Canada Day & facts about Canada (2023 edition)

Hello everybody 

Two years ago I originally published my blog post about the facts about Canada & Canadian national day Canada Day. 

Well a lot has changed since 2021 so I thought I would want to do a updated edition about Canada facts (2023 edition). Here it goes. 😀🇨🇦 

Facts about Canada (based on my research).

Canada has two official languages. English & French. 

The capital city is Ottawa. 

Largest city is Toronto. 

Currency: Dollars (Canadian Dollars) & it has the King (the same British monarch) on every banknotes. 

National anthem is O’ Canada. 

The prime minister of Canada is Justin Trudeau. 

Here’s more further information. 

Hawaiian Pizza (with pineapple toppling) was invented in Canada. Yes, really in Canada (not in US state of Hawaii) by Sam Panopoulos. 

Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia. 

Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world’s lakes combined. 

Canada has the largest coastline in the world. 

Canada’s land border is the neighbour the United States as both nations shares land borders In 8 out of 13 provinces and territories.

Population in Canada is 40 million (as of June 2023). 

Quebec is the French speaking province in Canada. 

Canadian Parliament is based in Ottawa. 

Canada has 6 time zones. 

In sports, Canada is known for hockey. 🏑 particular ice hockey. 

National symbol of Canada is Maple leaf 🍁 

Canada has wildlife. Bears, goose (Canadian goose) & beaver. 

The name of Canadian syrup is maple syrup. 

Niagara Falls is the most popular tourist attractions for Canadians. It shares with USA (the state of New York). It is the largest waterfall by water volume. 

In terms of economics & GDP, Canada is on the list of countries that has the largest economies as Canada is ranked 10th.

Literacy rate in Canada is 99%

Life expectancy in Canada is 82 years. 

Lastly but not least, there are famous people who are from Canada & there are names that you might be familiar with & not familiar with. 

Justin Bieber

Drake 

Jim Carrey 

Celine Dion 

Michael Bublé 

The Weeknd 

Justin Trudeau 

William Shatner 

Avril Lavigne

Bryan Adams 

Even Elon Musk (who appears to hold three passports: South African, Canadian & American). 

The list goes on. 

So yeah, that is the information about the country Canada. I provided my research to my relative (my cousin) 4 years ago as an presentation for her on WhatsApp. She (my cousin & her close family: husband & two kids: daughter & son) have been living in Canada since 2019 when they did moved out from Nigeria. From 2019 to 2022 they have been living in Toronto, Ontario. Nowadays my cousin & her family lives in Calgary, Alberta & last month, they became newly Canadians by naturalisation. Perhaps I should be an honorary Canadian if that is possible. 😀🙂😁🍁🇨🇦

Anyhow I want to wish my readers (if you are Canadian) a very Happy Canada Day. 🇨🇦🍁😀🙂

Canada is one of the places that I would love to visit. It is one of my dream travel destination. The country that is an multicultural country (just like USA, European countries like France, Holland, Belgium, Germany & here in the UK) with diversity. So yeah, I would recommend anyone to visit Canada at least once in lifetime & make it your bucket list travel destination. 

And finally I went to Yesterday (29th June 2023) I went to Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross to attend Canada Day London event. It was very interesting to see the Canadian community, celebrating their national day (which actually the date is 1st of July = Canada Day). 😀🙂🇨🇦🍁

I am not really Canadian. Although I know some of my friends who are Canadians) so it was definitely a good fun at Trafalgar Square. 

So yeah, Happy Canada Day Canada. My second blog message wishing the country & the Canadian people. 😀🙂🇨🇦🍁

Free flight ticket & holiday voucher debacle

I have been busy as of late & I recently travelled to Scotland as of last month (which I will talk about it on my blog). 

I want to tell you about the whole free flight ticket & holiday voucher debacle & why I felt deceived by both airlines: EasyJet and Cathay Pacific. 

Let’s start with Cathay Pacific. 

My criticism on Cathay Pacific

Hello Hong Kong 2023 campaign video

& the second video 

Here’s my rant. What a flipping joke. 🇭🇰✈️🎟

On Tuesday 9th May 2023 (few weeks ago), I was not in a happy mood. The promotion of “free Hong Kong air tickets” & that I regretted for feeling foolish for participating the competition. when the free flight ticket to Hong Kong was opened (9th May which was the date of opening date) on 9am, promoted by the “Hello Hong Kong” campaign, Cathay Pacific & the Hong Kong govt (to persuade tourists from all parts of the world to visit HK given for the fact that Hong Kong had suffered financially in the last couple of years due to the Covid 19 pandemic and strict lockdown measures. Which that it affected the tourism sector & HK’s economy), myself and my brother’s carer (who used to live in Hong Kong from 1993 to 1997), we went on the website (Cathay Pacific) & we did tried to participate in the competition in the chance fo win the free aeroplane ticket to HK.

