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…and retiring?

Those who frequent these pages – or indeed those who have not yet figured out how to unsubscribe from the email digest (just joking folks… I would much prefer that you didn’t do that!) – will know from this post from earlier this year that The Girl has finally (?) re-joined the ranks of the retired. Who can tell at this point if this will prove to be final outcome for her, or if she will find herself tempted back into some form of employment as time passes.

That leaves me; the one who originally expected to be fully retired upon arrival from the UK, but who has found a renewed sense of purpose in teaching part-time at a post-secondary college here in Victoria. Over the past seven or so years the Chair of my department has enquired of me on a number of occasions whether (or not) I was yet contemplating hanging up my boots. I have found myself, to this point, always just gazing just a little further into the future. The last time that she asked I told her that seventy five seemed like a good point at which to call it quits…

…and that might have remained my target – had not everything changed last year. Last year the federal government radically altered the regulations governing international students coming to Canada to study in Canadian colleges. This from the Government of Canada website:

“Ottawa, January 24, 2025—Over the last year, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made important changes to better prepare international students for life in Canada, strengthen our programs and address the changing needs of our country.

In 2024, IRCC capped the number of study permit applications that could be accepted for processing to keep our program strong and help ease the strain on housing, health care and other services. This measure has reduced the number of international students coming to Canada by about 40% and also eased pressures in rental markets with high student populations.

Building on these changes, provincial and territorial allocations for 2025 have now been finalized. For 2025, IRCC plans to issue a total of 437,000 study permits, which represents a 10% decrease from the 2024 cap”.

These unexpected changes caused havoc in many of the educational establishments that had relied heavily on international students to balance their books. You will be unsurprised to hear that the college at which I have been teaching found itself in a perilous financial situation. I am not going to go into exact detail concerning the college’s contentious plan to re-organise and cost-cut its way out of trouble but – needless to say – those (such as I) who have been employed on term contracts found themselves first to be in line for cost-saving cuts.

The long and the short of all this is that – with the end of the term just finished – I may well have involuntarily been ‘retired’ again.

On the assumption that this will indeed be the case I now have to consider trying to find something else to do. At my age – and given my experience (or lack thereof) I suspect that may not be an easy thing to do.

At this point I know very little of how the future will unfold. This, however, I do know; as long as The Girl and I are together and able to support each other – everything will be well. I am adopting as my mantra this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:

“Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn one’s back on life.”
Eleanor Roosevelt 

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DrRandomFactor, Flag map of Greater Canada, CC BY-SA 3.0 We here in Canada are currently in the throes of a quickfire federal General Election campaign. Given all that is going on in the rest of this troubled world we really can’t waste a moment in electing some suitable adult who can stand up to the tangerine baby south of the (artificial!) border. The requirement so to do effectively, considerably limits our plausible choices.

Tonight sees the first of two TV debates between the party leaders – this one in French! This important event could be expected to lead to florid headlines in pretty much all of the media – on or offline.

Well – this is what we actually got (this from the BBC):

“Canadian election debate moved to avoid NHL clash

An election debate in Canada has been rescheduled to avoid a clash with a Montreal Canadiens hockey game.

The Canadiens take on the Carolina Hurricanes at 19:00 ET (23:00 BST) on 17 April, and could clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup play-offs with victory”.

Now – crazy as this sounds in such dangerous days I am not even going to begin to explain to non-Canadians why this is such a big deal.

Perhaps, I hardly need say, this is just another reason why Canadians appeal to an eccentric Brit like me as much as they do.

Elbows up!

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We are blessed beyond measure, those of us who live here on the Saanich Peninsula to the north of Victoria, British Columbia. In many respects a self-contained community, we can feed ourselves on the provender from the local farms, feast on the bounty of the ocean and raise celebratory glasses of the ambrosia from the nearby vineyards.

Our local seaside town – Sidney by the Sea – offers an increasing array of emporia, some decent places at which to dine and, of course, the much-loved Mary Winspear Community Centre, which includes the lovely Charlie White Theatre. This small but well-equipped space seems increasingly to be the place to which we turn to look for theatre and music.

It seems appropriate that the peninsula also boasts its own monthly community magazine, the which bears the simple sobriquet – ‘Seaside‘.

