Oh this past week or two! I mostly (mostly!) avoid the political sphere in this blog, but recent political news locally and globally has been something else, hasn’t it? Goodness, the whining and bleating of many of those on the right, the far right and alt-right! Avoid and avoid! What a void… What is it with the never taking responsibility, it’s always somebody else’s fault, and othering whoever doesn’t share their groupthink? Alternative facts, gaslighting, lying, doubling down on a lie and then blaming their supposed victims and targets if they answer back, so terrified of any comeback in case it turns out they have underachieved and are at fault? Don’t they ever stop to look at themselves and listen to what they are saying? Climate change deniers, election deniers, post truth – huh? – fact deniers, “we’ve had enough of experts”, lies on the side of a bus, promising sunlit uplands knowing the impossibility of such promises, putting immigrants on unsafe barges, denying basic human rights, and encouraging a hostile environment if you look or sound different. Painting over cartoon murals for children in immigration centres because that is too welcoming?! Who can support that?! Lies, lies, denials, and more lies! What is wrong with these people? It’s inhumane to behave in such a way. What do they hope to gain or achieve by being thoroughly unpleasant? It is so tiresome…
How to explain it? Perhaps they are weak and very likely personally ineffective, utterly and drearily so… Yikes, try to imagine living such a scared and self loathing life, appeased by fearful cronies and projecting their shortcomings onto others, completely unable to take any responsibility for messes of their own making. Sad little conservative nobodies clutching their pearls if there’s a different opinion expressed… Only feeling like they’ve achieved something if they’ve belittled or lied about someone else. Pathetic. Thank goodness we don’t have, in our very immediate circle, to put up with anyone like that. I feel rather sorry for anyone who does, particularly if they are afraid, and find themselves appeasing these awful people. Being so scared that they might turn on you, being so scared that you condone them, even enable them. Yes, how sad, although, scared or not, I suppose they choose to do so. If you lie down with…
Enough of these dreary people and the bad news they create! No more politics today! On to more interesting items!
Ever since we moved here, one of our favourite activities has been to wander through the Old Town streets. A friend (thanks, JH) recently mentioned how pretty parts of this city are, and she’s right, so I thought I’d share a few more sights and stops we’ve enjoyed the past few weeks. You don’t need a destination; it’s enough just to let your feet point in a direction anywhere in or near the Old Town, and it’ll be interesting. (Most of this past week has been spent in and out of various government offices completing and filing applications for health cards, driver licences, and car number plates – we didn’t take photos of the government office edifices as they weren’t so attractive!)
Yes, very happy to be here, particularly as the paperwork and other dreary stuff this week is firmly in the rear view. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
OldPlaidCamper 
Such beautiful pictures of the Old Town, PC. A life-affirming view, a great retreat & stabilizer, diametrically opposed yet linked to that crazy world that comes to our eyes & ears each day, especially from the wacked-out ultra Right. Wow, I’d like to see it, myself, some bright new future day!
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Thanks, Walt! I should have said those whacked-out types are there across the political spectrum – but the populist crazies do seem to be in the ascendancy – and I’m clearly not handling it very well! You’ve got it; spending time in special places is something of an antidote…
If you’re up this way and looking for a know nothing guide, we’d be delighted!
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I am taking a break from politics for a couple of days and will enjoy the fall scenery. You picked a good home for yourselves. The pictures are lovely!
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And you’re absolutely right to do that, Jane! I’m going to follow your example! We’re loving the turning leaves right now. Canada – lovely in all seasons, but goodness, the fall!
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Love your new town and Old Town!!🙂 Wonderful photos and what an exciting time for you guys! I would never have to worry about my step count if I could wander around Old Town every day. Between all your exciting changes, Kane’s hat trick and the Everton win, it’s difficult to transition from good news to talk of what in the world has happened to our world, but a daily rant is absolutely necessary so people know how serious the issues and consequences are for everyone. I’m stunned daily by the news and every poll that shows his party supports him. Let’s talk about Kane’s hat trick again!! Enjoy the week in your new official home!!🙂
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Second attempt at a reply – apologies if you get two, don’t know where the first has gone… Has Kane scored more goals than all the Everton players combined? Er, yes!
Oh goodness, what’s with the ongoing lurch into populist nonsense? So dangerous, and not just to my mental health… wake up, folks!
Yup, Kane, even in lederhosen. Maybe in lederhosen. Not in lederhosen. But look at how happy he appeared to be!
Ireland keep winning in the rugby. Mustn’t jinx it.
East coast hockey? Has to be the nearest NHL team, so Montréal Canadiens, I can get behind them, but now I’ve said that, that’s their season doomed before it even gets going! First East Coast city I ever visited is Boston, and I like the team, especially after I picked the Bruins for the cup in my first ever work hockey pool, much to the irritation of my colleagues who couldn’t figure out how a recently arrived new Canadian could pick more winners and predict series scores with such unerring accuracy. From then on I really thought I was onto something, the new Mr. Hockey, I’d get a pundit spot on Hockey Night in Canada, back the Flames to win the next few cups and become a legend in Calgary. Now I live in Québec…
Kane does not want me tipping him to break any scoring records, but what a player!
Have a great fall week!
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Stay happy. I’m not watching news or listening to radio either.
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That’s smart, Kelly! (I always think I’m being self-censoring or browbeaten by the lunatic fringe if I take a break, instead of seeing that it’s preservation of one’s sanity and wellbeing!)
Stay well, and I hope the fall season is a delight for you!
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Thank, I love knowing what is going on in the world, but I don’t need at all grandstanding.
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