Merry Christmas Everyone!

Two Good Reasons to Celebrate

Lots of news this week. First we got our new fireplace insert installed on Monday. Then on Friday we signed the final papers, and, six months after taking possession, got the clear title and deed to our cabin in the woods. On Saturday we celebrated, by starting our first fire, and opening a bottle of Champagne.


It was a real challenge finding an insert that would fit into our 23" narrow stone fireplace. After a lot of research on the web I found this Regency I110, manufactured in Delta, BC. Despite its small size it still generates a good 55,000 BTUs of heat, and will take about 4 medium sized 18" logs.


I've got a feeling that this little slow combustion stove is quickly going to become the focal point of our country home.


After about 24 hours of burning, the stone fireplace finally got nice and warm, and even a small fire keep the whole house warm as toast.

My Retirement Dinner

The world's best colleagues gave me a splendid send-off on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, at Mamma Theresa's. Among them a number that I am proud to have recruited and hired into the public service. I got a lot of nice presents and a few good speeches.

The Baptism of Radu

Had I not been born a Pole, I would like to have been a Romanian.

The Silence of the Snow, Again

Winter arrived on Friday, December 1, with the first heavy snowfall of the season. We had been hoping that our new fireplace insert would be installed that day, but the combination of freezing rain, ice pellets, and finally snow, made that impossible. As the temperature plummeted we prayed the electricity, our only source of heat, would not go out. After dinner we went out for a walk, and all around it was still and dark, except for the warm glow of lights from our house and our neighbours'.


Two days later it was still snowing. Looking at this picture you can almost hear the silence.


Thanks to Hydro-Québec it was nice and cozy in the house. Who wants to go back to the city on a day like this?