Shelagh's Lens
Bringing Vancouver and the world to inspired travellers
The Yorkshire Dales
About this time last year, I began planning my spring ‘22 travels. Yorkshire was high on the list of places to explore in England, and I planned accordingly.
Then, this last winter, I became aware of the newest tv version of James Herriot’s “All Creatures Great and Small”. I love this show, and that enhanced my interest in the area.
I’m grateful that, thanks to Melanie, I enjoyed my first exposure to the achingly beautiful countryside of Yorkshire. Here’s one glimpse, from the roadside between Burnsall and Hebden. Yes, we were enroute to Grassington! For those less familiar with @allcreaturestv, Grassington is a picturesque North Yorkshire market town that’s used in the current tv series as a stand-in for Darrowby.
Have a look at the stone walls you see here. Some of these Yorkshire walls date back to the 13th century, and it’s said there are more than 5,000 miles of them in the Yorkshire Dales alone.
Now, as I contemplate 2023 travels, a return visit to Yorkshire is high on the list.
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Canada
2nd July, 2025
A thought for your day, with my good wishes to all and a belated happy Canada Day to my fellow Canucks!
Every country is like a particular type of person … Canada is like an intelligent, 35-year-old woman
— Douglas Adams
For additional photos and videos of my travels, you’re welcome to join me on Instagram and YouTube – you don’t need your own accounts to access them.
Images © 2025 Shelagh Donnelly. All rights reserved.
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Elegance
3rd March, 2025
Elegance
A thought for your day, with my good wishes …
True elegance for me is the manifestation of an independent mind.
― Isabella Rosselini
As we begin this new week, I’m bringing you the elegance and beauty of Harrogate and Yorkshire, and hope you enjoy the videos. You’ll also see a look at early evening in Grassington, Yorkshire. If you watch the tv series All Creatures Great and Small, you’ll see familiar sights.
For additional photos and videos of my travels, you’re welcome to join me on Instagram and YouTube – you don’t need your own accounts to access them.
Images © 2025 Shelagh Donnelly. All rights reserved.
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Turn
24th February, 2025
Turn
A thought for your day, with my good wishes …
Flowers don’t worry about how they’re going to bloom.
They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.
― Jim Carrey
Hello, and a very happy Monday to you! I’ve just returned from Pennsylvania, USA, where I delivered a keynote presentation to a lovely group. After spending time in Villanova, I soaked up some Philadelphia sights and experiences under gorgeous sunny – if cold! – skies.
Here’s to all the spring flowers we’ll soon be enjoying in the northern hemisphere. If, like me, you’re counting the days until spring, check below for my videos of flowers and gardens from a number of countries.
For additional photos and videos of my travels, you’re welcome to join me on Instagram and YouTube – you don’t need your own accounts to access them.
Images © 2025 Shelagh Donnelly. All rights reserved.
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Remember
17th February, 2025
Remember
A thought for your day, with my good wishes …
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.
― Hal Borland
A thought for your day, with my good wishes …
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.
― Hal Borland
Just as Vancouver is seeing the snow that fell for two days dissipate two weeks on (snow on our mountains is the norm; the cold weather that kept the snow in the city this long is uncommon), many in central and eastern North America are experiencing truly cold weather and/or heavy snowfalls. I know because I was to have been in the air last night to give a keynote presentation at a conference, and we’re now preparing for the likelihood of me presenting virtually.
If you’ve had enough of winter weather, here’s a look at spring time in Rome. I was there for a client event, and arrived early to spend time in the heart of the city. That included spending time at Villa Borghese, which you’ll see above and in some of the photos and videos below. Enjoy the promise of Spring, and the incredibly talented singer you’ll see and hear in the final video below.
Keep scrolling for more pics and videos from Rome. For additional photos and videos of my travels, you’re welcome to join me on Instagram and YouTube – you don’t need your own accounts to access them.
Images © 2025 Shelagh Donnelly. All rights reserved.
