Morning photos

Tags

Berlin, capitals, photos, Rome, St-Petersburg, World

Here are photos of 3 cities in the world this morning. I have visited and or lived in these capitals.

A fountain in Trastevere, Rome

A view of St-Petersburg, Russia with of the St-Nicholas Naval Cathedral

A view of the dome of the Lutheran Cathedral of Berlin, extensively restored after the Second World War. The modern wall on the left is the East side of the City Palace being rebuilt now. The interior of the Cathedral are as they were in 1918.

Cost of the Crown in Canada

Tags

Canada., Charlottetown, cost, dollars, Frank Lewis, Monarchy, PEI, taxes

In the 28 November edition of MacLean’s Magazine Patricia Treble reports on a study made by the Monarchist League of Canada on the cost to Canadian taxpayers of the Crown as an institution. We have the Governor General and 10 Lieutenant Governors in Canada and we also cover the cost of Royal visits each year.

Canada’s constitutional monarchy costs each Canadian $1.53 a year, less than a small coffee at Tim Hortons. That includes the Governor General, the 10 provincial lieutenant-governors, their official residences, staff, administration, travel, security and even office supplies. That’s way under the Senate ($2.38 per capita) and the House of Commons ($11.76). Heck, it’s just a bit more than the cost of the Library of Parliament ($1.16 per capital).
The data comes from the 6th edition of the Cost of the Crown Survey, a detailed, annotated breakdown from the Monarchist League of Canada. Its motivation was simple: “We needed a tool to counter any republican or anti-monarchy claims that the monarchy costs too much money,” explains Robert Finch, the league’s dominion chairman. “Second, we felt there was a real lack of understanding amongst the general population surrounding how much the monarchy costs Canadians. We want to convey the message that there is great value, rather than expense, in the service, significance, and symbolism of the Canadian Crown and the viceregal offices.”

In 2012-2013 fiscal year, the Governor General and 10 provincial viceregal appointees undertook more than 4,000 engagements.

Included in those costs are everything from the running two historic residences—Rideau Hall costs $6.7 million while La Citadelle in Quebec City is $730,000 and entertaining some 245,000 visitors and guests to those buildings. As well, RCMP security for the Governor General cost $6.6 million. There were also two royal visits in the survey’s time frame: official visits by Prince Charles and Camilla, duchess of Cornwall ($650,500 or two cents per capita) and Princess Anne ($128,000 or 0.3 cents per capita). Those costs are for expenses; the royals are never paid.

Republics weren’t a bargain. France’s presidency cost around $170 million ($2.20 per capita), while Ireland’s clocked in at an estimated $6.6 million or $1.22 per person.
“For the price of a cup of coffee, we get an institution that provides us with an excellent system of government and contributes to national unity and Canadian identity,” Finch says. “You can’t beat that.”

The Lieutenant Governor of PEI, His Honour Frank Lewis, is the hardest working of the group at 77 yrs of age.

28 November

Tags

Charlottetown, North Eastern, PEI, snow, Wind, winter

The day Winter arrived to PEI. Up until now we had a mild Autumn and lovely sunny days. But on the night of the 27 to 28 a North Eastern Wind blew in with great force at 110KM per hour and bringing with it snow and rain. Some 12,000 people on the Island lost power and we all knew Winter had arrived. This meant school closing and warning about icy roads. The Ferries were cancelled and the Confederation bridge to the mainland had severe restrictions on motor traffic crossing, with such high winds I would not want to drive on that bridge 150 meters in the air over 12 km.

This morning a brilliant sunshine and mild weather, the snow is melting and with it we got dazzling sunlight which you only see in Winter.

During the night we were woken up by the snow clearance machines at 3:00 and 4:30am. I did not get up to move the car in our lot, too much trouble. The snow with all the water in it was like concrete, lucky thing I did not have to shovel it.