Unfortunately, I wasted 2 hours of waiting in the online queue for my turn to answer the questions (anything related about Hong Kong or Hong Kongse airline Cathay Pacific = national carrier) as I kept on checking on my phone & the computer. Even myself and my disabled brother’s carer already know that there were people who were also in the queue of wanting to win the free air ticket to Hong Kong as well. After all, all I saw was “Thank You For Your Support. All tickets from the Cathay Pacific “World of Winner” ticket offers online campaign in United Kingdom has been awarded”. 

My reaction was like “unbelievable”!!! I even read the tweets on Twitter about people campaigning that Cathay Pacific have deceived anybody who do wish to visit Hong Kong for holiday/vacation leisure purposes. Until to now, they (Cathay Pacific) haven’t even explained properly as to why they closed the competition on the day it was opened & closed it within two hours later. As if many people here in the UK all wanted on the website, trying to win & some of them had won it (which I do not believe that is the case). Especially the end date was scheduled from Tuesday 9th May to 15th May (Monday 15th May). 

So yeah, another airline deceived me. Cathay Pacific. Just like EasyJet (which I will talk about it on my blog in separate paragraph). Even I do not have any actual plans to visit Hong Kong anytime soon (knowing it’s not guaranteed whether I really go there or not) & that I was not disheartened that i didn’t win. I was not impressed of how Cathay Pacific conducted the free plane tickets to Hong Kong campaign in an awful way. That is not a good business marketing & not good PR. For that myself and my brother’s carer were not happy about it at all. Especially when we & everyone else in the UK were taken for fools. Feeling deceived. There were no other issues in other country including Asian nations with the same problem but yet, it only happens to the UK. It’s unbelievable. How stupid is Cathay Pacific.

Which brings me to EasyJet. British low cost airline. Which I once flow with them to Barcelona, Spain in summer of 2018 

My criticism on EasyJet 

I want to tell you something I have been mislead by EasyJet. 

All that free holiday voucher that I won in April last year. Promoted by Doritos and Walkers crisps both online & on TV for advertisement. It is nothing but a trick. 

I will reiterate by saying once again that I do not like being mislead. Especially for my experience when I was victimised of fraud and scam 7 times. Given nowadays I am very aware of misinformation & some things that may be worth interesting but really nothing but a pie in the sky.

Here’s last year EasyJet 2022 TV advert promoted by Doritos and Walkers crisps. 

I am already starting to regret winning the EasyJet holiday voucher in April last year promoted by Doritos and Walkers crisps which was originally a package holiday holiday as I first originally thought. It turns out it is a free holiday voucher for flights. 

I even tried entering the code many times. Even without a line - it shows it is not "valid". 

From expensive package holiday prices for hotel to not allowing me to enter the code for me to book the flights from London Luton to Lisbon. 

I might as well not bother with this anymore. Holiday voucher thingy & I am glad i didn’t continue to pursue it. 

At least I can still try to book flights to Lisbon, Portugal at anytime before at least the end of summer. Even my dad noticed when I was struggling to find a decent hotel prices on EasyJet app regarding package holiday.

So that is my criticisms on EasyJet & Cathay Pacific. 

My conclusion

In conclusion: I said before and I will say it. I do not like being mislead. Especially for my own experiences when I was victimised of scam and fraud 7 times. It’s second time airline deceived me regarding my interest of going on holiday. First was EasyJet for my travel interest to visit Portugal and now Cathay Pacific for my travel to interest visit HK (despite not having any current plans to visit there).

My take on Spring Budget 2023

​Last week Wednesday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt addressed to the House of Commons. Delivering the budget regarding the state of the UK economy. Read more about what is included in UK Spring budget 2023

So with further ado, here is my opinion about Budget 2023

My take on Budget 2023

Like previous Conservative budgets under previous chancellors, a typical budget that I am not quite convinced. The only good thing I am happy is that fit to work test (work capability assessment) is scrapped completely (👍). But benefit sanctions will remain (👎).  Read my previous blog post in 2021 regarding the benefits system & how messed up is it. 

The inflation to be down by the end of the year 2023 & avoiding recession. I hope that is the case but again, I am not convinced unless if that does really happen (inflation to fall from the current level 10% to 2%). I’ll believe it when I see it (since the economy is still the only country in G7 not to return to pre Covid levels). 

