View allAll Photos Tagged heartbroken
Frankie D. and Dirk Diggler spin the sweetest soul, sophisticated jazz, dirtiest funk with a splash of hip-hop at the Studio 80 in Amsterdam.
Frankie D. and Dirk Diggler spin the sweetest soul, sophisticated jazz, dirtiest funk with a splash of hip-hop at the Studio 80 in Amsterdam.
Kyza, not a day goes by where you are not in my thoughts... in our thoughts! I'm tired of having to imagine you here, picturing you in my mind but, not seeing you here in reality! From not being able to stroke those fine hairs of yours, to not being able to feel the warmth of your body next to mine! You will forever be the most incredible of all my experiences in my lifetime. Golden of heart, that's what you have been to me and you have made my heart shine and now, it simply aches from the loss of your presence on this earth. I shall continue to tend to your resting spot, sing to you and wish in my heart, that we will meet again. oXxxxXo
The winter of 2005-2006 was the darkest of my life. I was 19 years old at the time, withdrawn from college, working my first full-time job in retail, and in an extremely unhealthy relationship. I was isolated from my friends and family. I felt completely alone, unseen, and unloved. I didn’t know how to get myself out of that state of mind or being. On a dark night in January 2006, heartbroken and helpless, I sat on the floor of my bedroom trying to convince myself to commit suicide. I don’t remember the day because a lot of that time is a blur. But I remember that night clearly. I remember the way my body felt. It was hollow, aching, and exhausted. Tears poured from my eyes and onto the carpet. I was telling myself over and over that no one loved me, that I was worthless, and that the world would be better off without me. My saving grace that night was that I didn’t want to really die, but I just didn’t want to live the way I had been. I may have hurt myself deeply that night, but I thank that young version of myself for staying in the fight. It would take another year before I got any relief from my pain, a beautiful 2 year respite, and then the inevitable resurfacing of patterns and habits in 2009 that had gone unhealed.
Despite all of that, she is the version of myself I am most grateful for. She decided to stop digging the hole she had been digging her whole life, to say there must be something other then this hole, and she looked up. She saw light. It might have been the tiniest speck of light really far away, but it was better than the endless darkness beneath her feet. She started to climb. She would slip and fall back into the hole, over and over, and she would cry. She would look up and say it’s impossible. But the ever present darkness surrounding her would make her start climbing again anyway, despite the seemingly impossible task ahead. She closed her eyes and asked for help. She didn’t know who she was asking, or if she were praying or begging, but she put her heart out there. And then a root appeared right when she needed it to, offering her a safe place to grab hold of so she wouldn’t fall back to the bottom. She never fell back to the bottom again, but the top was still so far away. The climb was the hardest thing she had ever done, but over time she came upon more roots that would help guide her to the top. The more she climbed, the stronger she became. She began learning to maneuver the vertical climb, adapting her body and mind to the struggle. More roots were presenting themselves the higher she climbed, some were so long she was able to lean on them when she needed to rest. She began to enjoy the struggle. The light continued to grow brighter. The impossible suddenly became possible. She climbed faster, harder, and more determined than ever. Until one day, she reached the top. She closed her eyes and began to cry as the light engulfed her. Now the hole was just a little dark speck on the ground that she had the freedom to walk away from. In order for her to make it to the top, she needed to make the decision to climb. If the roots hadn’t been there for her, she may never have made it. The roots had been there all along, she just needed to reach out for them. Once she began to walk away from the hole, she came upon a mountain. The mountain stands so tall she cannot see the top. She considered all the effort she just put into climbing out of the hole. She knew no one would fault her if she decided she had gone far enough and chose to just stay put. But she had witnessed the impossible become a reality of her own creation. She may have been covered in dirt, but she was stronger than ever. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that her life’s work would be to get as far up that mountain as possible. So she began to climb again.
I use this metaphor often to describe the 3 paths every human being always has the option of taking: digging themselves into a hole, staying unmoving where they are, or climbing to new heights. This paints a picture of the last ten years of my life. I was born in a hole my parents had created in their own lives, and all I knew was how to dig. The light was possibility. The roots were the people I have mentioned in this project, along with so many more. I needed help, people offered it, and I accepted it. What I am grateful for most in regards to myself is that I listened to these people. When they extended a hand, I took hold. They could have offered their help, advice, experiences, and friendship and I could have turned it away. I could have ignored what they were offering because I was too stuck in my dark story. I could have continued to believe the life I wanted was impossible. But I didn’t. I needed to find the will to live within myself, but I also needed to find those that could help guide me through unknown territory. I could not have made it to the top without them, and I could not have made it to the top without being me.
Now, let me really introduce myself. My name is Nikki Lanoue, and I am the happiest person I know. Every moment of every day I’m alive I design in a way to enhance my existence. I love who I am. I love how I spend my time. I love my body and what it does for me. I love my mind and what it’s capable of. I love my friends, as they are all the most amazing, loving people I’ve ever met. I love my family and accept everyone for exactly as they are. I exchange my time for money in ways that help make people feel better physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually. I take care of myself by eating well, exercising/moving daily, receiving bodywork, spending time with friends/family, spending time alone, meditating, and holding myself accountable to stay in the light. I travel the world. I’m self-employed. Anything that makes me feel uncomfortable, I lean into it instead of fleeing from it. Anything that challenges me, I embrace as something that will help me grow stronger. I learn from my mistakes, my experiences, other people, and books. I am honest. I have integrity. I am loyal and responsible. Who I am on the inside is exactly who I project to the outside world.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to every single person who has had a positive impact in my life. I am here because you took the extra step, because you cared. In honor of all that these people have done for me, I will forever share my story and experiences in the hopes that I can have the same impact on someone else the way these people have had such a profound impact on me. I now risk being seen as the person that might be a little over the top, that might share too much, that might go on rants about the amazing aspects of life she has experienced. I will forever share the books I read, or give shout outs to those I love on social media. I will continue to make an effort to touch the hearts of others in a way mine has been touched.
I love myself. In the truest, deepest way I’ve ever experienced love. No one on the Earth will ever know me as well as I know myself, or love me as much as I love myself, because I am the only person that is with me every single moment of my existence. This is what I hope to inspire in others. How can anyone learn to speak the language of love if they’ve never heard it spoken before? We need each other to thrive as a tribe, but being the person you want to be and having the life you want can only come from within. When we want to see change in our lives and in the world, we must first change ourselves.
I was given the seed of change 10 years ago. I have grown into a brilliant tree that will continue to reach for the light as long as I live. My roots will continue to grow firmly into the ground so that others may have something to grab hold of when they need it. I will continue to drop fruits from my branches in hopes that new seeds of change will grow. My tree stands amongst a forest of other amazing trees. In this forest, all are encouraged to climb.
Just after the final whistle in Nuremburg. The Dutch heartbroken by their defeat while Portugal march on.
yesterday was a very sad day in the MacBride house our little cat Dexter died :( we are all heartbroken, our other two little cats Custard and Littles are still not themselves today....
EVERY Monday night at Studio80 on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam!
Party: Heartbroken
Venue: Studio80
Coverage by: Waking up in Amsterdam!
Our special boy is missing. GT does go outside but generally he sticks pretty close to home. He has not been see since Friday morning. He was wearing a (breakaway) collar with a tag and he is microchipped. We have put ads online, posted flyers and have checked our local pound, but so far nothing.
The other troublesome thing is that our neighbor's cat Scratch has been missing since Thursday.
I can't even begin to express how heartbroken we are. :-(
She was heartbroken today...
Her Omi gave her a little teeny tiny digital camera but it wouldn't work:(. So, I let her take some shots with mine instead.
The winter of 2005-2006 was the darkest of my life. I was 19 years old at the time, withdrawn from college, working my first full-time job in retail, and in an extremely unhealthy relationship. I was isolated from my friends and family. I felt completely alone, unseen, and unloved. I didn’t know how to get myself out of that state of mind or being. On a dark night in January 2006, heartbroken and helpless, I sat on the floor of my bedroom trying to convince myself to commit suicide. I don’t remember the day because a lot of that time is a blur. But I remember that night clearly. I remember the way my body felt. It was hollow, aching, and exhausted. Tears poured from my eyes and onto the carpet. I was telling myself over and over that no one loved me, that I was worthless, and that the world would be better off without me. My saving grace that night was that I didn’t want to really die, but I just didn’t want to live the way I had been. I may have hurt myself deeply that night, but I thank that young version of myself for staying in the fight. It would take another year before I got any relief from my pain, a beautiful 2 year respite, and then the inevitable resurfacing of patterns and habits in 2009 that had gone unhealed.
