I first came across the Guardian when I was a paper boy in Bristol, England, almost six decades ago. I was 12 years old. Every morning I would drag myself out of bed and ride my bike to the paper shop before beginning my deliveries. On a good day the weather was fine and the newspaper train arrived on time.
The vast majority of the papers I stuffed through letter boxes were of the tabloid/mass circulation type. Occasionally I would glance at a front-page story but generally I went about my deliveries with few distractions.
There was one exception: the Manchester Guardian. This paper intrigued me and I would spend as much time as I dared reading it. From then on I was hooked.
In 1975 I moved to the Canadian prairies and for four decades I endured Alberta’s harsh winters with the Guardian Weekly as my constant companion. As a social work educator I often shared stories from the Guardian with my students.
Nowadays I live in a cohousing community on Vancouver Island where I am able to pass along my Guardian Weekly to my neighbours.
I appreciate the fine analytical writing as well as the short informational items. The photos are a welcome break and I enjoy doing the quick crossword. The diversity of writers on the back page is also appealing. The Guardian Weekly is a gem.
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