A warm welcome back to our most loyal supporter, Ronald Mackay, with his latest fascinating contribution to the Writers Open House.

You can read Ronald's story Can Winnie Ewing really speak Gaelic? here.

Ronald Mackay

Ronald farmed in Ontario for two decades while he taught at Concordia University in Montreal. On his 200 acres he made all the mistakes of a would-be-farmer but eventually learned how to farm with a modicum of success.

This is another story featuring brothers Donald A and Alex MacDonald, Ronald’s Glengarry neighbours. Glengarry County is still inhabited by, among others, descendants of 18th and early 19th-century Gaelic-speaking pioneer settlers from the Western Highlands of Scotland.

Ronald was fortunate to know Glengarry as it transitioned from 100-acre subsistence farms into “agri-business” driven by mechanisation and high production.

Ronald writes memoirs and biographical stories in both English and Spanish. His most recent book is “A Tenerife, de Mil Amores”.
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Viviana and Ronald, Voorburg, June 2025

About the Author
 
Under her Nom de Plume 'Sue Wald', several of her stories from her Anthology 'A Day in the Life' have been published as part of the anthologies ‘25 Treasured Memories’ edited by Robert Fear, ‘Not Marriage Material’ edited by Sue Bavey and ‘Pets Pets Pets’ by Chicken Soup for the Soul.

She is currently trying to combat a cancer issue, and having completed Part 2 - post-surgery - of the chronicle, is now all set to start the therapies.
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For our latest contributions to the Writers Open House, it is wonderful to be able to share two true stories from Shirley Read-Jahn.

You can read The Specialist Appointment here and Treasure here.

Shirley Read-Jahn was born during World War II and educated in England before becoming a hippy and living in an ancient Roman burial tomb in Matala, Crete. She went on to take up many different colourful careers, including swimwear model, interpreter, landscape gardener, paralegal and events organiser. She also co-founded the highly-successful San Francisco Jazz Festival (SFJAZZ) as well as running her own landscape business in the United States. Shirley has belly-danced since her thirties, still plays table-tennis, and now lives in Australia. In retirement, she has finally found time to devote to her passion for writing and the books swirling around in her head.

LINK TO SHIRLEY'S WEBSITE:
https://shirleyreadjahn.com/

Our first contribution to the Writers Open House in 2026 is another fascinating recollection from respected author and loyal supporter of this blog, Ronald Mackay.

You can read Ronald's story “Alex’ Woodshed” here.

Ronald Mackay farmed in Glengarry County, Ontario in the ’70s and ’80s. It was settled as Upper Canada by Scottish Highlanders in the 18th century. Many of Ronald’s neighbours were descendants of these first settlers.

Ronald enjoys writing regularly for Fred’s Blog. He is the author of memoirs about his life in Tenerife and in Romania in the ‘60s as well as a collection of short stories -- “Windows On My Worlds”, inspired by his work in different parts of the world. His newest book, “A Tenerife, de Mil Amores” will appear shortly.

Viviana and Ronald, Voorburg, June 2025

In his eight contribution to the Writers Open House, Ronald Mackay recounts a poignant memory that is especially relevant to this time of year.

You can read Christmas in Glengarry here.

Ronald Mackay farmed in Glengarry County, Ontario in the ’70s and ’80s. It was settled as Upper Canada by Scottish Highlanders in the 18th century. Many of Ronald’s neighbours were descendants of these first settlers.

Each Christmas, Ronald writes an original story for Northumberland Radio 98.7 program “Word on the Hills” hosted by Felcity Sidnell Reid and Gwynn Scheltema: <https://wordonthehills.com/>. It features writers from Central Ontario, Canada.

This is one of the many stories by local writers that “Word on the Hills” will broadcast this Christmas season.

Ronald enjoys writing regularly for Fred’s Blog. He is the author of memoirs about his life in Tenerife and in Romania in the ‘60s as well as a collection of short stories -- “Windows On My Worlds”, inspired by his work in different parts of the world. His newest book, “A Tenerife, de Mil Amores” will appear shortly.

Viviana and Ronald, Voorburg, June 2025

A warm welcome back today to Sue Wald with her latest contribution to the Writers Open House. Her story is based on a traumatic period of her life over the past couple of months and is a truly moving insight onto her experiences. Thank you so much for sharing Sue. 

You can read Call me Penthesileia, and give me a bow and a horse here.

About the Author

As a Thursday Child and multilingual language teacher, she has helped enough school children (and a few adults) on their way to be able to look back on a life not wasted and heave a sigh of relief, while enjoying the scenery and the cool breeze drifting in from the ocean.

Under her Nom de Plume 'Sue Wald',  several of her stories from her Anthology 'A Day in the Life' have been published as part of the anthologies ‘25 Treasured Memories’ edited by Robert Fear, ‘Not Marriage Material’ edited by Sue Bavey and ‘Pets Pets Pets’ by Chicken Soup for the Soul.

