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Trivial hirsutes in Yukon

27th February 202327th February 2023 funtime65

Gold prospectors will tell you that you need your fur in the frozen north in Canada and with that came trivial hirsutes in Yukon.

With dreamers and settlers coming up with ever more inventive ways of amusing themselves.

And being naturally competitive they started measuring themselves against each other in yet more quirky ways.

Such as the annual Hair Freezing Contest which is held at Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs in Whitehorse.

With entries now open until 25 March.

Hair we go

There are five categories to enter including Best Male, Best Female, Best Group (two plus people), People’s Choice Award, Most Creative and Best Facial Hair.

With the winners to be announced on 5 April.

And I think you’d agree that my beardie is in good shape.

And although I’m probably a bit late for this year’s competition it’ll e even longer and bushier for next year.

Deep Frizz

Our friends at Yukon tell us that visitors to the hot springs must register at the desk on arrival.

Once relaxing in the toasty springs, they must then dip their head in the water, as long as the outside temperature is -20 degrees celsius or under.

And then allow the water on their hair, eyelashes and eyebrows to freeze perhaps under the majestic Northern Lights too.

All white on the night

Once the build-up of frost and ice is complete, a member of staff will take a picture completing the contestant’s entry into the competition.

Geological evidence suggests that these hot springs have been running for hundreds – if not thousands – of years.

It is an ancient, powerful source of artesian water full of restorative minerals.

Other experiences available at Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs include relaxation rooms, yoga classes, and sauna and steam rooms.

Sign us up

Two luxury rental suites are available to book as well as a campground on site for the summer months. Entry to the hot springs costs from £18 per person.

Now I’ve been told in my time that I need to grow up but never grow out.

But with some trivial hirsutes in Yukon to aim for then I’m all systems go.

We found a two-stop return package to Whitehorse from £1,543.

Canada, Countries, Europe, Ireland, UK

The Queen’s platinum destinations

6th February 20225th February 2022 funtime65

When you’ve already visited 120 countries (there are 195) then it’s difficult to choose your best… but here to mark her 70th anniversary of her coronation today, are the Queen’s platinum destinations.

But some stats before we go travelling…

Her Maj has sailed over one million miles on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Now docked along the road from Murty Palace in Leith.

And she has travelled the equivalent of 42 times around the globe (and to think My Queen has only been round once!)

All of this too without the need for a passport.

African queen

Princess Elizabeth was on her travels, naturally, when she succeeded her Dad, King George VI in 1952, in Kenya.

The 70 years actually starts from this year as that was when she was crowned.

The story goes that she was up a tree at the time with her husband, Prince Philip.

Although this was no shinnying up the bark, or a kiddies’ treehouse.

It was the three-room hotel, Treetops, built into the top of a large tree.

And only closed last October because of Covid.

And in one of the other rooms, hunter Jim Corbett stayed awake to make sure no wildlife got near.

Queen of Scots

No such problems in Aberdeenshire in the north-east of Scotland.

It is said to be the Queen’s favourite place in the whole wide world.

It was in the Balmoral Estate (a favourite too of Queen Victoria’s) that she took refuge from the storm after Princess Diana’s death in 1997.

Of course the 54 countries of the Commonwealth have taken up most of the Queen’s time.

Canadian HRH

Loyal subjects: Canadians love the Queen

And Canada most of all where she has visited 27 times.

A favourite too of her parents.

There were in fact contingency plans in place for the Royal Family to take refuge there from the Nazis in Britain’s darkest hour.

It’s hard to imagine, of course, now but the most famous woman on the planet was once a navy officer’s wife.

Albeit that officer being a prince, Philip.

Malta monarch

And she lived on base with Philip in Malta, the jewel of the Mediterranean.

Where she is said to have loved the easier pace of life than back home.

Among other aspects of her life which are less known is that the Queen is a Francophile, a fluent Gallic speaker, and that she also likes German.