Despite all of that, she is the version of myself I am most grateful for. She decided to stop digging the hole she had been digging her whole life, to say there must be something other then this hole, and she looked up. She saw light. It might have been the tiniest speck of light really far away, but it was better than the endless darkness beneath her feet. She started to climb. She would slip and fall back into the hole, over and over, and she would cry. She would look up and say it’s impossible. But the ever present darkness surrounding her would make her start climbing again anyway, despite the seemingly impossible task ahead. She closed her eyes and asked for help. She didn’t know who she was asking, or if she were praying or begging, but she put her heart out there. And then a root appeared right when she needed it to, offering her a safe place to grab hold of so she wouldn’t fall back to the bottom. She never fell back to the bottom again, but the top was still so far away. The climb was the hardest thing she had ever done, but over time she came upon more roots that would help guide her to the top. The more she climbed, the stronger she became. She began learning to maneuver the vertical climb, adapting her body and mind to the struggle. More roots were presenting themselves the higher she climbed, some were so long she was able to lean on them when she needed to rest. She began to enjoy the struggle. The light continued to grow brighter. The impossible suddenly became possible. She climbed faster, harder, and more determined than ever. Until one day, she reached the top. She closed her eyes and began to cry as the light engulfed her. Now the hole was just a little dark speck on the ground that she had the freedom to walk away from. In order for her to make it to the top, she needed to make the decision to climb. If the roots hadn’t been there for her, she may never have made it. The roots had been there all along, she just needed to reach out for them. Once she began to walk away from the hole, she came upon a mountain. The mountain stands so tall she cannot see the top. She considered all the effort she just put into climbing out of the hole. She knew no one would fault her if she decided she had gone far enough and chose to just stay put. But she had witnessed the impossible become a reality of her own creation. She may have been covered in dirt, but she was stronger than ever. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that her life’s work would be to get as far up that mountain as possible. So she began to climb again.
I use this metaphor often to describe the 3 paths every human being always has the option of taking: digging themselves into a hole, staying unmoving where they are, or climbing to new heights. This paints a picture of the last ten years of my life. I was born in a hole my parents had created in their own lives, and all I knew was how to dig. The light was possibility. The roots were the people I have mentioned in this project, along with so many more. I needed help, people offered it, and I accepted it. What I am grateful for most in regards to myself is that I listened to these people. When they extended a hand, I took hold. They could have offered their help, advice, experiences, and friendship and I could have turned it away. I could have ignored what they were offering because I was too stuck in my dark story. I could have continued to believe the life I wanted was impossible. But I didn’t. I needed to find the will to live within myself, but I also needed to find those that could help guide me through unknown territory. I could not have made it to the top without them, and I could not have made it to the top without being me.
Now, let me really introduce myself. My name is Nikki Lanoue, and I am the happiest person I know. Every moment of every day I’m alive I design in a way to enhance my existence. I love who I am. I love how I spend my time. I love my body and what it does for me. I love my mind and what it’s capable of. I love my friends, as they are all the most amazing, loving people I’ve ever met. I love my family and accept everyone for exactly as they are. I exchange my time for money in ways that help make people feel better physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually. I take care of myself by eating well, exercising/moving daily, receiving bodywork, spending time with friends/family, spending time alone, meditating, and holding myself accountable to stay in the light. I travel the world. I’m self-employed. Anything that makes me feel uncomfortable, I lean into it instead of fleeing from it. Anything that challenges me, I embrace as something that will help me grow stronger. I learn from my mistakes, my experiences, other people, and books. I am honest. I have integrity. I am loyal and responsible. Who I am on the inside is exactly who I project to the outside world.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to every single person who has had a positive impact in my life. I am here because you took the extra step, because you cared. In honor of all that these people have done for me, I will forever share my story and experiences in the hopes that I can have the same impact on someone else the way these people have had such a profound impact on me. I now risk being seen as the person that might be a little over the top, that might share too much, that might go on rants about the amazing aspects of life she has experienced. I will forever share the books I read, or give shout outs to those I love on social media. I will continue to make an effort to touch the hearts of others in a way mine has been touched.
I love myself. In the truest, deepest way I’ve ever experienced love. No one on the Earth will ever know me as well as I know myself, or love me as much as I love myself, because I am the only person that is with me every single moment of my existence. This is what I hope to inspire in others. How can anyone learn to speak the language of love if they’ve never heard it spoken before? We need each other to thrive as a tribe, but being the person you want to be and having the life you want can only come from within. When we want to see change in our lives and in the world, we must first change ourselves.
I was given the seed of change 10 years ago. I have grown into a brilliant tree that will continue to reach for the light as long as I live. My roots will continue to grow firmly into the ground so that others may have something to grab hold of when they need it. I will continue to drop fruits from my branches in hopes that new seeds of change will grow. My tree stands amongst a forest of other amazing trees. In this forest, all are encouraged to climb.
Everyone’s heartbroken nowadays. But I mean, we all just have to move on. What’s the point of reminiscing when you know the person is no longer worth while; when they’re no longer who they used to be? When their heart is somewhere else? Do you think they still care for you, or are still thinking about you? Because frankly, THEY DON'T!!!!
For ... T' :) :
Xin lỗi bạn chứ, cảm xúc của bạn là nhất thời. Nhưng tổn thương của tôi là mãi mãi. Cái thứ tình cảm rẻ rách ăn hại của bạn, tôi không thèm. Xem như tôi nhìn nhầm người xấu thành người tốt. Người ta ngu dốt 1 lần, chứ không ai đần độn cả đời. Lắm lời với bạn cũng chẳng qua chỉ vì xót xa cho cái tình cảm giả tạo đáng nhạo báng mà bạn lê lết cho tôi suốt thời gian qua mà thôi. Yêu thì yêu cho tới bến, sến cho tới cùng, khùng cho tới cực.... Xong rồi lên cơn làm trò dẩm dít, thì xin mời bạn tít mít líu lo với đám ruồi bọ đó đi. Đừng vo ve xung quanh tôi để mà làm gì. Tôi không có rảnh chửi bạn nữa đâu. Để lâu cứt trâu hóa bùn...
For bạn Mon :
Ta nói... thế gian thứ dễ đổi thay nhất là lòng người. Hiểm ác nhất cũng là lòng người. Thông minh nhất cũng là con người... Nhưng ngu dốt nhất trên đời... cũng là con người nốt.
Sống có tâm có đức chút đi để cho con cháu sau này nhờ cậy, không lại tuyệt tự tuyệt tôn, hậu vận héo mòn, không tốt đẹp.
Cái lũ thất đức, sống không bằng loài chó lợn ( chó còn biết sủa gâu gâu, chủ ở đâu nó còn biết vẫy đuôi tíu tít. Lợn nó còn biết kêu éc éc, ai cho nó ăn nó xoắn xuýt tít mù ) thì số phận cũng chẳng tươi sáng mãi được đâu. Trẻ trâu mà cứ thích làm đầu gấu. Thảo khấu mà cứ thích ăn vận đại gia rồi già mồm nữa chứ!
Frankie D. and Dirk Diggler spin the sweetest soul, sophisticated jazz, dirtiest funk with a splash of hip-hop at the Studio 80 in Amsterdam.
Frankie D. and Dirk Diggler spin the sweetest soul, sophisticated jazz, dirtiest funk with a splash of hip-hop at the Studio 80 in Amsterdam.
Frankie D. and Dirk Diggler spin the sweetest soul, sophisticated jazz, dirtiest funk with a splash of hip-hop at the Studio 80 in Amsterdam.
Haiti #Wecare
We’re heartbroken with the amount of devastation Mathew has left behind in Haiti and we want to pull all our efforts in to help as much as we can.
Please join us in an very Special Master Class with all the Zumba Star Instructors to help us raise as much funds as possible. All the proceeds will go to:
Prodev
Our talented team will come together on Sunday December 4th from 12:00-2:30 PM to deliver an exceptional experience with the single goal to help and give. Be ready to dance for 90min non stop with our all star Team.
Here are some the instructors that will be present:
Volha
Angelina
Bryan
Yxia
Rene
Josip
Celeste
Anna
Edmee
Will
Idania- She is flying back from Miami just for you!
Photography by Hiroshi Ishikawa
Haiti #Wecare
We’re heartbroken with the amount of devastation Mathew has left behind in Haiti and we want to pull all our efforts in to help as much as we can.
Please join us in an very Special Master Class with all the Zumba Star Instructors to help us raise as much funds as possible. All the proceeds will go to:
Prodev
Our talented team will come together on Sunday December 4th from 12:00-2:30 PM to deliver an exceptional experience with the single goal to help and give. Be ready to dance for 90min non stop with our all star Team.
Here are some the instructors that will be present:
Volha
Angelina
Bryan
Yxia
Rene
Josip
Celeste
Anna
Edmee
Will
Idania- She is flying back from Miami just for you!
