Jen and Carol's International Photo Tag

Pub - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-10-16T16:04:00.003-04:00

Here we have the Black Bull, a British-style pub. Makes you feel like you're in the UK doesn't it? Except for the minivans and SUVs parked out front. Anyway, I'm not much of a drinker but I like to go to this bar (um I mean pub) when they have Karaoke night on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I haven't been in a while (kids and all), but next time you come to Canada, I will definitely take you. We will sing our hearts out! You're it Carol!

Milk - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-10-06T00:29:00.002-04:00

Delicious 1% milk. My family goes through 4 liters of the stuff about every two or three days. (Lots of cereal) Below we have the bag of milk, which comes with three bags of milk inside (for a total of 4 liters). Above we have our milk container, where you keep the open bag of milk. Just snip the corner off the bag and voila! We even have a special milk-cutting device (a fridge magnet with a blade on it) so we don't have to find the scissors every time we want to open a new bag. This is normal for us, but come to think of it, it is an odd way to purchase a beverage. You don't see these containers for juice, pop, water, wine, or beer.

Milk - Edinburgh, Scotland

2009-10-02T15:00:00.004-04:00

Here we have milk, one of the most common household essentials in any Scottish home. We drink s *lot* of milk in our house (I looooooove cereal!) and so there are usually two cartons in the fridge at any one time. On the left we have a 4 pint carton of skimmed milk with a missing poster on the side. If you look (not so) closely you'll see how out of date it is. I need to shop lol. The red milk came from Iceland, a frozen foods store, not the country. On the right we have a 4 pint carton of semi-skimmed which is freshly made in Scotland - see the St. Andrew's cross flag? It was bought in Marks and Spencer, a more expensive food store and is luckily still in date.

You're in Jen!

Plug Socket - Edinburgh, Scotland

2009-09-25T17:38:00.003-04:00

This outlet, or plug socket as we call it here, is located in my living room. As you can see we have the traditional three-prong connection and unlike most countries we have an on/off switch. As far as I'm aware when it's off no power gets through. I'm always a little spooked with US/Canadian/European outlets in case I get electrocuted. *eeeek*

Outlet - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-09-08T22:34:00.002-04:00

Here's one we haven't done. This outlet is located above my kitchen counter, out of reach of my toddler. Most of the other outlets are within his reach, and have recently been equiped with outlet covers because of this incident. Anyway, I assume the three-prong (or two-prong) plug in a rectangular outlet is the most efficient way of doing things. You can plug in two appliances, or use a power cord and plug in an unlimited amount of home entertainment dodads until the area behind your television set becomes a jungle of wires. You're it Carol!

Kraft Dinner - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-09-08T22:17:00.004-04:00

I didn't see any big displays this time, but I'd say that no other country in the world has embraced Kraft Dinner (or KD, as it is commonly called) the way we Canucks have. In the first photo we have some of the different varieties available: Three Cheeses, Spirales, Whole Wheat (that one tastes like cardboard). I've also seen a pasta salad version, a white cheddar version, and a tomato version (so there's no need to add ketchup). Of course in the bottom photo we have the original KD (50 cents cheaper than the special varieties), a no-name version (tastes terrible but is half the price), and Easy Mac. That's right, if you don't have the cullinary expertise to boil a pot of water, you can now make Kraft Dinner in the microwave!

Cheesey Pasta - Edinburgh, Scotland

2009-08-30T09:12:00.003-04:00

I thought I'd post a fun picture. Kraft Cheesey Pasta. Basically this is one of the fastest dinners you can possibly make - it's macaroni with a cheese sauce. The reason I took this photo while my hubby ordered a create-your-own pizza in Asda WalMart was because I liked the display and I know you can get a Canadian version of this. Usually a product has like a little section of a shelf but there were hundred of these boxes out on display! Mind you, at only £1 it's a bargain! Did I buy any? No. Did I see anyone buy any while I was stood taking the photos? No. Does the massively huge £1 and millions of red boxes make people buy Cheesey Pasta? No. *lol*

You're it Jen!

Rubbish (aka. Garbage) - Edinburgh, Scotland

2009-08-30T08:51:00.008-04:00

*** This is the first of many posts from Edinburgh as I moved house. Still commute the 50 miles to work on the other side of the country so I spend just as much time in Glasgow. Most of my posts will come from Edinburgh now but occassionally from Glasgow. Mostly things are the same in the East and West but there are still a million differences. ***

This is my garbage, or as we Scots call it, rubbish. We had to wait a while to get these containers as our new house was newly built and the council weren't forward-sighted enough to supply them. Anyway, here we finally have a photo. Jen, and indeed all our readers out there, I can't apologise enough for the delay. Moving house was crazy and although I've had this photo for a while I'm notoriously bad at updating. Luckily I now have a stash of photos so hopefully there should be no further delays.

In this photo we have a selection of recycling and rubbish containers:

- blue box (with shower cap style cover) for cans, tins, glass jars and bottles;

- blue bag for paper;

- red box (with shower cap style cover) for cardboard;

- charity bag for clothes, textiles, sheets etc;

- green wheelie bin for rubbish.

There are currently no collections for plastic recycling so we just take them to our local public site - 2 minutes down the street.

Most houses also have a big brown wheelie bin for garden waste (grass cuttings, weeds etc) but we're still waiting on ours. When we lived in Glasgow we were in the East Renfrewshire district and they were piloting compost bins which looked like a mini green wheelie bin. If we had to have that as well as all of these there's be no room in the garage or driveway for our car!!

Btw you'll notice how insanely clean these all are... at this point they were totally unused lol.

