A Werewolf Game

 For today's countdown to Halloween post, a finding and maybe a call for help from my readers. I was at the Windsor's Waterstones a few weeks ago when I saw this game on sales: One Night Ultimate Werewolf. I did not buy it, although I was very tempted. But it looked a tad too much like a rip off from another werewolf game. But hey, maybe the more the merrier. I always thought werewolves were the most neglected critters of horror fiction. My opinion on the matter in this 2022 post and this one from 2018. I think there is a lot to do with a werewolf as a horror character, both protagonist and antagonist. What do you think? And if any of you played that game, what did you think of it? Is it any good?

"The Queen" locomotive

 As you know, we went to Windsor last weekend. Not for very long, just an afternoon. We went through the Windsor & Eton Central Railway Station in a few minutes, but I had just the time to take a picture of the locomotive replica, named the Queen in the honour of Queen Victoria. Front only I'm afraid, lenghtwise it quickly got crowded. I don't care about Queen Victoria, but I do love trains and a good steam train, replica or original, so here it is. Lovely machine.

Last visit to Waterstones

You may remember back in March, I blogged about the fact that I hadn't set foot in a Waterstones bookshop. A few months later, I found an out of date loyalty card I had totally forgotten. Well, last weekend we went to Windsor and I found time to spend a few minutes in the Waterstones branch there. A few years ago, I used to spend ages there, always finding a book or two to bring home. This time, ironically enough, I bought some stuff, but not a single book: a present formy wife's birthday and another for a friend. I think I did buy any literature partially because I did not spend much time there and partially because I want to encourage local businesses and thus keep my money for our independent bookshop. But hey, that was my last visit to a Waterstones.

Happy Birthday Cate Blanchett

I was planning to blog about something else, but I learned about this in the news and I thought I needed to mention it: today is the birthday of Cate Blanchett. She is 45. I am not into gossip and I care very little about celebrities. I do not consider myself a groupie. That said, I care about and admire very much actors and actresses. Talented ones. Great ones. And I consider Cate Blanchett the greatest actress of her generation, the greatest working actress, period. I remember watching Elizabeth for the time back in 1999 (I had rented it, fool that I was I did not go and see it in cinema). I was mesmerized. It took one movie and she was my favorite actress. This picture was taken yesterday by the press at Windsor Castle. She does not look a day over 30. But, more importantly, she is still a mesmerizing actress.

The chips and mayonnaise at the Talbot

Following my Friday post of two weeks ago, I wanted to plug another pub and pub food I particularly enjoyed. An idea quickly came to my mind, however here is the problem: the pub is now closed. I don't know since when, I had not been there in a long, long, long while. I am talking about the Talbot in Windsor. I used to eat there on the last day of school with my then colleagues, when I was working at a school in Windsor. A job I ended up hating and which left me quite bitter. But before holidays, we had late lunch at the Talbot and it was delicious. Especially the chips, very tasty, and the mayonnaise to go with them, which was mixed with curry. They tasted very much like the ones from Eurosnack in Montreal. Another deceased restaurant. Such a loss.

Friday treats

I had a rough, tiresome week. I don't complain (or I try not to), this is life, so it often sucks, but it becomes necessary to switch off and cool down on a Friday night. It is a question of survival. So tonight I tried to treat myself. Firstly, I stopped for a drink at the local pub. Then I bought some more beer at home (Guardsman from the very young Windsor & Eton Brewery, which makes me like Windsor more). I flavoured the pizza we had with what was left of olives in a jar (I had bought them for a puttanesca). Some cheap pitted green olives, but I love olives, even cheap ones. It doesn't take me much to be happy, or to find comfort food. The downside to the beer/olives mix is that I am now dehydrated and drinking gallons of water. But oh, what a lovely moment I had! My Friday treats change from week to week, usually it involves drinking, eating and reading (I have piles and piles of books). This Friday, it was beer and olives. And now I wonder what is yours.

Musing on that wedding tomorrow

I am home early today. And tomorrow because of "Kate and William's wedding". It sounds like they are old friends when they announce it like this in the media. I mean, really? It's not like if I ever had a beer with that guy or went to his stag night! We share nothing but a name. Anyway, as I needed holidays and the Easter ones had been too short, this is most welcome. Monarchy has to be useful about something. Still, the republican I am finds all the excitement about this wedding a bit ridiculous. In the end, it is a procession of (mainly) old people dressed like clowns. Catholics have the Vatican, the UK and the Commonwealth have the Queen and her descendants. Anachronism made flesh. At least I will have the day off.

Still, it is absurd, all that fuss about two people getting married, all that money spent on someone who will probably be the head of a state... because he was born. I guess I will watch bits of it, I don't have much choice, we will be invaded by images, soundbites, what have you. Maybe, maybe I will even drink at their health and happiness with a Windsor Knot. Not because they are royalties, but because they deserve to be happy. I am genuinely curious about this beer and this new brewery in Windsor. I wish the brewery well. A little anecdote that stayed in my head all day: in the lovely village of l'Anse-St-Jean there was a crowning, which I actually attend to. A bit of a ridiculous thing that got people talking, but the local brewery brewed a delicious beer for the occasion, "la Royale de l'Anse". It ceased to exist, sadly. Something good came up from that monarchy too, however short lived. I do hope the brewery in Windsor survives time, we need more breweries. But I hope even more than one day I will see the end of the monarchy in this country and mine.

