Coisas que não mudam #712

The beautiful Butchart Gardens are even more flowery

Os lindíssimos Jardins de Butchart estão ainda mais floridos

Numa sala perto de mim #464

The Room Next Door (2024) tells the story of a terminal patient planning the end of her life and a long time friend who happens to cross her path after many years of detachment. The many questions, the moral dilemma, and especially the cornered position of both characters are striking. But boy how has Pedro Almodóvar evolved!

Espantos #705

Walking along the water from Esquimalt to downtown Victoria

we got lucky to see a family of 4 (!) orcas in the harbor

Sem título #362

A spineless cactus!

Espantos #704

Saudades do Rolf -- missing Rolf

Retirado do contexto #441

Merridale Cidery and Distellery

Coisas bonitas #207

Kinsol Trestle

Palavras lidas #634

Breakfast Song
by Elizabeth Bishop

My love, my saving grace,
your eyes are awfully blue.
I kiss your funny face,
your coffee-flavored mouth.
Last night I slept with you.
Today I love you so
how can I bear to go
(as soon I must, I know)
to bed with ugly death
in that cold, filthy place,
to sleep there without you,
without the easy breath
and nightlong, limblong warmth
I've grown accustomed to?
—Nobody wants to die;
tell me it is a lie!
But no, I know it's true.
It's just the common case;
there's nothing one can do.
My love, my saving grace,
your eyes are awfully blue
early and instant blue.

Coisas bonitas #206

Shawnigan Lake

the difference between a clear and misty dawn

afternoon

and night

Ditto #629

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

--Winston Churchill, on 20.08.1940 as hte Battle of Britain raged on successfully holding off the Luftwaffe

Espantos #703

Meals that disguise as cocktails

Espantos #702

In the intricate southeast coast of Vancouver Island sits Cowichan Bay

where the marina holds both boats and boat houses,

the bay is also the home of seals

and a ton of Canadian flags... for a few months now I am told.

Sem título #361

Illusion... delusion...

Parece que estou a ouvir #505

Oliver's Army
Elvis Costello

Don't start that talking
I could talk all night
My mind was sleepwalking
While I'm putting the world to right
Call careers information
Have you got yourself an occupation?

Oliver's army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today

There was a Checkpoint Charlie
He didn't crack a smile
But it's no laughing party
When you've been on the murder mile
Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white nigger

Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today

Hong Kong is up for grabs
London is full of Arabs
We could be in Palestine
Overrun by the Chinese line
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne

But there's no danger
It's a professional career
Though it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg

Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh

Espantos #701

Hummingbird - Beija-flor

Espantos #700

Early morning backyard visitors

Coisas bonitas #205

Sunrise at the Ridge

Coisas bonitas #204

Gigi, the cutest calico kitten!

Espantos #699

Malahat

Sem título #360

Stress is the cause of everything these days

Palavras lidas #633

Pilgrims
by G.E. Johnson

Out of the flat dry country where I seem to be
Stuck these days I'd like to sail up the West Coast
On a cruise ship with strangers and you and me
Lying in bed, feeling the engines vibrate far below.
We'd dress up for dinner in the grand salon
And dine on champagne and oysters like tycoons
And when the ship comes to port, we'd stay on
Board and walk the decks and hear old tunes
Drift across the water as we promenade
Like "If I Had You" which Bucky Weil played
So beautifully. God rest his elegant spirit.
And here we are, so lucky to be able to hear it:
We are pilgrims afforded room and board.
And each day, my darling, is its own reward.

Numa sala perto de mim #463

All the Long Nights (2024) is set in Japan and focuses two society misfits that help each other so that they are at least able to function and be useful. A beautiful story on the difficult process of learning to live with a severely debilitating condition that is not a disease and for which not all occupations are suitable... finding a way in which to adjust is key, but it's definitely not easy.