Photography by Hiroshi Ishikawa
today, with her shoes on the wrong feet, i signed her up for early preschool (2-3yrs old)
(everyday when we drop her brother off she says, "me school, too")
sitter schedule is changing and I need extra help with work
today we walked down to her classroom
her hand gripping my mine so tightly I could barely feel my fingertips
walking into her room, the other kids rushed up to say hello...all with huge smiles
she tried to pull me back out of the room into the hallway..she is shy
I think she thought "school" meant being with her big brother and his friends all day
I told her I'd stay in the room with her so she wouldn't have to go alone
she agreed
after five minutes in the story area with me, two kids talked her into playing blocks
she walked away from me without looking back
(my heart broke a little)
she played
i filled out paperwork
she finger painted - today's color was brown
(i fought back tears and tried to remember where the last 2 1/2 yrs went)
when we got ready to leave, she said, "no. i don't want to."
so i walked down to the administration office to file paperwork alone.
when i came back she was dancing & singing with the other kids to "the wheels on the bus"
i told her it was time to go and she protested
(my heart broke even more)
the teacher and other kids told her they'd see her next week
this made her happy as she waved goodbye
i was grateful that she liked the other kids and her new teacher
and i've been in tears all day today knowing that next tuesday begins a new chapter in her life...she is growing up.
as we walked to the van holding hands, she kept saying "me school too" and i noticed again that her shoes were on the wrong feet (just like she likes them) and i fought back some more tears.
gratitude for my daughter and how she is growing into her own person...
62/365:
June 8th, 2017 - Apple Blossom Princess Kentville shown here riding down Main Street in the the famous Kentville Grande Street Parade after ABF directors had earlier in the year tried to hi jack the beloved Parade from the citizens and move it to a different town ? Outraged Kentville townsfolk were forced to battle ABF Management to recover their own annual town parade ?
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ABF 2017 :
A quick review of the notorious hostile takeover bid and an attempt to extract the 2017 Kentville Grand Street Parade away from its natural home in the town of Kentville ?
February, 2017 - With only 3 months to go and parade planning and preparations well underway as per usual for the upcoming 2017 edition of Kentville Grand Street Parade, officials were suddenly caught totally off-guard and were absolutely blindsided by shocking news coming from out of nowhere that current ABF Management who are in charge of the festival had made a final decision in private to take Grand Street Parade away from its long time home in Kentville ? Apparently, they had already moved to taken it away from Kentville and then transfer it to New Minas during secret meetings held without inviting, consulting, requesting permission or giving proper notice to Kentville ? And so it seemed that a group of inconsiderate Officials with radical new ideas had ignored town of Kentville interests and 87 years of tradition, and had (incredibly) just taken the annual Grand Street Parade ( and even future Parades ) from Kentville without consultation, notice or permission ? Drastic location changes and even elimination of other longtime events and attractions always held in Kentville such as the Friday night outdoor show and fireworks, the Memorial Park Wednesday and Thursday displays with Valley student participation and numerous attractions, the bringing in of popular outside bands, and even the famous historic Kentville Children's Parade were all targeted by this grouping of ABF directors for cut-back or termination ? Radical changes in the Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition including gender, contestant rules, location of crowning ceremony, and changes in overall competition format were also discussed ? ABF Officials defended secretive, inconsiderate and authoritarian type actions by claiming that as stewards of the festival they are entitled and obliged to uphold the integrity of the festival ? (integrity ? ) They later changed stories saying they were left with no other choice due to Kentville's inability to prove they can successfully host such a large Parade event, ( Kentville has hosted this parade for the last 85 years ), and also because the people in charge of Grand Street Parade were unprofessional, indifferent and uncooperative ?
And so it came to be that a newly elected Mayor and a new Council in its infancy were suddenly confronted with perhaps the most serious challenge ever to be faced by the town of Kentville since the tragic loss of their two major transportation sources, that being the loss of the railway in 1989, followed by the shocking loss of aviation in 2014 when the Town CAO and the Warden and Council conspired to close out Waterville municipal Airport and evict all businesses and tenants ? This new and very serious challenge came in the form of a surprise and pernicious attack and attempt to hijack Kentville's most beloved local commercial attraction ? The unexpected surprise action came from an unfamiliar and unfriendly source that appeared to be inconsiderate, disrespectful, and even a tad opportunistic when considering that Kentville just finished installing a brand new rookie Mayor and Council ? When the newly elected Mayor of Kentville was suddenly swarmed by news of so many extreme actions already taken against her town's best interests, a shocked and disbelieving Mayor Snow said when speaking with local media that she was overwhelmed, heartbroken and called the actions unprecedented, disrespectful and unacceptable ? Everyone seemed to agree that an attack on Kentville's most popular and well known outdoor event without courtesy of an invitation, negotiation, inclusion, consultation or approval is unacceptable ? Needless to say, the biggest losers of all were the good citizens of Kentville who have contributed so much over the last 90 years going back to the thirties and forties in times when the CNR train brought many Parade patrons to stay at the Cornwallis Inn ? Over the years the Town has invested enormous amounts of its time, energy and town resources into the creation of a world-famous event that draws tens of thousands of visitors.
All Valley towns take great pride and look forward to their individual town festivals and especially their yearly parade. The citizens of Kentville are no different. Towns like Kingston, Hantsport, Wolfville, Windsor, Berwick, Canning, Greenwood etc. will never have to worry about someone hijacking their yearly community parade or otherwise taking it away ? However, sadly, the citizens of Kentville now face the troubling prospect of a possible loss of their annual town parade without notice at any time and of losing many years of time, energy, town resources, manpower and all of the other general services and contributions made during the past 88 years that it has taken to create this world class event ?
The current 2017 ABF board of Directors is led by Angela Pelton and Alxys Chamberlain (Queen Annapolisa 2015), with Barb Madic, Heidi Scotney-Kinsman, John Patterson, Katie Gordon, Krista Morine, Linda Keddy, Logan Morse, Sarah Griffiths, and Steffany Cox-Lingard ?
Frustration growing in Kentville, N.S. over Apple Blossom parade change CTV Atlantic atlantic.ctvnews.ca/frustration-growing-in-kentville-n-s-...
Kings County Councilor Emma Van Rooyen calls for de-funding of the Apple Blossom Festival
atlantic.ctvnews.ca/apple-blossom-festival-competition-di...
JULY 14, 2023 - Valley Pride workshops, drag performances, and more events planned for Kentville and Wolfville over the weekend.
globalnews.ca/video/9832465/first-official-pride-festival...
CTV Jan. 23, 2017 " A long-standing N.S. festival opens competition to all gender identities"
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/long-standing-n-s-festival-opens-co...
ABF 2022 - Princess competition and Queen Annapolisa pageant to be postponed this year ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/52076239848/in/datepos...
New Minas agrees to host the parade after approached by festival organizers ? Protest Petition is started !
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/apple-blossom-festival...
Kentville will host the Apple Blossom parade after all
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/kentville-gets-apple-b...
No Smoking in KVille, but we encourage you to drink, gamble and smoke pot all you want ? Maders tobacconist in downtown Kentville is celebrating 50 years in business,,
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/9344935900
may 2023 = Kids welcome at an all-age Drag show to be held at the Kings Arms in Kentville,,
www.nsbuzz.ca/life/kentville-all-ages-drag-show-draws-pro...
A protest against an all-age drag show at the Kings Arms ends peacefully in Kentville,
www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/communities/a-celebration-of...
Lunenburg - Now even Queen is a bad name ? Lunenburg recently changed the name of Cornwallis Street to Queen Street. Queen was first choice in a survey taken to select a new street name. But the town received another complaint from the local anti-racism committee saying they are upset by a democratic decision that would replace one colonial street name (Cornwallis) with another, (Queen ) ?
www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/ns-town-that-changed-cornwa...
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ABF 2022,
Following a 2 year absence due to Covi,, the 2022 Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival. (and Parade) will be held as per usual this year.. But, unfortunately the Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition will have to be postponed until next year due to time constraints.
ABF 2022 :
* Update 2022 Update * This year's ABF won't be same as others ? For the first time in its long illustrious history, this years ABF will be missing the better half of the Festival, that being the coveted Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition and the prestigious coronation crowning ceremony in Wolfville ? All are to be postponed ? Bad news indeed for aspiring young contestants, for our local communities, for the Festival itself, and for patrons and sponsors. Perhaps the current board of Directors should focus more attention on their job of actually holding the event rather than arguing about inclusion and entrance ? The Valley looks forward to next year's pageant ? Unfortunately. it seems that this year's directors are not prepared to make the necessary expenditures needed to bring in some quality outside guest performers for the Friday night concert ( (or for a big-name Saturday night concert event) as has always been the case in previous years when bands like Eddy's Basement, or the many various guest Tribute Bands, or artists like the Barra McNiels, K D Lang, Michelle Wright, and others were brought in to entertain the crowd ?
It seems this year ABF Officials choose to emphasize the word 'free' in advertisements ? The ABF events they are advertising as free have always been free ? Is this promotion or the pointing out of the 'free' idea mean there are future plans to begin charging for events that have always been free in the past such as Grand Street Parade or the Friday night Memorial Park entertainment and Fireworks ? It seems more likely that if they were to ever repeat this year's lacklustre bare minimal effort they might have to start paying patrons to attend ?
