The Canadian Maritimes: Fiddler's Elbow & Other Stories

Friday 14 September 2012, Judique, Nova Scotia

We got our whale watch in at 7.30 this morning in Cheticamp - saw a few pilot whales but mainly it was just nice to be out on the water early in the morning.

Lunch was at the Celtic Music Centre in Judique, an area that has produced more than it's fair share of fiddlers as well as singers and other musicians. It was a nice way to round off a musical tour for me: I'd seen Gordon Belsher & Richard Wood in Charlottetown, Sylvia LeLievere in Cheticamp and Kinnon Beaton here for the second time. I'm just fascinated by the way he holds the fiddle upside down and back to front.

We'd also spent a couple of days on the French Shore in New Brunswick, where,as the name suggests, the locals speak French. There are also French speaking communities in Nova Scotia (Cheticamp is one) but most are in New Brunswick. They are Acadians, descendants of the original French settlers in North America. The Acadians were forcibly removed from Nova Scotia by the British in 1755 during one of the many conflicts with France. Some ended up in Louisiana (a French colony at the time) and became known as Cajuns. Others either took to the woods  in Nova Scotia or escaped across the Bay of Fundy or to Prince Edward Island.
Most just wanted to return to their homes in Nova Scotia. When the war between Britain & France ended, they were allowed back but most of their lands had been given to English speakers, mainly from New England, so they either ended up in small pockets dotted around Nova Scotia or they moved to what is now New Brunswick (followed by many Loyalists who had fled the New England Colonies during the War of Independence).
Officially, around 37% of New Brunswickers speak French but they have to work to keep the language and culture alive, though in common with many minority cultures and languages, there has been a reclaiming and resurgence of pride in their culture and identity.
The bottom photo is of a dory at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.

Kinnon Beaton

Acadian Gentleman, New Brunswick

Peggy's Cove: I'll Go To Sea No More

London 2012

Monday 6 August 2012
Commuters?
Probably not. These three Japanese ladies were on their way to Wembley to watch their women's football team take on the French (and win). It was a terrific game and as usual, the fans were fantastic. The guy next to them didn't seem to be too interested in the outcome of the match.

We happened to see three of the Japanese football matches; it was great fun being amongst the fans as they really went overboard when it came to decorating themselves to support their teams: rivers of facepaint were used, tons of fabric in costumes and flags. Add to that their good natured enthusiasm whether they were winning or losing and you had a photographer's dream. The fans are what makes the Olympics so much fun.

We also found a few French fans who'd got into the spirit of the occasion. There are lots more fan pics via the link below.

More London 2012 Photos

London 2012

Thursday 2 August 2012

There was no work for us during the Olympics so we went out and enjoyed them, taking in football in Coventry, Newcastle and Wembley, visits to the Olympic Park, a trip to the top of Anish Kapoor's Orbit tower, beach volleyball and just mooching around London.

Today was another great day at the Olympic Park. I saw a gold medal up close, around the neck of the USA cyclist Kristen Armstrong, who won the women's time trial yesterday for the second time. she was appearing on America's "Today" programme, the equivalent of our breakfast televison. It goes out live from the Olympic Park, starting at 7am on the US east coast, which is noon here.
Apart from athletes, Jamie Oliver popped up to do a bit of Olympic cookery for the Americans. I also saw Boris Johnson holding forth by the side of the river - risky for someone with his track record. Excuse the pun...
I took many photos today but this one, which was the first of the day is my favourite.

We also had a chance to mooch around London, just enjoying the the Olympic vibe. We encountered this patriotic family just outside the Excel, where boxing and martial arts were being held.

Vienna

Tuesday 10 July 2012: Grand Finale

A group photo of all the participants in the Youth Music Festival, including The Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, who we looked after (They are in the balcony on the right, dressed in black). This was taken in the Koncerthaus, another fantastic music venue in Vienna.
The festival was fun but bedlam. The organisation was non-existent, but what the heck.
The festival included young people from everywhere, including the girls & boys of the Maibuy' ISkahile Youth Development Choir, who struck a pose every time a camera was pointed at them.
I'm off to bed as I have to be up in five hours to see the first part of the group off.

