Tuesday 31 December 2019
Roaming the bookshelves
One of the fun things I like to do in my parents' home when I am there on holiday is check on the bookshelves what I used to read and what I have not read yet among the books there. Sometimes I just take one or two of them and flick through the pages, or sit down and give it a good read. Our time here is ending soon, I will miss it. I found a few books that I had forgotten we had since my teenage, books I had promised myself to read when I had the time. I am tempted to bring them home, but 1)my wife forbid me to burden our own bookshelves with more and 2)I feel like they belong to my parents' place and can only be read here.
Fin de décennie
Nous sommes le dernier jour de décembre, dernier jour de l'année donc, c'est la fin d'une décennie. Je n'aime guère les célébrations du Jour de l'An et ce, depuis mon enfance. Le Jour de l'An, c'est hier comme aujourd'hui les vacances qui se terminent. Aujourd'hui, je range d'ailleurs les décorations de Noêl avec mon père, le plus lentement possible. Ce n'est jamais plaisant, la fin des Fêtes. Mais cette décennie a été plutôt bien. Vers la seconde moitié, elle a même été excellente. D'un point de vue personnel, je serai au moins devenu père avec l'arrivée de petit loup. Je vais me garder ça en tête dans les moments difficiles et mes moments de mélancolie, qui sont en général nombreux en janvier. Plus encore qu'à l'habitude, ce qui n'est pas peu dire pour moi.
"I read past my bedtime"

L'Auberge des 21

Labels:
Auberge des 21,
hiver,
La Baie,
neige,
Saguenay,
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean,
saisons,
seasons,
snow,
winter
Monday 30 December 2019
The comfort of old clothes
One of the good things I rediscovered coming back to my childhood home for the holiday: the comfort of my old clothes. I have some very, very old jumpers here, some that are about twenty years old. Worn out, out of fashion (of course), sometimes with fainted colours, but so very, very comfy. My wife is a bit embarrassed by the look of them and begged me not to wear them when we go out or when we receive visitors. I still wear them inside.
Le fromage en grains

Sunday 29 December 2019
New (Anfibio) boots

Café en canne

Labels:
café,
candy cane,
canne de Noël,
Christmas,
coffee,
Noël,
Passion Café
Saturday 28 December 2019
Christmas leftovers

Labels:
apples,
atocas,
Christmas,
comfort food,
cranberries,
dinde,
food,
gastronomie,
melancholia,
mélancolie,
Noël,
olives,
pâté à la viande,
pommes,
pork pie,
Turkey
Le premier bonhomme de neige de Wolfie

Friday 27 December 2019
The "real" Yule log
I had wanted to blog about it for a while, so I am doing it now, as it is still Christmas. You can see on this picture a real Yule log. I am not taking about the bûche de Noël cake, which we also have every Christmastime (two bûches in fact) but a proper log of wood, which we put in the fireplace at midnight exactly on Christmas morning. We also attach on this log pieces of paper where everyone of us has written a wish. The log is supposed to grant the wish within a year (or eventually). So far, it happened only once: my brother PJ had wished for a Pound Puppy as Christmas present, and he received it that very night. We had learned the tradition from one of our TV programs when we were children and we have made it our family tradition since then.
Question existentielle (354)
Une question existentielle qui est je crois encore inédite sur Vraie Fiction. Enfin je crois. La voici donc:
-Est-ce juste moi ou est-ce que Noël et les Fêtes se terminent de plus en plus tôt d'année en année?
-Est-ce juste moi ou est-ce que Noël et les Fêtes se terminent de plus en plus tôt d'année en année?
Labels:
Christmas,
existential question,
Noël,
question existentielle
Thursday 26 December 2019
Because it is the Feast of Stephen...
...I am sharing again, as it is a tradition on this blog, Good King Wenceslas, sung (again) by Loreena McKennitt in one of the best take of the carol (in my opinion of course). For others, today is/was Boxing Day, for me it is/was the last bit of true Christmastime, when the Christmas season is not quite over yet. And you?
Anneau viennois (noeud à la crème)

