-40 and every one of the dogs is like “fuck you. You go pee outside”

@c_dan4th @drdirtbag Imagine Snow cross with 20 at a time instead of four.

@mike With a spear

Hear me out. Lugeathalon. Luge athletes luge down the track, then pick up their sled and run back up to the start. #Olympics

@sister_ratched I truly am. And I’ve long been a lucky man, long aware that I am, and long thankful for that.

@sister_ratched Cousin. Delilah is my son’s daughter, Avianna is my daughter’s.

So I became a Grandfather squared this evening just after 9 pm. Avianna Paungajuk Helena K.

Paungajuk was my son-in-law’s great grandmother and Helena was my mom. Two names to grow into.

In the month of fighting, including Regina Trench, the 16th suffered 877 casualties, 328 killed, 523 wounded and 26 prisoners of war. My grandfather had yet to join the battalion but was in one of the drafts shortly after Regina Trench, replacing those dead and wounded. 6/6

to Regina Trench to retrieve them. He was never seen again. His body being recovered after the war he is buried in Adanac (Canada spelt backwards) Commonwealth War Cemetery.

Years later his pipes were discovered at a school in Scotland having been picked up by another soldier off the battlefield later in the war. They were recognized by the unique tartan on the 16th’s pipes.

5/x

On the 8th of October the 16th, along with other Canadian battalions went over the top in the pre dawn hours. When they reached the German wire they discovered it was intact, untouched by the artillery barrage. Caught in the wire and seemingly unable to advance they faced a withering fire from machine guns and shelling. Suffering heavy casualties they took shelter in shell holes before the wire, pinned down unable to go forward.

2/x

Lying in one of these shell holes the 20 year old Richardson turned to his Sgt Major who was next to him.

“Shall I gae em wind?” he asked. And then stood up and piping The Devils in the Kitchen and The Reel of Tulloch he marched back and forth in front of the wire, untouched by the maelstrom of bullets around him.

Hearing the pipes and seeing Richardson marching back and forth the men of the 16th charged forward and made their way through the wire. In some cases the climbed over the 3/x

bodies of their comrades caught on the wire. They fought their way into Regina Trench and after bitter close combat captured it.

Unfortunately the battalions on their flanks did not capture their sections of the trench and with their flanks exposed and under counter attack they eventually withdrew back to their original lines.

Richardson escorted prisoners and stretcher bearers back to the line, but when he arrived he realized he’d left his pipes behind. Crying “my pipes” he returned 4/x

Bagpipes.

My grandfather was in a highland regiment in the Great War, the 16th Canadian Scottish.

In the Great War four men from that battalion earned the Victoria Cross, for valour. One, James Richardson, was one of the battalion’s pipers.

Towards the end of the Somme offensive in 1916 the 16th was tasked with capturing a section of German frontline known as Regina Trench.

1/x

“You learn, after a while, that quotes by Einstein, Twain, and Gandhi shared on the internet are not to be trusted.” - John F. Kennedy

Seal skin cushion for the bench made by Leah and our niece. #CabinLife #Nunavut

It’s #SuperbOwl Sunday

@davepolaschek it looks vaguely familiar

@Anne_Delong @davepolaschek 1:30

@exlibrarykris Yes, the Sun

Today’s cabin views. #CabinLife #Nunavut