Striking A Pose Backstage At The Konzerthaus

L'Italie!

Thursday 28 June 2012

I'm in France, in Nice. There's a big football match in the European Cup between France & Italy & there are quite a few supporters of both nationalities around. I've just come in to see that Italy are two up against France, so these two must be even happier at the moment.

Spain: Local Culture

Monday 18 June 2012

Cuenca. Our travels in Spain with The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.The group had dinner in a restaurant on the Plaza Mayor in Cuenca while Spain were making hard work of overcoming Croatia in the European Championship. Some of the group wanted to watch so a few of us stayed in the bar so that they could see the game the way it should be seen. They really enjoyed the experience though one or two were nervous about me taking the pic, just in case the folks back home get to see their offspring being corrupted in the dens and dives of Europe.

In Valencia we had lunch outside the old market and one of the kids ended up joining in with the street musicians: a coming together of generations and cultures through music.

Grrr.

Tuesday 5 June 2012

A big black bear near Whistler. It looks well fed. I've managed to see bears at Whistler on my last three visits, each time from the ski lift, however this one was taken on a trip into the back country where we could get a lot closer to them.

Into The Blue

Saturday 26 May 2012

Ogden Point, Victoria, BC, Canada, looking across the Strait of Juan de Fuca toward The Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, USA. Our hotel is on the Inner Harbour in Victoria, about a twenty minute stroll from Ogden Point.
There are a couple of Otters that hang around close by, near a group of houseboats at Fisherman's Wharf. They are used to people and quite easy to photograph, though I made a bit of a hash of it.

Vancouver

Friday 25 May 2012

Day two of a tour through British Columbia. The view is of downtown Vancouver with the twin peaks (The Lions) in the background, taken from Queen Elizabeth Park. There was also a great view of Mount Baker, one of the volcanos in the Cascade Range. It's seventy miles away from Vancouver over the border in Washington State but it dominates the skyline. I didn't have time to get a pic of it though.
I went for a stroll along the shore of the Burrard Inlet, where seaplanes ferry commuters to and from varius places but mostly Victoria, the provincial capital.

New York Grand Central Terminal

Monday 14 May 2012:

I spent an hour at Grand Central Terminal, trying to get the picture I wanted of the movement of the crowds passing through, with one person standing still amongst the shifting masses, giving a sense of isolation or loneliness. Fat chance.
Too many people were standing still -mainly photographers of all stripes, from camera phone users to monopod toting heavyweights, all grabbing their Grand Central Kodak Moment. At times it seemed they outnumbered the commuters and my Kodak Moment was never quite within grasp, but this will give you an idea of what I was aiming for.

Every now and then someone walks across from one side of the station to the other on gantries that take them through the huge windows, seemingly floating above the people below who don't know that they are there.

Jurassic Coast.

Friday 4 May 2012: Jurassic Coast.

I'm just in, having spent all day running around Dorset. What a beautiful county! For some reason, I've never been here before, apart from one visit to Bournemouth around ten years ago.
I went to Lyme Regis, Cerne Abbas to see the Giant, Tolpuddle to tip my hat to the Martyrs, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Weymouth (actually, I've been through Weymouth on the way to Jersey, so it doesn't count.) and Corfe. I managed to get turned around in Weymouth as several roads were closed and went round in circles in Poole becuase an event was on and barriers were being erected.
I'm glad I came down as there are quite a few things to sort out before the tour.
Time for a beer, I think.
This is the famous Chesil Beach with a very imposing chapel on the hill in the foreground. - no idea what it is or why it's there but I'll find out eventually.

Edit: It's St Catherine's Chapel. That was easy, thanks to the internet.