With the cost of living crisis, it is not only the factors that caused the UK to be in the bad situation financially & economically due to the war in Ukraine & the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. It is all because of both things: Brexit (the UK out of the European Union) & the 13 years of the govt’s austerity policy. Plus the the rise of food banks & that is very sad. 

Also. Apprenticeship for 50 years & over. Basically, the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt wants people in the specific age group to return to workplace. In other words, the Conservative government here in the UK wants you (if you are in the age group 50+) to work until you drop with the “returnership” scheme. So the fiscal measure that is included in Spring Budget last Wednesday is just not wise. Especially that it will not solve the economic woes for the British economy with people aged 50 and over to keep working & not even to have the pension at all. Other than just keep on working until the person is weak or have passed away. That in my opinion is not right. Work is not everything and it is not compulsory (& that is why we have got the welfare system). Now there may be some who would want to keep on working and there may be some who does want to retire & does not want to work. So the government must better carefully of how they really want to achieve the goal of getting everyone back to work. In fact my friend talked all about it in his blog about the policy detailed in Jeremy Hunt’s spring budget. 

And lastly, “Brexit pub guarantee”. No wonder the govt continues to not fully understand that there are shortages particularly in the hospitality sector all because of Brexit effects & yet they keep on boasting as if there is a “Brexit benefit “. So that’s all. My take on Budget 2023

US Black History Month and Florida

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This month February is the annual Black History Month in the United States of America. 🇺🇸

While today is the last day of February, I want to talk about US state of Florida and why Ron DeSantis (Governor of Florida and prospective Republican presidential candidate for next year's presidential race to the White House, banned the teaching of African American History at schools in Florida. 

Florida governor claimed of why he banned the teaching of African American history on the school curriculum is because he does not want "indoctrination" all in the name of fighting against anything that is "woke" and "cancel culture". As a Brit with African descent, I have a lot to say about the outrageous and racist ban on the teaching of Black History in Florida. 

Ron DeSantis is a racist, unmindful and ignorant politician. I really do not understand what he is trying to achieve. Out trump Donald Trump regarding race? Well I know for sure that he (Governor DeSantis) he is no different than Donald Trump and certainly, he is no better than Trump. 

Look up at these studies that are considered to be part of American history in schools 

- AP European History

- AP Art History

- AP Japanese Language & Culture

- AP German Language & Culture

- AP Italian Language & Culture

- AP Spanish Language & Culture

And yet AP African American studies are banned in Florida? That is really disgraceful. 

So yeah. Mr DeSantis. Not only a racist but also ignorant. If he does run for the president in next year’s presidential election, you can certainly predict and expect that African American voters won’t give him a vote. Not only in Florida but the rest of the country in other 49 states. 

And finally, my initial reaction was like “wow, unbelievable”.  Ron DeSantis (Florida Governor & future Republican presidential candidate for 2024 election) shows his true colours. Racist colours. Shocking but not surprising given the Republicans (particularly pro Trump faction) & Donald Trump are indeed racists. 

My World Cancer Day blog message

​Today is World Cancer Day. I have few things I want to say on this occasion. Especially that I am trying to find time of writing bogs since I have been busy in my personal life. 

My World Cancer Day blog message

Nearly 7 years ago in March 2016, I lost someone who used to be my teacher & classroom tutor in year 11 (final year at the secondary school) from 2010 to 2011. She passed away due to ovarian cancer. ♋️

And recently few weeks ago, I lost a relative from my family side (my dad’s side) which I never got a chance to meet. She passed away due to breast cancer. Stage 4 and I have known about for awhile since one of my auntie (half sister to my dad & sister to the one who sadly passed away) first told me about it in October 2020 & that I prayed for my late auntie for the speedy recovery and to fight off breast cancer. 😔

Cancer is an awful disease & that it can end anyone’s life short.

So all I want to say is please do make an awareness about cancer and please do make a effort of finding a way to cut the risk of getting a cancer so that you can change your lifestyle for better. Even if you have lost someone that you know (family relative or friend) due to cancer in any form or you know someone who has cancer. Do everything you can to make an awareness.  Here are an infographics which I found useful information from the WHO. 

After all, we do want to live in the world that is cancer free. RIP to everyone who have passed away due to cancer in all forms. 🙏

God bless and do take care of yourself.

And if you want to know more information about cancer & how to prevent a risk of getting it, here are the links below. 

Useful information

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/index.htm

First blog post of 2023 (Happy New Year)

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Happy New Year Everybody. 

2023 has finally come as of 13 days ago. Nearly two weeks (14 days) since the start of this new year on New Year’s Day. 

I hoped you had an wonderful holiday throughout the festive season now that Christmas is already over for now until later in the year. 

