Updated on July 2, 2015
HAPPY CANADA DAY!
Sunny skies, blisteringly hot weather, happy Canada Day revellers, music, ice-cream, chilled lemonade sellers on the streets, tourists, Canada flags tattooed on slim bronzed bodies and oceans of red and white everywhere — that was Canada Day here in Victoria. What a perfect day it was!
Kevin and I spent the whole day wandering around our beautiful city, just like tourists. We stood with hundreds of others in front of the Legislature building at 3.00 p.m. for the singing of the National Anthem. It was a powerful feeling waving my flag.
Several people stopped to admire my outfit, and one lady asked if she could have her photograph taken with me (it was the fascinator that fascinated people). One father pointed to his son and said “Say hello to Ms. Canada!” Flattery was all around! The best part came when Kevin and I were going into the ‘Irish Times’ pub on Government Street. Staff asked if they could take my photo for their Facebook page. They voted me the best-dressed of the day. When I told them I’m was real-deal Irish, they were thrilled to bits.
A perfect day from start to finish.
I Love you CANADA and Happy Birthday!
Patricia xxx
Updated on July 1, 2015
Cancerian Style
Happy Birthday to all you lovely feminine Cancerian ladies. This is your month to shine! Cancerian ladies are smart, feminine, and hardworking. When you shop, you want both quality and value for money. You are generous to a fault with your loved ones and will never forget a birthday or special occasion. You have a retentive memory and are good with money. Financial security and independence are very important for your sense of security. You enjoy cooking and food and also love to travel and experience lots of exotic cultures. Laughter is good for your soul. Make sure you enjoy a few laughs per day and that you get the opportunity to show your caring side, either through children, pets, or plants. Below, you will find some clothing and accessory suggestions for your sign, as well as some famous Cancerian ladies who share your sign. EnJOY!!
Updated on July 5, 2015
Dîner en Blanc Victoria 2015
This was my first year attending Victoria’s annual Dîner en Blanc, and boy I hope it’s not the last! It was a truly fabulous evening and one for my calendar.
The stars were well aligned and the weather truly glorious. For those of you interested in the history of the Dîner en Blanc, it was started in Paris some 27 years ago by a man named Francois Pasquier, who invited a few friends to the Bois de Boulogne one sunny day in June. To find each other in the park, they all wore white. The dinner was such a resounding success, they decided that next year each person would invite some other friends and the event grew in leaps and bounds into the 10,000 + dinner it is today. The location is announced upon boarding pre-arranged buses that take the invitees to the dinner spot. Everyone must wear white, bring dinner in a picnic basket, and their own table, chairs, and linen tablecloth. Fancy silver, candelabras, and flowers are at your decorating discretion!
The sight of more than 1500 people all dressed in white against the glamorous background of the Empress Hotel was reminiscent of a scene from The Great Gatsby. Romantic French music was flowing from a multi-millionaire’s yacht (which conveniently happened to be docked at the harbour). Picture the scene, guys — sunshine, the Empress Hotel in the backdrop, the millionaire’s yacht resting in the harbour (correct me if I’m wrong but rumour has it that the yacht belonged to Steven Spielberg), champagne and wine flowing and everybody in high spirits.
My friend Anita was my guest — she is the Thelma to my Louise. Between us we have clocked up 85 years of marriage!! She’s a Diva if ever and knows how to enjoy her life so was a fun companion.
Hope to see you here some time! For more pictures, check out Diner en Blanc Victoria’s Facebook page here.
Hugs,
Patricia xxx
Updated on June 28, 2015
Video: My Dîner en Blanc Preparation
Updated on July 1, 2015
Adventures in Milan
When my fashionista friend Mary suggested a trip to Milan — the undisputed Fashion Capital of the world — my response was Yes! Now that I’m back, was it worth it? YES a hundred times over. It did not disappoint. Not at all.
Negatives:
- It was very expensive (especially bling, and sitting in people-watching cafes)
- Noisy, because of the tram tracks everywhere, and trams going non-stop
- Difficulty walking over the cobblestone walkways
- The HEAT! Too damn hot for me! I bought a fan and always carried water.
- The Italians speak English like I speak Italian — I don’t!! Learn some Italian before you go.
Positives:
- Everything else…
- Delicious cappuccinos
- Glamour, glitz and FASHION 24/7 like you’ve never before seen!
- Emmanuel Vittoria Centre — the best people-watching mall in the world
- Via Montenapoleone (where all the big name shops are located) — Gucci, Prada, etc.
