Vancouver Island Stories: My Journey to the Island
August 4, 2026
Every place I have lived has taught me something different. My Vancouver Island story began 2022, where I started exploring the relationship between people and
Melissa Travel Stories
Returning to Roots: Evensong at Westminster Cathedral
December 24, 2025
I hadn’t expected to strike up a conversation that evening, yet it began the moment I sat down in the pew. The man beside
Up Close with Giants: Whale Watching with My Godson on the Salish Sea
December 18, 2025
“Are we going to see whales today, Auntie Mel?” my godson asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet as we stepped onto the dock.
Ammonite Falls: Water as Story & Symbol
December 17, 2025
There are places where water feels alive. Not merely moving, not merely reflecting the sky, but alive in the sense that it speaks, it teaches,
A Day at Buckingham Palace: Receiving My Father’s CMG
December 11, 2025
I had never imagined I would walk through the gates of Buckingham Palace. Not for tea, not for a tour, not even on a
The Whisper of Cathedral Grove
December 11, 2025
There is a forest on Vancouver Island where time seems to pause. Cathedral Grove, tucked within MacMillan Provincial Park, is not just a collection
Brunch in Victoria: It’s What the City’s Known For
November 1, 2025
Experience Victoria’s soulful brunch culture — where wholesome food, connection, and mindful living come together to nourish your day.
Embracing Kindness as a Daily Way of Life
October 14, 2025
Embrace kindness as a daily practice — a gentle force that heals, uplifts, and connects us to a more mindful life
Family Ties: MI6 officer whose expertise on Africa was Lord Carrington’s secret weapon
April 2, 2023
One evening at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, while sitting around the campfire and watching the wildlife, Dad tried to tell us what he did
I Bought a Ticket to a Warzone
November 7, 2022
“Would you go if you were me?” I asked the flight attendant at the Delhi airport, holding a one-way ticket to Kashmir. India was
Sustainability and Stewardship: Living in Harmony with the Earth
October 25, 2022
There’s a quiet truth that reveals itself when you live close to nature — that the Earth doesn’t belong to us; we belong to
When Shadows Take Over: Coping with the Loss of a Loved One to Schizophrenia and Suicide
March 16, 2021
Interviewing Melissa ~ Aman Gill Show 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYm-7hgGshA Living on a beautiful island, surrounded by ocean views and forest silence, can feel like a sanctuary—but