Wordways Caribbean

Bim's Children's Lit Fest

2012-05-21T04:49:00.001-07:00

Congrat's to the organisers of the First Bim's Literary Fest for a well run and interesting event.

I spent an enjoyable day in the children's tent where lots of activities were going on. Face painting was very popular. The overall theme of the festival was "Words Need Love". In their corner, artist were busy illustrating this concept. A sub-theme in the children's tent was Anansi. A beautifully turned-out Anansi, accompanied by Nyame, the Sky God, entertained the children.

The National Library Service put on a wonderful puppet show - The Mouse and the Lion.

Storytellers: Greg Fitt, Sarah Veneable, Norma Meek, June Stoute and Deanne Kennedy entertained the audience. If you miss this year, be sure to put it on your calendar for next year.

For more pictures of this event, please enter via View My Gallery under For Another Peep in the top left corner of this blog. Enjoy.

Pawsability - Linda Pearson

2012-05-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

Many claim that JRs cannot be trained. However, I decided to try with ours. I was delighted that the first trainer I called was very positive. JRs - no problem. Pups - that's fine. I signed the family up with Linda Pearson to train to train dogs.

Aris and Loki were attentive pupils, especially when they discovered that there was some sausage in it for them. We did the basic obedience training - come, sit, down and place. Place means going to a specific place and staying there until released, as shown in this picture. They've also learned to walk nicely on leads and stay in the back seat when driven in the car.

This is the first time I'm raising two pups at the same time and it's quite a challenge was they are so high-spirited.

Bim LitFest Children’s Fair

2012-05-04T18:33:00.000-07:00

I’ve been invited to read at the Bim LitFest Children’s Fair, which will be held in Queen’s Park on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

I said to Dick, “I may be becoming ‘Auntie June’”.

Always supportive he responded, “I think you should skip to ‘Gran’ one time.”

The aim of the Fair is to have as many children as possible in Queen’s Park sharing the fun and joy of reading. The fair will also feature music, dance, puppetry, junior open-mic, writing and art activities in addition to storytelling.

Sounds like a fun family event. Mark the date in your calendar now.

The Children’s Fair is part of the Bim Literary Festival and Book Village, which runs from May 16-20, 2012.

The Festival is an opportunity to meet and hear writers from North America, Britain, Barbados and the wider Caribbean. I heard Earl Lovelace will be there and you will certainly find me at his events.

The Book Village also takes place on May 19 in Queen’s Park and will run concurrently with the Children’s Fair. For details check:

http://www.bimlitfest.org/

Bequia Easter Regatta

2012-04-24T18:06:00.001-07:00

Dick and I were among the many Bajans who flocked to Bequia for Easter. Dick went to race on the Bloody Mary and I watched the racing from shore.

Here the work boat class is starting in the surf at Lower Bay. It would appear that some crew members must remain in the sea until the start signal is given.

This shot is of the race which started in Friendship Bay. It is shortly after the start and the teams have been able to set their sails and are well underway.

On our way from the airport the Taxi driver stopped and show us this boat, still being built in the boatyard. It was the newest work boat and creating much excitement in local circles. Christened Blackberry, its dark hull was sleek and shiny.

The J24 Class and other racing class boats.

Three Generations Art Exhibition

2012-03-28T20:46:00.005-07:00

Sunday gone, Dick and I went to the opening of the Three Generation Art Exhibition. I had been looking forward to it ever since the invitation arrived and I was not disappointed.

The works by Jill Walker and her daughter, Sue Trew, and her daughter, Holly Trew were delightful. The art was of high quality and varied as each artist had a different style. Jill's work is well known but it soon became easy to distinguish Sue's from Holly's.

If you've been coveting a Jill Walker original, now is the time to realize that dream. The exhibit is at the Gallery of Caribbean Art, Speightstown and runs until 14th April.

Also on sale was a book on chattel houses authored by Jill and Sue. I purchased a copy as Jill's rendering of scenes of Barbadian life takes me back to my childhood - a time of innocence and wonderment.

