Not here in Ottawa.

I went to the Distillery district in Toronto today. Amazingly, they had made the whole area licensed - which explained the heavy security at entry and exit points. However, it did mean you could wander the streets while drinking a beer I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was doing something wrong though - it just felt un-Canadian....

Must be a small joke then.

We spent all week end with my lads soccer team, west rouge storm, playing in the robbie international torniment. A charity soccer comp, raising cash for kids with sistic fibrosis.

Well im glad to report we won u 16 final today against whitby 4-1. Final was at birchmount stadium nr kingston/birchmount, scarborough. We also raised the most cash ever in the 45 years of the robbie.

We had a lovely time. There was a great free celebration in the park in Belleville with live music, loads of inflatables for the kids to play on, petting zoo and pony rides,face painting and craft and the fire department had set up a great water slide. The kids had a riot. Weather was perfect. Canadian Forces supplied a flyby and there was a big cake and free hotdogs from the local MP. Total cost for a family of 4, $2 for parking, which went to the lions charity. Cant knock that.

In the evening after a very late and short nap we took the kids to the fireworks in Trenton, which was as ever a really good show. (There is a firework factory in Trenton who supply stuff at cost I suspect, its quite a show for a relatively small community)

Loads of fun in the sun, and no trouble to be seen anywhere, it really makes me proud to be an adopted Canadian when I see the way the nation celebrates its birthday.

Helped some one move house, Spent a few hours at the beaches and then down to the Ampitheatre to watch free fireworks.

Carried a cooler bag with us and just filled up "travellers" with beer. The OPD turned a blind eye- I wasn't too concerned as I carried some gold to pay them off anyway.

Canada's not so uncool, eh?

Spent Canada Day grubbing out the roots of a diseased apple tree I cut down on Thursday. It took all day. It was in clay and the tosser who planted it put it directly on top of a water line and a power line. Clever.

Saturday mostly spent on the road to get pissed in the woods outside Quebec City (BIL's 50th). Sunday mostly spent coming back. Our fault, really, for using the Chemin du Roy (well pretty but adds a couple of hours to the trip).

Its just small town living. Not cool, not uncool, just "good clean fun". It suits me. I swear reading posts here there are (at least) two different Canadas. I like the life I have here.