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ABF 2023 :
Shocking news from ABF,
* There's been a stunning development at ABF. *
Apparently in a new younger generation there are those who harbor resentment towards our nations history, for English colonialism, and even for the Monarchy ? Other minority groups have voiced discontent over the diversity and inclusion issue ? And so it seems that the current ABF Board of Directors has listened to the concerns and complaints of a few small minority groups while apparently ignoring and excluding the overwhelming majority of Valley residents ? And it appears that this current Board of Directors chose to resolve discontent by simply moving to implement and execute the nuclear option and final solution ? And therefore after a highly successful lengthy run of 87 consecutive years in a row, the highly anticipated, very popular, family oriented, inclusive and diverse, multi village Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess Pageant along with the prestigious Royal Coronation crowning ceremonies held in Wolfville have all been terminated forever by this current board of Directors ?
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-----------------------It's The End of an Era-----------------------------
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep."
Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival 2023 - ABF Board of Directors have announced they are making drastic new changes in format and making more devastating cut-backs to the annual People's Festival ? Recent concerns over ceremony, symbolism, monarchy and past colonialism, along with the ongoing inclusion and diversity issue relative to the Queen Annapolisa contest, as well as the current Trudeau Liberal political environment in Canada, may have all influenced a new generation of ABF Officials to radically update the historic Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess pageants in order to bring the Valley up to modern standards that they believe more relevant to current times ? And so it seems that Directors must have held an extremely private 'think tank' and without consideration, consultation, or bothering to invite or gain approval from long time participating Valley communities, Officials must have decided that rather than trouble themselves any further with the issue, why not just take the easy way out and simply get rid of this history ? And so it seems that a decision must have been made, in a very private way, to enforce the life ending final solution ? And so, as of 2023 the iconic 87 year old Apple Blossom Princess contest and pageant is to be shut down and terminated forever ? This act has been carried out without public input, inclusion, involvement, attendance or approval, and now one of the longest running, popular, highly anticipated, inclusive and diverse family events to ever benefit the Valley is over ?
This cold act of finality will end the 88 year reign of her royal Heinous Queen Annapolisa and it will terminate all further participation of the 7 to 10 Apple Blossom Princess contestants and child attendants representing 7 to 10 local Valley communities ? It also ends appearances by the beautiful hand crafted award winning Princess floats that are the focal highlight of Grand Street Parade and will signal the end of the ultra glamorous Queen and Ladies-in-waiting Crowning ceremonies gala that is held and televised each year from Acadia University in Wolfville ? This will end the popular community Princess Tea events, the Royal Party visitations to local Schools, hospitals and old folks homes that were so welcome and appreciated by Students, Seniors, shut-ins and the disabled ? And this means the end of Royal Party appearances at the Kentville Children's Parade, the Memorial Park Friday night open air Rock concert and fireworks, and Royal party attendances at many other events held annually throughout the Valley and Province ?
It appears now that current ABF Officials led by President Logan Morse along with Kentville town rep Lindsey Young not only interrupted the Pageant in 2022 when they temporarily postponed it, but have now in 2023 moved to terminate the prestigious event forever explaining that their decision was made to improve, include, modernize and evolve the fampus pageant ? This final act of termination ends almost 90 years of royal pageantry and also leaves a huge gap in the Festival itself ? It also negatively affects the nearby Valley communities who participate and always enter contestants in the Pageant ? The end of this important multiple community event and the taking away of the better half and Star of the Apple Blossom Festival brings forth the question of what replacement is planned, and what are local towns and villages that always play a major role in both the Queen and Princess competition suppose to do now ? And what about Valley youth and childhood dreams of one day becoming a child attendant or an Apple Blossom Princess or even a Queen ?
You have to marvel at the level of disrespect shown by these new generation Officials who have appointed themselves as the ones that will end the Pageant and then think that Valley residents are stupid enough to believe that by cancelling and taking away a long running 90 year old event they have in some perverted way of thinking moved the Valley forward or improved and modernized anything ? It seems far more likely that they have taken a giant leap backwards and robbed the Valley people of a much beloved, multi community, inclusive and live local family production that has always been the most anticipated highlight of the year for the past almost 90 consecutive years ?
Why current ABF Management, who claim to be stewards in charge and responsible for the promotion and presentation of this event, appear unable to perform their duties or to perform the job they're paid to do and do what their predecessors have always done so well each and every year for the past 87 years, often in far more trying circumstances and in far less prosperous times, is difficult to comprehend ? And you have to wonder, Whatever happened to the # 1 rule in business that says that if you can't do your job because of your inexperience, immaturity, inability, personal bias, laziness, or just plain stupidity, then,, YOU'RE ALL FIRED ! (and a Class action recovery suit may be forthcoming ?)
An Identity Crisis ;
Can an identity crisis be looming in the town of Kentville ?
A proud and neighborly salt of the earth working class community with generous hard working friendly citizens and a rich historic Railroad, agriculture, food and farming background is losing many of its longtime local traditions, themes and trademarks while elected Town officials, many of them new arrivals just stand still, watch and even enable ? After having always been identified as the main Provincial railroad center ever since the old Dominion Rail days dating back to 1869, the town has since lost all passenger and freight train rail service in and out including a modern passenger Dayliner service that traveled back and forth to Halifax every day ? And after the railway had been shut down it seemed they couldn't clear out the brand new train station, dig up tracks and demolish the old roundhouse fast enough ? And so now, in what seems to be cruel mockery, the only visible signs left in Kentville from past glory years of what once was the largest, most important, most active railroad center west of Halifax is a hand painted picture of a train mural that has been etched onto the weather beaten side of a downtown business building ?
Unfortunately the end of the railway industry wasn't to be the last major transportation loss yo be forced upon the people of Kentville as they were to become even more isolated from the outside World when for no apparent rational or necessary reason the aviation community at the Waterville municipal Airport CCW3 complex were told to get out when they had done nothing wrong and had no where else to go ? An invaluable contributor to the local area was suddenly lost when a fully operational well established municipal airport, a well known popular Canadian sky diving facility, an internationally known long time pilot training and licensing academy, many private aircraft owned by local owners, and numerous other fully established aviation businesses were all lost to the community after being ordered off the property ? An eviction order courtesy of Kings Council also left our young Camp Aldershot Air Cadets without their base of operations, and now the next generation of youngsters will have to grow up without their popular aviation training and education facility ?
And so it had seemed that a duly elected group of officials who don't even live in the area had ended the long life of a historic local Aviation facility that took multiple decades to build and establish, and they had transformed a thriving Aeropark into a useless barren open field of weeds where unsupervised Michelin bike riding children can now be seen dodging dandelions that are poking their heads thru the deteriorating asphalt runway that once served as the landing platform for private and commercial aircraft to fly in and out on a daily basis ? And to add salt to this wound, what appeared to be a calculated senseless forced eviction and the subsequent devastating lost revenue to the local economy was to be hailed by Kings Council, ( and also by the prestigious Ivany Report Committee ) as being a bold and brilliant business decision to greatly improve and benefit the local area ?
After months of facing homelessness and an uncertain future, a few of the evicted tenants found sites elsewhere and relocated at their own expense to start all over again, while others just quit, and others were finally redirected to a new location in Greenwood (which just happened by chance to be Kings Council County Warden's home riding) ? And so, in the end a devastating loss for Kentville and the entire local area became a windfall for Kingston Greenwood, and, Kentville was left to carry on without either a Railway or an Airport ?
When the original Kentville KCA town School closed, Kentville lost its high school and students were left without a home town school ? They were now bused daily to the nearby town of Canning ? This left only the Grade 1 to 8 age groups to identify with Kentville as their home school, a situation that still exists today ? There is no longer a movie theater in Kentville as the downtown movie theater has been closed forever, and the popular Edge sports bar, eatery and pool hall had also closed down and was never replaced ? Harvey's Hamburgers drive thru closed down and it wasn't replaced ? The longtime bowling alley in New Minas was bought out by developers, torn down, and replaced with a business office complex ? We lost the local salvage, reclamation and disposal site in South Alton when the Provincial Government ordered it to be shut down, but the same folks who shut it down never offered to replace it to leave the community without this much needed facility ? One day a portion of roof blew off the town funeral home and it never re-opened leaving only one such establishment in town ? And, just as the citizens of Kentville were shocked to learn that both Apple Blossom Princess and the Queen Annapolisa pageants were terminated after 87 consecutive years, there was at the same time an all age Drag Queen show preparing to entertain at the Kings Arms Pub in a total flip flop scenario from the one that most Kentville citizens identify with at this time of year when popular Irish Rovers or Scottish pipers played at the pub ? Numerous local restaurants and small businesses have come and gone - mostly gone - and, after Maders has served the community for 50 years, high taxation and license fees, ridiculous Government rules and regulations have left Maders barely able to hang on ? The main town supermarket Jasons IGA had a fire forcing him to close down for over a year and so there was no supermarket to provide groceries for local citizens ? The ever popular multi venue Wandlyn Inn burned down and all of its venues were lost to the community ? The Inn was never replaced after the fire and now there's just a fast food MacDonald's on the old property as a replacement for the many lost hotel rooms, the indoor swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna, the nightclub, dual convention centers and dual restaurants that Wandlyn Inn had offered ?
