Welcome to my site which will feature short stories, photos, etc that I would like to share with you.
Author: BJM Publishing
A number of years ago I decided to quit the rat race and pursue endeavours that interested me and that I would enjoy doing. I hope to showcase some publications that I have finished over these years to a like-minded audience. You are never to old to learn!
The Chinese New Year is being celebrated around the world in different venues and Cities to honour the Year of the Horse, particularly the Fire Horse for 2026. Celebrations started on February 17 and will conclude on Wednesday, March 03rd.
The Year of the Fire Horse is special because it occurs only once every 60 years, representing a rare convergence of the Horse zodiac sign and the fire element. This pairing creates a high-energy, volatile year known for rapid, intense, and often chaotic change, fueling both massive ambition and potential instability. Seems to be on point so far!
Typically, men get old, they retire and they spend the rest of their lives golfing, fishing, hiking. etc. or sitting in a rocker on a porch watching the world go by.
My brother, although he does golf, does not sit around much. His wife sees to that! He has however always been involved in hockey; most Canadians have tried the sport at one time or another. He has played in leagues for decades and just recently was inducted into the 80+ hockey hall of fame.
The 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization which nationally recognizes active recreational players 80 years of age and over. You can get more details at http://www.hockey80plus.com
I just wanted to give a shout out to him because I think it is quite an accomplishment, he may not have the speed he once had but I know he enjoys the camaraderie and social aspects of the game. The games are non-contact so not so rough, but the prowess and stick handling is still there. Congratulations old man!
The essence of Life and the oldest health and beauty secret in the world
What do all the following have in common?
Sports, filtration plants, hydro-electricity, bathing, salt, streams, glaciers, beer, ice, fishing, boating, rinks, steam rooms, pools, rain, puddles, lakes and oceans, irrigation, mud, etc. etc.
Water
Just as we need to be able to breathe to survive; we need water! This elixir of good health is our body’s most important nutrient. We could live for weeks without food but only four or five days without water. Water is involved in every bodily process, carrying nutrients, flushing out waste, and keeping body temperature on an even keel. Drinking the right amount of water is also essential for healthy-looking skin, as it prevents it from drying out. And best of all, water doesn’t have a single calorie!
Whether it bubbles up from the earth, trickles down a mountainside, or gushes from a tap, water is preventative medicine, the major treatment for colds and sore throats, and an analgesic. Internally and externally, hot and cold – even icy; water is healthy stuff.
Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon is renowned for his purported pursuit of the fountain of youth which many thought a magical water source supposedly capable of reversing the aging process and curing sickness. Tales of sacred, restorative waters existed well before his birth however. Personally, I am not particularly looking for the fountain of youth but rather the secret of turning water into wine!
Relax in the calm blue Caribbean without ever leaving home. The sea offers health and beauty benefits: Saltwater causes the lymph glands to excrete toxins, cleansing the skin, and seaweed is a natural defoliant, smoothing away any roughness.
To simulate this in your bath, combine 1/4 cup each sea salt, dried seaweed (available in Asian markets), Epsom salts and baking soda, and pour into a clean dry container. Makes enough for four baths. Simply pour 1/4 cup of the mixture into the tub as the water is running. 20 minutes is the ideal soaking time – any longer will dry your skin.
When travelling from country to country and exploring new Cities, new cultures, gardens, museums and hiking up hills, it is always great to find along the way somewhere that you can sit and contemplate the moment, or give your feet a well deserved rest; and plan on what you will do next, or to simply watch the people coming and going around you. As the Band used to say “Take the Load off Fanny or was that Annie?”
The Terry Fox Run takes place September 20, 2026 and has been run by the Terry Fox Foundation continuously from 1981. For those who may not have heard of this amazing man I will give you a little background. He went to the Doctor because he had a pain in his knee when he was 18 years old studying for a degree in kinesiology. He was diagnosed with Osteogenic sarcoma, a type of bone cancer and had to have his leg amputated from the knee down. It was while he was in the hospital with other young cancer patients that he decided to run across Canada (using a prosthetic leg) to raise funds for cancer research. Running across Canada is not something you take likely.
Statue of Terry Fox outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario
Terry Fox planned to run approximately 8,000 kilometres (roughly 5,000 miles) across Canada, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. His 1980 Marathon of Hope aimed to raise funds for cancer research, with a target of $1 for every Canadian citizen.
He ran a full marathon (roughly 42 km or 26 miles) every day. EVERY DAY! No matter what the weather. I was working as a bartender at the Richmond Inn when he came through Richmond Hill and went out to watch him go by. I don’t think I realized just what his destiny would be but he was definitely a hero. By the time he hit Thunder Bay he had covered 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles) over 143 days.
Unfortunately his cancer returned and he had to quit his marathon in September, 1980 and died at just 22 on June 28th, 1981. Terry Fox was invested as the youngest-ever Companion of the Order of Canada on September 19, 1980, in a special ceremony in his hometown of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. He is and always will be a symbol of hope for those who are touched by cancer.
When adventure calls
I have been lucky enough to have travelled to some of the most beautiful places on earth but there are still many places I'd like to see.
REFLECTIONS OF A SWAMPER 