Another storm is predicted for Tuesday night with again high powerful winds, Winter here is about the wind more than anything else. Lucky we live in the centre of the Capital so we are somewhat protected from losing power, but I am always concerned about the big old trees in such storms and big branches falling. We do have a lot of big ancient trees all around.

Wreath contest

Tags

art., CCOA, Charlottetown, Christmas wreaths, decorations, PEI

Every year the Friends of the Confederation Centre for the Arts organize a wreath contest. Anyone can make a Christmas Wreath and bring it to the CCOA to be displayed in the long gallery. Some people spend a year preparing and making their wreath, it has to be original and not commercial. There is a panel of judges and a prize is given, all in good fun.

Here is some photos of this year’s entry.

This entry is made from the remnants of a Lobster trap and decorated with PEI shells.

This one was made by a 10 yr old girl and she made by hand each little fairy on her wreath

Dog biscuits and leash for Christmas

The caption on this one says What I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.

Cut out music sheet of Christmas carols.

Clothes pegs snow men and deers

Just a sample of all the wreaths this year on display.

 

Social Events.

Tags

Ball, Charlottetown, PEI, PEI Symphony, Social events, The Social Season, Water Street

When we moved to PEI some 7 months ago, little did we realize how many or much social events there are here. The newspaper The Buzz provides a full month of events and other things to do in Charlottetown and in other towns and villages on the Island. It is all very accessible for all not just a niche group as you so often see elsewhere.

This weekend we had our anniversary dinner, then a big party at friends just 3 blocks away, the food was out of this world good, there must have been about 100 people in this great 19th century apartment which is part of the late Governor, Sir Robert Hodgson Mansion, a whose who kind of party. Earlier we had been at the Santa’s Parade on University Street, a really big parade with Mickey Mouse from Disneyland as Grand Marshall, the parades here usually have 40 floats and lots of marching bands, most if not all is volunteer generated. Earlier in the week we had been at the lighting up of the Capital’s Official Christmas tree with full choir and in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor and other dignitaries. Today we have a concert at the Theatre of the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

Earlier in the Season we attended the Mask Ball of the PEI Symphony Orchestra at the Culinary Institute. That was a beautiful evening with candlelight dinner with full orchestra and a jazz band. All in all not a bad life on the gentle island.

 

Happy Puppies

Tags

dachshunds, Dog, life, PEI

Our Nicky and Nora on the sofa, maybe I should say their sofa. Just lounging as always, what a sweet life they have.

Our 39th

Tags

39 yrs, Anniversary, PEI, relationship

No I am not speaking of geographic parallels or border, but our anniversary for me and Will.

Yes it has been 39 years this 26 November, how time flies. The traditional gift in Germany is a Sun Theme gift.

 We have had our ups and downs like in any relationship, we have lived around the world in cultures very different from our own and we have seen other relationships falter. But we have managed to keep our love for each other alive and our little family together.  What is our secret, I do not know and I cannot say we have a magic formula. Life does change  people and we are different each in our own way from who we were all those years ago.

I would say caring for each other and looking after each other’s interest, celebrating important milestones, matters the most in the long term and being flexible.

Our Friends in Charlottetown, D & P sent us these flowers for our Anniversary, what a nice surprise.

A Happy Anniversary to us!

Only 33 days to go

Tags

Charlottetown, Christmas, PEI, XMAS

I know you probably have finished all your Xmas shopping and all your cards are done too, not to mention your menu for the Eve and for Xmas day, so you are just laughing at all those people who are not as organized as you are. As I was walking down Great George Street today I took pictures of the various Xmas trees put up by various groups and businesses along the street which is considered the ceremonial avenue of the Capital because of its historical importance in the history of Canada.

I have been shopping around for fresh boughs for our home, the prices have defeated me, it all starts at $30 dollars for really ordinary stuff you know will not last a week. So I have not anything yet because it is all too disappointing.

But here is some photos of today’s trees which I think are very nice. Most are done by kids and groups of people.