The traditional July 1st Canada Day town sponsored event of fun, food, speeches and local entertainment held each year at the wading Pool was curtailed by the Town due to budget considerations, and if you want to enjoy July 1st entertainment or fireworks you must travel to New Minas, Hantsport or Berwick ? Access to water supply is always one of the most identifiable utility entitlements to be provided by any town ? Billions are currently being spent by the Canadian taxpayer to provide all First Nations people with free safe water ? Yet Kentville water commission charges the customer 10,000 dollars just to turn their town owned water on at the roadside and nothing else ? And after this initial surcharge has been forced upon the customer he still has to pay for all yard trenching, pipe laying and household plumbing work to be done ? KWC's valued new customer is then rewarded with a water bill courtesy of the town each and every month thereafter ?
They have even managed to take away Kentville's most famous of all and instantly identifiable town landmark in the hotel name Cornwallis Inn ? Cornwallis Inn is a well known trademark hotel name that has become synonymous World wide with the name of Kentville and ae name that represents a multitude of fond memories for residents ? It was hard to understand why the Town would ever allow such an important name to be changed, and it was also hard to understand why a previous Town of Kentville planning dept would ever allow numerous subsidized low rental apartment units to be built onto the side of this Town centerpiece and that also serve to block the access lane to the rear parking lot ? The Cornwallis Inn will always be one of the Valleys greatest treasured landmarks and is due for protected Canadian heritage site status ?
They have also changed well known and immediately identifiable names of some Kentville Streets and also the local traffic bridge that traverses the Cornwallis River ? And so now many citizens and delivery drivers do not know what they're talking about when they use these new names and it can be especially hard on Seniors who can become confused by unnecessary name changes made to familiar places ? In some cases this has created a safety hazard ?
In 2017 ABF Directors attempted to take Kentville's Grand Street Parade away from Kentville and move it to a different town ? Outraged citizens were forced to claw and battle just to get their own local parade returned back to them after they have hosted it for the last 87 years ? And, in yet another huge step backwards in that same year, ABF decided to cease and desist all Wednesday, Thursday and weekend games, food, music, displays, amusements, local student displays and performances, etc. etc. that were always held at Memorial Park during Apple Blossom festival week ? No explanation was given and no replacement or apology was ever offered by the Town for such a major loss of long running public outdoor entertainment to be absorbed by the citizens of Kentville ? And Kentville has now lost its most identifiable of all citizens that being their beloved Apple Blossom Princess Kentville, when a newcomer generation of ABF Officials showed uncommon immaturity, disrespect, disregard and insensitivity when presuming themselves to be the ones that are entitled to end the long running iconic Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition after 88 years ? This means that all public Royal party appearances including all Princess Teas, the appearance at Kentville Children's Parade, Friday night concert, Wolfville Coronation ceremonies, fireworks, Parade, all Royal visitations to schools, shut-ins, Seniors, and all hospital attendances normally made by Queen Annapolisa and the Royal Party will no longer take place ?
In 2022 the Kentville Grand Street Parade was understandably limited following the 2 previous Covi year cancellations, but unfortunately this year's 2023 effort wasn't much better ? The enormous contribution and wonderful diversity of nearby Valley communities from Windsor to Digby was no longer included in this Parade ? Apple Blossom royalty and all Princess floats were also no longer included ? Many residents expressed disappointment when their beloved Apple Blossom Princess Kentville and child attendant were no longer included in their own Town Parade ? And it seemed Kentville has lost its most identifiable citizen and a wonderful Town Ambassador who carries out many important official Town duties while advertising and promoting Kentville simply by representing the town with beauty, charm, grace, dignity and talent all year long whenever and wherever she went ?
The long running three consecutive weekdays of wonderful mid week Apple Blossom entertainment down at the Park have been cancelled and Apple Blossom week entertainment is cut down to a bare bone single Friday night affair offering minimal local entertainment, some kindergarten bouncy castles, and food wagons that sell twenty dollar hamburgers, (gone are the days of the dollar dog and drink) ? And it feels strangely empty down there now that the highlight of the evening Royal Party visitation and rock music supplied by Eddy's Basement is no longer included ? And there was even a noted decrease in the quality of the fireworks, ( which btw will no longer be started by Queen Annapolisa at her official Royal Party visitation to the Park following Coronation ceremonies in Wolfville) ? And, the newcomer ABF Officials have found yet another way to take more away from ABF patrons when charging inflation stressed locals a high entrance fee just to attend a downtown open air ABF street dance ?
And so, the citizens of Kentville have become frustrated with the many cutbacks, cancellations and closures that are never replaced once gone ? Both of the Provincial Railway and the municipal Airport are now permanently closed and even Acadia Van lines inter provincial no longer stops ? The Wandlyn Inn complex and all of its popular hotel and restaurant services were never replaced ? Devastating cut backs were made to the historic Apple Blossom Festival that saw a week long fun filled period of public entertainment at Memorial Park reduced to a minimal Friday night affair and a parade that lasted less than an hour ? Concerns remain about the absence of an in-Town High School for Teens, the loss of a key funeral home, the loss of the Pool Hall, the absence of a movie theater, the loss of Harveys drive thru, the loss of one of 2 Tim Hortons and their non local hiring policy, the loss of the dt pizza parlor, the loss of the local fruit and vegetable market, the absence of a 7/11 convenience store, the closure of the bakery, and also the loss of the local disposal site when no replacement was offered by the Province that shut it down ? And there was the shocking elimination of historic Valley culture when they terminated the Valley Apple Blossom Princess event and when they put an end to the long running prestigious Acadia U Coronation ceremonies in Wolfville ? The sacrilegious changing of the name of Kentville's internationally known name Cornwallis Inn symbolically married to the Town name Kentville and cherished by local residents was extremely disappointing ? And many citizens worry about the serious shortage of tourist facilities after the Wandlyn hotel complex burned down and the Town had lost so many hospitality, business, tourist, restaurant, hotel, night club, convention and recreational venues ?
And now, in a more recent issue, we are seeing more and more of our small businesses that are located all over the Valley that not only provide local employment but also serve as popular meet and greet gathering spots for friends and neighbors, are now changing hands after being bought out or turned over to strangers that are not from Halifax or from N.S. nor even Canada but have arrived from another Continent ? These take-overs appear to include replacing management and assuming control over the business and hiring policy in some long time Valley fast food, gas, and coffee businesses ? And now it seems that whenever shopping at the Milne Court Petro-Can, or New Minas Ultramar, KVille Ultramar, KFC, or Mary Browns, the DQ, or the Burger King, or Subway, or any of the 3 Timmies , or Walmart, Needs, or when receiving a parcel from amazon, or paying the bill at a cash register st many other stores it feels like you're suddenly in a foreign country ? And some of the newly hired employees are new to Canada and not familiar with local currency and so it is advisable to count your change when paying by cash ? There are also some worries that the temporary foreign workers program is unfair and possibly racist, and others worry about the advent of nepotism if local establishments are run by new management and when many of our local residents can't find local jobs any more ? Another major local employer, Eassons Trucking, also seems to be affected by the current influx of foreign workers with some reports of untrained, unlicensed, unqualified, (and Government subsidized) unsafe drivers behind the wheel, and rumors that some units with multiple workers on board have a hole drilled in the floor of the sleeper cabin to accommodate a long piece of ABS plumbing pipe that is used to transfer raw shidzen sewage on a one way trip from the truck cabin interior directly down to the open highway below and avoid pit stops at the Big Stop ?
And, some concerns were shown over the recent Kentville municipal election, when many candidates seemed unawares of the Town's long time real traditions, customs, character and past history ? Some candidates idealistically saw Kentville as a kind of happy go lucky, blissful, Hallmark or Who-ville movie set type village inhabited by busy jolly munchkins frolicking up and down picturesque colorful cobblestone streets bordered by quaint shops, internationally known boutiques and fancy eateries ?