Garbage - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-05-18T13:56:00.003-04:00

I've decided to take pictures of more stuff around the house. Not only is it more convenient for me, but I think it's these sort of quirky things that are really different, and won't be found in any guidebook.

Anyway. The green bin on the left is appropriately called the "green bin". This is where you put most of what I would consider gross garbage: chicken bones, eggshells, used kleenexes, rotting fruit, something you found in your fridge that is no longer identifiable due to large amounts of mold. Every week it gets taken away and turned into compost (supposedly).

The blue box in the middle is, you guessed it, the "blue box" or "recycling bin". Here's where you put all your newspapers, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, etc. It also gets taken away weekly to be turned into, well, newspapers, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, etc.

The garbage can on the right is for everything else. I know, you're thinking, what else is there? Plenty, let me tell you. Especially if have two kids in diapers and you live in a municipality that doesn't allow diapers in the green bin even though the enormous megacity just 50 km away (Toronto) does allow diapers in the green bin (which baffles me). This would be fine except that, unlike the green and blue bins, the regular garbage gets picked up every two weeks (part of the local government's plan to get people all gung-ho about recycling). Two weeks is way too long to have festering toddler poop sitting around, imo. I mean I'm all for helping the environment, but seriously.

You're it, Carol!

City Guide Books - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-05-17T21:46:00.003-04:00

These aren't guide books in the strictest sense, as they won't guide you to do anything. The first picture was taken at the local big box chain bookstore, Chapters. There I was only able to find one book (the dark green one) that was even about this area and it was about all of Halton (a region which includes Burlington, Oakville, and Milton).

The lower picture was taken at the tourism office, where they sell several different Burlington books, along with golf balls, t-shirts, maple syrup, and inukshuk necklaces. Everything is kept in a locked glass cabinet, which is odd, and makes for a lousy picture. I suppose I could've asked someone to unlock it, but I felt awkward even taking photos. Plus this way you get a glimpse of that gorgeous photographer in the reflection.

BTW: I realize in looking at these books that I know next to nothing about my city and its history. It almost makes me want to get one of these books so I can learn "The Story of Burlington". Almost.

City Guide Books - Glasgow, Scotland

2009-04-11T09:03:00.003-04:00

Here we have a selection of guide books depicting the city of Glasgow ranging from cookery to photography to things to see and do. You're in Jen!

E-Postcards - Glasgow, Scotland

2009-04-11T06:36:00.007-04:00

Here it is - a postcard from Glasgow. :) Our official tourism site didn't have any (that I could find) so I opted for this one instead. It shows the SECC Armadillo and the River Clyde. It was built in 1995 as the Clyde Auditorium but has been affectionately knows as the Armadillo ever since for obvious reasons. Most recently is housed the Eurovision Dance Contest in September 2008, which up until I searched on Wikipedia, I didn't know. *lol*

E-Postcard, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-04-08T12:47:00.003-04:00

Okay, so I didn't take this one. I was looking online for something else, and found that you can now send e-postcards from the Burlington tourism site. As you know, Burlington is quite a happening tourist attraction. There's enough stuff around here to amuse a visitor for at least an hour! (as long as the weather's nice). You're it Carol.

Billboards - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-03-27T19:19:00.002-04:00

Ah, yet another eye sore that I didn't notice until you pointed it (or rather them) out to me. Here we have advertisements from Hakim Optical and McDonald's, plus a mystery ad that is facing sideways so that people coming from the other direction can see. And, as an extra bonus for all our faithful blog viewers: hydro towers and telephone poles in the background.

Billboard - Glasgow, Scotland

2009-03-04T08:53:00.004-05:00

Right, here we have a billboard advertising some product or another. Usually these are found along motorways and main roads in the city. In this case this was was in the station where I photographed the trains from my previous post. This isn't your usual static board - this one is made up of long strips on triangular boards (must be a right pain to change!) and since I was looking for a board specifically Scottish, my luck was in when I spotted this one.

The first advert is for Scottish Hydro Electric, one of Scotland's main electricity providers. We go through Scottish Power, but clearly their advertising works because I noticed them and I'm not a customer.

The second advert is for Clydesdale Bank which is very Scottish. If a Scottish person has a pile of Clydesdale Bank notes to spend in England (boo!) they look at you like you're handing them a foreign currency. It's legal tender, they're just not cultured enough. =P

You're it Jen!

Trains - Glasgow, Scotland

2009-03-04T08:36:00.005-05:00

The brightly coloured train at the front of the photo is a Virgin train which I've never been on. Usually they provide comfort for long-distance rail journeys (mostly to London) and seeing as I use a plane for them... I've never been on one. The grubbier cream and maroon coloured train to the back of the photo is a First ScotRail train which I take twice a day: once to go to work and once to come home. As you can see, they don't have an upstairs (which, as a Scottish tourist on a GO Train, I found amazing!!) so they're always crammed full of commuters like myself.

Trains - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-02-21T13:51:00.005-05:00

The two trains on the left are freight trains from the Canadian National Railway (CN). The train on the far right is a passenger train, otherwise known as a GO Train. Lots of commuters take Go trains in to Toronto every morning. Sometimes, Scottish people who are staying in Toronto take the GO Train to Burlington to visit their friends. You're it Carol!

Hydro Tower - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2009-02-21T13:18:00.004-05:00

We don't have electricity pylons, but these hydro towers perform the exact same function. Until you posted that pic, and I started looking for them, I didn't even notice them. Now I realise they are everywhere. Really, we have like whole forests of these things. I can't believe my brain filtered out something so gigantic.