Labels:
breakfast,
comfort food,
croissants,
Déjeuner,
food,
gastronomie,
Pâtisserie Mergeay
Wednesday 25 December 2019
Leontyne Price for Christmas
Merry Christmas everyone! It is a bit late in the day and in the holiday, but I thought I would share some Christmas music here. It is a very old Christmas album from Leontyne Price, recorded in Montreal, which you can find nowhere anymore, but my dad put it on YouTube.
Joyeux Noël!
Petit mot, petit billet pour vous dire Joyeux Noël 2019! Vous voyez ici le sapin de Noël familial cette année, avec les rails du train électrique au pied que l'arbre. Le sapin, c'est un vrai de vrai sapin naturel, avec des glaçons comme on n'en voit plus et des décorations de partout dans le monde. Le train électrique c'est la fierté de notre famille et maintenant, il est LE jouet de Noël de trois générations de garçons dans ma famille. Ma femme s'est résignée à cette réalité, mais dans tous les cas c'est beau de voir notre petit loup qui s'amuse avec.
Labels:
arbre de Noël,
childhood,
Christmas,
Christmas tree,
decorations,
décorations,
enfance,
famille,
family,
LGB,
Noël,
train
Tuesday 24 December 2019
James Bond on Christmas Eve
This is Christmas Eve, and as this is getting closer and closer, when I have a few minutes, I try to read Christmas related things. One of my favourite, as my readers know, is On Her Majesty's Secret Service, a James Bond novel set during Christmastime. I find it almost sad that I have so litle time to truly appreciate it, as this the perfect Christmas read, where the beauty of an idyllic looking Christmastime hides danger and violence. Well, that's Yuletide for many of us. In any case, I thought I'd share a quote from the novel, since it is Christmas Eve. For context: Bond her eis escaping the headquarters of his archenemy Ernst Stavro Blofeld and there are killer pursuing him. I hope nobody has a Christmas Eve that dramatic, but I know some can feel Bond's pain.
Labels:
books,
Christmas,
film,
Ian Fleming,
James Bond,
livre,
livres,
movie,
Noël,
On Her Majesty's Secret Service,
spy fiction
La gratte qui passe

Monday 23 December 2019
The best Christmas present so far this year
We received the family of my godson for dinner tonight. It was lovely and too short. I was a bit anxious of seeing them, especially my godson: he is 14 now and I thought he would be a bit... Teenagery. I needed be worried: he is just the same sweet kid as he ever was, only much taller. He was grateful to the boring gifts we had for him and his family, he was interested about our lives over the Atlantic and was talkative about his own, not sulky at all like some teens are, he was simply adorable. He also gave me the best Christmas present so far this year: a small painting he had made especially for me, of mountains and the northern lights. This was the second painting he ever did (first was for his grandmother), of his own inititative. I was close to tears. It was so thoughtful and so original.
Parce qu'aujourd'hui...
Il est tard, mais je crois que je devais le mentionner et le partager... Chanson nostalgique obligatoire en ce 23 décembre:
Sunday 22 December 2019
Christmas Days ('Tis the season to be reading)

Labels:
books,
Christmas,
Christmas Days,
comfort food,
food,
gastronomie,
Jeanette Winterson,
livre,
livres,
Noël
La Griffon rousse pour les Fêtes

Labels:
beer,
bière,
Brasserie McAuslan,
Christmas,
microbrasserie,
microbrewery,
Noël,
real ales
Friday 20 December 2019
Cate Blanchett and Eyes Wide Shut
Sometimes you learn things about your favourite film or work of fiction that makes you rediscover it and appreciate it even more, even if the new thing is of almost anecdotal level. So recently, I have been rewatching Eyes Wide Shut, as it is one of my Christmas movies (no joke, read this for more info). I
learned recemtly that Cate Blanchett had a small part in it. She's only a
voice, basically playing the voice of the masked prostitute/sex slave at the manor who warns the character of Tom Cruise of the danger he is puting himself in, then redeems him at the end. This is because the actress playing the part could not take a credible American accent. You can read more about it here. So it was a small part, only a voice, but that is really cool nonetheless. My favourite actress in one of my
favourite films. And I didn't even know. For the record, I thought the
voice sounded familiar, but I would never have guessed, being a masked role and all.I will enjoy the movie even more.
Labels:
acteur,
acting,
actors,
Cate Blanchett,
Christmas,
Eyes Wide Shut,
film,
movie,
Noël,
Stanley Kubrick,
Tom Cruise
En direct de Chicoutimi pour Noël
Juste un petit billet pour dire que je suis avec ma femme et petit loup à Chicoutimi. Nous allons célébrer les Fêtes avec mes parents, mes frères et la blonde de mon plus jeune frère. Mais comme d'habitude, ça tourne autour de petit loup. Je vais bloguer autant que je peux, mais le rythme va forcément ralentir ces prochains jours.
Labels:
Chicoutimi,
childhood,
Christmas,
enfance,
famille,
family,
Noël,
Saguenay,
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Tuesday 17 December 2019
Wolfie, poetry and Carol Ann Duffy
Something really strange happened tonight, during Wolfie's bedtime. As I offered him to read one story before, he pointed to Frost Fair, the most recent seasonal poem/story (I guess story in verse) of Carol Ann Duffy. I don't read much poetry, but around Christmastime I do like to read Duffy and it was by my bedside. Not sure why this caught his eyes and not another book, but strange as it may seem, I actually read it all to him, and stranger still, he did not seem bored once. In fact, he was fascinated by the illustrations. So anyway, he fell asleep quickly after that. I am still amazed by what happened.
Labels:
books,
Carol Ann Duffy,
childhood,
Christmas,
David De Las Heras,
enfance,
famille,
family,
Frost Fair,
livre,
livres,
Noël,
poésie,
poetry
Noël, version Les Trois Accords
J'ai pensé mettre un peu de musique de Noël ce soir, un truc québécois que j'ai découvert récemment et qui m'est resté en tête. J'écoute assez peu des Trois Accords, mais Noël est arrivé, c'est festif à souhait et comme je le dis, il m'est resté en tête depuis que je l'ai entendu... Pour une chanson de Noël contemporaine, ce n'est pas si mal, même pour le traditionaliste que je suis.
Labels:
chanson,
Christmas,
Les Trois Accords,
musique,
musique québécoise,
Noël,
Noël est arrivé,
Québec,
song
Sunday 15 December 2019
Christmastime at the fish and chips shop

