Camo Green Water Bottle

 As I mentioned last Thursday, I had to go to the local Mountain Warehouse to buy a new water bottle to Wolfie. He had forgotten his "old" army green one at his grandparents' place and the spare one he has isn't great. I decided not to take any chance: there was a 3 for 2 sale, I bought three. Including this cool looking camo coloued one. Like his original one, only more military looking. But Wolfie told me one of his friends has one just like that, so he will have another one. He generously told me I should have it instead. So I am the happy new owner of this camo green water bottle. Good, I needed one. And say what you will, but this bottle has style.

Les desserts d'Ô Petit Paris

C'était la fête de mon frère Andrew il y a quelques jours. Au lieu d'un gâteau, mes parents ont décidé d,acheter des petits gâteaux d'Ô Petit Paris, la pâtisserie française sur le Plateau. Enfin, l'une d'entre elles. Quand j'ai entendu ça, je me suis dit que ça n'avait pas de bon sens: il faut un gâteau pour célébrer une fête. Mais mon père m'a envoyé des photos des pâtisseries en question. Et je dois dire que ça ne me choquerait pas trop d'avoir ça.

Sharing Mozart and chocolates

I received this bag of Mozartkugelns (or maybe Mozartkugels? I never know for sure) for my birthday. A good idea of my wife. So this is my stock of special Mozart chocolates. Which I decided to share with Wolfie. Well, no, to be frank, Wolfie decided that sharing them with him would be a swell idea. However, there is a condition to it: whenever we eat them, we must listen to Mozart's music. He is getting quite cultured. Anyway, I thought I cannot share this picture without sharing a bit of music to go with it. Here is a lesser known aria of Amadeus, Voi avete un cor fedele, sung by Regula Mühlemann. I hope you enjoy.

Microdistilleries

Mon frère Andrew a reçu en cadeau pour sa fête cette boîte de spiritueux de différentes distilleries du Québec. Enfin, de microdistilleries, comme dans "partez à la découverte des microdistilleries du Québec". Je crois que c'est un cadeau de mes parents, peut-être de sa femme. Dans tous les cas, c'est une excellente idée de cadeau et microdistillerie est le mot du jour.

An afternoon at the fayre

Today was the school fayre. My wife was volunteering. I could not go there from the beginning, as I had my writing workshop. Which went well. But Wolfie waited for me to have lunch as he wanted to have some father and son time with me. We love all fayres, don't know why. I enjoyed this one a lot, even though I did not stay as long, coming in late and all.Mainly because it was not scorching hot. In any case, I can't wait for the next one.

Les fraises du Marché Jean-Talon

 Mes parents ont acheté des fraises au Marché Jean-Talon. C'est tout.

Titanic on the bookshelves

During our trip holiday in Belfast, our favourite part was probably the time we spent at Titanic Belfast. Espeically Wolfie, who grew obsessed about the Titanic. Of course, we bought a few souvenirs, including this model of the ship, which I placed on the bookshelves. It just gives it so much style.

Guimauve au chocolat

J'ai trouvé cette photo sur la page Facebook des Pères trappistes. J'ai déjà blogué sur leurs barres de guimauve enrobées de chocolat en 2022. Tout cela pour dire qu'ils ne font pas que du chocolat aux bleuets. Et que leurs guimauves sont maintenant en vente.

Whatever happened to the Flying Bean Café?

 You may remember that I blogged from time to time about the Flying Bean Café. It's the coffee company with coffee shops and more importantly coffee vans. I used to go buy treats from these vans visiting the business estate where I worked when I had a office job I hated. Spending a few minutes there also allowed me to briefly escape my toxic work environment. it was borderline therapeutic. I haven't been to one for years, however I used to spot one of its vans during the morning school run. Well, it struck me recently that I had not seen the van since 2022 or so. Their website is still online, so I assume (I hope I am right) that they are still in business. I promise, if I ever see one parked somewhere, I will make a stop and buy a few things. I really feel like I owe them one.

Nouvelle information sur le Manoir

Je blogue parfois sur Manoir du Saguenay. Parce que c'est un lieu d'une certaine importance dans ma région, mais aussi parce que j'y ai eu d'excellents (quoique vagues) souvenirs. Et petit loup étant obsédé par les manoirs (j'étais pareil à son âge), il veut voir celui-ci un jour. J'ai appris récemment que le Manoir du Saguenay fait un peu partie de l'histoire familiale: c'est là que mes parents ont fêté leurs noces. Apprenant ça, Wolfie a décuplé d'enthousiasme: il veut visiter le Manoir. Si ça continue, il va vouloir y célébrer ses propres noces.

New Water Bottles?

 Remember Wolfie's army green water bottle? I bought it for him last March at the Mountain Warehouse. Well, he forgot it at his grandparents' place during his last stay there a week ago. We found out on Sunday. Thankfully, we have spare bottles, but they are not as practical. So a new visit to the local Mountain Warehouse is in order to buy a new water bottle. It might be army green coloured, it might not. As silly as it sounds, I really love the design of the water bottles at the Mountain Warehouse. And they are always discounted. I think I will also buy an extra one for me: we never have enough. I also love to spend a few minutes at the Mountain Warehouse, they always have something useful for us on sale.

