Hopewell Rocks - R

While in Moncton area for the U2 concert we stayed at a B&B in Hopewell Rocks along the Fundy Coast. It was a beautiful place called Innisfree Bed and Breakfast . . .

We did a couple of short trips around checking out the covered bridges and lighthouses . . .

We also managed to get in a quick visit to Cape Enrage . . .

Our final day was spent kayaking and walking around Hopewell rocks to see the world's largest tidal changes . . . here we are at high tide:

Now heading back at mid-tide . . . see the differences as we go through the rock formations:

And finally here at low tide walking out amongst the same rocks we kayaked through earlier!

The B&B was run by a couple who also took in the U2 concert with a number of other guests there as well. The breakfasts were incredible and we even bought some of their homemade granola to take home with us when we left. Along with the great food and good company, they are in an area that has a large number of hummingbirds and I did my best to try and make use of some of our down time to take a few pics . . . enjoy!

Even Better Than The Real Thing - R

U2's 360 Tour's last stop was in Moncton, NB. We were there - it was Aaron's first U2 concert, my third - but first outdoors . . . and it was amazing!!!

All day on July 30th it rained . . . and rained and rained . . . just before we got to the concert site, courtesy of shuttles running from downtown Moncton, it stopped. However, the damage was done and the fields surrounding the concert stage at Magnetic Hill were wet and soggy and soon became a mudpit! Needless to say it was pretty gross getting to the seats but well worth the occasional squelching of shoes, the mud spattered clothing and a couple of ruined pairs of socks.


Aaron at the entrance to Magnetic Hill Concert Site


View of the stage from across the muddy field we waded through


Our shoes, a bit muddier after the trek to our seats


Our view of the stage, great seats in the grandstand!

The opening act was Carney, a rock group from whose cover of Bohemian Rhapsody was really the only thing I remember about them . . . not bad, but I was in line for food and drink while wading around in about 4 inches of mud so I was somewhat distracted.



Next, Arcade Fire took the stage . . . what an incredible show that turned out to be! An Indie Rock band from Montreal who put on an amazing performance with band players switching instruments from drums, tambourines, guitars, hurdy-gurdy, accordion, violin, piano . . . I know I am missing some. Not to mention the costumes . . . seriously their female lead singer looked like she was dressed like a Golden Snitch out of Harry Potter . . . oh yeah, the music was pretty amazing too!



Before U2 took the stage we also got a free airshow courtesy of a couple of CF18s who did fly-bys of the crowd.




While the stage got set up for U2 they scrolled stats about the band and the tour as well as 3rd world countries and employment.

But seriously, the post is entitled U2 and that is why we went, let me just say it was the best U2 concert I have been to, and that IS saying something! The setlist, the stage, the band themselves, I really couldn't find anything to improve. They played all my favourites (With or Without You, Pride, One, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Beautiful Day), and Aaron's too (Where the Streets Have No Name), while still managing to put on an incredible light show, provoke thought about 3rd world nations, promote peace in the Middle East, shower the crowd in champagne and swing from a microphone!


U2 takes the stage


"Even Better Than The Real Thing"


"She Moves in Mysterious Ways"


"Beautiful Day"


"Miss Sarajevo"


"Discotheque" snippet


"I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight"


"Sunday Bloody Sunday"


"One"


"Where the Streets Have No Name" aka Vancouver Canucks entrance theme


"With or Without You"


U2 leaves the stage for the final time on the 360 tour

This all started back in February when I got an email from the U2 insider list and was notified that they had confirmed the location. I immediately bought tickets and then attempted to find lodging in Moncton . . . sad to say that wasn't to be, however, I did manage to find a nice B&B in Hopewell Rocks (about 30 minutes outside of Moncton) on the bay of Fundy! Now that it is over and done I can say it was well worth the wait and anticipation, stay tuned for another post from the remainder of our NB trip!

Working for the Queen, part 3 - A

So, just what have I been doing this summer? Research? Memos? What's that all about? Well dear reader, I'm what you'd call expendable. Summer student. Low penguin on the dogpile. If there were a clanking noise in the hold I'd be sent to investigate (and an articling student would be sent to find out what happened to me). If I were on Star Trek I'd be wearing a red shirt and attracting random gunfire. You could say this is a rather humble summer, workwise. Definitely lacking in glamour and stories exciting enough to tell non-law-types, or as I call them/you, the lucky ones.

