Even the cat seems depressed; a definite sign that something’s not quite right. Who would have thought that several weeks of nothing would be quite so exausting? I’m sat staring at our lethargic lump of black fur as he takes his umpteenth catnap of the day, flicking his tail in mild annoyance that the sound of the TV has caused him to stir. What can a cat possibly have to be depressed about? Surely his days should be spent out and…
This year has certainly been a year of British national celebration with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics in London, even the Euro Soccer Cup must have generated a lot of flag waving, yet unlike many other nations we do not have a National Day… A patron saints day, yes, even a Queen’s birthday along with many other traditions which only take place in the UK. I am deeply disappointed to have missed out on spending time in the UK…
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…
Every year, for one weekend only, Winnipeg opens up the doors of its public buildings to the commonfolk, offering guided tours interspersed with historical facts and local legend. Although the Manitoba Legislative Building is actually accessible to the public on an almost daily basis, it is not often that we get the opportunity to hear some of the stories contained within its four walls (or whatever magical number of walls it happens to have) and even rarer that we might…
Since the day I set foot in the catacombs of Paris and did a spot of research about the Parisian underground scene I have been fascinated by tales of what goes on deep in the labyrinth of alleys and dark cavities below the bustling surface of the city of lights. Last year I was intrigued when I discovered the story of how an elaborate secret cinema had been unearthed beneath the ancient buildings of the French capital. Today I have learnt more about the…
Why I think Winnipeg trumps New York and Paris for shopping – Between climbing the steps to the Sacre Coeur and the bustling streets of the Latin Quarter, or watching the sunset at the top of the Empire state Building and a boat ride to the Statue of Liberty; I‘m amazed that anyone finds time to do any shopping when in New York or Paris. During my year in Paris I didn’t buy a single item of clothing, and shopping…
Sitting out on the front porch, on a little wooden bench like in the movies, under the evening sunshine, listening to the birds chirping as I read and write is quite different from how I was spending my evenings this time last year. At best it would have been on some terrace in front of an overcrowded, over-priced café with the sound of traffic, and the rumble of the metro beneath my feet. If there’s one thing about the rural…
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…