Farewell, Big Sis (and Mum & Dad)

Wednesday 4 April 2012: Farewell, Big Sis










































This is me and my sister on the back steps of the house we lived in in 1958 or 59.
She died last night, just me and her daughter present though her son, our brothers and her best friend had been with her most of the day and came back as soon as they could.
She went very quickly and peacefully and though we are devastated we are relieved that her suffering is over.
Everyone is taking a deep breath for a couple of days, coming to terms, starting to grieve. Her illness and death has brought us closer together - I think we will all be grateful for the time we spent with her and each other over the last months of her illness.
Our hearts are heavy but we are happy to have shared our lives together.


March 2013

The photo below was taken on December 20th. The last one of Mum & Dad together. We'd persuaded Dad to come to visit Mum at the home, which he was doing less often as he became more infirm.. It was the Christmas party, complete with someone playing the organ loudly and singing out of tune. It was hard to get Mum's attention for long because the music was annoying her.
Mum died on January 31st after developing gout. She was diabetic and a cut on her leg became infected. It wasn't noticed by the staff in the home; my niece picked up on it but by then it was too late. I often wonder whether the care she received in that home was up to standard, especially given the recent revelation that the Quality Care Commission lacked both quality and care. Still, "they will learn from their mistakes" - is there a more meaningless phrase in use these days?
With Mum gone, Dad more or less gave up the ghost. I flew back from Costa Rica and got home a few hour before he died on March 15th. We went from a family of six to three of us in less than twelve months. To quote Dad: "It's a bugger."

The View From Here

Monday 2 April 2012

This is what my sister sees from her window each morning - the ferry arriving from Dieppe. Not included is the sound of scrap metal being loaded onto a ship - constant metallic booming. I've shut the windows to keep it out.
My sister is in the last stages of terminal cancer. I flew back from Valencia yesterday to be with her. I spent several months here during the winter as she was told last July that she wouldn't survive the disease. The doctor said that she probably wouldn't make it to November and yet here she is.
She and her daughter looked out for my dad so M and I came down to take the load off them.
I got to visit my sister almost every day - we've seen more of each other in the last few months than we have over many years, mainly due to my travelling and her (and the rest of the family) being staunch stay-at-homes. It gave me a chance to see a lot more of my brothers and the extended family which has been good but also a trial at times - families, and all that.
She can no longer speak most of the time and she has a mechanical driver administering drugs. Nurses and carers come in several times a day to keep her as comfortable as possible.
There have been lots of tears but some laughter too. Now we stay with her, talk to her and just let her know that we are with her.

Costa Rica: The Quaker Cloud Forest

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Monteverde Cloud Forest. Lots of rain, which is why it's a cloud forest. It was settled by Quakers from Alabama in 1951. They were pacificsts; concientous objectors, who, when Costa Rica abolished it's armed forces in 1948, decided to move here. They started the dairy industry which is still going strong but also protected the environment long before it became policy in Costa Rica. Thanks to their continued stewardship of the land, this beautiful spot remains relatively unspoiled. (The two roads in are unmade and the locals insist on keeping it that way).

It's not all peace and light though: The hummingbirds were fighting fiercely to claim their place at the feeder. We also saw a Resplendent Quetzal. It is well named. Magnificent.

Walk The Walk: Costa Rica

Friday 2 March 2012

Out at 6.15 this morning to search for wildlife along the canals of Tortuguero National Park
We saw Howler Monkeys, Toucans, Sloths and a few other creatures. I didn't manage to get any decent pictures but on our way back we saw a troop of Spider monkeys swinging through the trees. They had to get from one side of a narrow canal to the other by way of this flimsy palm frond. First up were adults, including mothers with babies. They were across the gap in a shot and my pictures were hopeless. This juvenile took it a bit more cautiously so I got a nice silhouette, which I've sharpened up in Silver Efex.
We are back out this afternoon so I'm hopeful of getting something else.