Lire autochtone

Petite annonce pour les gens du Québec et surtout du Saguenay. J'apprends sur la page Facebook du Salon du Livre du Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean que le mois de juin est le Mois national de l'histoire autochtone. Vous pouvez y participer en vous rendant dans les bibliothèques du Saglac, les détails sur la page facebook du Salon du Livre. J'avoue n'avoir guère lu autochtone moi-même, mais je compte corriger ça un jour.

News about Amadeus

 I blogged before and again about a new adaptation of Amadeus by Peter Shaffer. I keep my ears to the ground for any development and casting updates. Anyway, I read this article a few days ago and thought I would mention it here. New actors have been added to the cast, among them Rory Kinnear. It is the one I know the most, having played Bill Tanner in the latest Bond movies. He will be playing the role of the Emperor, which I think is very fitting. So far I am quite happy about how the project is shaping up.

De quoi me plaignais-je?

Je relisais ce billet datant de juin 2013. Oui, je sais, il m'arrive de me relire, ce blogue étant aussi un peu un journal. Et je trouve que je me plaignais pas mal d'un été frais, misérable et pluvieux. Or, maintenant, je préfère qu'il fasse frais et pluvieux l'été. Le mois de juin 2024 semble être du même acabit que le mois de juin 2013: beaucoup plus frais que ce à quoi on devrait s'attendre. Il est vrai que c'est encore tôt pour se prononcer. Mais quand même: je me lève chaque matin en poussant un soupir de soulagement. Ce qui me fait me questionner: de quoi je me plaignais il y a onze ans? J'ai l'impression de lire les propos d'une autre personne.

Midsummer Ghost Stories

Even when it is summer, lovers of spooky stories and Halloween like myself know that it is still time to prepare yourself mentally to the darker season. To prepare yourself spiritually, so to speak. Anyway, I learned through social media that there is an activity in a month's time, called Midsummer Ghost Stories, held in West Wycombe Village Hall. It is not too far from here. I don't think we can go, because I doubt it is a family activity, but it would be fun. I love public reading of ghost stories. It just enhances the experience. And on a side note, what a lovely, perfectly eerie and atmospheric image.

Mafalda et le tabagisme

Une fois de plus, j'ai (re)trouvé ce gag sur la page Facebook officielle de Mafalda.Elle a été partagée lors de la Journée mondiale sans tabac, que j'ai manqué. je déteste le tabagisme en général et l'odeur de la cigarette en particulier. Et je trouve que Mafalda, de manière très simple, illustre tout ce qui est toxique dans le tabac.

About Liverpool and Ireland

I recently reread Tremor of Intent by Anthony Burgess, my favourite writer. Subtitled An Eschatological Spy Novel, it goes beyond the spy thriller genre or the satire of spy thrillers to become a Cold War philosophical tale about guilt, Catholicism, good and evil, identity, well, a lot of things making our human condition. When I first read it, I hadn't lived in England yet, so this it gave me a new appreciation of the novel. And there is a quite I wanted to share today:

"The best Catholic schools are in the North, since the English Reformation, like blood from the feet when the arteries harden, could not be push so far so easily. And, of course, you have Catholic Liverpool, a kind of debased Dublin."

Now, I lived a year in Liverpool, before I got married. It was a long time ago, almost twenty years. Obviously, I don't know how the city is now. But at its core, when I was there, it sure was exactly that: a Catholic Irish city lost in England. Debased Dublin sounds right, although Liverpool does not look as nice. Then again, I haven't been to Dublin in nearly twenty-five years and I never lived there, so who knows. Anyway, I love that quote.

Mettez vot' parka

Parce que ce sera la Saint-R'ean (je sais, je l'écris comme on le prononce) bientôt, je mets un peu de musique québécoise sur le blogue. J'ai pensé à cette chanson de Gilles Vigneault, que je connaissais peu. Chanté avec les Charbonniers de l'Enfer, que je ne connais que de nom. Dans tous les cas, Mettez vot' parka est mon coup de coeur musical cette année.

Medusa in a Zoom meeting

You may know that I love all things regarding Greek mythology and that Medusais by far my favourite Greek monster. So when I saw this meme, it really made me laugh. I thought I could share it today to brighten up your Monday. Although, I must say, from a pure geeky point of you, I don't think this is accurate at all: Medusa's reflection is harmless, in fact this is how Perseus kills her, using the back of his shield as a mirror to find her and chop her head off. But anyway, what do you think about it? Worth the risk?

La belle étoile...

Retournons un instant sur la Saint-Jean-Baptiste, enfin la Fête nationale qui s'en vient. Le thème cette année est "Retrouvons-nous à la belle étoile". C'est vraiment un bon thème, je trouve: le 24 juin se passe beaucoup le soir, à la belle étoile. Parfois toute la nuit même: je me rappelle avoir veillé jusqu'aux petites heures du matin.