isobelmtl

Writing under a Montreal sky

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about

Isobel Cunningham has published short fiction and poetry. Her book, Northern Compass is available on Amazon. She was born in Wales but Montreal is her adopted home. She speaks French, Modern Greek ( it’s a fun story) and a little Spanish…oh, English too, of course. She welcomes comments on her blog and looks forward to chatting with you over cyber-space.

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  • Cold and Warm

    A young man shot many people in a mosque in Quebec City last night.  He shot them when they were at prayer in a space dedicated to prayer.  He took lives. He injured people. He ruined families forever and traumatized communities.  He ruined his own life too and that of people who love him.  Can…

  • Climb the tree

    I tried tried get rid of some books yesterday.  The conclusion is that I will buy some more bookshelves and concentrate on getting rid of clothes and bulky furniture.  I will arrange my books in order of subject matter too.  To my surprise I seem to have acquired quite a few books on world religions…

  • Art Heals

        I had a little blood test at the hospital today.  I seem to be doing a lot of tinkering with my health lately.  I find it excruciatingly boring but, like an old car, I suppose I need more maintenance these days.  Anyway, as you can see from the picture, an imposing statue of…

  • Dental Delights

    Who wants to be here?  I certainly didn’t.  However, there I was this afternoon. I was in the McGill Dental Clinic.  Like most people, I had a regular dentist.  I have a spectacular gold bridge in the back of my mouth.  My dentist told me I had a small cavity under this bridge.  When he…

  • Conventional Wisdom

      Sparrows are boring little insignificant birds.  How much more exciting to see blue jays, cardinals, finches.  And yet, there was something exciting about seeing a flock of city sparrows, noisy and vulgar, settling in a little lilac bush in my back yard.  They approached cautiously, flying into the twigs and branches of a vine…

  • Music in the Subway

      In the glorified tunnel that moves thousands of people around the city every day, a few souls bring their instruments and play.  Over the wave of sound that never crests come notes of music.  The silvery sounds of a South American harp cut through the trudging footsteps of workers, students, shoppers.  The musician’s dark…

  • A day in the City

    The city is full of straight lines that tells us where to walk.  It is full of people, crowds passing through the Metro turnstiles, waiting obediently at the sharp intersection corners.  Red light, green light, a homeless person sleeps beside his paper cup and a sign that reads ” kindness is not a weakness”.  A…

  • Hopeful

      It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m on a long-distance bus from Montreal to Toronto. Our bus just passed the salt truck so I’m hopeful there’s another one close ahead.  There’s some sort of ice mist, freezing rain, sloppy snow, general grimy Eastern Canada winter weather making the driver earn his money up front.  This…

  • Winter Decorations

    It was a few days before Christmas.  A soft snow fell over the city and outlined the twigs of shrubs in front yards of small  houses in an obscure neighborhood.  Far from the big stores and bright lights of downtown, people went about their daily routines.  People cooked special dishes and hid the surprises they…

  • Christmas Concert

    My two younger grandchildren attend Dollard des Ormeaux elementary school in the South West of Montreal. Today was the day of the Christmas concert and at l pm many parents and grandparents, uncles and aunts and younger siblings trooped into the decorated gym of the little school.  We were a mixed bag both in age…