It is a pleasure today to feature another wonderful recollection from Ronald Mackay in our Writers Open House.

You can read Glengarry Lessons in Ladder Lending here.

Ronald Mackay has lived and worked in places very different from the village in Scotland where he spent his early years. He’s managed to learn how to survive and find the best in people in each new environment. Kenyon Township in Glengarry County, Ontario, Canada was one of the most unusual places he’s lived. He farmed there part-time, there from 1978 to 1986 before moving to South Monaghan.

Ronald writes regularly for Writers Open House / Fred’s Blog and is the author of the memoirs, The Kilt Behind the Curtain and Fortunate Isle, a Memoir of Tenerife, and Windows On My Worlds – a book of 31 short stories. His new book of short stories will appear in the autumn of 2026. He and his wife, Viviana, reside in the Netherlands and spend winters in Tenerife.

Viviana and Ronald, Voorburg, June 2025

Viviana and Ronald, Voorburg, June 2025
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As we celebrate the upcoming first anniversary of our Writers Open House, it is a pleasure to feature another fascinating true story from Ronald Mackay. 

You can read Every copper’s a prisoner! here.

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

Ronald enjoys contributing to 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 peripatetic life. His newest book, “A Tenerife, de Mil Amores” appeared in December 2025. The English version will appear soon.
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Viviana and Ronald, Voorburg, June 2025
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Our next two contributions in the Writers Open House are from travel writer and photographer, Jeremiah A. Gilbert.

You can read Jeremiah's memoir story Escaping Death in Death Valley here and his insightful essay A Brief History of the End of the World here. 

Jeremiah Gilbert is an award-winning photographer and travel writer. His travels have taken him to over a hundred countries and all seven continents, while his photography has been published internationally and exhibited worldwide. His artistic journey began not with a map, but with a sense of wonder. His camera has been both compass and confidant, guiding him through bustling markets, remote villages, and landscapes where the horizon feels infinite. His creative vision is rooted in curiosity—seeking out moments that are both intimate and expansive, where the quiet details of a place reveal its deeper story. His photographs are less about ticking destinations off a list and more about tracing the threads of humanity that weave the world together. Inspired by fleeting light, unguarded gestures, and the textures of everyday life, his work captures not just the way a place looks, but the way it feels to stand there, breathe it in, and become part of its unfolding narrative.

He is the author of four travel books, including Can’t Get Here from There: Fifty Tales of Travel, From Tibet to Egypt: Early Travels After a Late Start, and On to Plan C: A Return to Travel, which documented his return to travel post-COVID and was the first to include his photography. His most recent, Around the World in Eighty Photos, includes images created over twenty years of traveling. Each photo is accompanied with a brief story of how the image was created along with the camera settings used. 

Website: https://jeremiahgilbert.com/

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