Respecting copyright and as a tribute to Jill, I have posted one of my photos taken at an Emancipation Day Parade a few years ago. I have photo-shopped it with an water colour filter.

Morning Barbados

2012-03-21T18:09:00.004-07:00

For me writing and formatting books are the easy part of being a self-published author. Self-promotion and publicity seeking don't come easy though. So on my way to be part of the Morning Barbados show last Monday to promote Ping Pong, I wondered what had I been thinking. I had been on the show several times with my other books and learnt that the interviewers ask the darnedest questions.

I arrived on time and the scheduled indicated that I would be on in thirty minutes. I was just settling in to watch the start of the show when I was told I was up - item 1 and not 10. What's a zero anyway. The moderator was the same guy who interview me when I was on promoting Anansi and Herald last year, so no introductions were made and anyway everyone one knows the CBC presenters, except ... So I was thrown off a little by that. He looked like Doug but I didn't want to call the presenter by the wrong name and no one found it necessary to address him!!@%**

I was fairly relaxed but he floored me with, "How is the book doing in schools?" I didn't want to lie and say, 'GREAT' and also did not wish to explain how difficult it is to get books into schools. On the drive back home I was thinking of all the things I should have said to make better use of the opportunity.

Anyway a big thank you to CBC and the Morning Barbados production team.

Animal Flower Cave, Barbados

2012-03-11T17:06:00.009-07:00

I often visit the cliffs by the Animal Flower Cave. It's a location I find very relaxing – the strong sea breeze and the surf pounding against the cliffs. I can sit there and watch the wave action for ages.

Last month my photo-club’s excursion was there and I went into the cave for the first time. We entered the cave from cliff top via a stairway carved out of the coral. It is a multi-chambered sea cave with several openings to the sea. These opening are above the high water mark. One chamber has a large pool and the colour of the water there is a beautiful turquoise. I could not get any good shots of that as I had forgotten my tripod.

The floor of the cave is rocky, uneven, slippery and wet. I am not agile enough to move around only on the dry rocks and so resigned myself to wading in the pools – better wet shoes than risk a fall.

I saw only one animal flower (sea anemone) and was disappointed by this. On the other had there were interesting rock formations, a giant hand and the face of a man. My fantasy took flight and I wondered if I could write a story around these features.

Now for some data:

The cave was discovered from the sea in 1780 by English explorers. The coral steps were built in 1912 and the coral floor is estimated to be about four or five hundred thousand years old.

Some years ago, I wrote this poem:

Ashes

from a rocky cliff

to a wave's crescendo

under a martin's wheel

wind rushing westward

or in our own backyard

beneath the swaying trees

where Rex will come

and pee upon me

or as the entertainer plays

to the setting sun

just offshore of Bimshire

scatter me.

World Book Day

2012-02-26T11:22:00.005-08:00

“World Book Day is a celebration! It’s a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world.” - www.worldbookday.com

This is the 15th year there’s been a World Book Day. In the UK and Ireland, it is celebrated on the first Thursday in March while many other countries celebrate it on 23^rd April.

Here in Bim, DAYS BOOKS is celebrating it and I’ve been invited to take part. Here’s the remit:

“The theme is “Read a book, share a story,” and you will be joining other local writers, educators and school children for a lively afternoon of readings, book signings, panel discussion, and the launch of Days Books’ new website www.daysbookstore.com.

You will be taking part in the panel discussion to be broadcast live via Starcom at 2:15 p.m. and lasting one hour. Hot topics will be the importance of reading, what sharing stories meant to you growing up and your favourite books.”

The picture shows Jehanne (daughter and illustrator) and I with our first book, "Would You Please Fetch Me A Pail?" Granddaughter, Gabriela 'reads'.

Over The Moon

2012-02-17T06:28:00.009-08:00

Ping Pong is now on the shelves of gift shops island-wide.

