Not being much of a wine connoisseur, despite my years in France, my review of the Winnipeg Wine Festival is more of a wine tasting guide for beginners. When it comes to wine I usually just go with the flow – and it does seem to be the case that the more it flows, the better it tastes! Living in the small town of Ashern, up until May 5th, I had not experienced a night out in The Peg, 2 hours…
I don’t know who was more excited, me or the children, when Michael Manyeagles visited the Ashern Early Years School to share with us a bit about his craft and to give us the opportunity to try it out for ourselves. I must admit to having been eagerly awaiting his visit for a while because I just love the beautiful soapstone pieces that I have seen in various craft fairs and local markets (the Forks for example) and was interested…
On the subject of typical Canadian pastimes, I thought I’d talk about our last few weekends in Winnipeg. Over the past few weeks we have been actively searching for a base, a new (or new to us) house in Manitoba’s capital, the city of Winnipeg. In Canada, one of the major techniques for selling houses is to hold an Open House. This means potential buyers just show up at the advertised time, without having to call ahead to arrange viewings…
Recently I appear to have been suffering from writer’s block. There is an abundance of topics which I could choose to write about, from personal experiences and current events, through to tackling a typically Canadian pastime or a newly discovered (to me at least!) location within Manitoba; yet I cannot seem to decide upon an interesting and informative subject to relay to you about Canada. So, to help me get some ideas, who better to ask than the locals? During…
Although the snow has melted and as the clocks have ‘sprung ahead’ it feels as though Spring has finally arrived, I couldn’t help sharing some advice in case there’s a freak snow storm to send us back into those Winter boots. In order to avoid a wheel-spinning, snow-spraying situation that might require the neighbours coming over with a tractor to tow one’s car out; it is always best not to neglect the snow clearing duties! I’m just saying…
Back in November I set foot in the USA for the first time. For months my two friends and I planned for our week in New York where, just weeks after I had left France, I would be reunited with them for eight days of nights out and new discoveries. I must admit to having had high expectations for New York from films I have watched, TV series, friend’s opinions and my love of shopping. Whilst I did enjoy my…
Windswept and interesting or rather dragged through a hedge backwards! Visiting Point Pelee just after your hair’s been styled, even on a summer’s day, is probably not the best of ideas with the strong winds that come in across Lake Erie. Going on a November afternoon straight from the salon when it’s pouring down with rain would be a totally stupid one! A trip to Windsor however would not be complete without setting foot on the southern tip of Canada….
I promised that I would visit a château before leaving France, although not quite the one I had in mind, I can at least say that I kept my word. Today I visited a Fairytale Castle in the magical world of Disneyland Paris. Le Château de la belle du bois dormant, more simply known as Sleeping Beauty’s enchanted castle was the highlight of my day out (that, and the excellent company). Sadly, Mickey and I were not free at the…
Most Parisians are all too familiar with the underground network of tunnels that criss-cross for over 130 miles (214km) beneath the city, filled with stressed commuters, lively musicians and of course the sound of the metro and RER doors opening and closing for around 4.5 million passengers per day. It’s hard to believe that just metres away from all the hustle and bustle of life going on, both above and below ground, lies the eerie world of Les Catacombes de…
A love affair with Paris is not an easy one. At first glance, it’s almost impossible not to be seduced by its glamour, night-life, architecture, art and culture. But as with so many beautiful things, there is the danger of being swept off of one’s feet, caught up in a haze of romance, only to be left bitterly disappointed. This, for me, is a weekly occurrence. Perhaps the biggest challenge is having the energy and time to get the most…