Monthly Archives: February 2023

The Palace IV – The View

There are iconic scenes that immediately identify a city. You see a picture of the CN Tower and your mind says “Toronto,” as the Golden Gate bridge immediately references San Francisco or the Eiffel tower reminds you that this is Paris. I’m not sure what building or buildings tells you that you are in Cairo. […]

The Palace III – The Entrepeneur

I don’t have an entrepreneurial bone in my body. And I’m okay with that. Let others take the risk (and gain the rewards) of starting new enterprises. Let them have the headaches that come with being in charge. I never want to be the boss. Of course, I also am not a big fan of […]

The Palace II – The Rooftop

I thought a photo essay might be nice to start the work week. The roof of the Baron Empain Palace in Cairo shows the Indian influences in the architecture and carvings. So here are some shots taken on the roof terrace. Not the grounds or the surrounding area, except incidentally. I suspect when this was […]

The Palace

Looks like it should be in India, doesn’t it? Not even the same continent. This one is practically in downtown Cairo. When Baron Edward Empain built his palace in Heliopolis, just over a century ago, it was just east of the city. Cairo has grown considerably in the past hundred years, and now you get […]

The Button

Sometimes what you find surprises you. Look what turned up in my basement! Decluttering my basement has been a multi-year task, but necessary, as at some point we will downsize. I hate the thought, but realize the inevitability – at some point my arthritic knees may reject the stairs. Which means, on a regular basis, […]

The Aftermath

Jordan Peterson has come and gone, and Ottawa is none the worse for the experience. And Monday, the day he was in the city, the Dilbert comic strip made reference to the attempts by the Ontario College of Psychologists to have Peterson submit to some sort of reeducation program to bring his message into line […]

Happy Groundhog Day!

It’s been one of those days. The groundhogs have been out with their predictions – take your pick. Wiarton Willie, Canada’s most famous groundhog, is calling for an early spring this year. I guess no-one told him it is going to be minus thirty overnight. Shubenacadie Sam saw her shadow, which means six more weeks […]

Dangerously Beautiful

I was walking by my neighbor’s place when I noticed the icicles growing from the roof, down past the second floor windows. That makes them close to two metres (six feet) long. They look pretty, don’t they? If you think about it, they are also hazardous. One really sunny day and a little more melting, […]