Holiday Greetings 2022

Can it be! Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa will be over six days from now! And, in the blink of an eye, the 2023 celebrations will be on the near horizon. Time goes by so quickly as we get older!

This year’s seasonal celebrations will be a return to normal after two years of Covid restrictions. Once again families will gather to enjoy each others’ company and age-old traditions. Last year I had some suggestions for the holiday season. I think that they are worth repeating.

Suggestions worth repeating 

  • Smile and be kind!
  • Contribute to a charity of your choice – think of the homeless. Then and only then….
  • Buy and, more importantly, drink plenty of Champagne!
  • Splurge on better wine – it is such a shame to waste calories on bad wine.
  • Don’t just think turkey – think oysters, lobster, crab, shrimps, smoked salmon.
  • Think roast beef with foie gras!
  • Roast your potatoes in duck fat ….. black or white truffles anyone? or fresh and fragrant rosemary?
  • Get fabulous cheese. If you can find it, buy Mascarpone Gorgonzola – very decadent and a treat with homemade fruitcake.
  • Oh! and drink champagne with breakfast! and lunch! and dinner!

And be thankful

OutHourse Your E-Mail
  • Argentina won the World Cup! When it got to the quarter finals I was still hoping that the Morocco Miracle would continue! But alas …. and I knew I couldn’t stomach Les Bleus – just too much arrogance.
  • Canada won tennis’s Davis Cup!   The first time ever after participating for 109 years.  Montréal’s Jarry Park, once the home of Canada’s only baseball team has become a tennis factory. 
  • The growth of outdoor dining ! Many restaurant owners have invested heavily in year-round outdoor spaces. Plants, awnings, heaters, artificial grass, LED table lights! Alas, in Montréal, easy snow clearance still takes precedence over the fun of cold- weather outdoor dining.  
  • Icelandic tourism commercials – You have to love the sense of humour. My favourite above but just use the link to see more. 

My gift to you! 

I can’t wrap up a post at this time of year without something Scottish. From Robbie Burns as sung by Robyn Stapleton, I send you Ae Fond Kiss!

Ae Fond Kiss

So Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or whatever holiday you choose to celebrate! Something for the New Year next week. Maybe a Christmas poem!

Lisbon – A City on the Rise?

March 7, 2023

Lisbon’s seven hills and waterfront make it visually spectacular. The second oldest capital in Europe, the city has energy. Busy streets and squares, full restaurants, and vibrant night life – the city pulsates. And, the population seems young. All signs of a city on the rise? Earthquake A 1755 earthquake destroyed 85% of the city […]

Cities and Towns, The Affordable Housing Problem

February 8, 2023

People living on the street have come to symbolize the global housing crisis but they are only the tip of the iceberg. While the examples of Finland and Houston demonstrate a focussed plan pursued diligently can resolve the housing situation for the chronically homeless, addressing the affordable housing problem is much more complex.  Defining Affordability […]

I Love to Dance

January 29, 2023

I love to dance. This is not something new for me. I can’t remember when I didn’t like to move to the music. My first memories of watching others dance come from my childhood in Cape Breton where I would watch the adults square dance. Then, there were the step dancers who would often accompany […]

Cities and Towns 8, A City is About People

January 19, 2023

Kings Cross, once a thriving industrial and transport centre in London, was effectively closed  off  to the public by the end of the 20th century.   Then in 1996, the decision was made to move the British terminus for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link from Waterloo to St-Pancras. The landowner saw a re-development opportunity for […]

NEOM - the Wall

Cities and Towns 7, Cities and Towns Evolve

January 8, 2023

I have postulated that cities and towns evolve. That towns and villages first grow in areas where the basics to support life were plentiful. Typically, that means good agricultural land and good access to water. Other valuable considerations include safety, and resilience. The bonus – access to trade routes.  Walt Disney and the Fully Formed […]

Christmas Poem 2022

December 22, 2022

A Visit from Saint Nicholas A Poem by Jonathan Potter – December 2022 ‘Twas the first mask-free Christmas, when all through the stores  The vaccinated children were spewing their spores;The shoppers were eagerly starting to riotAs the introverts longed for some quarantine quiet. The public healthcare workers were tracing the pathOf the flu and RSV, […]