Electricity Pylon - Glasgow, Scotland

2009-02-18T05:41:00.002-05:00

Ok so I think this is officially the least glam picture I've posted lol. The good old electricity pylon. I know they're a neccessity but they have to be the ugliest, most imposing structures around, especially sandwiched between houses like this. They generate a buzzing sound which, when I walk past, I'm very aware of so unless the residents of the neighbouring houses have become immune to it, I guess they must be driven crazy! I wonder if they get cheaper power..... You're it Jen!

Playground - Glasgow, Scotland

2009-02-18T05:36:00.002-05:00

Here we have a playground in Neilston, just up from my house. As you can see it's deserted because of the weather (check out the clouds) but the teenagers love it at night lol. The grafitti shows that. Sorry it took me so long to get this posted. I actually pass this every other day but it's usually too dark to get out and get a photo taken. My new challenge - go out of my way to get photos for this super happy super fab blog! =D

Playground - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2008-11-22T10:42:00.004-05:00

As you see, winter has arrived. The abominal snow-toddler in the photos belongs to me. He had some trouble climbing the on the equipment wearing his boots, so we spent most of the time on the swings. You're it Carol!

Metro - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2008-11-15T18:38:00.003-05:00

Actually this is is a Toronto paper, but this pic was taken at the Burlington GO Train station, where many a commuter begins their journey into the big city. Being a stay-at-home Mommy, I had to make a special trip to the train station to snap this photo. Imagine how strange I looked! Some pregnant lady comes into the station, with a camera, takes a photo of the newsstand, and leaves without even buying a ticket. I did get a copy of the paper though, so I can do the crossword.

The Metro - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-11-06T18:31:00.002-05:00

This little free paper gets me through my journey every morning. I think loads of cities around the globe have their own version of the Metro, but this is mine. Blue metal stands can be seen dotted around every train station in the country and most bus stations too. Very popular with the early morning commuter - I personally love the Nemi cartoon and the reading my horoscope. =) If you're not fast... you miss out! Look, the warning's even on the stand! *lol* You're it Jen!

Autumn Leaves - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-11-06T18:07:00.003-05:00

We have a bit of a mucked up Autumn / Winter season here as well. Some trees are in Autumn and others are very much in Winter. Then of course there are some which are still in Spring and Summer *lol* which is just wrong altogether! As you can see form the top photo, some leaves are in the process of turning. I love Autumn. =D

Autumn Leaves -Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2008-10-23T14:31:00.001-04:00

Back in the day, there'd be a frost and afterwards all the leaves would change colour at the same time. Now every tree seems to be moving at its own pace. Some are already naked and ready for winter, others are still green. One of those quirks of climate change I guess. How's fall going in Scotland? You're it Carol!

Signs and Signals - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2008-09-28T14:22:00.002-04:00

Ah the time-honoured technique of taking photographs from a moving vehicle. Always so sharply focused and well-composed. There's lots of signs to read here. Hot soup and sandwich for $7.99, Townhomes for starting at 200. We're also having a federal election right now so people have put some signs up. The blue ones are advertising the conservative MP and the red one is for Liberal. I haven't notices as many election signs this time around, perhaps because this is our third election in five years and people are getting bored of them.

Signs and Signals - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-08-24T16:24:00.004-04:00

I wasn't sure what the tag was for when I took this. At first it was traffic lights... then it was a bollard... then it was signage... so here it is, all of the above! *lol* We have traffic lights, an directional area sign, new housing development, new shopping centre, a traffic bollard and some advertisements. Plus, I like the colour combo. You're it Jen!

Souvenirs - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-08-24T16:11:00.002-04:00

Traditional Scottish souvenirs. =) No, not from Poundland (our equivalent of the Dollar Store) 'cos I couldnt find any there, but from James Pringle Weavers. Typically, tourists to Scotland take back caseloads of shortbread, chocolate shaped like scottie dogs and the loch ness monster, whisky, tea towels, oat cakes, fudge, Edinburgh rock... we like our food lol.

Souvenirs - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2008-07-12T14:59:00.002-04:00

I was browsing through the dollar store when I came across this little bit of Canadiana. For those tourists who want to take home a token to toss in their junk drawer, here's quite a collection: socks, hacky sacks, key chains, pens, flags. My personal favourite is that tamborine-like thing with the feathers and the picture of a first-nations man (I think that's the politically correct term, though this thing is hardly PC anyway). If there's something that does a worse job of representing the culture I grew up in, I challenge anyone to find it. You're it, Carol!

Statue- Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2008-07-12T14:46:00.002-04:00

This sailor is close to the waterfront, and is part of a World War II Navy Memorial. It has flags and wreaths and a list of names on it and everything. Elsewhere, we have another statue of a soldier which also has a list of names (but I don't have a pic of that one). The names are all of dead people, which is kind of sad, but at least this guy has a nice view.

Statue - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-07-12T09:23:00.002-04:00

In front of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall stands this statue of Donald Dewar, the first First Minister of Scotland. After the creation of the Scottish Parliment in 1999, he was the first person to hold the post. This statue, located at the top of Buchanan Street, was unveiled in May 2002 by then Prime Minister Tony Blair. You probably can't make it out from the photo, but in keeping with his famous unkempt appearance, it shows Dewar wearing a slightly crushed jacket.
A little piece of trivia: the statue was later taken down and re-erected on a 6 foot high plinth to protect it - not from malicious vandalism but a Glaswegian cultural trend of putting orange traffic cones on the statues head! Ironically this is considered a gesture of respect by many in the city as most of the cities statues have found themselves wearing the familiar orange cones!

