Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

S4 E36:  Shehanne Moore on Dundee’s Famous Poet, William McGonagall “I may say Dame Fortune has been very kind to me by endowing me with the genius of poetry.” William McGonagall, The Autobiography of Sir William Topaz McGonagall Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in.   I am your host; Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Join me as I travel virtually to Broughty Ferry, Scotland, Dundee’s Historic Seaside Village, to meet up with my friend, writer, and publisher, Shehanne Moore. Shehanne has given us exciting historical romances – O’Roarke’s Destiny, His Judas Bride, Loving Lady Lazuli, The Unraveling of Lady Fury, and the list goes on. As many of you know, Shehanne, has extensive knowledge of classical literature.  A few months ago, she introduced me to William McGonagall, one of Scotland’s best-known poets. I confess that I had never heard this name before. William McGonagall was the son of the working-class Irish handloom weavers

“There is no way to define my engagement in this process other than to call it a passion.  A passion for supporting immigrants and refugees in every way possible and for enhancing communication and understanding for all people.” Joseph Macdonald, Strategic and Business Development Specialist S4 E35:  Joseph Macdonald on Engaging within a Global Community Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am travelling virtually across the Canadian Rockies to Calgary, Alberta, where I am meeting up with Joseph Macdonald, an innovative thinker who connects with businesses to facilitate overcoming challenges.  Joseph is a brilliant communicator who fosters a sense of purpose and commitment within organizations, both private and public, enhancing opportunities for growth and influence. He believes that collaborative problem-solving encourages personal growth and increased job satisfaction. Joseph is

S4 E34: Looking Back with Frances on Sod Houses Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you. May 22, 2022, The City of Vancouver held a symposium to feature best practices in green roof design, maintenance and policy making on the West Coast.  This was in response to Vancouver’s ambitious targets of having all new buildings “carbon neutral” by 2030.  One of the strategies is to promote green roofs as a way of managing rainwater.  It is called the RainCity Strategy. The United States Environment Protection Agency supports this strategy: “Green roofs have been proven to help reduce heat islands.”  The European Commission recognizes the multiple benefits of green roofs in a new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change. Green Roofs are emerging as a global strategy.   And yet, green roofs have been with us throughout history.  We continue to build on knowledge that has come

S4 E33: Traveling to Halifax with Michelle Hunter Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. Living in the reality of Covid-19, travel has been curtailed, internationally as well as domestically.   While travel is coming back, I have found that virtual travel is possible through the alchemy of technology. Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia – “The Virtual Journey” which will explore new horizons through the eyes of a friend.  As Marcel Proust reminds me, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Today, I am traveling back to Halifax to meet up with my friend and colleague, Michelle Hunter. Halifax is located in the Maritime Province of Nova Scotia on the Eastern Coast of Canada. Halifax is also the home of my Alma Mater, Dalhousie University, where Michelle and I first met twenty years ago. Michelle Hunter is the Acting Director of the Centre for Executive and Graduate Education, Dalhousie University.  She has been a

S4 E32: Dan Antion Reading “Knuckleheads: Book 1 in the Dreamer’s Alliance Series” Welcome to Tea. Toast. and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops are great places for book readings. There is something extraordinary about hearing the voice of an author reading their stories. Their voice and intonation are nuanced by the many hours of effort putting pen to paper.  They created the characters, structured the plot, and lived every twist and turn that creates bumps in the storyline. Public libraries and bookstores have expanded their reach into a global community. Book readings have gone virtual.  We are learning to embrace technology in new ways.  Welcome the podcast series, “Authors Reading their Books”, which brings authors and their books from across the world to your home. I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am

S4 E31: Lily Style on the Love Story of Emma, Lady Hamilton & Lord Nelson Lily Style “Horatia’s Secret” Lady Hamilton, illuminated by the early evening sun, smiled radiantly. “Horatia, my darling, but you are doing so very well. You are walking all by yourself, and so far! Good Lord Nelson will be so proud when I tell him; and I am proud too! God bless you, my darling!  Come here and give me a hug.’ She held her arms wide, encouraging her to toddle further, but caught her as soon as she stumbled, and drew her in close. “Oh, you are such a clever, and very good girl!’” Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Lily Style, writer, historian, and genealogist, and I are once again connecting the village of South Brent in Devon, Britain and Vancouver, Canada to discuss the remarkable life and legacy of Emma, Lady Hamilton, the great love of Admiral Lord Nelson. Lily is the direct descendant of

S4 E30:  Valerie Peachey on Time and What is Next is Now Søren Kierkegaard “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia! Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Oxford Languages defines the word “time” as the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.  The idea of travel through space and time.   It can also be described as a point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon. And that is only the beginning, for there are many meanings embedded in this 4-letter word. I am delighted that Dr. Valerie Peachey has joined me on Tea Toast and Trivia to share her insights on our relationship with time throughout our lives.  Valerie has lived many adventures and continues to add new adventures to her life story.  So put the kettle on and add to this exciting discussion on