No Teuton gags here or it will be oaf with der head!

Friend of Ireland

Her Maj has naturally been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland.

But it was only in 2011 that she set foot in the south of the island.

Where she was an instant hit, not least when she blethered with a stall holder in the English Market in Cork.

The Royal Bucket List

That leaves just 75 countries for Queenie to visit too (and she won’t let her 95 years put her off).

Among them Greece, where Philip had some unresolved issues, Madagascar, Cuba, Israel and Peru.

And that leaves the rest of us in the ha’penny place (her head was on that too) when it comes to the Queen’s platinum destinations.

And as the gratitudes are handed out over the course of the year, what most people will be glad of, is the four bank holidays Britons are getting this year.

America, Countries, Culture

A flight of fancy on Superman’s Day

30th June 20211st July 2021 funtime65

And doesn’t he still look good for 87… it’s a flight of fancy on Superman’s Day.

This day in 1934 The Man of Steel burst into public consciousness in DC Comics’ Action Comics Series issue #1.

As we all know Kryptonite Kal-El exploded into the Mid-American wheat fields if Smallsville.

Only it wasn’t Kansas in the Oo Es of Eh but Beynon, near Calgary in Alberta in Canada.

A man can fly

The Beynon Canyon is pivotal in the Clark Kent story.

It is here that Martha and Clark bury his adopted father Jonathan and the young Kent decides to leave for Metropolis.

Another better-known canyon, the Grand Canyon, hoves into view when Superman saves the day.

And Daily Planet photographer Jimmie Olsen from the crumbling Hoover Dam. And trust me a good Press photographer is hard to find.

On the right track

We all know too that Superman flew through the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

While Metropolis we all automatically associate with New York.

How could we not when Clark and Lois go for a night-time spin around the Statue of Liberty?

And we would be right to see NY as Supes’ town… in parts.

Dam impressive

The Hoover Dan set up. http://www.superman1978.com

The Daily Planet where Clark works can be found at the art deco News Building, 220 East 42nd Street.

Moved, though, from the Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring Street. Yes, La La Land.

Lex Luthor’s lair we are led to believe is below the Grand Central Station although whisper it it is Pinewood Studios, Berkshire in England.

Superman’s origins may lie somewhere entirely different, the Eiger in Switzerland and Friedrich Neitzsche’s imagination.

Man of Letters

Is it a Bird? No, it’s Bandanaman in Orlando

Of course we have all channeled our own Superman on the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride at Universal Orlando.

Before back to work as the pictures show.

And as then as now… of course Superman is a man of letters too, a journalist.

So I’ll continue to be inspired by The Man of Steel and enjoy a flight of fancy on Superman’s Day.

America, Canada, Countries, Europe, Ireland, UK

Some mothers… travels with mine

14th March 202114th March 2021 funtime65

I’ve got a husband, five brothers and three sons and James (my Sunday name) is the most selfish of them all.

Never mind that I’d driven her and her sister up from my home in Co. Wicklow to her homestead of Co. Donegal.

Or that I was standing just feet away from my cousin when she was giving out.

On this Mothering Weekend these are our travails.

God’s (and her) Own Country

Ireland: And for my Dear Old Mum that’s Donegal where she grew up in a hotel in a rural hamlet, and holds court every time she goes back.

At Powerscourt Waterfalls in Co. Wicklow

Of course the Donegal natives go along with her Diva-like behaviour and indulge her.

It gets us a free pot of tea every time we go back to the now renamed Ramblers Inn.

The Queen of Queens

There’s an advert which the Irish are all too familiar with where two old ones batter the heck out of each other because each wants to pay the bill.

It is quintissentially Irish and it annoys the Scottish half of me to boiling point.

Of course when my Dear Old Mum is with her own siblings and relatives her need to show her largesse goes off the scale.

And so when we went to my cousin’s wedding in Queens in New York she berated me in front of my extended familly and insisted that she pay for the pre-wedding meal.