Andromeda Gardens Gift Shop

Barbados Museum

Best of Barbados Shops

Days Books

Deanna Dash’s Toy Shops

Flower Forest

Gallery of Caribbean Art

Islandcrafts

St. Nicholas Abbey

The Tamarind Seed

Also available from these retailers are:

Would You Please Fetch Me A Pail?

Christophore

Away To Bequia

Ananasi And Herald, The Fowl-Cock

Giant African Land Snails is available on-line from Amazon or Book Depository - you may be lucky to find one of the last copies available on the island.

The Slipway - Carriacou

2012-02-14T01:56:00.005-08:00

Dick and I recently visited our friends, Dani and Jerry, in Carriacou*. I enjoy visiting, as living appears unhurried there.

Last year Dani teamed up with Kate, an excellent chef, to open a restaurant on the site of the old slipway at Tyrell Bay. I was curious and eager to see it and found it delightful. Its location is cool and commands a great view of the bay. The second day we were there for lunch, an old ferry broke its mooring and headed towards the ocean. Miraculously it missed all the yachts at anchor. From our table we were able to watch the rescue operation.

The restaurant’s furnishings are simple and comfortable. They created some specials pieces by incorporating old machinery from the slipway in the bar and some tables.

We ate several meals there - all were excellent. Chocoholics must try the Chocolate Torte. The menu changed daily offering variety to suit most. There were fish, meat and vegan options at very reasonable prices. So when you’re in the Grenadines, check out The Slipway.

*Carriacou is the largest island of the Grenadines, an archipelago in southern Caribbean. It is 13 square miles of hilly terrain with a population around 5,000 persons. It has several natural harbours, coral reefs and small offshore islets.

LOKI

2012-01-22T16:09:00.000-08:00

We brought home a new puppy yesterday - Loki or Low Key, depending on who you are talking to. Andrew and I agreed on the former, while Dick thinks the latter more apt. He is a fat, softie of seven weeks. His companion, Aris, now twelve weeks is lean and likes rough stuff.

The Aris Chronicles

2012-01-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

Aris overturns the laundry basket and settles in for a nap.

Go, Girl

2012-01-18T15:56:00.000-08:00

I received a notification for Fresh Milk III, described as a space for dialogue between artistes and the public. It was held at Annalee Davis's studio in St. George. So many turn up for this event that several spent the evening in the gallery listening.

Visual artists, Alberta Whittle and Harriet Rolitt, having recently graduated with MFA degrees, shared their experiences. These two quite different presentations were both informative and Alberta and Harriet explained their objectives and thoughts when creating the images presented.

There was a changed of format for the remainders of the programme where Dorothea Smart, Adrian Green, Linda Deane and Harriet Rollitt made presentation in the pecha kucha format. Here the artiste is allow ten minutes and twenty images to share their memories and thoughts on the chosen theme, which was ABROAD - any interpretation or meaning.

Photoed is Linda Deane during her presentation of memories of England. She combined song and dance to achieve a riveting performance.

Speculation at Limegrove

2012-01-15T17:37:00.000-08:00

The low land just east of Holetown flooded every rainy season; the rest of year, depending on rainfall, it was a swamp or dry waterway - attractive only to a naturalist or children looking for small fish and water birds and later to land speculators, who saw the possibilities for cheap land so close to the famed platinum coast. Thus out of the swamp rose Limegrove Life Style Centre, a magnificent, three storied edifice housing a range of local and global retailers in a setting built around three distinctly different courtyards, to become the newest and trendiest places for Bajans and tourists to shop, dine and lime.

In one of the many cool and shaded nooks at Limegrove, two women sat on a brown, slatted wooden bench. They had chosen one the second floor; off the beaten path that affording them a view across the atrium of the walkways and shops on three levels. They were too far back though to see the four fountains splashing in the pool below.

The older woman leaned towards the younger, her arm stretched along the back of the bench; each comfortable in the other’s space. She wore a straw hat with a small upturned brim. A ribbon of the same colour circled the crown and was tied in a bow at the back. A large spray of yellow flowers decorated the front. Her yellow ochre, short-sleeved shirt style dress looked freshly laundered. Sensible low-heeled shoes completed her outfit. Otherwise unadorned, her sparse build spoke of industry and pride – an olde tyme Bajan dressed for the occasion.

