Thursday, 12 October 2017

Le French Canadian Style

Bonsoir.

Don't you just love the sound of French?

There's something very happy and yet also sexy about it at the same time.  Even with my very bad pronunciation I love trying out just a few words and in Quebec I was able to get in some much need practice.

We were very lucky to able to stay in the heart of the Old City which meant that everything we wanted to see was in walking distance.

Yes even more walking.

Though on our visit day there it poured down with rain.  Sometimes you just have to write a day off and go with it.  For us it meant hiding out in the nearest mall where we drank hot chocolate, tried some poutine and caught up on emails etc.

Luckily the next day was a lot better so we started the day with a walk around the city; starting at the really wide boardwalk which is near the Chateau Frontenac.  
The boardwalk connects up with the ramparts of the wall which surrounds the Old City and is a great walk to do as you get to see so much of the city and it's also a good way to have a break from the tourist crowds.

As you can see from our pics we managed to have most of the walk all to ourselves which was nice.


The walk takes about 2 to 3 hours to do (depending on how long you stop at some of the sites along the way) after which a nice cold drink is definitely called for.

From above the city walls to below the city. walls.  

The alleyways and lanes that run along the bottom of the wall were another great place to have a wander, this time at a more sedate place.  Filled with interesting and quirky shops and cafes it's a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours and if you're like me you can do some souvenir hunting too.
Going even further down, this time all the way to the river at the bottom, we had a browse around the Open Farmers Market where we picked up something nice to eat.  

After that it  was more walking which gave us a chance to take in Chateau Frontenac in all its glory before heading back up the 'hill' and finally collapsing in our room.

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Octobers Plans and Septembers Outcomes

It's hard to believe that it's October already and that I have been a member of the great unemployed for 3 months now.  Wow that time really did seem to fly by so fast.

Going into my 4th month of life with no job I'm starting to get a feel for it and am really getting on board with this whole slower pace of life thing.  Don't get me wrong I am on one hand still quite busy what with daily walks, spring cleaning, runnings a variety of errands, reading and so on but on the other hand it feels totally different because it's all done at my pace.  No alarm clocks, no deadlines (mostly), no meetings or schedules; everything is instead done when I feel like it, as I feel like and if I don't do something I no longer beat myself up about it.

Taking some much needed time out is something I can totally recommend.

As for this months plans... well reading as always figures high on the list.

1.     The grave keepers / Elizabeth Byrne
        To be honest I can't remember what this book is about so I'm going to be going into it 
        completely blind.  Which is kind of nice in a way.  I'm thinking it was the title that caught 
        my attention. 
2.     All rights reserved / Gregory Scott Katsoulis
        I love the idea of this.  A world where every word literally costs you money and a girl 
        who decides to use silence as a form of protest and freedom.  I have really high hopes 
        for this one.
3.     Not afraid of the fall / Kyle James
        I haven't read many travel books this year so I've been on the hunt for something quirky 
        and interesting.  This one sounds like exactly that sort of thing.
4.     Hygge and Kisses / Clara Christensen
        This one sounds so warm and snuggly so of course I have to read it.  Sometimes all it 
        takes are a few words and a snowy cosy cover to make you read a book.
5.     The Flower Shop on Foxley Street / Rachel Dove
        Another cosy chick lit book.  What can I say.  Sometimes I just have to have something 
        that's not too taxing on the brain and the reading equalative of taking a hot bubble bath.
6.     Sunrise at Butterfly Cove / Sarah Bennett
        More chick lit.  Yes I know.  There's a pattern emerging.
7.     Driving Home For Christmas / A L Michael
        It's never too soon to start reading Christmas romance books.  At least for me.  
        Because they are my jam. 
8.     Girls Like Me / Lola StVil
        I've really been getting into angsty YA this year.  No idea why.  This one sounds a little 
        more upbeat what we'll see.
9.     Being Miss Nobody / Tamsin Winter
        Being kind of a weirdo myself I can totally relate to Rosalind in this book.  And I love the 
        cover too.  Because yes somedays we all feel like that.
10.    Writing
         I actually did some, so there.  Maybe not a lot but still there were sentences.  Even if 
         they probably didn't make much sense.  We'll just have to see how this month goes.