Construction - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-07-12T09:14:00.002-04:00

Ok ok ok ok ok... apologies for the delay. :'(
I'm back! We don't have a construction saying here, but there is a noticeable increase in the amount of construction taking place in March every year. Why, I hear you ask? Well, it's the end of the financial year and there is a sudden need to spend any unspent budget. *lol* It's true!
The colour of choice here is usually red, white and blue. The first sign of construction (or road works as we call it here) is the red triangle with the man digging (or as my Mum always says - putting up his umbrella!)

Update

2008-06-18T07:09:00.003-04:00

A wee update for all you International Tag readers out there...

Petrol in my little corner of Scotland has now reached a staggering 115.9 pence per litre!!! OMG!!! That's an increase of 21p (or 22%) since I posted this image! Jen, that makes it now 2.30 dollars in your currency. :P

Construction - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2008-05-28T21:04:00.002-04:00

There's an old Canadian saying: "We don't have four seasons, we have two: winter and construction." So now that the snow's been all melted for a while, it's time for workers to start digging holes in the middle of the road for no apparent reason (I'm sure they have a reason, it just isn't apparent). Anyway, orange is our colour of choice for construction signs. It prevents people from crashing into roadworkers, and lets everybody know that, yes, you will be caught in traffic today. You're it, Carol!

Traditional Drink - Ontario, Canada

2008-05-25T20:51:00.003-04:00

Beer is the best I could come up with. I hate beer, personally, so rather than buying some I just snuck up to the bar while we were at a family gathering and snapped a picture, all covert and spy-like. As you can see, the beer on the left is even called Canadian, Molson Canadian to be exact. For a while they had this highly patriotic ad campaign which consisted of an average-looking Canadian guy going up on stage in a movie theatre and reciting the following:

Hey, I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader....I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled....and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain they're really really nice. I have a Prime Minister, not a president. I speak English and French, not American. And I pronounce it 'about', not 'a boot'. I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack. I believe in peace keeping, not policing, diversity, not assimilation, and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal. A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch, and it is pronounced 'zed' not 'zee', 'zed'!!!! Canada is the second largest landmass! The first nation of hockey! and the best part of North America. My name is Joe!! And I am Canadian!!!

There were all kinds of parodies of this. (It's funnier if you're Canadian). In case you're wondering, Molson (makers of Canadian and Molson Ex on the right) is brewed in Montreal, Quebec and Labatt Blue is brewed in London, Ontario. Coors is American, so just pretend it's not there.

Traditional Drink - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-05-10T17:30:00.003-04:00

Aside from whisky, the one drink that Scotland is the proud to be the creator of is Irn Bru! Be sure to check out their website!
The formula for Irn-Bru is a closely guarded trade sceret, known only by two of Barr's board members, with a written copy held in a Swiss bank-vault!! How cool is that?!?! Do you think Coca-Cola can boast that? *lol*
It was first produced in 1901, the diet variety was introduced in 1980 and in 2006 an energy drink was born... a true icon of Scottish popular culture.
You're it Jen!

Police Car - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-05-10T17:23:00.003-04:00

Here is your typical Scottish police car. You can't miss these when they screech pass you on a busy city street! Typically these cars will have the blue and yellow geometrics emblazened on the wide and the Strathclyde Police logo on the bonnet (the front of the car). This one also has the Crimestoppers number which members of the public are encouraged to call if they suspect foul play and a new moto which reads "Working Together - Building Safer Communities." I'm always amazed at just how clean these vehicles are!!

Police Car - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2008-04-24T20:31:00.003-04:00

I took this picture ages ago, when a whole squadron of police cars randomly parked outside and officers stormed my building, guns blazing, looking for evil doers. At least that's how I'm going to remember it. The details are a bit fuzzy since it was so long ago. Anyway, if you see one of these cruisers by the side of the road, flash your headlights to warn people in the on-coming lanes to slow down and avoid the speed trap. It's the Canadian thing to do. You're it Carol!

Cat - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2008-04-24T19:43:00.002-04:00

As you can see, the cats in Canada are much younger. This was taken at the petstore across the street from my condo. So cute. I'd take him home, but I'm allergic. Plus I've got all the baby and furry I can handle with my son and my guinea pig.

Cat - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-04-23T17:22:00.004-04:00

A Scottish cat. This particular bundle of fluff is Jazz, our little monster. The reason he's looking so sad is because he knew we were packing to go away to Amsterdam for a few days and leaving him behind.
I'm sure Canadian cats look the same as Scottish cats, although I'll bet they have a diffenet miaow! *lol*
You're it Jen! :)

Strip Club - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-04-23T06:28:00.006-04:00

As soon as Jen posted the photo of Solid Gold, I knew I wouldn't have a problem finding Glasgow's equivalent! *lol* Welcome to Diamond Dolls, Glasgow's No. 1 strip club! Not quite as discreet as Burlington's establishment and right next to a sew shop and bar/cafe. The girl on the doorstep isn't waiting for her shift to begin (I took this at lunchtime!) - I believe she's a staff member at House of Fraser, one of the premier department stores in the country. Their staff smoke out in that street all the time.

Like Jen, I've never been in here, I just knew where it was. ;)

Strip Club - Burlington, Ontario

2008-04-20T08:55:00.004-04:00

I have lived in Burlington since I was five, and yet I've never attended this gentlemen's club. (Partly because I am a hetrosexual female, and naked dancing girls don't really interest me). The exterior isn't really that much to write home about, but it really demonstrates our somewhat-prudish Canadian custom of disguising our strip joints as classy establishments. Look, they even gave themselves 5 stars. You're it Carol!