The other was glamorous in a champagne, strap sheath and gold wedged strappy shoes. She pressed a large, olive, sequined shoulder bag snug against her body. The straight, shorthaired, black wig glistened. Fawn coloured, medium sized earrings and a matching necklace completed her outfit. She was slim, dark and smooth skinned. She too was meticulous in dress, neat and clean; appearing more educated, more moneyed, more sophisticated.

Mother and daughter, I speculated. The latter now leading; showing Mum the latest and trendiest in Bim and the new Bajan lifestyle.

Giant African Land Snails (GALS)

2012-01-13T18:12:00.001-08:00

Like most Bajan gardeners, I'm at war with GALS. I hate the senseless killing but I don't plan on eating them. I also don't want to use the traditional poisons, which will also kill Aris. Initially I used a bleach solution with some success. I usually collected the snails in the early morning. I missed this morning and after the rains today I noticed that several snails were about. I got my bucket and assistant (Aris) and collected my largest harvest yet. I decided to use a saline solution and left the snails to expire in due course.

Not long after that, Dick went to change a washer in the garden tap and he shouted for me to come - a break out was in progress.

Limegrove Lifestyle Centre

2012-01-12T17:06:00.000-08:00

Limegrove Lifestyle Centre is the current trendy place to shop, dine, and lime. It is located in the heart of Holetown, covers ten acres and includes approximately 85,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

The Barbados Photographic Society was given permission to shoot there last weekend. The first photo shows some of our members in action in the courtyard.

There were several people around the centre eating, liming or just enjoying the ambiance of this lovely location. I'll definitely have to return to sample the offerings of one of the many restaurants. There are many boutiques with attractive showcases. I was pleased to see a cinema - one was long needed on the West Coast.

Limegrove's offering includes: an art gallery, hair dressing saloon, wellness centre and a gourmet food store. This is reading like ad copy and I'm not getting paid :) I did not make any purchases so it would be unfair to comment on pricing .

Making Friends

2012-01-02T15:45:00.000-08:00

When I told a friend I had a JR, she commented, "Escape artist." I boasted that my yard was secure with chain link fencing reinforced with 2x2 mesh.

I noticed a few days ago that Aris was at the fence making friends with the neighbour's cat. They made gentle noises. Aris would stick his nose through the fencing and the cat would extend a paw; both cautious and withdrawing before contact.

Yesterday Aris was not around the house for a while. A search was mounted and he was discovered asleep in our neighbour's yard with the cat curled around him. We are not sure where he dug out but Dick spent the afternoon reinforcing our perimeter.

Perhaps I should take a lesson from Aris and make some new friends for the new year.

Wishing health, happiness and prosperity to all reading this post.

Aris

2011-12-18T03:04:00.000-08:00

Back at 4 Austin and making home home. Home wouldn't be complete without a JR. We collected Aris a week ago. He is adorable but my first shock was that he had a bad case of worms, which meant a visit to the vet the morning after bringing him home. We had only gone to view the day before, but the breeder said he was ready to go, so we took him. Dick was off to the supermarket in search of puppy chow that night.

During my three years in England I was impressed with the friendliness of the dogs. When they met other dogs, whether on or off their leases, they would sniff, romp and wag tails. I never saw an owner have to break-up or prevent a fight; unlike the Barbadian scene. I resolved that Aris would be a sociable.

Two nights later when I visited my sister, who has two dogs, I took Aris along. He likes to travel in a soft, cloth shoulder handbag. On arrival, Barney, the very large male, was very excited and circle and hovered around me. Bubbles, the female, displayed no interest in the contents of my bag. I decided to let Barney get to know Aris slowly by getting closer and sniffing the bag. When Barney poked his nose in the bag, Aris bit his nose and Barney responded quickly with a nip to Aris's neck, who squealed murder. Barney was barely controllable in his excitement and was put on a lease for the rest of our visit and Aris stayed in my bag.