Kentville has elected a new Mayor who is also a new local business owner, who must tackle the current town crisis ? He appears to have befriended and may possibly be being influenced by the ex County Warden Brothers who resides in the Kingston/Greenwood area and who doesn't give a squat about Kentville and had previously sold out Kentville when leading the charge to use heartless expropriation without compensation to shut down the local municipal Airport, popular skydiving academy, international flight training academy and many other successful aviation businesses at Waterville ? And what about the new Mayors' recent New Year's message of congratulating himself on enlarging the size of his downtown retail store and expressing personal happiness over the new (taxpayer funded) installation of a brand new double wide sidewalk in front of his store, but failing to mention serious town issues like town youth unemployment, racial profile hiring at Hortons, the fentanyl and opioid crisis, vandalism, street people and homelessness, the end of our Princess Kentville and the loss of millions in town revenue after they terminated Queen Annapolisa and ruined Grand street Parade, as well as, the no place to stay or eat for tourists visiting Kentville problem, the long running need for an indoor town recreation facility (no one wants to get their daily exercise by hiking down crude outdoor trails, attacked by mosquitos, and witnessing users shoot up in the privacy of the forest) ? And there's also the housing crisis, the sudden high increases in rental rates crisis, the alarming rate of downtown business foreclosures and bankruptcies, and a need to honor Kentville's glorious past railroading history with a museum and outdoor train and locomotive display of some sort ? Adding to this, disrespect had been shown when, ( due to a drop of rain ) they cancelled this year's Military march-on and (the best in area) Remembrance Day ceremonies always held outdoors at the Memorial Cenotaph on Park Street ? There was also Kentvilles snubbing of the Trudeau Liberals express wish for diversity and inclusion in Canada when a shortened Grande Street Parade was no longer as inclusive or as diverse as per normal ? And where Senior citizens were seen to be perched precariously aboard a stop and go, unsheltered, jerking motion, no sided open vehicle without restraining devices, water or protection from the sun ? There was also the confusion caused from the nonsensical changing of many long time well known established town names including the most famous of them all the Cornwallis Inn ? There's also the pressing need to build a high school, and there are some complaints about the failure to provide public outdoor entertainment events that exceed the grade school level ? There was also some controversy over the hanging up of the biggest pride flag that money can buy hung above the main entrance of the Cornwallis Inn, and of course, also the serious drainage problem discovered when the recent town flooding crisis took place? There was also concerns shown after the Provincial Government forced our local reclamation and disposal site to permanently close down and didn't offer to replace it but just left the area without one ? And, there remains a demand for an inquiry into the exploitive five figure fee charged by Kentville water commission to a new customer just to turn the water on at the road ? And there are concerns over many recent takeovers of local small businesses when our locals around here can't find work ? And some new concerns have been expressed over the formation of an exclusive kind of Ontarioville newcomer type town slowly establishing itself as an independent town within a town ? Some local drivers are concerned over this years Spring pothole epidemic that made some streets unfit to drive on (at a time when a brand new double lane sidewalk installed in front of Phinneys was smooth as a baby's bum), and the refusal by Town to help drivers with expensive auto repairs caused by unguarded potholes ? And there was also concerns over the inadequate street lighting in many areas and the residential streets and sidewalks still needing attention ? And there was some complaints relating to the inconvenience felt by local residents when ultra slow motion repairs on Canaan Ave moved at three legged turtle racing speed and had caused this vital access route to remain closed to traffic, incl emergency vehicles, for many many Months, (unlike the speedy workmanship and high priority given to a new downtown sidewalk installation in the front of Phinneys) ?
And so, can it be time to stop come from away newcomer mentality, and make it mandatory for all candidates bidding on these important Town governing positions to be born, raised and reside in the town of Kentville in an effort to preserve, protect, retain and respect the unique character, history, diversity, identity and many longtime community traditions that make Kentville ?
OUCH ? ( can someone please remove the daggers from our back ), Et tu, Warden Brothers and u tu Leo ? March 10th 2014 - A Date That Will Live on in Infamy - Warden Brothers, (Greenwood riding) and the Kings County Council use a calculated forced eviction to shut down the Waterville Airport aviation complex and then relocate some components to the Kingston/Greenwood area ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/28588465413/in/album-7...
Newcomer ABF directors trying to erase history ? The page showing all past Queens and Apple Blossom Princesses has been removed from the official Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival site ? The popular history page honoring all past Queen Annapolisa winners 1933-2018 with photos and bios has been taken down and apparently replaced with huge portraits of the newcomer directors ?
Meet the newcomer directors,
How dare They ! Kentville IS the Cornwallis Inn and the Cornwallis Inn IS Kentville ! If you were to google the 2 words Cornwallis Inn you will get over 600,000 entries with almost all of them married to the word Kentville.. (what a great promotional tool) . The world famous Cornwallis Inn is the source of many fond memories for local and Valley residents.. "It was the centre of everything’: The past and present of Kentville’s iconic Cornwallis Inn"
www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/lifestyles/it-was-the-centre...
Kentville's own Trash Canyon - toughest S.O.B. wrastler to ever come outta the KVille !
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53939211581
Trash Canyon - If u go away,
www.dailymotion.com/video/x8zb9u0
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Apple Blossom Festival news updates :
Logan Morse and a newcomer ABF Board of Directors break the hearts of Valley families especially the Children when they move to terminate the historic and long running Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess Pageant after 88 years ? ABF Directors show no remorse, while boasting that their bold action was needed to improve, evolve and bring the pageant up to their modern standards ? www.pressreader.com/canada/annapolis-valley-register/2023...
May 26, 2023 - We Are the Ones. An unusual display of disrespect and arrogance shown by newcomers when the long running historic Valley Peoples Pageant is cancelled without notice, consideration, consultation or approval ? A modern generation of ABF Directors with bold new ideas have apparently proclaimed themselves to be the one generation in 88 years that can interrupt and permanently end 88 years of wonderful multi Valley village Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess enjoyment ?
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/apple-blossom-festival...
Annapolis Valley families in shock and children cry when learning their beloved Queen Annapolisa Pageant has been cancelled without notice, consultation, consideration or compassion ? Newcomer Directors say they are taking action to improve, evolve and modernize the historic Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival ? www.saltwire.com/atlantic-
Air Show Atlantic Inc. - Valley residents have lost a long time major yearly family entertainment event when the ABF Greenwood Airshow is terminated and will be no more. Fast forward to Aug 24, 2024, and, to corporate greed ? Air Show Atlantic Inc. now charges big bucks to see Valley taxpayer owned aircraft at a taxpayer owned airport in their vastly inferiory airshow ? Air Show Atlantic Inc. doesn't have the courtesy to even offer a discount Seniors ticket category for Valley Senior citizens ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/52345513615
How dare They ? Kentville IS the Cornwallis Inn and the Cornwallis Inn IS Kentville - If you were to google the 2 words Cornwallis Inn you will get over 600,000 entries with almost all of them married to the word Kentville.. (what a great promotional tool) . The world famous Cornwallis Inn is the source of many fond memories for all local and Valley residents.. "It was the centre of everything’: The past and present of Kentville’s iconic Cornwallis Inn"
www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/lifestyles/it-was-the-centre...
Kentville identity crisis. Help, Is there a Superhero anywhere out there that can save Kentville from the newcomer agenda ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/in/album-7...
The highly controversial 2017 Grand Street Parade - Has Kentville once again been the target of exploitation ? After Warden Brothers, (Greenwood ) and Liberal MP L Glavine (Kingston) had all but hijacked Waterville Airport before relocating it to their own home riding in Kingston/Greenwood area, it seems that the town of Kentville must face yet another attack from the Kingston area when Alxys Chamberlain, Apple Blossom Princess Kingston, and ABF Directors attempt to take yet another major source of revenue and another major attraction away from the town of Kentville ?
Et tu, Madama Chamberlain ? The unconscionable attempted hijacking and subsequent recovery of Kentvilles's most beloved yearly event ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/18506181065
2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade - A disregard for safety of Seniors is shown as unrestrained Senior citizens are precariously perched atop an unsheltered, open sided, stop and go, large unstable jerking motion moving platform ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53900780519/in/album-7...
Exploiting a past Queen Annapolisa in a photo op ? Politicians at the official opening ceremony of the 2023 Apple Blossom Festival pretend there's still a Queen Annapolisa Pageant while knowing full well that Queen Annapolisa and the Apple Blossom Princesses have been terminated forever and are no longer a part of the Festival ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53755100811/in/album-7...
2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade, Where's inclusion and diversity ?
Newcomer Parade officials defy and ignore the Trudeau Liberal Government's demand for diversity and inclusion in Canada ? Many nearby local Valley towns and villages are not included in this year's parade ? This exclusion also means a denial of the diversity usually provided by these towns and communities ? Where is Canning, Digby, Annapolis Royal, Hantsport Greenwood, Windsor ? Where's our Queen Annapolisa ? Where's the Apple Blossom Princesses and wdrtr's all of the individual Town floats including Princess Kentville ? To view complete 2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade press here, www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lchie www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lchie
Facebook, Friends of Kentville - The site Administrator, a new arrival from PEI, says she wants to see Kentville as the queerest town in all of Nova Scotia ? www.facebook.com/groups/2588266877982288
Will a drag Queen now replace an apple blossom Queen in Kentville ? www.nsbuzz.ca/life/kentville-all-ages-drag-show-draws-pro...
Nov 16 2023 - Apple Blossom Princesses call for a return of Queen Annapolisa,
www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/communities/former-apple...
The Town of Kentville has cut back and cancelled many hours and even entire days of long time traditional public outdoor entertainment ay Memorial Park that was always a standard part of Apple Blossom Festival week ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/52094784785
A medley of guest Tribute bands seen at Memorial Park Kentville that were always free of charge in the past when performing at the Festival : Petty Larceny, Fleetwod Mix, Keep the Faith, Stones Tribute, Green River Revival, Viscious, Eddy's Basement, Matt Minglewood,
www.dailymotion.com/video/x5hqti9
Corporate greed shown by newcomer Officials ? In this year's Apple Blossom Festival instead of providing a free guest Tribute band as per normal at the free Memorial Park Friday night concert, it will now cost 50.00 pp to see a 'Queen tribute band' performance. that's 50.00 per ticket in 2025 ? acadiau.universitytickets.com/
Town of Kentville appears to rip off its own citizens right at Apple Blossom Festival time ? Capitalism shown by Kentville and newcomer ABF management ? Citizens burdened by a twenty dollar per person out of pocket expense just to attend a common outdoor street dance held on taxpayer owned property during Apple Blossom Festival week ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54546051832/in/photost...