So what’s new? Nothing much other than I do hope and pray that this new year can truly be a happy new year for me. After all, 2022 was not quite a good year. Read more about it on my blog post when I published on Christmas Day. 

As for New Year’s resolutions? Don’t get me started on that. 

All I can say is be specific of what you really want to do in this new year 2023 and just go for it. Don’t be all talk. Don’t bother thinking of creating a New Year’s resolutions that won’t be deliverable & that you would easily forget the next day or so & therefore, break the promise of wanting to reach a goal in terms of making a plan & executing it. What New Year’s resolutions requires is action & if you are not going to be able to succeed in making a specific goal come true in the New Year, don’t bother wasting your time and energy of creating New Year’s resolutions.

Read more about my blog post last year 2022 about it as this is the 4th time talking about the same topic. 

Finally, here is the fact about new year’s resolutions. Especially if you have been waiting to make one now that the first month of the year is here given in my own point of view, you shouldn’t wait for January to kickstart the new year.

Fact: they (new year resolutions) are mostly not achievable and that it is undesirable. 

No wonder there are some people would wait until January to start a goal/priority for the new year and then next thing, not putting it into action by gaining results of what is his/her specific goal for this year.

So that is all I can say about it. Once again, Happy New Year everyone. All the best for 2023 and beyond. 🥳🎉😀🙂🍾👏🥂

Travel to the EU post Brexit becomes more complicated

​Since today is the final day of 2022 (Happy New Year in Advance) I thought I would want to talk about travel to the EU from the UK post Brexit & the introduction of European Travel Information and Authorisation (ETIAS). 

Why I am talking about Brexit? It has been two years since the end of the Brexit transition period on 31st December 2020 when the UK left the Customs Union & the Single Market because of the fact that the UK left the EU on 31st January 2020

It is nearly two years since I talked about the effects of Brexit as I wrote on January 2021 & it is still clear to me that Brexit is not worth it for everyone and businesses affected by the policy that benefits nothing. Read more about the effects of Brexit 

I like to reiterate my points that I first talked about it in October 2021 given I know the differences between travel to the EU pre Brexit and post Brexit. Since I visited two EU countries: Spain in 2018 and France in 2019

Pre Brexit = UK passport holders were EU citizens until 2020 with the benefits of freedom of movement & the rights to live, study and work in the European Union unlimited. No passport stamp. 🇪🇺🛂

Post Brexit = UK passport holders are third country nationals like every single non European nationals (Japanese, Chinese, Canadians, Indians, Singaporeans, Australians, Americans, etc). No benefits of the freedom of movement. Only visa free travel to the EU up to 90 days (3 months which is limited) & passport stamp. 

Read more about post Brexit travel to the EU that I previously published back in October 2021. The link is here up above.

Which brings me to the introduction of the ETIAS which will soon be launched in the New Year. 

What is European Travel Information and Authorisation (ETIAS)? 

Like America’s ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), Canada’s ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), Australia’s ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) & New Zealand’s ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), ETIAS is US style visa wavier travel system for visitors from non EU countries (including the United Kingdom). The countries that has visa free travel with the bloc of 27 EU member states. It is not a visa and it will be the system that will keep in check & having applications to be processed in order to allow anyone from third countries to enter the 26 countries in the Schengen Area plus 7 non EU nations like Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino and Norway. As the applicant (he/she) does not have a criminal record for example & following the rules by understanding that visiting Europe up to 90 days is leisure (holiday/vacation), business (temporary), etc & the validity of ETIAS application for the person travelling to the EU27 is three years. 

Furthermore, the ETIAS was meant to be launched this year 2022 but it has been pushed to the year that we will soon enter (2023). 

So what it means for British passport holders (regardless who voted in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Remain or Leave) including myself? Well in my opinion, it is another example of why Brexit continues to show that it benefits nothing to the UK. €7 (£6) ETIAS fee to enter any country in mainland Europe? Sometimes I really do despair for what this country have really become since leaving the European Union. It really makes me wonder why there are still no positive of being outside the European Union. Good thing that I didn’t voted for Brexit. 

For those who voted for Brexit & complaining about being in queues (non EU queues) at European airports & being happy with blue passports, should really suck it up & accept the fact it has consequences. I am not going to wish anymore energy about it but you do understand what I am coming from. 

So that is all I can say about it. 

Enjoy yourself on the final day of 2022. Stay tuned for more blog posts that I will release in 2023. Happy New Year. 🙂😀🎉🥳🎊

And if you want to know more about ETIAS. You can go on this website

And also click the link for the website for UK citizens (myself included). 

So yeah. Take care & goodbye for now.