Goddards Enterprises NIFCA Literary Arts Gala

2011-11-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

For the past seventeen years Goddard Enterprises has sponsored the literary competition in our National Independence Festival of Creative Arts. It is the highlight of local writers' (junior, adult and professional) calendar. The results of the competition are kept secret and award winners are announced during the gala; the exceptions are writers presenting their entries. It is a fun evening listening to the outstanding entries read by their authors. This year my name was among the winners. My submission, Marina Sings, was awarded Bronze.
Marina is a mermaid, who like many people I've met, believes she cannot sing. Sorry but the rest is a top secret for now. No pictures of Marina yet either!
It's good to be back home.

Time Machine

2011-10-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

I've done just about all I can for my move to Barbados. Barrels shipped with most of my stuff. So I've got little to do except wait... I decided to sort my photos; make good use of the time and would you know - I lost a very cherished album. The only thing I've missed so far.

I've had Time Machine running on my computer for about two years but have been too scared to run a restore test. I took a deep breath and hit a few buttons. I really wanted to recover that file. It worked like a dream. The easiest back up and restore programme I've ever used.

Ping Pong - Endorsement by Nailah Imoja Folami

2011-10-10T02:57:00.000-07:00

I have long been a fan of June Stoute, Barbadian children’s writer, and am happy to have passed my love of her work on to my daughter and to the many children I encounter as a teacher.

We immensely enjoy the whimsical, often humorous ways, June weaves her tales, and the excellent artwork that accompanies them, as well as the interesting facts which usually appear at the ends of the books.

Each book seems to surpass the next in excellence, always making the latest book our favourite.

Ping Pong is no exception!

In this book, using that quintessentially Caribbean instrument – the steel pan – as her focus, June has captured the very essence of the Caribbean in words while her illustrators, Suzette Humphreys and Jehanne Silva-Freimane, have “kept pace” beautifully with their interpretations of the work.

Those of us who know about and love the steel pan know exactly what Rosa (the young protagonist of the book) means when she declares her love for this unique instrument and its sounds. For those unfamiliar with pan, this book will open a door to this world of “magical” music.

As a teacher and writer, I have read many accounts of the history of the steel pan, but none quite as enjoyable as “Rosa’s Notes on Pan”. In simple terms, June provides an invaluable overview of pan yesteryear and today. We even learn how steel pans were made in the old days! These “fact sheets” are also enhanced by colourful, beautifully rendered drawings.

Ping Pong brings back memories of Panorama (Trinidad), Pan on de Sand (Barbados), Pan on the Hill (Barbados) and Pan in de City (Barbados); makes me yearn to revisit the famous pan yards of Trinidad. Why? Because Ping Pong is pan. And I love them both.

And I’m sure children (from 4 to 94), particularly children of the Caribbean, will love this book too.

Nailah Folami Imoja

Educator/Writer

Barbados

August 2011

An Indian Summer

2011-10-09T03:26:00.000-07:00

This has been my best summer in England. It started in Spring and we were treated last week to an Indian Summer. This coincided with a visit to friends in Devon. The first picture is the river Exe at low tide as it passes Topsham, where we stayed for the weekend.

We dined close by at the Passage House and the sunset was fabulous; and as it always is when I leave my camera behind, there were great photo ops. Food at the Passage House was good and I had an interesting encounter.

When I came to the UK in 2008, a friend urged me to contact Tony H, who lived near Reading at Newbury. I did not want to call a stranger and so... As it happened, our hosts at Topsham had a neighbour, who claimed Barbadian connections, and they invited him to meet us for a pre-dinner drink. And surprise, surprise! None other than Tony H, newly relocated at Topsham from Newbury. We must have been fated to meet as I return home in less than a month.
A consequence of an Indian summer is everyone at the beach. We went to Exmouth, where the Jurassic Coast begins, and could only glimpse the red cliffs. There were no free parking spaces. We did view the exterior of Nelson House, the home of Lady Nelson and repaired to A La Round Round House, a National Trust site, for cream tea and a tour. Dick and I have grown fond of cream teas.