The bottom of Great George Street and the Hillsborough River at high tide.

Private homes on Water Street. They are 185 years old and quite beautifully maintained.

A project

Tags

Canada., Charlottetown, Fanningbank, Government House, PEI

About one month ago I undertook to re-write the notes the guides use as reference at Government House during public visits. The notes cover briefly the history of the Residence of the Lieutenant-Governor of PEI and its contents.

As a docent at Fanningbank, I looked at the notes I was given and in touring the house on my own I discovered discrepancies. So I endeavoured to re-write them after reading an excellent book by Reg Porter on the Official Residence published just a few years ago. I had to do a lot of research on the paintings, the oriental Persian carpets, the furniture and the Governors etc. In the process I discovered many things about the history of the Island, the first families and the various governors in the last 250 years. It’s a fascinating story and much fun to research.

The house has had a varied existence, first thought of in 1795 construction does not actually start until 1832. Then in 1917 at the height of the First World War the Lieutenant Governor vacates the place and it is turned into a convalescing hospital for veterans returning from Europe. By 1922 no one seems to know what to do with the place and the Government of the time looks at options for the building, one being demolition. In 1930 a program of renovations is undertaken and the Lieutenant-Governor returns to live. In 1970 the house comes under a Government Committee to oversee it’s management. It is declared a National Historic site in 1977.

The house is the home of the Lieutenant-Governor and is used daily for functions related to the Office of the Lieutenant-Governor, who receives distinguished guests. The Royal Family also uses it when in PEI, their Pied-à-terre as they say.  There are 10 acres of gardens all around and the house looks out on the Hillsborough River where it opens unto the Straits of Northumberland and the mainland. Originally there was 100 acres of land since a farm was also attached to the property. Today this is part of Victoria Park and is open to the public a beautiful spot for a walk.

 

 

Lighting of the Official Tree

Tags

carols, Charlottetown, Christmas, community, Local 343, PEI

Tonight at 6pm we went to Province House for the Official lighting of the Charlottetown Christmas Tree and the beginning of the Season with a full calendar of things to do, we are 35 days away from Noël.

The tree is located on the esplanade in front of the Homburg Theatre of the Confederation Centre of the Arts. The Mayor, the Speaker of the Legislature, the Lieutenant Governor and other dignitaries were on hand, the MC was the Editor of the Guardian Newspaper. Here in Charlottetown, at such a community event everyone mingles, there is no tight security, the Lieutenant Governor moves around talks to people and so do other officials, everyone knows everybody else, a very friendly atmosphere reminiscent of a simpler time. It is not something you see often nowadays. The music was provided by the Choir of the Confederation Centre, a very good choir and they sang only traditional Christian Carols, nothing secular. The Mayor wished everyone a Merry Christmas and reminded us that we live in the best city in the World, I suppose he can say that since he is the Mayor.

The tree was lighted by Father Christmas, that is what he is called here not Santa Claus, who is dressed up as Saint Nicholas, he also had a thick Island-Irish accent, it was delightful.

Next weekend is the traditional Charlottetown Christmas parade and there will be probably about 40 floats. Shops are also doing their NO Tax shopping event, which brings out the crowds in the old centre of the city. Despite the clear skies, no snow in the forecast for some time to come and mild temperature, it really felt like the Christmas Season.

The Dutch community on PEI are also having their traditional Christmas à la Hollandaise with Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piete.

This afternoon the Christmas trees went up all along Great George street between Peake’s Quay and Province House.  Each one is decorated by a group or a business and the money goes to children’s charity.

I know that new comers or Immigrants to the Island will also be touring and partake in the Festivities, to look at the Christmas trees and cookies, coffee and hot chocolate is offered.

The trees on Great George Street.

 

After the Festivities we went to Local 343 for a drink and stayed for dinner and met more friends and neighbours, the musician tonight was a very good fellow Barry O’Brien.