Unlike many local newssheets – the which seem to major on advertising flyers and syndicated news stories – ‘Seaside’ is a quality product, well researched and written, which strongly features the local community.

For this reason it was a considerable pleasure for Anam Danu to feature in a recent edition. We are most grateful for the generous exposure.

Rather than reproduce the article here, those readers who are interested may find it at the ‘Seaside’ website here.

Thank you for your support!

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“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in”

Leonard Cohen

One of the great pleasures of living on the coast  – particularly somewhere with the sort of big skies that we have here on the peninsula above the Victoria – is that we get to enjoy the constantly evolving panorama outwith our residence that is created and illuminated by the ever-changing light. Regular readers of these musings will be familiar with such images, since I cannot resist grabbing the camera (or mobile phone, these days) and taking endless snaps of the continually unfolding vista.

Here are some more:

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidOK – I cheated. That last one was in Mexico, from our recent sojourn in Puerto Vallarta.

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https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
I have long thought that…

– no matter how bad things might seem during this particularly dark period in time

– no matter how crazed this crowded little world may of late have become

-no matter how dangerously misguided so many of its self-proclaimed leaders are determined to prove themselves to be

…that – even so – the zeitgeist could hardly compare with the sense of dislocation, chaos and loss that my parents’ generation endured during and subsequent to the Second World War. Could one ever truly imagine living through those portentous days?

Until now!…

Now, I am no longer so sure. Now it really does feel sometimes as though we are living through the end of days.

Let us pause for breath. I feel sure that the gentle reader would thank me not at all for enumerating once again the long list of woes of the world with which we are currently inflicted. A great deal has been – and is  (thankfully) still being written, day upon day – that gives us at the very least a chance of understanding the substance of some of these grim matters. But let us look instead for whatever fresh green shoots may be discovered peeping through the fallen snows.

As the post WW2 order that has done a better than expected job of keeping us all safe (and I do mean ALL) is rapidly being demolished by vandals for whom history is based not upon fact but is rather up for negotiation, fabrication and grievance… there are perhaps a few small glimmers of light.

The massive and incomprehensible act of self-harm that was (and is) Brexit may just slowly begin to be revised. Were the UK to build a new relationship with a re-invigorated Europe that would be no bad thing. We really should try to remember just why the countries of Europe – following two devastating global wars – thought that closer ties were a good idea in the first place (and – no! it was just not to disadvantage our cousins to the south).

If the ties between some of the Commonwealth partners (the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand for example) were to be strengthened – that would also be a win.

If more of us throughout the world were to follow the example of my adopted nation in standing up to the bullies – that would also raise the spirits. Feel free to take inspiration from our grassroots “Elbows Up, Canada” campaign, the which is fast spreading across the nation. For those readers outwith Canada here is the CBC’s explanation for the origin of the slogan:

When Canadian actor and comedian Mike Myers, clad in a “Canada is not for sale” T-shirt, twice mouthed the words “elbows up” and tapped his own left elbow on Saturday Night Live last weekend, he was sending a not-so-subtle signal to his compatriots north of the border: Get ready for a fight.

Facing punishing tariffs on Canadian exports and repeated jibes from U.S. President Donald Trump about their country becoming the 51st state, Canadians were understandably riled. “Elbows up” became the rallying cry they’d been looking for.

In hockey-loving Canada, the phrase automatically evokes memories of one of the game’s greatest players, Saskatchewan-born Gordie Howe, who before becoming Mr. Hockey had earned another nickname: Mr. Elbows.

Unfailingly humble, generous and gentlemanly off the ice, Howe would wield his elbows like weapons when battling for the puck.

“If a guy slashed me, I’d grab his stick, pull him up alongside me and elbow him in the head,” Howe once said, describing his favourite method of retribution.

To those who feel inclined to ridicule such an emotional response I would just add another quote – from the Dalai Lama XIV:

Don’t ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance or my kindness for weakness. Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.

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A final batch of photos from our recent trip to Puerto Vallarta.

We admired this Gaudi-esque public space which puts one in mind of the Parc Guell in Barcelona – though, naturally, on a somewhat smaller scale.

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid

Our all-inclusive resort was – unlike many others in PV – not directly on the sea front. It did, however, own a beach resort a mere five minutes away by car, the which included a very decent restaurant to which we repaired several times for our evening repast. As you might expect the sunset vied with the fare to provide the greater attraction.

