Two summers ago we had a fascinating fly-drive round Eastern Canada, visiting cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Quebec. A few days were spent in Ottawa, which I had read had been dubbed one of the dullest cities in North America. With our expectations therefore pretty low, we were pleasantly surprised by how charming it was. There was something rather British about it, including The Changing of the Guard every morning and architecture very reminiscent of Edinburgh.
As usual I was spouting forth nuggets from our guide-books, boring the boys witless about the fact that Queen Victoria supposedly chose Ottawa as Canada’s capital based on a pretty watercolour painting she’d seen. I also amused myself with the thought of contracting “Beaver Fever” during our stay; much ribbing from husband about it being too hot to handle and such-like. Oh how we laughed.
“Can you tell me what the little furry animals are outside?”
“Sure”, he replied, “They’re groundhogs”
“Groundhogs! Like in the film, Groundhog Day?”
“Yup, that’s right, we have hundreds of them round here”.
Who’d have thought it! I was very excited when I returned to the boys to tell them. We gave Rory a quick synopsis of the film: Bill Murray gets stuck in time during Groundhog Day and has to replay the day over and over again.
Dougie then smiled wickedly and said,
“I dare you”
“Dare me to what?”
“Go back into the cafe and ask him again”.
This is my entry for The Gallery this week, the theme of which is “Creatures”.
That's hilarious!!! Did you do it??? They look just like little beavers though. Reminds me of a sketch on the Adam and Joe show where they went into the pound shop and kept asking the assistant how much things cost. "It's a pound mate. Everything's a pound. " Until they were asked to leave for being a nuisance.
Love Bill Murray. That's one of his finest films I think. Since then he's made some stinkers.
I'd love to go to Canada.
I agree with Deer Baby, how funny is that. The boys Godparents loved Canada and have visited 4 times!
I thought it was an otter! That's my nature-watch pretensions cut right down to size!
Hahahaha, great story!
The groundhog looks really cute:-)
Did you though? Did you?
Did you though? Did you?
Did you thou…………… Ok I'll get me coat.
NO!!! I chickened out big time!
I reckoned the amusement we were having just thinking about it couldn't be improved upon if I acted it out – I suspect it might have fallen flat. If I'd been a bit pie-eyed I might have…
They are gorgeous & not at all as I imagined! Did you go back in?!!!
Love the new look blog BTW
@jfb57 – no I didn't (see reasons above!!)
Glad you like new look – have been fiddling about with it but found the blue look last week too cold. This makes me feel like summer holidays.
Cute!
I thought they were beavers too! They look so cute! đ
I've only been there once, on business about 20 years ago and never saw any groundhogs. All I can remember is some great buildings, the canal which freezes and is a skate commute in winter, eating at the top of a building in a revolving restaurant and being told the city on the other side of the river was Hull.
I want to know too – did you go back and ask!?
I thought it was a beaver… you learn something new every day!
Maggy
@Troy – we were there in the summer so they must have come out of hiding. Yes we went over the river to Hull too, though as it's in Quebec they call it Gatineau (much prefer Hull!)
@Redtedart – no, big coward!
funny story and great picture. They're not camera shy then. I have heard that Ottawa is a bit on the quiet side.
Oh you so should have! Than again – the Quebecois (sp?) are not exactly famous for their sense of humour đ
@Mother Hen and @MrsW – Ottawa is in Ontario so is English-speaking and very friendly (if a little quiet). Just the other side of the river is the state of Quebec and yes, quite a difference. We stopped off for some lunch in the middle of nowhere and thought the chef was going to brandish his knife as we had asked for a hot dog and couldn't understand his reply. We were rescued by a couple from Toronto who explained he wanted to know if we preferred the hot dog roasted or boiled! FFS! Just stick it in a bloody baguette.
Hilarious!!!! I am giggling, can you hear me? Lovely to see wild animals, in the wild, great photo and fab story! x
Lol at the dare, very clever though đ I have never seen a groudhog before, I expected them to be bigger, no idea why đ Great photos đ
Just snorted unattractively. Hilarious. Wish you had, but know I'd have bottled it too!
How funny, that would be something my family would dare me to do