S4 29: Pete Springer Reading “They Call Me Mom”  Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in.  I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops are great places for book readings. There is something extraordinary about hearing the voice of an author reading their stories. Their voice and intonation are nuanced by the many hours of effort putting pen to paper.  They created the characters, structured the plot, and lived every twist and turn that creates bumps in the storyline. Public libraries and bookstores have expanded their reach into a global community. Book readings have gone virtual.  We are learning to embrace technology in new ways.  Welcome the podcast series, “Authors Reading their Books”, which brings authors and their books from across the world to your home.  I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am thrilled to introdu

S4 28: Colleen Chesebro on the Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry silver Luna’s soft glow highlights night sky echoes stars, hoarfrost lace glints upon fallen leaves of gold tree shadow skeletons shiver in the wind autumn rushes in the cold before dawn. Colleen M. Chesebro Word Weaving # 1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse Welcome to Tea. Toast. & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that writer and poet, Colleen Chesebro, and I are connecting Michigan and British Columbia to discuss the art of current and traditional forms of syllabic poetry. Colleen believes that the art of crafting poetry strengthens our writing skills.  In her book, Word Craft: Prose & Poetry: The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry, she writes: “When we create poetry, we gain command of language; cultivate a healthy vocabulary, master literary devices such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, and allegory.&nbs

S4 E27: The Trio on Living the Age We Are, Right Now Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you. Today, I am joined by my mother, Frances and my sister, Sarah for a discussion on the question: What does it feel like to be the age that you are, right now? I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.  Frances, Sarah and I look forward to your thoughts on Tea Toast &Trivia! Until next time we meet, safe travels wherever your adventures take you. Music by Howard Harper-Barnes "Memories of Marigold" #Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/YldSXDgo21/

S4 26: Travelling to New Zealand with Mandy Henderson RETURN I am home again. My house seems too large, too empty. In the silent hollow, I fill vases with flowers. Flowers for the kitchen window sill, Cornflowers, lavender, nasturtiums. Flowers for the bedroom, Geranium, roses, And some for the table. The old posy ring brims full, And in the stillness of the blooms, There travels birdsong without, And words within. Mandy Henderson (Written in Dec 2014, after a family visit in Timaru) Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this adventure with you. Living in the reality of Covid-19, travel has been curtailed, internationally as well as domestically.   While travel is coming back, I have found, over the past months, that travel is possible through the alchemy of technology. Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia – “The Virtual Journey” which will explore new horizons through the eyes of a friend.  As Marcel P

Season 4 Episode 25: Tea & Oranges Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. This is a podcast in the series called, “It’s all about tea.” I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you. So put the kettle on and join me for Tea, Toast. and a little Trivia, where we will discuss the mysteries and adventures of tea: their origins, stories, aromas, and delicious tastes. I’m making a special cup of tea today, one that is a reminder of friendships, past and present, and the conversations in between. This story dates to the early 1970’s when I moved from Winnipeg to Edmonton.  It was a time of beginnings, and I was eager for new adventures. For me, the 1970’s meant change and forging new possibilities and opportunities.  I was ready to meet new friends, live on my own and embark on an academic journey at University of Alberta. Canada is a huge country.  There are 1,304.8 kilometres between Winnipeg and Edmonton, which according to m

Season 4 Episode 24: Lyn Morton on Photography, Stories, and Community Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that I am travelling virtually to Hawthorne, New Jersey, where I am meeting up with photographer, mentor, and personal branding coach, Lynford Morton. Lyn and I have known each other ever since I joined his on-line photo group that he mentored several years ago.  During this course, group members posted a photo a day with a short explanation. I confess being intimidated by the calibre of photographers, but soon felt a kinship and camaraderie within this group.  Lyn’s enthusiasm and inclusive approach opened the world of photography for me. Branding & marketing is in Lyn’s blood. He sold his first logo at 12 years old when his school held a contest to see if anyone could create a logo. Lyn won first place and pocketed a tidy $25 prize. The school is still usin

Season 4 Episode 23: Looking Back with Frances “Milk cows were an asset to any farm.  They were “milked” morning and evening.  Some were easier to milk than others. The milk was a valuable food source, useful for a healthy drink, for cooking, and of course, for homemade butter.  At first, we had a daisy butter churn that resembled an eggbeater.  Later we had a large crock and a doweling with little boards attached to the bottom that Dad had fashioned to “stomp” up and down until the cream turned to butter. But, equally important, cream could be sold.  This cash could be obtained to trade for food at the grocery store.  Mother used to ask: “Where are we going to ‘trade’ today”.  That would determine, of course, where the cream was sold.”  Frances, My Mother’s Memoirs Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you. When I entered the world of podcasting in 2019, my first g