Before bossing me around Manhattan. Well, I didn’t ask her to wear high heels.

A wee break in Scotland

And I can’t even get that.

Anyone who has been to a major golf tournament (2000! Open, St Andrews) will tell you that the queue for the Portaloos is long.

And that when you eventually get in then you will make the most of it.

Of course, too long for my Dear Old Mum, who sent a random spectator to knock on the door and ask how long I was going to be.

She obviously wanted to see Tiger.

But of course I got my own back and outran her, and jumped the Swilcen Burn with the crowd to see him lift the trophy.

Piping up: In Glasgow

One of my favourite trips was when I took her into her adopted city and my homestead of Glasgow to see the World Bagpipes Championships.

Another particular quirk of the Irish is to be dumbfounded that you could ever by hosted by anyone else. She, of course, wanted to pay!

And one that got away

My brother, that is who emigrated to Canada after meeting a Torontonian.

I broke the habit of a lifetime by being responsible and putting my studies before a few days in Canada to see my brother get married.

But my Dear Old Mum didn’t forget me then and brought me back a Davy Crockett type hat which became my signature look from then on in my student town of Aberdeen.

America, Canada, Countries, Culture, Food & Wine

Canada D’eh for Thousand Islands Dressing!

1st July 20201st July 2020 funtime65

Isn’t it great when someone throws open their doors to an unexpected visitor… and that someone is Canada?

On this Canada Day I’m reminded of the good people of Ontario (and, of course the other nine provinces and three territories).

It’s just that the Ontarians gave home and hospitality to my Grandfather, uncle and brother at various times over the last 100 years… www.mytravelanimal.com.

All of which gained me entrance to their annual bash in Dublin which they were holding downstairs from the Adams & Butler Luxury Travel https:// www.adamsandbutler.com do.

Would you Adams and Eve it: Out of Africa at the Adams & Butler event

Liquor had emboldened me to ask entry.

And before I knew it I was telling my story to the Ontarians and taking part in a table quiz.

Most of the answers I’ve already forgotten.

But I do now know that Thousand Islands Dressing comes from the 1,864 islands.

They run up the St Lawrence along that 50 mile stretch of the Canadian and American border.

Legend has it that our favourite dressing was invented for George Boldt.

George, you’ll know as the Waldorf-Astoria https://waldorfastoria3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-york/waldorf-astoria-new-york-NYCWAWA/index.html owner.

And the multi-millionaire happened to be out on a cruise.

With his wife off the coast of Boldt Castle which was the centrepiece of their heart-shaped island.

You wouldn’t want to be the chef then who forgot to bring dressing on board for the greens for the menu.

Luckily for him though he was inventive and whipped up a dressing from what was lying about…

Mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce and a hard-boiled egg.

Forget the mayo

The Canadian and New York link, the latter which was important too with the plethora of New York relatives which I have, wasn’t mentioned in Chez Murty when I was growing up.

*I heart you* https://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo/

Probably because it wasn’t known.

It was on the table because it was particularly popular in the Eighties.

We were broadening our tastes you see from Salad Cream and Mayonnaise.

So if you find yourself in a tizzy on your yacht or private cruise ship (although of course you’ll have people who stress out for you) here is how you put together a quick Thousand Island Dressing.

Of course this being Canada Day I trust too that you’ll have pancakes and maple syrup, catch of the day and salad, pecan pie and a Labatt Blue or Molson beer to ten to wash it all down.

Visit https://www.ontariotravel.net/en/home https://www.canada.travel Canadian high.

And check out American Holidays www.americanholidays.com and Tour America www.touramerica.com for the best deals.

So a Happy Canada Day and I’ll be delighted to hear again their favourite’eh’ refrain.

A case of Happy Canada D’eh, if you will.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup yellow onion, minced
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
(http://www.simplyrecipes.com)