Month: November 2024

Tax….Man

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B079MG88Y3?ref_=k4w_oembed_364b2VQGWekgCu&tag=kpembed-20&linkCode=kpd

A video describing the background of my book Kurofune: The Black Ships. A good read. Available on Amazon.

“An excellent book about a young man growing up in s terrible time in history. The characters and battle scenes bring both people and battles alive. It’s also a clash of civilizations between democracies and a system which would have taken mankind back a thousand years.” A review.

https://shakeyjay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Kurofune.mp4?_=1

11 months to go.

He (Trudough) opened by insisting it is morally selfish to put food and lodging concerns above contributions to the carbon tax, and climate change.

At the G20: He is doubling down. Next? Carbon Tax on all maritime traffic. Carbo tax to increase 01 April 25. Result higher cost of living for all Canadians.

Trudeau said his goal in the coming federal election (can’t come soon enough!) will be to convince Canadians “they have to pay more in taxes, or they have to accept that some of their tax dollars are going to the most vulnerable in the world” to fight climate change, despite facing an affordability crisis at home.

(Canada is currently contributing $5.3 billion over five years to a global climate fund paid by developed countries to help developing countries adapt to climate change, double the $2.65 billion Trudeau committed from 2015 to 2022.).

The dictators from Africa are ecstatic as they will be getting a pay raise from Trudeau. Rest assured that not a dime of this money will see the climate light of day in these third world countries.

General in military uniformHey amigos….gracias, merci, thank you, asante sana:

Viktor Vekselberg's Tango yacht, which was seized by the U.S.

Thank you so very much Canada.

Canadians………..Wake Up!

Ashamed? Pissed Off? You Bet!

Sadly, every year it gets worse. Canadians have to wake up to the nonsense and start pushing back or we will lose our identity and with that our country. We need real leadership in Canada…at all levels.

 

Remembrance Day in Canada became a cultural flashpoint this year. For those that are not paying close attention, this is what happened across our country: – a Nova Scotia school told veterans not to wear uniforms because it might trigger foreign students – an Ottawa school played a Palestinian Arabic protest song at the official school ceremony – a Toronto official used the official ceremony to condemn Canada’s involvement in slavery (Wtf?) – Calgary mayor accused everyone at the official ceremony of being settlers on stolen land – York University lecturer filmed herself berating and swearing at Canadian veterans – Saanich, B.C. Remembrance Day ceremony only had one reading from a holy book. The Quran. I think this is what living in a post national state looks like.

 

Blame Trudeau for all of this.

 

Dot’s Diary: Belfast and Amsterdam

Left Porto at 11:15 on our way to Belfast.  Two and a half hours later we arrived at Amsterdam, after a five hour layover we were finally off to Belfast.  I must add that KLM feeds you continually.  Sandwich and wine on each flight.
Arrived in Belfast at 9:00 pm , Jerry was there to meet us with a big sign DUKE AND DOT, which he made himself.  How perfect for what was to be an amazing visit.  My luggage arrived but John’s didn’t.  So after about 40 minutes we were off and running sort of.  Jerry drives a sport convertible and had to put the roof down so I could get in the back seat.
It took almost an hour to get to his house, but he had beer and wine and a delicious baked ham and cheese plate to feed us.  After many drinks and much laughter we crawled into bed at 1:30 am!!!!
The next day Jerry had made arrangements for us to take the black taxi tour, a very in depth and unbiased approach to what was “the troubles”.  We knew about the bombings and fighting but never in our wildest dreams did we understand the extent of it.  It was extremely emotional and an eye opening to what really took place.  Also it’s still just simmering under the surface, they have walls and gates surrounding the Protestant and Catholic areas where they still close the gates at night!! We then went to check on John’s backpack but it wasn’t there.  We went to Ikea for lunch which was delicious! That night Jerry cooked us a great roast chicken dinner in his air fryer.
The next day we saw where the Titanic was built and according to Jerry “it was alright when it left here”. We then toured the HMS Caroline a light cruiser from WW1 and the battle of Jutland., then we toured Hillsborough castle where Jerry works part-time and the Royals home when they are in Belfast.
Very beautiful, I really enjoyed the gallery of their intimate family pictures.  We had lunch at the cafe on the gardens which was great cause Jerry gets a 50% discount.  It was Halloween and everything was decorated including John’s hamburger bun which was black and delicious!!!  Jerry cooked us hot dogs with peppered sausage, I must look for those at home.
The last day the fog cleared slightly and we went to the Mourne mountains, New Castle etc.  just little villages every where and the lush green valleys were so beautiful.  I was transfixed by the rock walls everywhere, dividing the properties with sheep and cattle lazily grazing.  We went to a seaside village on the Irish Sea and had true Irish/British fish and chips, I might never order fish and chips in Canada again. The bar is set very high.
That night Jerry’s daughter Natasha and her fiancé Cormac came over for appies and wine.  They were a delightful couple and Natasha is definitely a Chip off the old  block.
The next day brought us to an end of our trip and we were very sad to go.  Jerry was an amazing host and we just had the best craic!!! eh Bai
I do hope Jerry comes to visit, I would love to reciprocate his hospitality and if not we will definitely visit him again.
We arrived in Amsterdam at 9 that night and had a glass of wine at the hotel then bed, totally exhausted but thrilled with our experience.
Today was our last day in Amsterdam and the end of our adventure, give weeks of travelling thru France, Spain, Portugal and Belfast.
We spent the day in Amsterdam, where for the first time we saw sun.  Took the train into town and checked out the downtown, bought a few more souvenirs sampled tons of cheese, John got his frite and mayonnaise and then on to some good Dutch beer in the sun!!
Took the train back to the airport then  took the shuttle back to the Ibis Hotel.  Have a drink at the bar and try to repack everything to fit.
Sad to go but anxious to sleep in our beds again and have a HOT TUB!!!
Next day, 04 November, we boarded KLM for the 9.5 hour flight home. It was a fantastic holiday. Now, to get over the jet lag!
Titanic Dry Dock HMS Caroline
Black Taxi Tour. Click on the link.