Castle - Hamilton, Ontario

2008-04-20T08:39:00.003-04:00

This is what passes for a castle in southern Ontario. As wikipedia so eloquently puts it: "Dundurn Castle is an historic chateau on Dundurn Street North in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This 18,000 square foot mansion took three years to build, ending in 1835, for a cost $175,000.00. This seventy-two room castle featured the latest conveniences of gas lighting and running water." Hey, our house cost more than $175, 000. Maybe I can get someone to build us a castle instead. No? Well at least we got to tour the place using the free coupons that came with our cereal boxes. They even gave us cookies at the end of our tour. (William had 2, shhhhh).

BTW: Anyone recognize those tiny people hanging out by the tree?

Castle - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-04-14T16:52:00.003-04:00

Glasgow isn't a city built on rocks like Edinburgh (which has thee best castle!) but it has a scattering of small castles. This one is Dumbarton Castle, North of the river. It's cared for by Historic Scotland and seeing as they had a free weekend at all of their sites, we thought we'd g visit! =D You're it Jen!

City Sign - Glasgow, Scotland

2008-04-13T16:31:00.006-04:00

We're back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sincerest apologies for the massively hugenormous delay.....
Glasgow doesn't have a population sign - but we've now officially been announced as the official host city *yay* of the 2014 Commonwealth Games! =D

Population Sign - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-11-07T21:20:00.000-05:00

Well, technically this picture wasn't taken in Burlington. You have to step outside the city to take a picture of the population sign right? (At least that's how I think it works, I really don't know where the city limits are). Anyway, I think this picture was taken in Milton, north of Burlington. Normally a sign like this would just be blue and white like the top part and wouldn't have the city name written a second time with a bunch of fancy swoopty things coming off it, but Burlington wanted to be special so I guess we've made that our logo. Anyway we have 151 thousand Burlingtonians (give or take a dozen), how many Glasgowians are there? You're it, Carol!

Movies - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-11-07T20:54:00.000-05:00

Here's the list of all the movies currently playing at the SilverCity. As you can see, Rendition is playing. Ratatouille, however, is just coming out on DVD (good flick). I have no idea about the other ones, as I have a baby and am out of touch. The Nightmare Before Christmas wouldn't be playing here because we don't have an IMAX theatre. I totally forgot they were making a 3D version, it's one of my favourite movies! (hope I didn't miss it) Say, did you know IMAX movie technology is Canadian (you would know that if you saw an IMAX film here, because they are always preceded by a cheesey laser light presentation that tells fairly uninteresting facts while showing off the speakers).

Movies - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-11-01T18:33:00.000-04:00

These boards are outside the Odeon cinema we walked past last night. The Nightmare Before Christmas, Rendition, Ratatouille, Eastern Promises, Stardust, and The Nanny Diaries are all showing here. So I have to ask... just how far behind you guys are we? *lol* You're it Jen!

Newspaper Seller - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-11-01T18:12:00.000-04:00

Ok so we don't have newspaper boxes in Scotland - people would steal all the newspapers. *lol*

So instead we have poor little guys like this dude selling papers. He's sitting on thee most uncomfortable seat ever!

The Evening Times is Glasgow's main newspaper but seeing as you're all the way in Canada, you can read it online right here.

Newspaper Boxes - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-10-14T22:55:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you guys have these or not. Putting some change into the slot allows you to open the box and get a paper (high tech, I know). If you were an unscrupulous sort, you could put in the money for one paper but instead take all the papers and sell them for a tidy profit (and noone's the wiser). Anyway the Toronto Star and the Hamilton Spectator are the newspapers of choice around here. Burlington has its own paper, The Burlington Post, which is free, but it's got lots of ads and it's not unheard of for it to have a front page report on a craft show, or junior high school basketball tournament.

Highway - Ontario, Canada

2007-10-14T22:35:00.000-04:00

Adam just happened to have this pic in his collection. We took it on the way home from one of our camping trips. This is the 401. According to my friend the internet, it is the longest 400-series highway (those are the big ones). It's also one of the widest and busiest highways in the world. We call them highways not motorways because the government has plans to finance the construction of flying vehicles that don't use motors. Okay I made that last part up. The important thing is: our road's bigger. :)

Motorway - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-10-14T15:21:00.000-04:00

Scotland's main motorway - the M8 - which runs between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This is obviously a very quiet day 'cos in rush hour the traffic is crazy busy!

You're it Jen! I promise I'll be quicker from now on!

Fire Hydrant - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-10-14T15:13:00.000-04:00

I'm saying nothing apart from......... FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!

This blog is such a learning curve!!! Now I know that there are fire hydrants in Scotland!! :oD

Fire Hydrant - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-08-21T21:21:00.000-04:00

It's a fire hydrant. Fire fighters attach their hoses to it and use it to put out fires (I assume everyone knows this, but what more is there to say about a fire hydrant?). This one says "1979" on it, which means it was built the same year I was born. This hydrant and I could be long lost twins! You're it, Carol.

Bus Terminal - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-08-21T21:08:00.000-04:00

Okay so we don't have a bus station, but we have three train stations and a bus terminal. Here it is, the Burlington Transit Bus Terminal. I know, it's impressive. I mean, there's a sign and everything. The architecture around here can truly be breathtaking.