- La Scala Opera House (Teatro alla scala) the biggest opera house in Europe
- Duomo Cathedral — an oasis of calm with magnificent architecture (cover shoulders)
- Duoma Square — the heart of Milan, in my estimation
- BRERA (the artsy area, and one of my favourite for eating and parading)
- Bastianello Pasticceria, Via Borgogna 5, 20122 Milan — BEST gelato in town!
In fairness, I was only there for a few days. We devoted almost two days to Venice, a day for Verona, and a day for Lake Como, all of which were totally worth the time investment. So, I had to be fast and furious in getting a feel for Milan and the mad Milanesi. It was my third visit to Italy. I was in the North of Italy many years ago, then Roma for my 50th, and now Milan. And it was third time lucky…with the gelato that is. In prior visits I was frustrated, to say the least, that I could not get a decent gelato to satisfy my ever-so-fussy tastebuds. And it happened in the final hour, Hurrah!! I found ‘The One’ on my last day in Milan. A lot came together in the final day. I found a terrific restaurant which served me the best salad I had eaten in my 8 Italian days. It was aptly named the ‘Victory Milano’, Via Borgogna 5 – 20122 Milano. It heralded Victory for me in the food and gelato department.
Sitting in the cool, sophisticated, and shady VM restaurant, surrounded by suave business people, being perfectly fussed over by immaculately dressed waiters, I spied with my little eye all these gorgeous Armani-clad fellows strolling by, dribbling and licking their gelatos in a way that told me they were ‘special’ (the gelatos I mean). As soon as we finished our lunch I followed them, and lo and behold, they led me to the ‘Harrods’ of Milan, namely Bastianello Pasticerria, Via Borgogna 5, 20122, Milano. Google them and see what I mean. You can only fantasize, I know. Please do not bother with any other gelato shop in Milan. If you want to taste what real gelato tastes like, visit the mama and papa of gelatos, and see what I mean. They have the largest selection in town. The presentation and quality is a Harrods food hall experience without the exhorbitant prices I am happy to say!
Food-wise, unlike other cities in Italy, Milan is not all about the pasta. No. In fact some of Milan’s staple dishes don’t even include pasta. The Milanesi are famous for their ‘Risotto alla Milanese’ which is a yellow-saffron rice. I’m not big into risotto so it was wasted on me. I did, however, enjoy the seafood tagliatelle and stuck with that. I know what I like and am not hugely into experimentation with food. Boring? Perhaps. Since we’re still talking food, did you know it was the Milanesi folk who actually started the ‘Apertivo’, also known as the ‘Happy Hour’? In other words, free finger-food to keep you thirsty so you will drink loads and loads of fine wine and beer. It works. By finger-food I mean olives (the black being tastier than the green ones), tasteless crisps, prawns (in some swish establishments), and various bits and bobs of salty food.
Last but not least: shopping in Milan was expensive. I avoided the generic clothes shops you see everywhere in the world as time was precious, and I wanted to experience ‘The Real-Deal’ fashion experience — just to gawk and educate myself. By golly what pleasure! I did Prada, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Massimo Dutti, Louis Vuitton, and Vivienne Westwood, to name but a juicy few. When you enter these pleasure-palaces you are greeted by a host of beautiful shop assistants, mostly gay men (quelle surprise). They give you a polite 2 second lookover from the shoes up. They know in an instant whether you are going to shop or not. Despite my obvious poverty, I found them very pleasant and chatty, unlike similar establishments in Canada. They all have their ‘Sheiks Corner’ at the back of the shop where the Sheiks sit in velvet splendour while their many wives shop til they drop. If you are a Sheik or have won the lotto, personal shoppers will accompany you in stretch limousines to such pleasure domes. Just thought you’d like this bit of useless info.
Last, but not least, do you like soccer? If so, Milan is the place for you. It is home to two of the strongest soccer teams in the Italian League, namely ‘Inter’ and ‘A.C. Milan’. They are soccer krazeeee in this town.
My favourite and abiding memory of Milan is walking around Duoma Square in the cool of the evening, watching all the kids playing and chasing the birds, grown-ups linking each other; people eating gelato, newlyweds all around, everybody happy and smiling and joyful. It would appear nobody goes to bed around here until after 1.00 a.m. I was lining up at 12.45 AM (yes quarter to one in the morning) for a gelato, and kids aged around 7 or 8 were lining up beside me. It wouldn’t happen in Ireland or Canada for that matter!
So there you have it me darlings…some of the things that moved me in Milan!
Love,
Patricia xxx
