Footnotes to a Conversation, January 30, 2022

Handiwork

I enjoyed a small exhibit of textile art, combining collage, embroidery, wool, cloth, and paper, in Frodsham on Saturday. I particularly liked Dandelions by Mary Bryning and Flora and Fauna – Bullfinches by Helen Cooper. There is something comforting and familiar about textile art while also filling me with wonder at the artists’ ability to transform thread and fabric into something so lovely. Textile art also honours women’s lives and history. It pleases me very much. [Castle Park Arts Centre]

Spot the Difference

I’ve been thinking about some of the differences between life in Canada and in the UK. Some are obvious. People in the UK do not heat their houses to the same degree as we do in Canada. The homeowner where I’m currently staying adjusted the daytime heat to 18 degrees as she didn’t want me to be cold. I think Canadians would be more inclined to set the thermostat to 20 or 21 degrees.

Other changes are more welcome. It’s much easier to buy small quantities of food (e.g. half a dozen eggs), and I shopped at a lovely fruit and veg. store this past week for 1 carrot, a handful of small potatoes, and a small head of broccoli.

I love being able to travel by train – no hassle with security screening, stations are often right downtown, free wifi, comfortable seats, and a great view.

And then there is cat food. As far as I’m aware, you can’t buy soup or Lick-e-Lix in Canada.

Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.

If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.