New Livejournal!

Ok, so for a while I have been looking for a place to host my Livejournal. This was not an easy decision to make, as I have had this blog for over 10 years. But, there have been increasing DOS attacks to the site, and I fear for losing all my posts there. I have them backed up, but not hosted elsewhere.

I hope to transfer them here, at least for the meantime. As to all the comments, I fear they may be lost, and this is a real disappointment to me, they are as much a part of the blog as the posts themselves.

As to Blogger, I have another blog, and  do think there are a great many things Blogger does better than Livejournal, but then again LJ has been around for a very long time, and has done little to update it's interface. I hope this is a move for the better, but I do fear I will have lost a lot of history in the move. 

Sasori is dead, long live Sasori!

The Scotsman abroad IV

Taking things one step further than joining the St Andrew's Society, then starting our own Scots in Montreal group, I applied for our group to be a part of an umbrella group called the Quebec Thistle Council. This is of course, another group of really old folks, not doing very much and calling themselves Scottish. The guys who run it are of course all members of the Black Watch. But that is almost besides the point.

The one thing they do do  every years however, is run an Awards Dinner. At this event, they award various Scottish Cultural events, such as Piping, Scottish Cuisine, Piping and being a member of their group. I am being flippant of curse, the full list of awards can be seen here (as a pdf).

Anyway, I went along, and wasn't suprised in the slightest at the average age of the participants (I would guess at 60-70). And of course I was asked, in a thick Quebec french accent, if I had any Scottish ancestry, a question which always makes me smile (full highland regalia, which I was wearing, means nothing at these events).

Other highlights of the evening were talking to a gentleman who was classmates with Prince Phillip at Gordonstone (the fact that this came up in a 5 minute conversation is, as K says, very telling). I was sat beside Andrew Carter, radio DJ and last years winner of Scotsman of the year, who was welcome relief from the usual guest, and was there as he thought he should after winning last year. I say I was sat there, as the guy in charge of seating made it clear at the start of the evening I was to ensure this gentleman was made aware of how vibrant the Scottish community in Montreal is. Our group being the only one of the member groups who can number more than one member between the ages of 30 and 40 (beginning to see a pattern yet? ;p).

Also, the President of the Société St Jean-Baptiste (the Quebec National Society) was proudly relating to me how she was descended from the Plantagenets, and how she had ancestors on both sides of the War of the Roses. Genealogy was a big topic for the evening.

It seems I have now attended enough of this type of event, that my face is known to a few of the regulars, many of whom I can chat away with, so in the end I had a pleasant and entertaining evening, although whether I go next year remains to be seen!

Quote of the Week

“When I can’t buy a bagel in French, it really bugs me.”
Jonathan Valois, Parti Québécois president, at a PQ workshop.

Viva la Revolucion

Walking own from Mcgill Uinversity, just off campus, when I pass a Prayer Station.  Whatever, just passing through, till one of the older men at the station points at me, and with a laugh asks
"What's with the Communist hat?"
I was taken aback.  Too stunned to comment, but annoyed enough at his viewpoint not just to smile and nod in a placatory fashion.  As with all occasions like that, all the good ripostes came as I walked away.

Turning round the corner, I walk past a demonstration outside Indigo, calling for a boycott on the store by some pro-Palestinian group or other.  The man there holds out a flier.
"You have a progressive hat sir, have a progressive flier!"

I have a new hat.  You may have seen it in some of the pics from Cuba.  I like it, but I didn't think it was all that different.  In fact, back in the UK, I doubt it would have drawn any comment, certainly wouldn't have in Glasgow.  I thought Quebec was actually quite left wing, but left wing in a North American setting obviously means a different thing.



Original Post Here.

World Domination

Finally the take-over begins. The first stop on the the tour of world domination has been decided.

Stop one: Canada.

First the Capital will fall under my influence, then Quebec will surrender with typical French aplomb!

The countdown begins...

Bwah hah hacough!...(Damn Pistachios!)

Original Post.