass by. This rock flour is carried into the lake by meltwater and as the sunlight hits the particles in the water it scatters blue and green wavelengths of light, creating the colour in the photo. Beauty personified. And there’s so much more to Western Canada than blue water lakes. It’s a region of breathtaking natural beauty, where vast wilderness and dramatic landscapes stretch from the Pacific coast to the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia and Alberta, in particular, showcase some of the most stunning scenery in the world. The rugged coastline of British Columbia is lined with misty rainforests, hidden coves, and snow-capped mountains. The Sea-to-Sky Highway between Vancouver and Banff offers awe-inspiring views of rivers, waterfalls, and forested mountains that seem to touch the clouds. And if you’re lucky all this landscape is illuminated by the mesmerizing dance of the Northern Lights – but I didn’t see them! Every corner of Western Canada felt like a living postcard, it’s a place where nature still reigns supreme — untamed, grand, and profoundly humbling in its splendour. If you get the chance, - grab it!

It was while I was away that I received an email telling me that my book ‘A Ticket to Murder’ had won an award. My jet lag was immediately banished, and I hastily clicked on the button to learn more. As I waited for the screen to open, my first thought was that the award would be for the cover. Or the editing! Much as I value both my cover designer and my editors, the last thing I wanted was for one of them to win the award. Yes, they’d worked on the book, but I was the one who’d put in mega hours. I was the won who’d sat up until 3 in the morning re-writing the chapter where Scott collects Lily from the giant Tesco store at Purley. But I could hear my mother’s voice, “Come on Philip,” she always called me ‘Philip’, “Think of the big team.” Yes, I know, there’s no ‘I’ in team, but there is in ‘First Prize’, two in fact. As it turns out there is also one in ‘Highly Recommended’. And that was what the book had won. A high recommendation. It put me in mind of these people who wear t-shirts commemorating their running achievements; Brighton Marathon – Finisher. Not winner, but someone who turned up. But a little digging told me that it’s more than that; any book with the highly recommended tag, is in fact a shortlisted book. A finalist, someone on the podium. Okay, that feels better. I wonder if it changes the expectations of a reader, to know that they are reading an award-winning book. Having started the next one in the series, I can report that it is making it tough to start. I wrote a first chapter, then read it, and thought, is that good enough to be highly recommended? No – delete!  

Today’s musical selection is The Year of the Cat, a 1976 album by singer songwriter Al Stewart and represents his most commercially successful work. The title track is an intimate musical piece showcasing half a dozen instruments at their best, and worth the entrance fee on its own. A phrase I heard at Al’s recent farewell concert in London.

I hope a peaceful retirement awaits Mr Stewart, perhaps he’ll enjoy some travelling, I’d recommend Western Canada.