All posts by George Walters

George Walters is a Canadian columnist and author with more than forty years of writing experience. For over twenty years he has written a weekly column for Postmedia Network — Canada's largest newspaper chain — never missing a single week, publishing fifty-two stories a year. Combined with his work in Reader's Digest Community Voices, World News, Country Living, The Country Register, and farm and rural lifestyle magazines across Canada, he has published well over two thousand stories drawn from everyday life. He writes about farm work, fishing, old trucks, and the kind of people you only find in small towns — but just as likely he'll hand a voice to a weathered telephone pole, or turn his eye on something happening in the world today and tell you exactly what he thinks about it. No subject is off limits. If there's a story in it, George will find it. He has been called a philosopher of everyday life, a description that came up more than once during his television appearances over the years — and it's not hard to see why. His writing has a way of making the ordinary feel worth sitting with. He is the author of eleven books, including yearly short story collections and the Clay Moretti Files mystery series. Clay is a fifty-year-old private investigator who drives a 1967 Ford Galaxie, smokes cigars, and operates by a code the modern world gave up on a long time ago. The cases are present day. The man handling them is not. All titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon. Together, George and his wife Ruth have also created Elmer Finds His Way, the first in what he hopes will be a long series of children's books. Ruth did all the illustrations, as she has for every one of George's books — and beyond that she designed and painted the covers as well. Her work is woven into every page of everything he has published. A few words from readers: "I pulled up a kitchen chair and read your story three times." "You have a way of making a person homesick for a place they haven't been to." "Thank you for writing things that make old people and kids feel the same way at the same time." All my titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.ca here.

An Old-Timer’s Insights On Feb 4/2024

Good Morning! Like a fine wine, may your day be smooth, full of laughter, and leave a pleasant aftertaste.

It’s a touch cool waking up here in cottage country. But in saying that after today we will be in for some warmer temperatures which should get rid of any snow we have left on the ground. We might even get in some front porch sitting, soaking in some much-needed sunshine.

Highway 522 is still quiet these days, hardly a car moving east or west. Which is fine with me as that is why I moved here many years ago as where our farm was things were growing leaps and bounds. No room to move without someone watching you. That kind of life isn’t for me. But don’t let the tranquility fool you; life in the countryside isn’t all sunsets and sweet tea. We’ve got our share of peculiarities too, which I won’t get into. Yet, in the midst of occasional absurdities, there’s a certain magic in country living that is in my bones so to speak which can never be removed.

Reminds me of my lovely wife and I one time as we sat on the porch watching the sunset paint the sky, She would pat my hand and say, “Ain’t life grand, dear? Just look at that view! No city lights can hold a candle to this.” I would nod, a wistful smile, while listening to her gentle reassurance. “You’re right, hon,” I’d agree with a sigh. “Nothing beats the quiet of country living.”

On another note, I worked most of the day yesterday in my woodworking shop once again. Today I will do the same, I am in the midst of a project that I have always wanted to do, which I hope turns out okay. We will see later on today how that turns out. You never know what can take place when you’re working with wood.

So with that I am off for another bowl of porridge, for some reason I always enjoy it, especially on them cool days of winter. My dad would say it sticks to your ribs like glue and keeps hunger at bay. Truth told, you could probably patch up a leaky roof if you gave it half a chance

Have a great day and remember, never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction! GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Groundhog Day, Feb 2

They said in the news yesterday that, Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, didn’t see his shadows on Friday morning. Which in turn means that spring isn’t that far off. I am all for that.

You know, back when I was young, Groundhog Day was like a holiday. We’d all gather around, shiverin’ in the cold, waitin’ to see what that groundhog had to say. It was as if nature was telling us what the weather had in store.

But these days for most it’s all about fancy gadgets and high-tech gizmos. Instead of trusting the wisdom of the groundhog, we’re glued to our screens, checkin’ weather forecasts like there’s no tomorrow. It seems we’ve lost touch with the simplicity of it all.

We also didn’t need much to be happy back when—just good company and the promise of spring in the air. It’s a shame we’ve let it slip through our fingers in this fast-paced world.

I think we should all take a step back, remember the good ol’ days, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll find a bit of that old-fashioned joy once again. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

In The News Today

President’s Choice Chocolate Has Been Recalled Across Canada. The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace because it may contain almonds which are not declared on the label, So for those with nut problem they could cause problems, and for those that doesn’t … well, I will leave that part with you.

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Carbon Tax In Theory

In simple terms, it’s like this: Canada trying to tackle environmental issues alone won’t make much of a difference. The problem of climate change is something that affects the whole world, and it needs everyone to work together to fix it. Making laws to reduce things like greenhouse gases isn’t solely the responsibility of either the national government or the local governments. The federal Liberals tried to make a law that would apply a kind of tax on things that harm the environment, like carbon emissions. This was meant to apply to the entire country, in theory. But because it’s a big, complicated issue, it’s causing a lot of trouble for regular folks like us here in Canada. Which is what has been happening for as long as I have been alive.

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]