Bus Station - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-08-12T10:05:00.000-04:00

Glasgow only has one bus station but two train stations. This is the bus station... Buchanan Bus Station because it's on Buchanan Street. :) Obviously all the buses are round the back. I love the clock - very contemporary - no idea what it stands for (literally!) Time flies? Running out of time? No idea! You're it Jen! :)

Art Gallery - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-08-12T09:34:00.000-04:00

Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) is the second most visited contemporary art gallery outside London. Displayed inside is work by local and international artists as well as addressing contemporary social issues through its major biannual projects. A thoroughly inspiring and elegant neo-classical building in the heart of Glasgow city centre.

On a more fun note (and not from a guide book *lol*), see the horse statue at the right? The dude on it usually has a traffic cone on his head! *lol*

Ok Mum sent me this photo - here's what he looks like with the traffic cone on his head! Lol.

Art Gallery - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-08-09T23:06:00.000-04:00

This is the Burlington Art Centre. It used to be called the Cultural Centre (because we love to change the names of things) but I like the new name better. Anyway, it's free to get in and I've been going there to see art (and sometimes take art classes) since I was five or six years old. It's always had that large orange hunk of ...um... ART in front of it. You're it, Carol!

Movie Theatre - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-08-09T22:43:00.001-04:00

We call them movie theatres not cinemas (cinéma is French). Anyway. This theatre used to be called Famous 8 because it had eight screens, but then they expanded to 12 screens so they changed its name to (yup, you guessed it) SilverCity Burlington. There's two other movie theatres besides this one: "Showcase" and "Encore" but those are the cheapy ones. It rained today so it's a perfect time to go (we didn't, but it would have been a good time to go anyway).

Cinema - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-08-08T16:17:00.000-04:00

Probably a very easy one for ya here! At over 12 stories tall, CineWorld has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds Tallest Cinema! It seats around 4,300 in total over 18 screens, the largest of which seats 663, the smallest 84. Derek and I used to go here all the time! It's a great landmark in the city. You're it Jen!

Bridge - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-08-08T15:57:00.000-04:00

Well here are two of Glasgow's bridges. Like I said, there are plenty but too many to choose from. The top one is a footbridge and that is the Clydeside walkway to the left. It's always busy down here at lunchtime and it's only a few minutes walk from work so ideal for a sunny day, which today was! The bottom photo is a totally different bridge: the Kingston bridge which the M8 motorway travels over. It's Europe's busiest road bridge!! But standing where I was, you'd never guess it - it was so tranquil!

Bridge - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-08-05T21:44:00.001-04:00

There's actually two bridges in this photo. The big one on the right is the Skyway Bridge which is part of a highway called the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way). The green one that says "Canada" on it (in case you forget where you are) is the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge (meaning it raises up so that the boats can go through). Both bridges lead to Hamilton, Ontario and beyond. I recommend taking the Skyway Bridge rather than the lift bridge because noone has time to wait for that bridge to lower. You're it Carol.

Garden Centre - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-08-05T21:27:00.000-04:00

This is Terra Greenhouses, the garden centre near my parents' house. I took two photos and couldn't decide which one was the least horrible so I decided to post them both! There are so many plants that they have to use that little red vehicle to drive around and get them all. We haven't any problem with summer weather. Although personally I think it's too hot to garden.

Garden Centre - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-08-04T17:28:00.000-04:00

Seeing as it was a somewhat pleasant day, Derek and I took a trip to our local garden centre. Dobbies is the one of the main garden centre chains in the UK and my Grandparents swear by the coffee shops in them! Usually a hustle and bustle of activity in the Summer months, this one was dead quiet when we were in because the Summer weather here in Scotland has been so poor this year! :( You're it Jen!

High School - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-08-04T17:24:00.000-04:00

Barrhead High School. Derek used to go here (a looooooong time ago) *lol* but I didn't. Mine was much nicer, but sadly too far away to get a photo of. Because of this, I couldn't tell you the first thing about it, but the design of the building is pretty standard of all high schools in the area.

High School - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-07-30T08:10:00.001-04:00

This is M. M. Robinson High School, where I spent most of my teenage years. In Burlington we have two government funded school systems the Catholic school board and the public school board. MMR is a public school. It was named after Melville Mark (Bobby) Robinson (1888-1974), a Burlington fruit-farmer who was the sports editor of the Hamilton Spectator (a newpaper) and who founded the British Empire Games (later the Commonwealth games) in 1930. He was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in the 1950s. That goofy man giving the thumbs-up in the Subaru is my husband (don't mind him, he went to Catholic school). You're it Carol!

Café - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-07-30T07:59:00.001-04:00

Okay, so it's a bit of a stretch to call Tim Hortons a café (it's a doughnut and coffee shop) but I couldn't let the opportunity pass by to post this little bit of Canadiana. Tim Hortons, named after a hockey player, can be found on nearly every corner here. Many people buy coffee or muffins or even soup and sandwiches here on a daily basis. Once a year, usually around May, Timmies runs a "roll up the rim" contest, where by rolling up the rim of your coffee cup (or in my case, hot chocolate cup) you can win a car, or doughnut, or television, or more coffee. Edit: There are 2710 outlets in Canada, 336 outlets in the United States and one outlet just outside Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Cafe - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-07-29T10:09:00.000-04:00

I hope this doesn't constitute cheating ~ posting two photos in one go. :oP

I spotted this lonley soul enjoying a quiet coffee one day last week when the sun was shining. It's very rare to be able to sit out and enjoy the sun in Scotland lol. Mind you, this has to be the smallest cafe ever!! I love how it's so tiny but it is part of such a huge sandstone building! Ok you're it Jen!