Next day was a trip to Dartmouth, a lovely town. Many families were sitting on the quay fishing for crabs. I chose a crab sandwich for lunch; I erred not having acquired a taste for it.

Every where we go in the UK, there is history. This last picture shows the point of departure of the Pilgrim Fathers to America.

Dartmouth is also the home of the HMS Dartmouth - not a ship was one would expect but Britannia Royal Naval College. Royal Naval officers have trained at Dartmouth since 1863. Initially, they were housed in two wooden boats moored in the River Dart but in 1905 moved into their impressive accommodation on a hill overlooking the town. Our hosts had arranged for us to do the guided tour, an interesting event.

Anansi and Herald, The Fowl-Cock Reviewed

2011-10-09T01:44:00.000-07:00

Book Review: Anansi and Herald, The Fowl-Cock by Summer Edward, MS.Ed

As the title suggests, this is an Anansi story-- those never get old! This one is set on a plantation in "The Isle of Spice," aka Grenada.

On the Belle Plantation in the lush Isle of Spice, Herald, the fowl-cock, puffed out his chest, thrust his neck to the sky and crowed, Coco-ro coco', Coco'ro coco'. Rise up Nyame, rise up. Wipe the sleep from your eyes. Rise up, Nyame, rise up. Time to rise in the skies.

"It's still dark. Give it a break," Anansi pleaded. "The bats are still about and I need to get my rest."

Yet Herald continued, Coco'ro', Coco'ro coco'.

Can you guess what's coming next? Well, if you know anything about the trickster, Anansi the spider, then you already know that Anansi is not going to stand for anyone inconveniencing him, fowl-cock or not. And don't worry if you don't recognize the reference to Nyame; it's all explained within the story, as well as in the helpful "Did You Know?" section at the back of the book. Nyame, incidentally, is the African sky god who takes the form of the moon and the sun and who, as legend has it, is Anansi's father.

The thing is, ever since a hurricane blew over the mango tree where Herald used to roost, Anansi has been sharing his nutmeg tree with the aggravating rooster, who not only wakes him up every morning with his deafening crowing, but also manages to break Anansi's web every so often when he shakes the branches of the nutmeg tree. Anansi strongly advises Herald that it would really be best for him to find another tree to roost in, but of course, the haughty Herald doesn't listen. Wrong move Herald! Anansi devises a trick to throw Herald's biological clock off balance so that instead of crowing at sunrise, Herald crows at all hours of the night, inviting the ire of "Yes Boss," the plantation owner. Will Herald finally listen to Anansi and find another tree to roost in? Or will Yes Boss find out Herald is the trouble-making rooster throwing the plantation out of kilter and serve him up for Sunday lunch?

Anansi and Herald, The Fowl-Cock is your perfect read-aloud story. The animal characters are full of personality, the well-written plot keeps the reader or listener engaged, wanting to know the outcome of Anansi's machinations and the descriptions and dialogue do a decent job of establishing the Caribbean setting. Supplementary material at the back of the book includes a "Did You Know?' section explaining cultural references, a list of new and familiar vocabulary words, discussion questions and writing activities for children that build off of the text.

The glossy pages give glistening clarity to the vibrant, saturated tones of the illustrations; the glossy finish works particularly well with some of the luminously painted night-time scenes; even pre-readers will be attracted to the shiny pages of this book. Jehanne Silva-Freimane's illustrations have a noticeable whimsy to them, a quality akin to what you see in classic nursery rhyme illustrations. The anthropomorphic illustrations in particular are lively and often hilarious, conveying for example the bodily attitudes of a few gossiping farm hens or the smug satisfaction on the face of the cunning spider. The clever use of motion lines, perspective and other techniques lend an engaging cartoonesque element to the visual narrative, which works to really bring the story to life. Mostly illustrated with montages and vignettes, double- and full-page spreads are cleverly and appropriately saved for the establishing shot and final pages of the book.