Poudrerie
Photo prise par mon père pas plus tard que ce matin. Il y avait de la poudrerie par chez eux. On l'a d'ailleurs fait découvrir à petit loup via f
Facetime. Je ne sais pas s'il a été vraiment impressionné. Il va falloir qu'il en fasse l'expérience en vrai.
Facetime. Je ne sais pas s'il a été vraiment impressionné. Il va falloir qu'il en fasse l'expérience en vrai.
Saturday 14 December 2019
New Cluedo, new character

Labels:
board games,
childhood,
Christmas,
Clue,
Cluedo,
crime fiction,
enfance,
femmes fatales,
games,
jeux,
jeux de société,
littérature policière,
Noël,
nostalgia,
nostalgie,
orchidées,
orchids
Les flocons
Friday 13 December 2019
Radio Times ('Tis the season to be watching!)

Labels:
Angleterre,
Christmas,
England,
film,
movie,
neige,
Noël,
Radio Times,
reindeers,
Renne,
Rennes,
Royaume Uni,
snow,
UK
Wednesday 11 December 2019
Cassandra Darke

Les cèdres enneigés
Monday 9 December 2019
Excitable Edgar
There is something I must give to the Brits: they can make absolutely brilliant adverts. Especially during Christmastime. Here is the one made by John Lewis this year, the adventure of Edgar, the good natured but excitable dragon, and the little human girl who is his friend. This is too cute for words. It is like watching a Hollywood epic for children in three minutes or so and it is so adorable. Wolfie finds it a bit scary sometimes, yet he is fascinated by it. Tell me what you think about it in the comments.
La remise enneigée
Sunday 8 December 2019
Wolfie and the Advent Calendar

Labels:
Advent,
arbre de Noël,
Avent,
childhood,
chocolat,
chocolate,
Christmas,
comfort food,
enfance,
famille,
family,
food,
gastronomie,
lutin,
Noël,
nostalgia,
nostalgie,
Père Noël,
Santa Claus,
thornton's
La crèche sur la cheminée
Mon père m'a envoyé cette photo de la crèche familiale, au dessus de la cheminée, avec les bas de Noël qui seront remplis bientôt. Ceux de mes frères, de ma femme et celui de petit loup. Il va vivre un Noël féérique, je crois. Et j'espère qu'il ne croira pas au petit Jésus...
Saturday 7 December 2019
Tea's the season to be drinking