She is currently trying to come to terms with a cancer issue - and, having completed Part 1 of the chronicle, is now all set to start writing about getting well.
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Ronald Mackay 

In 1976, Ronald emigrated from Mexico where he’d been working, to Canada, to take up a post at Concordia University in Montreal. He bought an abandoned farm in Glengarry Township close to the Quebec border and commuted to Montreal by train. He brought the farm back into production and managed the woodlot. In the process, he made friendships with many unusual people. This true story features the ageing MacDonald brothers, Ronald’s “first neighbours”.

Ronald Mackay has written period memoirs of time spent in Tenerife in the ‘60s and in Romania under Nicolau Ceaucescu’s communist dictatorship. He writes short stories, many about true events like the one here.

Viviana and Ronald, Voorburg, June 2025
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The contribution we are featuring today is the first this year from Mary Mae Lewis. She has been a regular supporter of Fred's Blog over the years and her stories have been included in most of our anthologies.

You can read Mary Mae's latest story Tit for Tat here.

Mary Mae Lewis 
 
Mary Mae is author of the novel Where There’s a Will, There’s a Woman and the memoir Don’t Stop the Fiesta and has had success with short stories; she came runner-up in North Staffordshire’s TOO WRITE adult fiction competition in 2017 and was highly commended in THE POTTERIES PRIZE for flash fiction in 2018.
 
She has contributed to many of Robert Fear’s anthologies: Travel Stories and Highlights 2019, 40 Memorable Life Experiences 2020, 40 Inspirational True Stories 2021, 40 Life Changing Events 2022, 50 Intriguing Personal Insights 2023, 30 Evocative Recollections 2024 and 25 Treasured Memories 2025. 
 
She’s also been published in the Telegraph and is a published poet.
 
A retired teacher, Mary came late to becoming a writer, and her work is based on true life experiences.
 
She has been married for over 55 years and has 3 sons and 4 grandchildren. The eldest grandson is now a doctor living and working in a hospital on the Gold Coast of Australia.
 
She has travelled extensively, including living in Grand Cayman for four years and Malawi for five.
 
She now spends half the year in Spain, where she does most of her writing, and half in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK.
 
 She blogs on her personal Facebook page and also on Where There’s a Will, There’s a Woman.
 
Besides reading and writing, Mary Mae enjoys buying and selling antiques, local history, gardening and swimming.
 
www. author-marymaelewis.co.uk
[email protected]

Our latest contribution to the Writers Open House is the sixth this year from our loyal supporter and respected author, Ronald Mackay. It is an inspiring piece of memoir entitled Triumph! and you can read it here.

Normally, at this time of year we would be closing our writing feature to entries, but as you may have noticed from the guidelines, this year we are remaining open to contributions until further notice. I therefore look forward to reading stories from those of you that have not been able to get involved before (and more from those that already have).

Ronald Mackay 

To escape the European winter, Ronald and Viviana return to the village in Tenerife where he spent his 18th year in 1960-1961. In Buenavista del Norte, they enjoy friendships old and new. Many are the children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of Ronald’s original friends. Ronald is always alert to stories. Villagers sometimes provide him with new ideas.

Currently, he’s writing several stories about people and incidents in and around the village. All have a local flavor but share broad implications for people and lives lived anywhere in the world.
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Viviana and Ronald, Voorburg, June 2025
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It is a privilege today to welcome back well-known author, Jackie Lambert, to Fred's Blog with her first contribution to the Writers Open House. In the past we have had the pleasure of including many of her stories on the blog and in our annual anthologies.

This submission is a modified excerpt of a chapter from Jacqueline’s upcoming book, More Manchester Than Mongolia: An Unexpected Road Trip Through Back Road Britain, due for publication towards the end of 2025.

You can read Jackie's story, Malmesbury: A Flying Monk, A Fallen Spire, & England’s Forgotten Capital here.

Jacqueline (Jackie) Lambert is an award-winning travel writer, full-time nomad, and dogmother, who loves history and curious facts.

B.C. (Before Canines) she hurtled, slid, submerged and threw herself off bits of every continent except Antarctica. Even though she was single at the time, she asked for – and was granted – 'maternity leave' to backpack around Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand.

A.D. (After Dog), with husband Mark, she gave up work to become an Adventure Caravanner. With The Fab Four, their four pups in tow, their stated aim is: To Boldly Go Where No Van Has Gone Before.

Jackie has published six light-hearted memoirs about her travels since quitting work: Fur Babies in France, Dog on the Rhine, Dogs ‘n’ Dracula, It Never Rains But It Paws, To Hel In A Hound Cart, and Pups on Piste.

Her seventh book, Building The Beast, is the first in her Wayward Truck series. It chronicles her Brexit-busting plan to convert a 24.5-tonne 6x4-wheel drive army truck into an off-grid home-on-wheels fit to drive to Mongolia. Subsequent books will follow The Beast’s adventures.

A keen off piste skier and windsurfer, Jackie is the wordsmith behind her own travel blog, and author website. She has contributed to several anthologies, and also writes guest articles and posts for various magazines and international blogs.

Connect with her via the links below:
Amazon: author.to/JacquelineLambert
Blog: www.WorldWideWalkies.com
Author Website: www.JacquelineLambert.co.uk

Author Jacqueline Lambert - with her award winning book & medal
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