Let's say that a lawyer gets a problem dumped on her lap (they're mostly women on my floor). She takes a look at it, identifies the main issues, reaches a preliminary conclusion, but can't be arsed to do the actual research to prove she's right, since she's got other projects with a swiftly-closing deadline and a small crisis to manage since a nosy reporter jumped to a wild conclusion and now there's damage control to do. So, she bashes off a quick email to my principal (supervising lawyer, who's really very nice) asking if it's ok for me to do this. My principal looks the request over, looks at my workload and deadlines, and finangles it onto the list. Often I can do my research online given the parameters, sometimes I have to go down to the library on the 3rd floor to look up old versions of legislation. Often I'm just comparing certain laws between the provinces to see the different approaches to a common problem. For one project I even got to go the the legislature library at Province House to look at the debate transcripts (Hansard) of the legislative assembly to find the reason why a certain law existed - when no reason was given, I got to look at back issues of the local newspaper on microfilm (back to 1965!) to try find a reason. Still nothing. Oh well. Then I get to write a memo summarising my findings and applying legal reasoning to whatever given facts are before me, then I toss it over to the lawyer who uses it to inform her approach to the problem and feedback to the client. Lather, rinse, repeat. The topics vary, as do the timelines and pressing nature of the problems, but that's the basic formula of my summer - it's what they call solicitor work.

There's also litigation work, which involves court, tribunals (like Labour Relations), and exchanging letters for negotiation and clarification. I haven't gotten to do much of this so far, mainly because things tend to shut down for the summer what with all the schedules to align and all the vacation time that tends to disrupt such alignment. I have gotten to see a couple labour tribunal hearings, which are also less formal than court, but can sometimes have as big an impact as if going before a judge - usually in the form of money orders or union certifications of workplaces, so lots can be riding on the proceedings. One hearing was chaired by my soon-to-be Labour Law professor. Apparently he's an expert on the topic, and I'm not going to be able to fudge it in his class.

So, given the lack of litigation work, I have a major project shaping up in anticipation of another fight between Ottawa and Nova Scotia. It seems the two levels of government, for all their vaunted cooperation, are often out to undermine each other - not out of malice, but out of an urge to get things done with the least disruption, and that often means stepping on the other jurisdiction's toes. What I get to do is go through reams of paper and stacks of boxes to find historical documentation (recent and older) in the form of letters, memos, articles, and court cases, supporting Nova Scotia's position in the pending fight to give the feds incentive to settle down, avoid court and its expenses and uncertainty, and reach a mutual or Nova Scotia-benefiting solution. When I find something supportive I make a photocopy! I don't scan it for electronic transmitting, and I certainly don't copy to both sides of the paper - someone might want to make notes! So I get to single-handedly keep forestry alive here in Nova Scotia, and hope for other distractions to come along. At least while I'm reading and sorting, I get to put on my headphones. I don't have my mp3s with me at work, but there is this magical online jukebox called Youtube that actually has a lot of good songs available. In some ways it feels like I'm running out the clock or going out with a whimper, but I'm sure something interesting will come along whether I want it or not.

And speaking of summer, while that's the technical term for the time between 2L and 3L, you certainly wouldn't know it by the weather! So much cloud, fog, rain, and cool temperatures I never did see in an alleged summer before! There's even the occasional thunderstorm with tons of lightning and pouring rain - the worst weather seems to avoid the weekends though, which is more than I could say for Vancouver...

Coming up this weekend however is a huge event. It seems most of my office, if not the floor, is going to Moncton to watch U2 perform! Attendance is supposed to be capped at 80,000 people, which is still the largest outdoor event in the Maritimes, ever! Excitement and energy levels are rising dramatically, and it's hard avoiding the hype. I'll say this for the Maritimes, they do love their concerts. Metallica (yes, the real band, not a tribute band) actually came and played on Citadel Hill not too long ago - it was pouring all day, but let up in time for the actual show. So everyone got to churn the hillside into ankle-deep mud and sit at their own risk while waiting for the show to go on. Here's hoping Moncton fares better, but the forecasts are looking iffy - fingers crossed!

Until next time,
A.

Cirque Du Soleil - R

First time in Metro Centre, not for hockey but the circus!

We went to see Quidam and really enjoyed it! The story is about a young girl, distant from her parents, happens upon the imaginary world of Quidam (a nameless passer-by) where she learns to free herself to dream, be an individual and step out of anonymity.



The acts were all quite amazing, from diabolos, a German wheel, aerial contortions in ribbons, hoops, statues, jump ropes, to juggling and acrobatics it was definitely a showcase of human agility, athleticism and grace! Even the audience participation bits were really well done, though definitely aimed at a more adult audience. We weren't able to take pictures during the performance but here are some pics off the internet to give you an idea of what we saw:















All in all it was a great night out and a good chance to check out the Metro Centre. If you get a chance to see the show I would totally recommend it!