They've Ruined It ? Millions of dollars in revenue wiped out ? Our great Festival is no longer even recognizable ? How could anyone take a world class event and turn it into something stupid ? President Erica Gillis has to be the worst ever ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/in/album-7...
Directors Erica Gillis, www.appleblossom.com/about/
Mayor Andrew Zebian www.facebook.com/andrewzebian
2025 Kentville Grand Street Parade - Can this be a joke ? A low entree, bare minimum 45-minute Kentville Grand Street Parade this year ? Zero in large marching street bands and majorettes other than the regular RCMP (mini version) marching unit, no Sottish pipers or pipe bands, zero in Apple Blossom Royalty and no famous royal floats, Most of the regular nearby surrounding Valley village participants not there, no horse and wagons, no armaments, soldiers, marching bands or displays from Aldershot or Greenwood, etc etc, ? And yet Guest parade announcer proclaims in quote @ 29:17, " this parade is the largest in Canada, - it's the longest with the largest route and the most entries. " Wha-a-a-t ? Where did that come from and what's she talking about ?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQuaIdrQi00
A different Apple Blossom Princess occupies a makeshift Royal throne on board the historic Kentville Apple Blossom Princess parade float in Grande Street Parade on Apple Blossom festival Saturday. The new Mayor of Kentville will now ride the float in its annual trip down Main Street ?
' Somebody get that King a crown and sceptre '
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54557663677/in/dateposted
They've ruined it part 2 - Millions in town revenue lost ? Parade attendance shrinks to an all time low ? May 31st, 2025 Kentville Grand Street Parade has gone from 100,000 down to 10,000 - They've ruined the Festival, and the Parade too ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54568017261/in/photost....
ABF Directors may disapprove and terminate the Queen Annapolisa pageant and Apple Blossom Princess competition but nevertheless Valley residents will always continue to admire, support, respect and remain fond of British Monarchy. Most Valley citizens were delighted to hear that his Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla are coming for a royal visit to Canada on May 26 and 27, 2025. This year's incomplete and now 'Royalty-less' ABF starts on the 28th, www.cbc.ca/news/politics/king-charles-canada-visit-1.7524946
the eradication of a Valley culture ? The long proud history of all past Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess winners has been removed from the official Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival website ? A special page dedicated to the history of previous Queen Annapolisa winners 1933 thru 2019 has been taken down and apparently replaced with jumbo size portraits of the newcomer President and other ABF directors who have taken over ? www.appleblossom.com/history/past-queens
Meet the directors,
May 30th, 2025 - 20 dollar burgers and bouncy castles ? High level security enforced in this year's Memorial Park Friday night rock concert ? ( must have taken up most of the budget ) ? Town of Kentville brings in outside police, cordons off the ground zero area with barricades and manned guard posts to establish maximum concert security level ? In past years this concert had always featured invited guest rock bands, interesting games, demonstrations and displays and a visit from the Queen Annapolisa Royal party following their prestigious coronation ceremony in Wolfville, but this newcomer version of the event appears to be some kind of an outdoor romper room type family show featuring food trucks, inflatable air bouncy castles and local bands as the featured invited guest main stage star performer ? Not much to do or see for those above the elementary grade school level other maybe purchase some food from a food truck that charges upscale restaurant prices and then dine on a paper plate with plastic utensils while standing up in a crowd of unruly kids and being lustfully observed by nearby hungry saliva drooling pet dogs leashed to their owners ? However, thanks to the upgraded crowd control security, a heavy police presence and the enforcement of strict traffic control, there had been a report of a parking violator being successfully apprehended and a runaway pet was captured and returned to its owner ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54558198569/in/photost...
Oct 4th, 2025 - the Harvest Festival held anually in Centre Square :
Kentville - A disappointing effort this year that didn't include long time standards like family horse-drawn hay wagon rides or the pumpkin people scarecrow making class, contest and group demo, and not much of a showing from the Valley harvest, Valley livestock and the Valley farmer ? Many of the usual Harvest Festival standards in past festival years appear to have been replaced by kiosks selling merchandise unrelated to the harvest, children's bouncy castles, and over priced food trucks ( the days of dollar dogs or Big 8 drinks may be over ) ?
Upgrade 2025 ? A photo taken from in front of Phinneys dept store downtown Kentville - Massive Town expenditure budgeted for a major upgrade to the Mayor's downtown business backyard as Webster Street gets a complete and total beautification makeover with new installations of street paving, paint, new double sidewalks both sides, driveway entrances, and new curb and gutter both sides ? All other streets surrounding this downtown area business block have also been upgraded including Aberdeen Street, Cornwallis Street and Main Street ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54835340734/in/photost...
The Koncerned Kentvillian must ask, " why is it every time that you gas up at Milne Court Petro-Can, New Minas Ultramar, KVille Ultramar and now the Big Stop, or go to the KFC for chicken, or Mary Browns, or the Burger King, or Subway, or all of the 3 Timmies for coffee, or Walmart, oe Needs, or receive a parcel from amazon, or attend the cash register post to pay a bill at many other downtown stores, it feels like you're suddenly in a foreign country ? " What has happened to all of the friendly locals that used to hold these positions and were one of the main reasons that we frequented these establishments ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/
Chamber of Commerce Kentville, NS
448 Main St, Kentville NS B4N
Kody Bloise . Liberal Party
Kentville's own Trash Canyon - toughest S.O.B. wrastler to ever come outta the KVille !
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53939211581
Trash Canyon - If u go away,
www.dailymotion.com/video/x8zb9u0
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On the recent 2023 edition of the Grand Street Parade :
"it looked as if some spectators along the route just joined in and began to walk along to make themselves a part of the parade ? "
May 27th, 2023 - Dismay, disillusion and disappointment prevail in Kentville over shocking changes and missing regular entrees in this years 2023 Grand Street Parade ? Where is our famous Queen Annapolisa and where are Apple Blossom Princesses and child attendants riding in their beautiful hand crafted decorated floats ? Where's the town criers ? And what about majorette groups, Scottish pipers and large marching bands that always attend ? And where is Hantsport and Windsor and their large delegations ? And where are Digby, Aylesford, Annapolis Royal, Canning, Middleton, Wolfville, and more ? Why are so many of the Valley towns and villages that normally participate not included in the parade this year ? It was also extremely disappointing for many when for the first time ever, Kentville Apple Blossom Princess (aka Miss Kentville) was no longer included ? Many local residents young and old identify with the Apple Blossom Princess at this time of year ? This year the towns royal float was used to transport a group of everyday normal town residents sitting together in a social scene that was meant to identity Kentville with diversity and inclusion ? The New Minas float also did not include their Apple Blossom Princess this year, however it had been transformed into a mobile advertisment for the famous New Minas UFO incident which all New Minions identify with. Berwick's float didn't include a Princess Berwick this year but was altered to proudly identify with the town's upcoming Centennial celebrations. And the Kingston float was also missing an Apple Blossom Princess this year but was instead used to promote their long running Kingston Steer Barbecue that all Kingstonians can identify with. It was good to see an RCMP contingent again although they sent far less officers this year than usual ? And it was noted that only one other large marching band appeared in the parade when usually 4 or more of these big bands, many with pipers, usually attend after traveling in from places like Cape Breton, Bridgewater, Dartmouth etc ? And where were the pets and farm animals ? There were no horses, wooden wagons, riders or other livestock this year and even the usual greyhound dog contingent did not appear ? Also noticed that some spectators must have just joined in and began walking along to become part of the parade, and others must have come over from the Children's parade with their strollers to join in ? There was a variety of advertisers, most from out of town but some local ? There were various Political parties represented, with the largest delegation coming from the Kody Blois Liberals ? All in all, this Year's parade seemed to be a weak and incomplete effort that really missed the inclusion and diversity of royal pageantry and 7 to 10 spectacular award winning Princess floats ? It was also missing many of the large street marching bands and majorettes that usually enter ? It was also missing the usual local agriculture horticulture and livestock component, the traditional Scottish pipers bands that always attend, and the many large out of town contingents that always normally participate ? This was not the famous grand street parade that patrons are used to seeing and did not represent the high standards and degree of professionalism set by previous Grand Street Parades ? It was soon obvious that what had been advertised as a newer, bigger, bolder, more inclusive and more diverse parade was nonsense and to the contrary this, what we were told was to be a new modern version of an old standard, was instead theopposite when it was missing the inclusion and the diversity of many now excluded Valley communities and their Princesses that had always come to Kentville to join in and participate in the Queen Annapolisa competition ?
And so, quickly summing up, can this strangely unfamiliar, shortened, now Royal-less, newcomer mentality amateur version of the long running world-famous Grand Street Parade that is now missing Queen Annapolisa and 7 to 10 Apple Blossom Princesses and 7 to 10 beautifully handcrafted individual Town Princess floats, and is also missing all of the unique character and diversity usually provided by the many missing Valley communities, and that is missing so much more of the usual content now become a community parade that is no longer fit for its regular media televised broadcast, and, can this upsetting and disappointing attempt to represent a long running world class extra special community event now signal the end of the once glorious Grand Street Parade era ?