View from my place - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-07-29T10:05:00.001-04:00

Here is the view from my spare bedroom looking out of the back of the house. The bottom left corner shows our garden (you'll recognise the bird house!) and behind all those trees is the main road. The little triangles you see on the hill are the roofs of houses. About 1 miles up the hill to the right is where Derek's Mum and Dad live. :)

View from my place - Burlington, Ontario

2007-07-28T11:51:00.001-04:00

I thought I'd make things easy this time. This is the view from my condo. There are few perks to living on the 9th floor. This is one of them. From up here, Burlington seems very green, forest-like even. Anyway, that stripe of blue along the horizon is Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes (the Great Lakes are called the Great Lakes because they are SO great.)

Beautiful House - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-07-28T11:37:00.000-04:00

I took this picture while I was strolling along lakeshore. This isn't the largest house on lakeshore, nor is it necessarily the prettiest, but it is one that I happened to take a decent photo of. In Burlington, there are a lot of mansions down by the lake, on Lakeshore Rd and Northshore Blvd, and other scenic streets whose names escape me.

Beautiful House - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-07-27T19:56:00.000-04:00

A house. But not just any house. This is actually two houses just a couple of streets away from me. There is nothing really special about them, I just liked the bay windows and the landscaped gardens. Glasgow has a million and one house styles, so this is likely to be a recurring theme lol. Ok now you're it Jen!

Church - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-07-27T19:43:00.000-04:00

Here is a beautiful church, right in the heart of Glasgow city centre. It's the St. George's Tron Parish Church on Nelson Mandela Place. I love how cars can drive around it and it's right there sandwiched between shops, restaurants and offices. I've never actually seen a service take place there but isn't is lovely?

Church - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-07-19T13:53:00.000-04:00

Not being much of a churchgoer (understatement of the decade), I can't tell you much about this particular church (other than the fact that it's near my building) or about Canadian churchs in general (other than the fact that this one looks pretty typical). Anyway, I like this photo because it has the Canadian flag waving all majestically. Unfortunately, judging by the clouds, it's going to rain. You're it Carol!

Girlie Magazine - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-07-19T13:48:00.000-04:00

Since I'm too cheap to actually buy a magazine (even in the name of blogging). Here's a pic I took at the library, while I was getting little William some books to chew.

Girlie Magazine - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-07-16T18:30:00.001-04:00

Here is the latest issue of Company magazine. I bought it on my way home today 'cos I wanted to look at the fashion pages. Anyway £2 and you get a free book. :) You're it Jen!

School Bus - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-07-16T18:15:00.000-04:00

Sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry!!! :'o(

FINALLY I get a [school] bus for ya! I had no idea we had so many viewers!!! Technically this isn't a School Bus but technically it's not a public transport bus. It's a luxury hire coach. Usually school buses aren't anywhere near as fancy as this but if you're going on a long school trip you'd usually get one of these, or if you're on a coach tour, this is your bus!

School Bus - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-07-03T21:45:00.000-04:00

For kids who live too far away from school to walk. Also useful for field trips to the apple orchard, or science centre, or pioneer village. This one was parked outside the mall across the street from my house, a sure sign that today's schools are really stretching for field trip destinations. You're it, Carol.

Taxi - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-07-03T21:34:00.000-04:00

I cheated with this photo aswell. Oh it is in Burlington, but I didn't take it. My husband, Adam took it a few weeks ago (he's getting into the international tag fun). Anyway, a lot of taxis around here look like the mini-van above, others are normal-sized cars. This taxi company has chosen the traditional yellow for their cabs. And now if I ever need a taxi, I know the number.

Taxi - Edinburgh, Scotland

2007-07-03T18:21:00.001-04:00

It's a taxi! Scottish cabs are traditionally this shape but black all over. This one is advertising Queen Margaret University, where I used to study! You're it Jen!

Library - Edinburgh, Scotland

2007-07-03T18:15:00.000-04:00

Ok so I cheated a little with this one. Yes it's a library but its not in Glasgow. This photo was taken in Edinburgh where I grew up. In fact thisis the very place I used to get all my books. :) Btw it's not as creepy as it looks! ;o)

Library - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-06-29T10:38:00.000-04:00

This is the Burlington Central Library, where I spent a lot of time in my youth. My Mom took us all the time to get books, and for story hour. Also this was back in the day when you had to go to the library to do research, so completing last minute projects the night before was much more difficult than it is today. You're it, Carol.

Gate - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-06-29T10:29:00.001-04:00

When Carol posted a gate I thought immediately of the luxurious mansions by the lake complete with extravagant gates. So I took a nice drive and a walk down Lakeshore Road, and you know what I discovered? People here are very fond of extravagant, luxurious gate posts with no gates on them! This must say something profound about Canadians (though I'm not sure what). Maybe it means that we're all friendly, welcoming, and trusting. Or else we're just too lazy to open and close gates all day.

Gate - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-06-26T19:29:00.000-04:00

A gate. Nothing more, nothing less. :) Well, there are daisies and some really long long grass... But primarily a gate. You're it Jen!

Petrol Station - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-06-26T19:25:00.000-04:00

24 hour petrol Glasgow style! :) This petrol station is part of Tesco supermarket. See, the cars are a bit bigger than before lol. Ok so your "gas" is super cheap!! Derek filled our wee Toyota today and it cost him 94.9 pence/litre, which is 202.9 cents for you. Taxes in the UK suck! :P

Gas Station - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-06-19T22:42:00.000-04:00

Here's Petro Canada, one of the big gas station companies around here. We Canucks talk about gas prices almost as much as we talk about weather. This morning we tanked up at 104.3 cents a litre, which is very expensive to us, but I understand is laughably cheap to the rest of the world. Oh, and it rained this evening. You're it, Carol.