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid

When we returned to Victoria from Puerto Vallarte The Girl and I were accompanied by a new member of our entourage. Gentle reader – meet Coyote:

Photo by Andy Dawson Reid

Coyote is an Alebrije from Oaxaca. The Mexican art site – Viva Mexico – has the following:

Alebrijes are creatures carved out of wood and painted with Zapotec patterns and fantastic designs from the artists own imagination. These colorful one-of-a-kind carvings are handmade using wood of the copal tree which is grown in the surrounding fields of the towns and is considered a sacred tree which only grows in the region of Oaxaca. This wood is sustainably sourced from the branches of the tree in order to preserve the life of the tree and ensure a continued source of wood for the future. Alebrijes are traditionally made in Oaxaca in the towns of San Martin Tilcajete as well as San Antonio Arrazola. These beautiful works of art have become very popular over the years among art collectors worldwide and are highly sought after. Add a splash of color to your home with one of our unique wood carvings by Oaxacas best artists!

He is – of course – a trickster, but he is also gorgeous… so he gets away with it!

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Here on Vancouver Island it is raining. No surprise there of course, though it is also true that temperatures are beginning to creep into double figures and Mother Nature is clearly signaling her intention of getting cracking on spring without further delay.

Why do I mention this? Well – The Girl and I are still in that state of travel denial that causes us to check over-frequently the current temperatures in Puerto Vallarte (as much or more than we do those in Victoria). Sadly we are just missing the warm sun on our shoulders!

Anyway – here are some more random photos from our recent trip to the land of our fellow recipients of the tangerine one’s tariffs (bah!)…

These pictures were taken around our resort:

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid
This chap was pretty impressive too – and, as far as one could ascertain – harmless!

Photo by Andy Dawson Reid
None too shabby – I hope you will agree. Not our usual sort of establishment, in many ways. We (by which I mean The Girl, of course) normally prefer to find places to stay that enable us to cater for ourselves should we so prefer. This resort was all inclusive – which on this occasion suited us fine.


Photo by Andy Dawson Reid
This was one of a number of plaster masks that were mounted above the bed-head in our room. Spooky – some might think – but actually rather lovely.

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Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack

1937 – 2025

RIP

<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Roberta_Flack43.JPG" target="_blank">"Roberta Flack43"</a> by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Teddyyy" target="_blank"> Roland Godefroy</a>

Regulars on these pages will be familiar with the occasional but still all too frequent tombstones that mark the passing of those iconic figures who have been a part of all of our lives for so many years; whose passing leaves the world a smaller and sadder place.

It is not really for me to eulogise; there are many others far more qualified than I so to do and – save for that small number of heroes and heroines for whom I felt a particular closeness – I avoid so doing. It still feels important, however, to mark each occasion and to acknowledge that significant and far from inconsequential dimming of the light that each represents.

Were Roberta Flack renowned only for “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song” she would still be considered as one of the most significant soul/R & B voices of the past half century and more. Should the gentle reader inhabit any part of this beleaguered globe that is not familiar with the oeuvre of Ms. Flack I recommend this obituary in The Guardian as a reasonable place to bring your education up to date.

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Guess where we are!

Yes! As trailed but a few short weeks ago in an earlier post we are taking a brief restorative break in Mexico; in Puerto Vallarta to be precise.

There will be more time for the writing of words shortly, but I thought you might care to peruse some images of what it is like to be here in the warmth of the Mexican spring.

Jolly lovely it is!

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid

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Rats!!

I should have known… of course!

Yesterday’s post – concerning our recent snow/not snow experience – included two short videos taken from our deck here on the Saanich peninsula. Should you have accessed the relevant page on the blog you would have been able to watch them – one after the other – to view the intended effect.

What didn’t work (humble apologies to long-term followers) was the daily email digest version of the post. If you receive your Imperceptible Immigrant news by this means you will have found yourself unable to open or play the videos. The effect varies according to the machine, mail client and browser with which you are blessed/lumbered – but I’m pretty certain that none of them will have worked.

Now – I could spend a lot of time trying to fix this, but since the clips work correctly on the site I think the simplest thing is to provide you with a link thereto, so that you can view the post as it was intended.

Here you go:

https://www.theimperceptibleimmigrant.com/2025/02/03/weather-or-not/

Sorry about that…

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