On a personal note, I like this book because it strongly reminds me of this textbook filled with Caribbean folktale stories I had as a child in primary school. I used to love that book, textbook and all! There were stories about Anansi; I remember the centrality of a calabash gourd and another explanatory folktale about the Kingfisher-- I wish I could own that book again! Of course, I have no idea what the title of the book might be. I just remember the feeling I had reading the book as a child, the feeling of being swept up into the mythical landscape of the West Indian forest with its folk life and timeless animal tricksters. I imagine it's the same type of feeling a child might get reading Anansi and Herald, The Fowl-Cock.

Thus, I recommend it! Read Together: ages 5 and up. Read Alone: ages 7 and up. FYI: Anansi and Herald, The Fowl-Cock is a picture storybook which means it's heavier/longer on text and lighter on illustrations compared to a picturebook. It is still, however, an "easy reader."

End Review

Thank you, Summer.

Anansi and Herald, The Fowl-Cock is now available at your favourite on-line store and in Barbados at gifts shops island-wide

2011-10-03T02:07:00.000-07:00

The 40th Reunion of Dick's engineering class at Sir George William (now Condordia University) took us to Montreal. It was a single day event but we went for six days giving me a chance to see Montreal and Dick to revisit his old haunts. The reunion dinner went well for Dick as a few of his close friends showed up.

We were also fortunate that Andre, a friend from Dick's Western days, was in town. He offered us a trout fishing expedition a little north of the city. It was my best fishing trip ever and first catch. The lake was calm and Andre is the perfect host, baiting my hook with the worms and taking the catch off the hook. I got the fun part of feeling the bite and reeling the fish in. I had several strikes, but only managed to reel in two. The latter, a catfish, was undesirable, as they are not eaten in Montreal. Dick got a strike just as we were calling it a day and landed a smaller trout. Fishing was followed a lunch of barbequed hamburgers (the trout were destined for smoking) and then a walk in the woods by the lake. Later to be rounded off by a gourmet dinner at Andre's. A great first day.

Day 2 was a long day - a 12 hours coach tour to Quebec City. We were not s0 fortunate with the weather as it rained most of the time. It did give as a break of a few hours to walk in the city. Our guides were resourceful and turned what should have been a walking tour into a bus ride. The boat for the river tour was dry and we went quite close to the Montmorency Falls. As with these type of tours, I was reminded of history lessons, long forgotten, and lots of interesting bits, which I am sure never made it into the books. Did you know that Admiral Wolfe was shipped to England for burial in a barrel of rum? That's not even on Wiki!

Quebec City is really picturesque and deserves more than a cursory day trip.

Our last day was spent visiting friends in the Eastern Townships, very close to the US border. There was a fund raiser in one of the township close to our destination and we stopped by. A back in time experience.

Stratford-on-Avon

2011-09-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

One thing I dislike about living in the UK is the necessity to make plans long in advance. And so it was a cold, windy, grey day that we headed up to Stratford-on-Avon.

Stratford is a quaint heritage town with many stunning examples of period buildings in the Old Town and High Street. It is also the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company's modern theatre complex and The Swan Theatre.

Our tickets were for The City Madam at The Swan which is described as "a wonderfully atmospheric galleried playhouse. The original Victorian building fell victim to a fire in 1928. The new building was built in 1932 and the inside has been designed to reflect an actual Elizabethan style theatre."

I found the theatre very comfortable and the seating afforded unobstructed viewing. As the theatre filled I remarked to Dick, "Only seniors here." The play by Philip Massinger was billed as a comedy but there was no laughter from the audience. Indeed it was such purgatory that we exited at intermission. Our penance perhaps for the sacrilege of booking other than Shakespear in his birthplace.

Play apart, it was a pleasant outing. Ticked box: 'Stratford-on-Avon.' Had a delicious dinner at the hotel across the street from the theatre and enjoyed my first plaice.