Thank goodness it’s Word-less Wednesday again, because I still haven’t finished the Wordy post I’ve been working on for over a week now. That should be up by the weekend, but in the meantime, if you’re looking for prose, you should check out Annie’s new blog. I’ve always found Annie’s comments here to be smart, entertaining, informative, and often very funny. Her blog, No Hat No Gloves, has all those qualities wrapped up in erudite, lively writing. Have a peek. Leave an encouraging comment. Tell Annie I sent you.
Another blogger whose posts I always look forward to hails from a city just down the highway from me. After years of visiting Paris regularly and often with her husband, and plotting how to build a life in the City of Light, Erin has not so much compromised on her goal as taken a smart sideways step toward it. She now works in London which makes for an even greater-distance commuting marriage than the years I spent here while my husband worked in Ottawa. She doesn’t find much time to blog, but when she does? Thoughtful, observant, clever, honest, and funny writing about that space between cultures, the ways we wiggle between and nest within place and community and selves. I think you’d enjoy reading The Fabulous Adventures of Countess LV.
And that took many more words than I intended, so now I’ll just silently load the photos I intended to share today, and I’ll tiptoe off to yoga class, shall I? Pater’s been off at meetings, but he seaplanes it home this morning and to join me in Child’s Pose and after we’ve stretched and balanced and flowed our way through to Shavasana, we’ve got a date for breakfast. A routine we used to enjoy on my days off work, and now can insert mid-week. Retirement benefits!
Did you suspect I couldn’t resist just another few words? I have to shout out to my fellow Canadians — Are you watching/Did you watch the Trudeaus and his new cabinet arriving at Rideau Hall this morning? Wasn’t that a magical morning, the beautiful crisp fall day, the happy crowds lining the pavement, the openness, that little Trudeau girl’s skip as she moved into the Hall. . . .This Trudeau-mania is calmer, richer, more satisfying, to me, than what I remember from the late 60s version — that period brought change to the future. This regime promises a change back to our best selves, not necessarily a change to the (pre-Harper) past, but back to Our Canada, a Canada we used to feel pretty good about. . . .We’ll see, I know, and the expectation, so high, may be disappointed, but this morning? I’m wiping away a tear or two. . . . (And I’m curious, did our change of government register at all in the rest of the world?)
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As I write, in a Fraser Valley hotel room, I also watch the events at Rideau Hall. Like you, I celebrate the return to a Canadian government that I recognise – values that I recognise.
Yoga in the morning – a luxury of retirement to which I look forward!!….enjoy!
I did enjoy, indeed, and I hope the luxury will be yours someday not too far off. Happy weekend!
Many thanks, Mater. Practisin' the erudite. Also enjoying the bikes.
You're very welcome! I'd say your erudite needs little practise đ
Trudeau's victory got lots of coverage here in the UK, at least in the newspaper I read. I wondered when/if you were going to refer to it.
I've tended not to talk politics here, but it's felt so dismal here for those of us concerned about arts, social justice, education, etc., that Joy is Uncontainable at this change. . . Imagine — our cabinet has gender parity and not at the expense of a stellar crew! Diversity of representation obviously needn't preclude talent (although there have been grumbles about Meritocracy — funny how that never bothered anyone when old white guys prevailed for centuries. . . đ
Hi Mater, I, too, am watching the swearing-in ceremony. I thought I'd try and answer your last question – the Guardian and Le Monde have mentions on their front pages, the Frankfurter Allgemeine and New York Times have nothing so far. I'm enjoying the coverage – great to learn so much about our new ministers.
Interesting. I know we're small potatoes in so many ways, but I think we may at least have a chance now of getting some of our good rep back. . .
Yes it did register here in the UK. Envious of you, but since at least one of my children may emigrate in due course and become a Canadian, all to the good.
We're feeling very lucky right now, and we're hoping, of course, that the honeymoon will last a bit, although expectations will be high.
With over 320 000 refugees travelling through 5 000 000 small Croatia and with our elections to come this Sunday, the coverage is very small. When you first mentioned your elections,I started to Google,was very interested
So,you have a dinasty :-)! Young Trudeau is very telegenic,ministers seem to be competent and a lot of fresh wind will come,no?
I found Annie's blog ,as you show me,she writes very nice and interesting
Dottoressa
Yes, there's a bit of a dynasty. And yes, telegenic is a tactful word — there's been a bit of a tendency to turn him into a, well, object of swooning and fantasy, which is regrettable.
We're so hopeful for a rewinding of damage that had been done by his predecessor — a new openness, a focus on the environment, restoring respect for science, etc., etc.
I thought you'd like Annie's blog!
Just gulped down about 10 "nohatnogloves" essays, lovely, thank you.
Many of us to the south of you are envious of your nice shiny new government and hopeful of something along the same lines for ourselves some day. However I fear we get the government we deserve….
ceci
Isn't it fun?! I'm so pleased Annie's started blogging.
Well, your government has been pretty damn good from our Harper-government perspective over the last few years, although I can see you worrying about the shenanigans for the next round. . .
I visited both blogs. They both strike a chord with me. It's strange to realize that there are no strangers in the world, only friends we haven't met. Electing Justin Trudeau seems a return to less cynical times and to the belief that "yes, we can work together
to help others both in Canada and the world." In 2012, I lived on the Rue St. Jacques for 6 months. I wonder if I passed the red bike at Rue des Ecoles.
It's true — with both those blogs, I feel as if we could be friends. . .
I suspect JT and his government have raised expectations they can't possibly meet, but the idea that we can at least try to work together, to listen to each other, seems to have reminded us what we can be as a country, the best of what we always thought being Canadian meant. I'm generally suspicious of too much nationalism, but right now, I'm happy to embrace it.
The elections in Canada were covered by radio and tv news and the major newspapers in Germany. (My favourite daily – slightly leftist – dedicated half of page one to the subject.) The swearing-in ceremony and the new cabinet however were not mentioned anywhere, so thanks for drawing my attention to it.
I can very well understand your feelings. Most of the time I do not quite feel at home (politically, that is) in my country, so those moments when I do have to be cherished. Like when, about a month ago, thousands of immigrants crossed the borders from Austria and many of my compatriots received them with cheers, food and presents. Today, the immigrants keep coming and the cheering, in most places, has calmed down to steady, reliable support. Out of this, it seems to me, a whole new network and/or grassroots movement may be arising that could effect some changes in our society. If it wasn't for those racists and xenophobes and the politicians who feel they must cater to them…
I'm pleased to hear that we got so much attention so far away. What is really exciting is the diversity of our cabinet — achieving gender parity is huge and puts us among a very small number of countries world-wide. When asked why this was so important to him and to his party/government, Trudeau shrugged and said "Because it's 2015." Hurrah!!
I saw that coverage, Germany's very impressive reception of the Syrian immigrants, so poorly treated in Austria. Trudeau and the Liberals campaigned on a promise to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of the year. Achieving that goal will be immensely challenging, but the previous government miscalculated badly how much my fellow citizens wanted to help, especially after the tragic photo of that little boy. Here's an article from our national newspaper that outlines the context and the pressure on Trudeau to act NOW:
Hmmm, Blogger didn't like that hyperlink, but here's the URL to cut-and-paste into your browser: theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/trudeaus-time-to-act-on-syrian-refugees/article27127736/
Going out for weekday breakfasts is such a treat!
As always I've enjoyed your photographs. Thanks to you I've taken an interest in the Canadian elections from here in the UK …an exciting time! Pierre Trudeau is the only Canadian Prime Minister I remember … let's hope his son has the same effect … for the right reasons.
Have a lovely weekend.
Rosie