My top 7 of Canada

Happy Canada Day to all the crazy canucks out there!

This surprisingly is my 7th Canada Day so I thought what better way to help celebrate this national day than to do my own top 7 things I love about Canada. So here goes in descending order:

7. Four seasons
So some people may complain about the weather here but trust me when I say that you are a lucky country to actually experience four unique seasons. Ok maybe there wasn't much Spring this year but usually you have all four seasons and all the lovely traits of each one.

6. Poutine
Fries, gravy and cheese curds. This dish is delicious, especially after a night out...enough said!

5. The Tragically Hip
Now there are other artists and bands that I prefer but the thing about the Hip is that they represent and relate to so much of Canadian living. They are the the backdrop to a lot of memories I have here. For me they are the Canadian Oasis.

4. Tim Hortons
Ok so you can't come to Canada without going to a Tim Hortons, it's impossible! Trust me I've tried. From your daily coffee, a quick snack, to a respite on a road trip, Timmies is wholesomely Canadian.

3. Maples
Whether it be the tree, its leaves or the syrup, maples are a quintessential Canadian symbol. You even put a leave on your flag! Personally, I love maple trees. They are one of my favourite things to photograph here.

2. Landscape and Space
When people ask me why I love Canada so much I always reply with "I like the space". That may seem weird but it's true. You have A LOT of space here and the numerous beautiful landscapes you have are breathtaking. Canada is truly amazing.

1. The people
So this may come across a bit sappy but I'm saying it anyway. Canadians are some of the best people I've ever met in the world. With your lovable ehs, fantastic hospitality, caring nature and fun living, you're AWESOME! Times with Canadians are good times. Plus you even like to take a dig at Americans.

I feel blessed to be in Canada and hope that I can continue to celebrate your national day in this wonderful country.

The Spirit Level

I just finished the book; The Spirit Level - Why Equality is Better for Everyone, and I wanted to share this remarkable piece of work with you.

I have to admit it has taken me a while to read this, as it is like reading a text book at times, but it is well worth the time put into it. It is definitely one of those books that leaves a long lasting impression on yourself, and your ideology.

As the blurb states; This groundbreaking book, based on years of research, provides hard evidence to show:

• How almost everything - from life expectancy to mental illness, violence to illiteracy - is affected not by how wealthy a society is, but how equal it is
• That societies with a bigger gap between rich and poor are bad for everyone in them - including the well-off
• How we can find positive solutions and move towards a happier, fairer future

Now this may seem a bit preachy or airy fairy to some of you, but trust me when I say that some of the research and results really are thought provoking, and profound. It really makes you look at the bigger picture, and questions the current Western society standpoint. I personally enjoyed every quote, graph and statistic the book offered. Even the cartoon images are hilarious but provocative.

I encourage anyone to read this, even if just for the facts, as in the end of the day you can't argue with those. I thank my brother, Oliver, for sending the book my way, and if anyone wants to borrow the copy I have, I would gladly loan it out.

Rob Ford v Boris Johnson

Rob Ford, Mayor of Toronto, and Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, have both had run-ins with the media in their respective countries. As I was scrolling through pages online, I thought it would be fun to do a comparison of some similarities and differences between these two political figures.

So here goes:

Ford

Versus


Johnson


1. They both like the ladies;
Ford was accused by political rival Sarah Thomson of grabbing her ass during a photo and telling her she "should have been in Florida with him last week because his wife wasn’t there."



Boris with the infamous Cheeky Girls


2. They both take part in sporting activities in the wrong attire;

Ford can't even say on his feet!

Boris is focused.


3. Immigration viewpoint;

Ford: "Those Oriental people work like dogs ... they sleep beside their machines,'' he said. "The Oriental people, they're slowly taking over ... they're hard, hard workers."

Johnson accused Britons of being lazy and having themselves to blame for losing out on jobs to more hard-working foreigners.

4. Drinking;



Ford is said to have a drinking problem



No British man can resist a room temperature pint of beer

5. Opinion on cycling and bike lanes;

As per his appearance you can guess that Ford isn't a keen cyclist. Here he compares bike lanes to 'swimming with the sharks'??

Johnson, on the other hand is trying to get more people on bicycles and make the London less intimidating to new cyclists, as well as promising new bike lanes.





Conclusion:
Now Ford's in a smoking crack video scandal, whereas Johnson has announced he is going to write a book about Winston Churchill. Even though both these gentlemen have colourful personalities and I wouldn't vote for either, I'd take Boris over Rob any day! How about you?



Monster Truck...

