Happy St. Georges Day everyone!
Some people think I am soppy to cling to memories of the land of my birth after living more than 50 years in Canada.
It's not that I don't consider myself Canadian and subscribe to the laws and tenets of society here - even though I sometimes disagree with government.
But really, it's the people in both England and Canada who remain important to me wherever I am. And especially those who have left this earth, leaving me with memories I cherish.
Today I listen to music from the old sod, particularly the marches and classical pieces I learned as school. Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance wound up a St. George's hour on CBC Two as I remember my father whose taped collection of marches I inherited.

Dad 'borrowed his brother's birth certificate to join the British army which he served in for 28 years. Even though he missed action of the First World War, there was plenty of fighting going on. A dangerous mission to Turkey sent him home with a bayonet wound in his neck. He never spoke about it and when questioned about the scar, would laugh and say he fell over and bit it!
He did tell us about happenings while on guard duty at Buckingham Palace. One story lends insight to Queen Mary when she admonished her granddaughter, the present queen, as she skipped down the stairs boasting she was growing up to be queen! Queen Mary's retort is touted as being: "First, you must grow up to be a lady"
We loved to listen to anecdotes like these.
When he died here in Canada, a local branch of the Coldstream Guards Association formed an honour guard beside his flag-draped coffin. Gone but not forgotten. Luv u Dad.