Join me on my trips

Here is last night's view of the city. looking at my little suitcase I think it might be too big for the next flight. So squashing a lot into pockets and my bag. Each airline has a different configuration for carry on. I see you can get cases now with removable wheels which I guess you pop into your handbag. Had breakfast here. Still no idea why all pics are the wrong way worked it out. Have to edit each h one. Flew to Halifax which is one hour closer to home. So much cloud the sun looks like the moon. But lovely to be in a proper hotel, the Westin which is part of the Marriott group so you know what you are  getting. Clean sheets and your bed made up and everything tidied up. The three things I expected to pay for Food Accommodation Transport The odd present Entrance fees become secondary though more enjoyable. Of course I had to buy a phone which was not expected. One odd thing about the hotel is the loo is about 8 inches high like ...

Grey and wet and slippery. Took a Uber to Leonard Cohens grave this is not his grave. I'll show one soon.  Passing around Mont Reale. Then got an email telling me that the stolen Benner medal was found at a car boot for £20 and is coming up for auction in 2 days so frantic emails to try to get hold of michael attenborough who is relative via Rebecca and his agent. Outside doorways are notices saying no smoking within 9 meters which is about across the road when you find a similar notice. Result I have seen almost no smoking.

Some snow on the ground so treading carefully. Spending time at the Museo de Beaux Arts. This section is about world art particularly ancient and more especially middle Eastern. Some lovely ceramics.  Tiffany glass Then a whole section on African wooden figures and masks which I don't find beautiful. Hundreds of scentbbottles from Japan.  Found a  bookshop which also sold bedlinen candles etc quite odd with bookshelves scattered all around with an enormous section on wellness. A visit to the Hudson bay department store. Then the cinema to see Robert de Niro playing two parts. Altra knights Supper at monarque. Next door to my apartment.  Walked down Crescent street where this huge mural is. Had a lettuce lunch at Mandy's.

Took a walk around and found a French Boulangerie and then walked up to St Catherine Street past the statue of a young queen Victoria. Keeping old buildings intact and building on top of them is an interesting way to preserve heritage. Found a Swatch shop and bought a new one and got a SIM. Everything is in French and people talk English with a French accent. Thought I'd just keep a record of today. I took a Uber to see an old paper mill where I saw the whole process from the cotton fabrics that are used to the wonderful end products. Took some great photos which are on my old phone. Went outside to wait for another Uber and dropped my phone smashing the screen. Could not give the uber driver the code so he had a dilemma. Finally decided that he would take me on a private drive to try to find a phone fixer. So back I went to the Eaton mall and found phone are. After an hour or so of discussion I either had to pay 300 plus for a new screen  or 480 for a new galaxy plus c...

Despite going through Fastrack I was put through thorough pat down having set off some alarm having all sorts of scanners run over my body. I didn't even have any pockets so no idea what was the problem. Then came up to the Gallery South Lounge where I had a free meal with hundreds of others. A very good scone too which fell apart and a large cup of espresso. Almost empty flight in my cabin there were just 4 people. Not very comfortable though. Taxi to my apartment which has everything you could want and apart from the washing machine probably won't use anything. Decided to cancel coach trip to Quebec along day on a tour. I think there is enough to do here and as it isn't freezing can be outside.

With over 50000 people killed in Gaza this seems like revenge killing by Israel reminiscent of Nazi revenge killings  You kill one of us and we will kill as many as we feel like. Then we have a Labour party acting like a Trump administration and Trump cosying up to Putin. Sad times for liberal minded people who dismay at authoritarianism . We always wonder how they get into power. In the meantime here good news is my parking fine was cancelled, I need new tyres on my car, the bridge drive went well and I have taken down all the pictures waiting for the painter to paint while I am away It's all a bit cold and bleak. Some pics here. These wonderful old box are on the Mill site. The mill's millstream. Under the beech tree - full at last.

The latest grow a fiver is the disco  organised by Heidi and three boys. See them looking like teenage punks with their ukuleles 

Came to Cheltenham for a special head spa only to find it is not only Race Week but snowing as this is outside Cheltenham College. A very roundabout way to find a carpark then having breakfast of avocado at Lazy Graze in the Courtyard. But need to stop eating avos as they like palm oil trees are being grown as a monoculture in place of the rain forest. Had a great head treatment but wonder if the place will be there in a year. Most of the boutique shops are gone and one empty shop sets a tone and when three are that is the beginning of the end. Then I came back to a normal day.

As at end of week 5. Ireland have won Triple Crown but won't win Grand Slam though still have a chance of Six Nations if they beat Italy hugely next week and France and England don't perform. One hen has disappeared, not in the grain box this time. Though a fox? no one knows and no feathers around but hope she isn't locked away somewhere. She was the most adventurous and also the one that I think did the most damage to my beds. In Canada Mark Carney has become the next PM, perhaps there will be an election while I'm there? There is further movement on discussions between Ukraine and the US though whether Russia is interested in peace, cessation of the war or a truce, etc remains to be seen. Have had to drop the price of the bridge drive - not a lot of interest sadly - I didn't want people to think that it was "MY" drive - which it seems to be thought of by some. I note that a lot of people just want free stuff - so like when the summer party co...

Along with some much waited for sunshine has come a bit of warmth. Here is the entertainment for this afternoon. Heath not here as playing in a tournament. Glorious sunshine. But trouble in the UK, US, Ukraine and of course Gaza too. I live here in a quiet peaceful bubble making bread, drawing a bit, writing the odd bit of poetry or prose. I see friends and make plans for trips. Tom now has an Instagram with all their new little chicks. Fudge to be sold for the Big Build. Goes for 3pounds for 100grams.