Some previous parades :
2011 Grand Street Parade Kentville 79th ABF
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVgh3Dh2xn8&t=208s
2012 Grand Street Parade Kentville www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1VBx50b18
2014 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEo14IZKxp8&t=11s
2015 Kentville Grand Street Parade
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBifeG2SdPY&t=47s
2016 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2wedvN5_Iw&t=8s
2017 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=JozwyGpvfSY&t=1978s
2018 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOK1GmiLmNk&t=986s
2019 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMdEx8Zf-q0&t=
Frankie D. and Dirk Diggler spin the sweetest soul, sophisticated jazz, dirtiest funk with a splash of hip-hop at the Studio 80 in Amsterdam.
Frankie D. and Dirk Diggler spin the sweetest soul, sophisticated jazz, dirtiest funk with a splash of hip-hop at the Studio 80 in Amsterdam.
Heartbroken! I just love that jingle on the Subaru commercial by Sean Hayes...Powerful Stuff. Had to get it on my iPod and I was about to work on a "Powerful Stuff" concept and it happened; I dropped my body. The Canon 17-55 f/2.8 seems to be fine maybe but it is doing some funny focusing things at the moment that are probably due to the cracked filter (at least at the moment that's what I'm choosing to believe).
The filter is stuck on and I'm afraid to tug too hard. Off to the shop we go. You know this really is some powerful stuff!!!! That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when your gear is tumbling down...ah yeah this is powerful, powerful, powerful like the song says!
Got me circling like the moon round the sun...ohhhh yeah this is powerful stuff!
Frankie D. and Dirk Diggler spin the sweetest soul, sophisticated jazz, dirtiest funk with a splash of hip-hop at the Studio 80 in Amsterdam.
Teaser for the latest flickr photoset from Amsterdam's wildest Monday night party!
Heartbroken:
EVERY Monday night at Studio80 on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam!
Party: Heartbroken
Venue: Studio80
Coverage by: Waking up in Amsterdam!
1. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741031276/, 2. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741034076/, 3. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740199833/, 4. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740204243/, 5. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741042944/, 6. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741044842/, 7. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741046732/, 8. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741049052/, 9. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741051968/, 10. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741054726/, 11. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741057106/, 12. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741059596/, 13. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740226181/, 14. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740228877/, 15. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740231607/, 16. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741070262/, 17. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740236971/, 18. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741075486/, 19. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741078302/, 20. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740244311/, 21. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740247353/, 22. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740249875/, 23. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741088656/, 24. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741090826/, 25. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740257285/, 26. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740259713/, 27. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741098672/, 28. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741101296/, 29. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740268309/, 30. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740270887/, 31. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740273015/, 32. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741111140/, 33. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2740277913/, 34. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741116468/, 35. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741118984/, 36. flickr.com/photos/50719589@N00/2741121340/
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
Heartbroken: EVERY Monday night at Studio80 on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam! Party: Heartbroken Venue: Studio80 Coverage by: Waking up in Amsterdam!
My nephew was stillborn at 35 weeks on July 31. My family is heartbroken.
My brother and sister-in-law had chosen a Lion King/jungle theme for their nursery and I had picked up a bunch of Cotton + Steel fabrics to make something after the baby was born. I ended up embroidering a little piece from the fabric for his parents instead. I'm not an angel kind of person, but it seemed like the thing to do. Sometimes you stitch for art, and sometimes you stitch for therapy.
They did not know the sex of their child prior to his birth, and had jokingly referred to him as Bart, but once he was born they could not imagine giving him any other name. The back is all wonky but it doesn't matter.
sweet sugar is a good model,she got pretty face and figure,we invited her to the keelung sea
coast and we want her to pretend a pityful girl which just lost her lover ,so she expressed sad mood that made the frame full of sexy and heartbroken atmosphere.thank sweet sugar
she did her best model job
"Sometimes when I'm alone, I wonder
Is there a spell that I am under
Keeping me from seeing the real thing?
Love hurts...
But sometimes it's a good hurt
And it feels like I'm alive." - INCUBUS
My boyfriend of three years broke up with me last week for his own personal reasons. Ever since then I've been ok, but not really. I come outside now all the time and just sit and think about things. I want to move on already. I want to fall in love again <3
Heartbroken: EVERY Monday night at Studio80 on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam! Party: Heartbroken Venue: Studio80 Coverage by: Waking up in Amsterdam!
Haiti #Wecare
We’re heartbroken with the amount of devastation Mathew has left behind in Haiti and we want to pull all our efforts in to help as much as we can.
Please join us in an very Special Master Class with all the Zumba Star Instructors to help us raise as much funds as possible. All the proceeds will go to:
Prodev
Our talented team will come together on Sunday December 4th from 12:00-2:30 PM to deliver an exceptional experience with the single goal to help and give. Be ready to dance for 90min non stop with our all star Team.
Here are some the instructors that will be present:
Volha
Angelina
Bryan
Yxia
Rene
Josip
Celeste
Anna
Edmee
Will
Idania- She is flying back from Miami just for you!
Photography by Hiroshi Ishikawa
Heartbroken: EVERY Monday night at Studio80 on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam! Party: Heartbroken Venue: Studio80 Coverage by: Waking up in Amsterdam!
Next year it will be a decade since I started at university. A decade since I left home for the first time, entered an adulthood of sorts for the first time and ate houmous for the first time. I went from degree to degree and then, immediately that I left my last degree, I got a job at the University of Glasgow, pictured above. If it ain't broke, why move away from the cosseted loveliness of a university environment?
It's hard to underestimate the influence that attending university has had on my life. I expect that I would have learned to look after myself, made friends, been heartbroken, stayed up all night and come to eat Mediterranean dips had I not gone to a higher education institution. I'm the only person in my generation of my family to do an academic degree - I know that not everyone wants or needs it. But my route was, and is, uni.
I took today's photo while having lunch after doing one of my jobs at the university. I work in the widening access department, helping kids who go to schools with low take-up for higher education to prepare for university. I believe in this work. When people ask me if we aren't doing the pupils a disservice by propelling them into an environment for which they are not suited, there are now studies which show that the students we help do just as well, if not better, than their more affluent counterparts. I LOVE THOSE STUDIES.
I was working for the access to the professions side of the work, helping budding medics, dentists, vets and lawyers. We get them to fulfil various tasks and they come to a summer school to find out what uni will be like, what their envisaged profession will be like. I was working with a group of potential lawyers and we were reading various articles and discussing their written assignment topic: prisoner voting rights.
It was, well, it was hard. They rested neatly in the far, far right. Nope. Further than that. Not only was hanging too good for them, but in the thought experiment that 5% of them were incorrectly accused, they were happy to see those innocents die, rather than give human rights to the others. Or TVs, heaven forbid any of them have TVs. I tweeted my immediate reaction as: 'Don't know where the idea that teenagers crave change comes from. Most conservative demographic I ever encounter. Them & taxi drivers.' I remember discovering similar views in my peers at school, ten years ago. At that age I felt that it was to do with the affluence of my friends. But today we were in a catchment area marked as a deprivation area, and there were those ideas again. Maybe even more vehement. I normally leave these sessions pleased and bouncy. This time I was sad and angry. Sad sad and angry angry.
I have rested. I have chatted. I have pondered. Would my school friends still espouse these views? Most of them, not at all. Did I have some pretty terrible views at 16? Yup (man, I was shit to women). How did these things change? Uni. The University of Edinburgh, and the University of Life.
Churchill/Mark Twain/Dickens/Oscar Wilde/Dorothy Parker famously (is misreported as having) said: if you're not a liberal in your youth then you have no heart, if you're not a conservative in middle age then you have no brain. Currently, though, I get more and more left wing (not the same as liberal at all, as well you know, but why split hairs? Churchill had hardly any, though I grant Twain and Dickens more than make up for it) as I age. I am much, much more radical now than I was in my teens and early twenties. In my case, I put that down in large part to the skills I got, books I read and friends I made at university. The things which had made me square in school (loving poetry reciting, general knowledge and playing the clarsach) made me cool at uni. In the same sort of way, I learned to question, to probe, to weigh up facts as an end in itself in a way that would not have been okay at school, or which I was incapable of. I learned to transform a general feeling of ickiness to argument, reason and persuasion when people bad-mouthed immigrants or called our friends sluts. I became unwilling to let things lie when people said them, because I had learned that openness of mind is THE thing.
University taught me variously about the work of Michel Foucault, how to concentrate (RIP that skill), how to cook, how to love, how to bullshit about paintings, how to hope, how to put on plays and how to form ideas based on my understanding, my heart, and my reading rather than just stuff I've heard from my parents. I know there are other ways to engage with different viewpoints, but my-oh-my an arts degree is an easy peasy way to do it. Thank the heavens for universities.