Encore les beignes
Friday 6 December 2019
December in a nutshell?
I saw this on one of the Facebook walls of one my my friends. I just decided to put it here tonight, because I found it very funny and pretty accurate. Is this how you too spend Christmastime? Is this also your own experience of December?
La légende de Saint Nicolas, une vieille version
Nous sommes aujourd'hui la Saint-Nicolas, la fête du prototype du Père Noël. C'est aussi le saint qui est le héros de cette légende, qui depuis l'enfance m'effraie autant qu'elle me fascine. Tradition oblige, je partage une version de la chanson qui la met en scène. Une "nouvelle" version pour Vraie Fiction, mais elle est assez vieille: selon YouTube, elle date de 1959. Une assez intéressante utilisation je trouve des illustrations et des vidéos en prise réelle pour raconter une histoire. Alors la voici (et en passant, l'autre chanson que les petites filles chantent, avec le bâton pour les garçons, ça ne passerait plus aujourd'hui):
Labels:
Advent,
Avent,
chanson,
childhood,
Christmas,
enfance,
folklore,
music,
musique,
Noël,
Père Fouettard,
Père Noël,
Saint Nicolas,
Santa Claus,
song
Thursday 5 December 2019
Mozart, Lacrimosa
Today is kind of a sad anniversary to remember: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died 228 years ago today. Not sure if we can grieve after that long, but we can certainly commemorate his departure. At 36, he was so very young to die, yet had accomplished so much. So to commemorate my favourite composer, I have decided to show a scene from Amadeus, showing his funeral (not sure if there should be a spoiler alert, but here it is). It is obviously not meant to be a historically accurate account of what happened, but it does feel real (and from what I read not all that far from the truth). With the Lacrimosa from his requiem as music, it is so very fitting.
Labels:
Amadeus,
anniversaire,
anniversary,
film,
Milos Forman,
movie,
Mozart,
music,
musique,
requiem
La production de beignes pour Noël 2019
Wednesday 4 December 2019
No Time to Die (the trailer)
Well, I blogged about it on Monday, I was anticipating it, and here it is: the trailer for No Time to Die, the upcoming James Bond movie. I watched two or three times. You can see it below. What do you think of it? I think it is quite promising and it got me quite excited. Of course I have a few concerns here and there
(always fear they might dwell too much into scifi, something I am never keen on when it comes to Bond), but overall I'm very
excited. One last thing that comes to my mind watching this and thinking of his tenure so far: Daniel Craig will be a really tough act to follow.
Labels:
books,
Daniel Craig,
film,
Ian Fleming,
James Bond,
livre,
livres,
movie,
No Time to Die,
spy fiction
Le polar de l'Avent cette année?

Labels:
Advent,
Avent,
books,
bookstore,
cadeau,
Christmas,
crime fiction,
librairie,
littérature policière,
livre,
livres,
Noël,
Norbert Klugmann,
Olivieri,
Peter Mathews,
Série Noire,
Un beau cadeau
Tuesday 3 December 2019
Masks for Christmastime?
Labels:
Arthur Schnitzler,
books,
Christmas,
Eyes Wide Shut,
film,
livre,
livres,
mask,
masque,
movie,
Noël,
Stanley Kubrick,
Traumnovelle
Question existentielle (353)
Noël approche, alors j'ai une question existentielle que je pose maintenant pour savoir quoi répondre à petit loup dans quelques années, quand il me la posera:
-Les rennes du Père Noël n'ayant pas d'ailes, comment font-ils pour voler?
Je suis certain que plusieurs par le passé ont tenté de donner une réponse à cette question, mais dites-moi ce que vous en pensez, ou ce que vous en savez.
-Les rennes du Père Noël n'ayant pas d'ailes, comment font-ils pour voler?
Je suis certain que plusieurs par le passé ont tenté de donner une réponse à cette question, mais dites-moi ce que vous en pensez, ou ce que vous en savez.
Labels:
childhood,
Christmas,
enfance,
existential question,
famille,
family,
Noël,
Père Noël,
question existentielle,
reindeers,
Rennes,
Santa Claus
Monday 2 December 2019
No Time to Die (teaser)
I had been waiting for it, I was getting impatient and now I know: the trailer of No Time to Die, the next James Bond movie, is... schedule for this Wednesday. That said, we had the chance to see a teaser. And what a tease. It is 15 seconds all in all. No matter: I am happy all the same, as there are lots of goodies in it, however short in it: some neat pieces of action, some exotic locations, a Bond girl or two, and what I believe a very short glimpse of the villain, which face is covered by a hood/mask. To conceal his identity, or hide some deformity? I suspect it is the latter. But anyway, see it for yourself and tell me what you think in the comments:
Labels:
books,
Daniel Craig,
film,
Ian Fleming,
James Bond,
livre,
livres,
movie,
No Time to Die,
spy fiction
La chaise haute
Sunday 1 December 2019
Blood on Snow

La marche des rois
J'ai pris cette photo à John Lewis, où nous sommes allés aujourd'hui. Vraiment pas géniale comme crèch, mais nous sommes le premier jour de l'Avent, alors comme c'est la tradition sur ce blogue je présente une crèche et je partage La marche des rois. Car même si Noël se rapproche, on a l'impression que c'est un long, long trajet jusqu'au 25...
Labels:
Advent,
Avent,
chanson,
Christmas,
crèche,
John Lewis,
La marche des rois,
music,
musique,
Nativity Scene,
Noël,
sheep. mouton,
song
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)