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New Forest ponies
10th February, 2025
… and nature
A thought for your day, with my good wishes …
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
― Albert Einstein
My visit to The New Forest in England holds wonderful memories. I spent a few days there enjoying nature, walking the fields and enjoying four-legged creatures close up. On the day above, May 19/24, I got to see newborn foals during their first day of life … and met a few friendly donkeys! Have a look at the videos below, and other New Forest memories on my YouTube channel.
The setting is as idyllic as it appears, with all these free-roaming creatures. You want to be aware, though, of boggy areas with “sinking spots”. My first evening in the New Forest, while stepping on what appeared to be a sold and large clump of grass on a muddy hillside, my left leg sank right up to my knee! The experience was more than a little disconcerting, but I managed to make my mucky way out, down the hillside, and back to to the hotel for a bath and some serious handwashing of clothes!
Keep scrolling for more pics and videos from our snowy day. For additional photos and videos of my travels, you’re welcome to join me on Instagram and YouTube – you don’t need your own accounts to access them.
Images © 2025 Shelagh Donnelly. All rights reserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0GAE3aDqqI
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Snow
Snow
A thought for your day, with my good wishes …
A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky, unbidden, and seems like a thing of wonder.
― Susan Orlean
While we felt this way about yesterday’s snowfall, I suspect it wouldn’t be quite the same in locales where winter snows are the norm!
It was bound to happen, and we did have our first snowfall of the season in Vancouver yesterday. After a soggy December and then chilly, beautifully bright days in January, we’re now on our second snowy day of Winter 2024-25. That’s a big deal in this city!
While the skies were grey, it was wonderful hearing the crunch that came with walking in this snow. I once again had lucky timing since, as you’ll see in the first video below, a group of ducks came flying right in my line of vision while I was recording that moment in nature. While you’ll see the ducks on your screen, they show up even more fully when playing this on a tv screen.
Keep scrolling for more pics and videos from our snowy day. For additional photos and videos of my travels, you’re welcome to join me on Instagram and YouTube – you don’t need your own accounts to access them.
Images © 2025 Shelagh Donnelly. All rights reserved.
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A Fluffle of Bunnies
Jericho Beach is a wonderful place to spend a day. The parkland adjacent to the beach is also home to a rabbit colony.
Did you know a group of wild rabbits is also called a “fluffle”? It’s unsurprising that such an appealing – if abundant – group would be given an equally adorable name.
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Remembrance Day 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how we pay tribute this year to veterans past and present. It hasn’t diminished the significance of November 11th to Canadians and others around the globe, and our desire to honour those who served.
Across the country, the Royal Canadian Legion launched its annual Poppy Campaign in late October. We usually pick up a pin from a volunteer or business, and make a donation. The donations are used to support veterans and their families, and the Legion reported that, during its most recently reported campaign year, 2018, in excess of $15 million was disbursed to veterans and their families between October 2018 and 2019.
This year, with it being impractical for most volunteers to take up their usual positions, the Legion published a list of businesses that made poppies available by donation to their customers. If you typically make a donation and haven’t yet this year, you may want to consider checking out the Legion’s online and other donation options.
With people everywhere advised to pay their respects away from crowds and the formal Remembrance Day ceremonies, I have no photos of the 2020 ceremonies. Instead, I’ll share a photo and some music from a past ceremony at Vancouver’s Victory Square.
Bagpipers and drummers are very much a part of these occasions. The bagpipes always provoke a visceral reaction in me, but I find The Sands of Kuwait particularly touching. Click below to listen to, and feel, this piece.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McRae, the Canadian doctor who penned In Flanders Fields
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Pandemic Murals
What a year we’re having. Here in Vancouver, we’ve been able to enjoy being outdoors throughout the pandemic, but there were times when it was surreal walking about our city.
Roads were often mostly free of vehicle traffic, and the majority of pedestrians made a point of detouring – off a sidewalk and on to the road – in order to avoid close proximity.
Many of the stores and businesses that boarded up their windows were soon decorated with murals. Images and messages ranged from whimsical – the block seen in the photo above featured some of my favourites – to expressing gratitude and inspiration.
Others encouraged safety …
Robson Street was home to some terrific murals. You’ll see some below, with more to follow!
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