Sorry for the commonplace, but I wanted to mention something: this the last day of June. One month of the summer season to be done and dusted. I'm glad, because frankly, it's been godawful: we've been going from one heatwave to another. The last few days have been really difficult: I just cannot stand the heat. Apparently, we only have to go through tomorrow, then it will cool down a bit, in the lower 20s. Nevertheless, I am seriously done with summertime. And there's two third of it left! If you know of a survival guide, please tell me in the comments. In fact, any advices are welcome.
Monday, 30 June 2025
"Invasion de toutous"
The TBR Pile
La rivière au Parc Urbain
Sunday, 29 June 2025
A Springboks supporter
We went downtown yesterday, to run some errands (among them getting Wolfie a haircut, he looked like a darn hippy) and just as we were getting in the high street I saw a man crossing our path, wearing the a Springbok jersey. I didn't say a word, but I regret it. I wish I had said hello. I know very little, if anything about rugby. But my father-in-law is South African, a rugby fan, and more importantly a die hard Bokke supporter. Therefore I have decided a few years ago that the Sprinboks were my rugby team too. I didn't stop the guy to strike up a conversation and tell him that, but I wish I had. Although if I had done he might have thought I'm such a weirdo, especially since I know diddly squat about rugby. But hey, I understand South Africans are friendly and chatty people, so maybe I missed an opportunity to make an acquaintance.
Galettes à la mélasse
Saturday, 28 June 2025
Helicopters and summertime
I don't know if it's because it is summertime, but recently I have become more aware of helicopters flying around, like big mosquitos in the sky. I mean we have them all year round, but they seem to fly more often during summer, or at least they are more visible in a clear blue sky. I blogged about it back in 2016, and probably before that as well. Be that as it may, I see them more. I like helicopters, they are the sort of flying engines I find the most exotic (for lack of a better word). I also have fond memories of helicopters flying above during summertime when I was a child. Anyway, next time I see one, I will try to take a few pictures, if it flies low enough.
Un paon dans un parc
Friday, 27 June 2025
Signal Box (musing)
Le Parc Urbain après la pluie
Thursday, 26 June 2025
Denis Villeneuve for Bond 26!
Oh what great news for the proud Québec nationalist and the die hard James Bond fan that I am: Québec director Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie. At last, some genuine good (not to mention reassuring) news about the production of Bond 26. Apparently he is also a die hard fan. In any case, Villeneuve is a serious, competent director with enough authority and discipline to keep control of such a massive production, and hopefully resisting the pressure from Amazon. Also, it means that now the script can be developed and in due time the casting can get started. So things will finally get in motion for my favourite movie franchise. And hey, let's not forget: a Quebecker will be at the helm of a Bond movie.
Le fromage qui fait "Skouik!" de Boivin
"Summer Heat"
Un musicien parmi tant d'autres (RIP Serge Fiori)
Triste nouvelle lors de notre Fête nationale avant-hier: Serge Fiori est mort le matin de la Saint-Jean. Parfois le malheur frappe comme la foudre.Et parfois les pleurs doivent se mêler aux réjouissances. Enfin bref, le père fondateur d'Harmonium n'est plus. je lui rends hommage avec l'une de ses chansons cultes.
Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Honey for the bears
I took the title of this post from one of Anthony Burgess' lesser known novels (but incidentally one of my favourite). That said, it is not a blog post about the book. But the title is so perfectly fitting for some news I read about recently: two bears escaped a wildlife park in Devon, near Exeter (which I have passed through, but never properly visited). And they ate week's worth of honey. That is both funny and cute. I know bears can be dangerous, even vicious animals, but that's still cute. Anyway, Mish and Lucy are both back in custody after their expedition in the outside world. I hope they had a nice escapade and they enjoyed the sweet treat.
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Comme un million de gens
J'apprends tristement que le spectacle de la Saint-Jean a été annulé hier à Québec, à cause du mauvais temps. Comme Claude Dubois devait y chanter, je partage une de ses chansons ici.
The Garden Bar, London
As you probably know if , today is Saint John the Baptist's Day, also known as the Nationale Day, or Fête nationale of Quebeckers. You will forgive me if I do not spend much time blogging in English today, but I wanted to plug one London pub, which has been very welcoming to Québec expats like me: the Garden Bar. Every year, the DGQL organises a celebration for Québécois living in the UK and their families and it is the Garden bar that has been hosting it. It has been the case these last two years in any case. They even serve poutine for the occasion and it is a pretty decent one. I blogged about it last year and again this year. Don't think you'll find this item on their menu on a normal day. Nevertheless, as they have been welcoming to us on an important day, I thought I would say a good word about the Garden Bar here.