S4 E22: Elizabeth Gauffreau & Sonia Elwood on Grief Songs - A Family Remembers Wilderness Tanka snowy wilderness cold winter sun, soaring trees a small lone figure for a time she stood fearless my protector, my mother Elizabeth Gauffreau from her book of poetry, Grief Songs: Poems of Love & Remembrance Welcome to Tea. Toast. & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that my dear friend, writer and poet, Elizabeth Gauffreau and I have come together to discuss her book of poetry, Grief Songs: Poems of Love and Remembrance.  I am equally thrilled that her daughter, Sonia Elwood, has joined the conversation to share insights gained from her creative journey. Sonia is an avid reader who enjoys various types of writing as long as it is compelling and either provides an escape or invokes an emotional response. In her 18 years of experience as a training specialist, Sonia presents new materials and info

S4 E21: Kim Mooney on Stories of Courage and Reslience Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted and thrilled that my long-time friend, Kim Mooney has joined me on Tea Toast & Trivia to talk about her soon-to-be published second book, which is about profound stories of resilience and courage. Kim has a degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in leadership. Her career has been an eclectic one, moving between teaching and hospital administration and back to teaching.  She retired in 2018 after fifteen years of teaching at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC.  In addition to her academic responsibilities at Royal Roads, Kim ran a consulting practice for fifteen years. How can we learn from stories? How do we give honour to another person’s story? How do we connect with past stories and how do we create stories for those who come after us?  These are the questions t

Season 4 Episode 20: Dave Astor on Misty’s Adventures Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. Neil Gaiman wrote, “I would like to see anyone, prophet, king or God, convince a thousand cats to do the same thing at the same time.” Cats are mysterious creatures that charm us with their antics and comfort us with their soft purring.  I read that petting a cat helps us to meditate and causes a release of oxytocin, which has been found to increase our emotional perception. But do we truly understand them?  They retain remarkable control over their lives, coming and going as their please.   There are many books that will help you connect with cats, some promising techniques to train and learn cat language. But I have another source of expertise. Today, I am republishing Misty’s Adventures on Tea Toast & Trivia. Dave Astor and Misty are a dynamic duo. Together, they provide insight on the strong and vibrant relationship humans have with these amazing creatures. Dave

S4 E19: On Location Victoria British Columbia - Emily Carr, James Bay Inn and Beacon Hill Park (audio version) Tea Toast & Trivia Podcast hosted by Rebecca Budd On Location, James Bay Inn and Beacon Hill Part Victoria, British Columbia. Passages from Emily Carr’s Autobiography “Growing Pains” Public Domain (Canada)Voice and photography by Rebecca Budd Music by #EpidemicSound 1) Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen “End of an Era” www.epidemicsound.com/track/dgEeXjlQge/ 2) Howard Harper-Barnes “A Leaf Falls” www.epidemicsound.com/track/vCliROg8VZ/ 3) Johannes Bornlof “I Will Love You To The End” www.epidemicsound.com/track/VAhZ2EgIiq/ 4) Howard Harper-Barnes “No One Else on Earth” www.epidemicsound.com/track/722bbcNU24/

S4 E19: On Location Victoria British Columbia  - Emily Carr, James Bay Inn and Beacon Hill Park Tea Toast & Trivia Podcast hosted by Rebecca Budd On Location, James Bay Inn and Beacon Hill Part Victoria, British Columbia. Passages from Emily Carr’s Autobiography “Growing Pains” Public Domain (Canada)Voice and photography by Rebecca Budd Music by #EpidemicSound 1) Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen  “End of an Era” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/dgEeXjlQge/ 2) Howard Harper-Barnes “A Leaf Falls” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/vCliROg8VZ/ 3) Johannes Bornlof “I Will Love You To The End” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/VAhZ2EgIiq/ 4) Howard Harper-Barnes “No One Else on Earth” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/722bbcNU24/

S4 E18: Sarah McBurnie on the Stories of Shetland “You must never call it the Shetlands. Islanders are proud and can be prickly about the name: it’s either Shetland or the Shetland Islands.” Anne Cleeves Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am you host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that I am travelling virtually to Unst to meet up with my dear friend, Sarah McBurnie who was our guide on our 2018 Shetland adventures. Sarah conducts exclusive guided tours with personalized itineraries for visitors to Shetland from all over the world.  We came as visitors to experience this amazing place and left as friends, thanks to Sarah and the many people we met along the journey through the Shetland Islands. I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting dialogue on Tea Toast & Trivia. Listeners, thank you for joining Sarah and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a special thank you, Sarah, for sharing the stories, the histor