Groceries - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-06-19T22:29:00.000-04:00

From left to right:
Kraft Dinner (or KD for short)- for some reason this cheesy noodle "meal" is found in every Canadian household. If you ask for it in the States, though, they look at you like you just crawled out of an igloo.
Frozen fishsticks - We don't actally have these very often but I think we should remedy that because they are yummy and easy to cook.
Mini-Wheats - It's a cereal with multiple personality disorder. Poor MW can never decide whether to show his sensible, healthy, high-fiber side, or his sweet, fun-loving, frosted side. We eat cereal every day for breakfast at our house. And look, I get a free Shrek Knight Light (my nephew stole the last one).

Just in case you were wondering: yes, our counter is always this dirty but this is by no means typical of Canadians. Most of us are very clean.

Groceries - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-06-19T16:21:00.000-04:00

Ok I think this has to be the most random tag so far! Lol. Three items regularly found in a kitchen after a trip to the supermarket. ;o) Here were have good old Heinz Baked Beans, a staple in our house. Then we have Bisto gravy granuals for chicken (goes great with chips!) Not crispy "chips" but fries... And then we have Harry Ramsden's mushy peas. Love them alongside fish. Yum! You're it Jen! :oD

Fire Engine - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-06-19T16:17:00.000-04:00

Here's a Strathclyde Fire Brigade fire enginen responding to a 999 emergency call. Actually, it was a false alarm at my office, but still. Lights flashing, sirens blaring... No parade for these guys! Is it just my imagination or do fire engines in Burlington seem longer than in Glasgow?

Fire Truck - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-06-17T22:05:00.000-04:00

I wonder what these guys do more often, fight fires or drive in parades. Here they are at the Sound of Music Festival yesterday. It's good to have them around, I guess, in case one of the marching bands catches fire. You're it, Carol.

Bird - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-06-17T21:52:00.000-04:00

I too know nothing about birds. This one was hanging out on a rock at Spencer Smith Park (a.k.a. The Waterfront). We have other kinds, including little birds similar to your Scottish blue tit, but I just happened to have taken this photo a few weeks ago. Bonus!

Bird - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-06-17T16:57:00.000-04:00

We're quite lucky to get so much wildlife in our garden. You've seen a squirrel, now here's a little bird. I know not the first thing about birds so not a clue what breed this is. But it's cute! My Grandad made the bird house as our Christmas present! :o) You're it Jen!

City Chambers - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-06-17T16:32:00.000-04:00

Glasgow doesn't have a City Hall so I guess the City Chambers is the next best thing. This grand Victorian building was designed by William Young and completed in 1890, and is now the headquarters of Glasgow City Council. A random piece of trivia for ya... the entrance hall of the Chambers displays a mosaic of the city's coat of arms on the floor. The arms reflect legends about Glasgow's patron saint, Saint Mungo, and includes four emblems - the bird, tree, bell, and fish - as remembered in the following verse:
Here's the Bird that never flew
Here's the Tree that never grew
Here's the Bell that never rang
Here's the Fish that never swam.

See the Wikipedia entry here.

I have a small confession to make. I didn't take this photo this weekend. There's a big clue in the pic which gives the time of year away... any guesses?? ;o)

City Hall - Burlington

2007-06-16T15:51:00.000-04:00

Here's where all the important decisions are made in our city (I guess). The tents and stuff are there because the Sound of Music Festival is on today. The Festival is a big deal in Burlington, but not so much anywhere else. This morning baby William and I watched a parade just few feet away from where this photo was taken. A surprising number of bagpipe bands. You're it, Carol.

Railway Line - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-06-16T15:40:00.000-04:00

Neither quaint, nor little, nor Scottish. People in Burlington use this railroad to take the GO Train to work (usually in Toronto) or to a baseball game or something. You can also use it to ride a via rail train to just about anywhere in Canada.

Railway Line - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-06-15T18:33:00.000-04:00

A quaint little Scottish railway line. :) This is the line that runs right by our house. If you're on a train on this line, and you look out of the right-hand window in about 2 seconds, you'd see our house! I've never done that 'cos the station before mine is miles away lol. But in theory...

Jen, you're it!

Phone Booth - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-06-15T18:24:00.001-04:00

A phone booth in Central Station (there's even a train to ptove it!) We have the box ones you showed all over the place, but refer to them as phone boxes lol. The vocabulary differences crack me up! :)

Phone Booth - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-06-14T12:32:00.000-04:00

Next I'll be taking pictures of cave paintings and woolly mammoths. Seriously though, these things are going the way of the dinosaur (as you know, dinosaurs became extinct when they were replaced with cellphones millions of year ago).

Supermarket - Burlington, Ontario, Canada

2007-06-14T12:19:00.000-04:00

Ultra Food & Drug is the grocery store I frequent most often, not because it's the best, but because it's the one within walking distance of my house. Other common ones are: Sobey's, Fortinos and Loblaws. I don't know how it is in Scotland, but in Ontario there are laws against selling alcohol in super markets. Luckily, this one is attached to an LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) where you can by all the booze you want.

Supermarket - Glasgow, Scotland

2007-06-13T13:04:00.000-04:00

I decided to take a break from roadsigns, so here is a typical Scottish supermarket. This one is right by an old mill, called Anchor Mill, hence the anchors on the wall. Common supermarkets here - Morrisons, Tesco, Somerfield, Asda, Sainsbury's. You're it Jen!