Monster Truck (@Monster_Truck_) tweeted at 11:14am - 27 May 13:

Furiosity is out now in the UK! Grab it via @iTunesMusic: bit.ly/Zov4fJ (https://twitter.com/Monster_Truck_/status/339036820702629888)

Don't know what I'm talking about, well you should. Ontario rockers Monster Truck have just released their album FURIOSITY to raving reviews. If you don't believe me check it out; http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/exclusive-were-streaming-the-new-monster-truck-album/

I have had the privilege to see these guys rock out 3 times now, and ever time they blow the place down. They are truly a great live band. With blaring riffs, smokey vocals and good depth to their sound, Monster Truck are one of my favourite Canadian acts. Let them become one of yours too.

More political unrest in Europe

Sunday saw Bulgaria vote for a new Parliament. Bulgaria has been led by a caretaker government since February after Boiko Borisov resigned as PM amid protests against poverty, high utility bills and corruption.

The results from the election body today show that the 42nd Bulgarian General Assembly will be divided equally between the Socialists and ethnic Turks on one side, and the centrist GERB and the nationalist Ataka on the other. Again, another European country's electorate are split in terms of ideology and what is the best avenue for their country.

This election hasn't been smooth with allegations of more corruption and even vote-rigging. Protesters have been rallying during the whole electoral process. There seems to be little hope for the people of Bulgaria. The Balkan state of 7.3 million remains the EU's poorest member, and 1 in 5 Bulgarians live under the poverty line.

It is still unsure whether a coalition government can be formed, but without a stable government the country looks like it will still be turmoil.

The British NHS

Those that know me well are aware that I have had to have some tests and procedures carried out over the past 8 months or so. Thankfully, I am fine, but it has been difficult fitting in appointments while I am back in the UK. I wanted to write this post to show my appreciation of the collective British National Health Service. I know that many people complain about the NHS for many reasons but as a British citizen I am extremely proud of it and think it is one of the best things about our country.

During the Second World War there were agreements that post-war, "a complete health service to be available to every member of the community" should be set up. After the war and under Clement Attlee's Labour government, The National Health Service Act was passed in 1946, and the rest they say is history. Even though they have been several reforms to the NHS over the decades that have since passed, the service remains largely free to anyone and everyone. Some people may not agree with free healthcare, but personally, and having lived in a country where I had to pay for my own healthcare, I think it is a service that should be available to everyone in the world. After all, isn't health a basic human right. The World Health Organisation Constitution states:

"the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being..."

Maybe I'm an idealistic person. I just don't think that individuals or private corporations should profit from the sick and needy. Wouldn't it be nice to not have to worry about insurance or possible medical bills every time you travel. I am not saying you have to agree with me, but to all the British people that read this, please be thankful of the NHS we have, as trust me, I'm sure you would complain a lot more if the NHS was abolished.

It wouldn't be Britain without a nice cuppa!

St. George's Day

Today is St. George's Day, England's national day to celebrate all that is English and it's patron saint. Yet, how many people actually celebrate. Unlike our fellow nations of the UK, who celebrate their respective patron saints, we in England usually let this day go by without even a thought. Why is this?

Nice work Google!

I believe it may be that a lot of us feel or are made to feel ashamed of our English past and imperialistic ways, and think celebrating this is inappropriate. Is it because the idea of some sort of English collective togetherness doesn't exist anyone? I am very proud to be from the North of England but what do I have in common with someone from Essex, for example. Maybe, the nation of England is too diverse for a common nationalistic empathy, or perhaps we only feel this when we are faced with adversity, or England manage to reach the later stages of a sporting World Cup (here's wishing).

Whatever you feel about this national day here are some facts you may or may not know:

• Despite the fact that St George has been England’s patron saint since the 14th century, a recent survey showed that only one in five people know that St George’s Day falls on April 23.

•  A popular custom in bygone years was for people to wear a red rose in their button hole, the national flower for the national day.

•  St George’s flag was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century. Soldiers wore it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle.

•  St George is also considered a martyr in Islam as well as Christianity.

•  Not only is there no evidence that St George ever slayed a dragon (which seems unlikely), there’s very little evidence he ever existed at all. If he did, he was probably born in what is now modern-day Turkey, to a Turkish father serving in the Roman army and a Palestinian mother.

• St. George is said to have been beheaded for resigning his military post and protesting against his pagan leader, the Emperor Diocletian (245-313 AD), who led Rome’s persecution of Christians.

• Aside from England, other countries that celebrate St. George’s Day include Canada, Croatia, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic of Macedonia.