Dot’s Diary: Last Day in Porto

Monday was our last day. We started out about ten, walked downtown to the river and then took a water taxi to Gaia to ride the Cable car.  Really reasonable at 10euros for a return ride.  Got to the top then had a beer and wine at a lovely restaurant overlooking the water and the city.  Beautiful day really warm and sunny.
Came back down and shopped for the last few souvenirs then hopped on the water taxi for a ride back to the Porto water front.
Started our long assent up to our hotel, stopped halfway up and had another glass of wine and a cheese plate of local cheeses.  Very good.  Then continued our trek to our hotel, arrived after three which was the Siesta time.  So dutifully we had our Siesta!
Went out for dinner around 7ish to a great local diner for the local special of Francona which according to legend a local boy went to work in France as a chef for many years and when he returned he brought a specialty of bread, meat and gravy but of course he made it his own and he called it Franconia, which means spicy french girl.  The locals call it heart attack on a plate!!!!!
John had it, I had their local soup which was delicious.
Crawled home and to bed early since we had to be up for our taxi to the airport.
Porto was great.

Dot’s Diary: Porto Wine Tour

Saturday was raining so we did laundry and hung around the hotel and area, had a great lunch of Indian food from across the street and decided that we didn’t need dinner.

Sunday we were picked up by the limo driver and along with another couple from New Jersey drove out to the Douro valley, wine country.  Such magnificent scenery, it is terraced all the way down and vines grow on each row.  The terraces were all hand hewn hundreds of years ago! The leaves were changing and the colors were vibrant. We drove along the Douro river to the dock and then boarded a river boat that cruised up the river.  We were treated with a special white port and tonic water cocktail (lemon & mint)
and some local appies. We then drove around the countryside stopped at a little town called Sabrosa, Portugal, the birthplace of Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer, who was the fist mariner to circumnavigate the globe back in 1522. Also we saw a bridge built by Eiffel who also lived in the Douro valley.  He also built two bridges in Porto.
We arrived at the first winery where we had a tour and the most amazing lunch. We were greeted at the gate with a special glass of port, we then went on a tour of the kitchen and winery.  Lunch was in a big tent on the lawn which was beautifully set with white linen etc.  We were served local delicacies of cheese olives, smoked meats, clams, black eyed peas, local tomatoes and of course bread and olive oil and a delicious white wine.
The next course was a local potato cooked in cast iron pots over and open fire with local sausage and the most delicious grilled meats of spare ribs, pork and medium rare veal!!!!! Again with a delightful red wine.  Dessert was a drunken cake with another port.
We then said a sad farewell and went to a another winery where we sampled several wines and the most delicious port ever. Some of the people were invited to crawl into a empty barrel of port. That was truly hilarious.
Desperately wanted to take some port home but no leeway for weight in our luggage. The girl giving the tasting was part of the five generations that owned the winery.  She was so funny, made it even more special.
Sadly again we said goodbye and drove the last hour or so
and arrived home around seven.
You can’t get this port in Canada due to our stupid import laws. Everywhere else you can buy it except Canada…shity.