Garter Ceremony

I went to the Garter Ceremony today, with a colleague and a few pupils from school. It was a divinely ironic situation for me, as I have absolutely no sympathy for the monarchy or the Queen of England. I am at the core of my heart a staunch republican and I make no mystery of it. I am indeed so much of a republican that I prefer the pope to the Queen. At least the pope got elected, and did not reproduce to give birth to descendants and successors of lesser intelligence. I was therefore amazed that my colleague asked me to be the second adult to accompany the children. Asking a Quebecker, separatist, republican (like many Quebeckers), atheist (although she probably does not know that) to go with a few kids who are all in love with their monarchy (or at least prince William), that was I think a kind and generous offer, so I said yes. It is nice to be accepted and appreciated by some colleagues. It is also nice to be outside on a sunny day.

In any case, it made me see Windsor Castle from the inside. I see it everyday from the outside, and the familiarity of its presence kind of banalized its majesty. It made me see it in a new perspective and made me rediscover its beauty. This is a massive building, built by a man bearing the same name as me, who actually deserved to be king of England, as he rose to power because of his intelligence, not simply because he was born. And I could also appreciate the uniforms of the guards, slightly ridiculous, but not half as silly as the ones the royalties were wearing. They are the supreme power of this nation, and they dress like clowns. Garter Ceremony indeed. I kept those thoughts for myself of course. My colleague still teased me for my republicanism, but it was very friendly. I think native French speakers are considered in this country de facto republicans. Anyway, about the soldiers, one has to admit, in spite of the often ridiculous attire, their discipline was impressive. There was nothing ridiculous in the rough harmony of the military ritual. And I do like the colourful uniforms. Especially the beefeaters uniforms, which I really loved when I was a child anf I first came into England. I associate them more with the gin brand than anything else, but it is still nice to see some in the flesh. Like all the rest this afternoon, in a more flamboyant fashion than all the rest, they are a living anachronism.

S'habituer à la beauté

J'ai donc maintenant un travail, lequel me tient occupé une bonne partie de la journée. Il me fait également voyager beaucoup, devant me rendre à Windsor chaque jour. Du train d'où je voyage, je vois donc le Château de Windsor matin et soir. C'est un bâtiment superbe, immense, majestueux, qui m'a longtemps impressionné. Mais de le voir ainsi quotidiennement, tout aussi majestueux qu'il puisse être, je finis par le trouver juste...là. Il est devenu un simple élément du paysage, une image d'arrière-plan. C'est un peu dommage, mais c'est ce qui arrive dans un pays avec de l'histoire et l'architecture pour le prouver.

Cela dit, je trouve toujours adorables les lapins qui observent le train passer.

Windsor and burgers

As you might know from my wife's blog, we were in Windsor yesterday evening with some friends of her (a married couple like us, strange now that we are all married) and we ate at the Gourmet Burger Kitchen there. Burgers are good. The problem with it is that it's a bit expensive for what you get, but I always Montreal prices and portions in mind when I get there. That said, I will try a new burger every time I go to GBK. I do miss the decadence of our portions in Québec. And I make better mayonnaise than the one of GBK. Windsor is nice, next time I should take some pictures, although that would make me feel like all those tourists.

I haven't made an entry about food in ages (since the 4th of August to be precise, if you count an entry about cider to be a food entry, if you don't then you have to go back to the 2nd of August), so this is the first real one in a while. Next time I will talk about something more intellectual. Promise.

Another day in Windsor

I spent another day in Windsor. It's lovely to be there, not so difficult to get there, but it's a Hell of a journey back. My legs are killing me and I'm exhausted. I'll try to write a long blog entry another day. I'll just give my impressions of Windsor to posterity. It's lovely, as you know, there is a huge gigantic castle that dates back to William the Conqueror. For a medievalist like me, it's happytown. It has lots of nice restaurants (including a burger place I want to visit), at least one Wetherspoon that does not look too bland, and this is a boost for me as it means I can have access to real ales at a decent price. There is a Waterstone, but sadly it does not have as much choice as many other Waterstones I have been to. I even think the one in Maidenhead is better furnished. There is one real downside to Windsor: it's so full of tourists. Yes, you know that already, I just can't stand them. I never felt like Liverpool was invaded, and it probably was, but Windsor is so small you can't miss them.

A day in Windsor

Just got back from Windsor, it's such a nice city (or town? Does it have a cathedral? I should know that.). I hope we will live there one day, or at least (in my case) work there. Windsor castle is simply gorgeous. Too bad the queen lives there. And there are so many French tourists! Too many for my taste. Anyway, I didn't go there for fun and games, but I appreciate every minute spent in Windsor.