Life in Calgary
We’ve been residing in Mexico for the last 12 years, so a lot has happened in our old home town in the intervening decade. We’ve had a chance to spend the last two months in town, and here are a few things I never thought I’d live long enough to see.
Co-op Cannabis
For those of you not from Alberta, the Co-op grocery chain was founded by the United Farmers of Alberta in the 1940s and is about the least likely organization in the province to open a chain of pot stores (except for the RCMP).
They have great names for the various weed varieties, including Purple Haze (too bad Buzz Light Year was already taken). But I’m kind of nostalgic for the days when you’d purchase a dime bag behind the high-school from the local JD. Somehow, paying GST on reefer is a bit of a buzz kill.
Calgary Central Library
The City of Calgary began planning this about the same time as the Pyramids of Giza.
The award-winning design was completed in 2018 at the cost of around $250 million. When it finally opened, thousands of citizens waited patiently in line to gaze upon the wood-clad interior and pinch CDs.
When we recently visited, the vast interior echoed with the sound of children’s delight as Librarians performed favorite books.
Best of all, however; they carry copies of Secret Combinations, Magnus the Magnificent and A Paris Moment! If you are a Calgary Library member, be sure to sign in on your card and request Joan the Saint and The Hotel Seamstress.
The Big Head
This sculpture, formally entitled Wonderland, was installed a few years ago in front of the Bow Tower in Calgary. The Spanish artist Jaume Plensa drew inspiration from the head of a young Spanish girl, and the interior the 12-m work of art can be accessed through a door. I recommend a visit to Co-op Cannabis before entering.
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Joan the Saint!
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Book Review
The Last Devil to Die
By Richard Osman
The concept of this mystery novel series is disingenuously simple; a quartet of retirees living in a seniors’ complex near Brighton start a club in which they investigate unsolved murders.
They are led by Elizabeth, a legendary former spy who is ruthless in her pursuit of perfidy. Her best friend Joyce loves to cook pound cake, while retired union leader Ron and former psychiatrist Ibrahim round out the crew. They are, in turn, aided by Bogdan, a mysterious Polish émigré, and Donna, a police inspector for the rural constabulary.
In this fourth installment, a delivery of heroin from Afghanistan goes astray and a friend of the murder club is found, well, murdered. The intrepid gang vows justice and goes in search of both the heroin and the killers.
The series is in the delightful tradition of the English cosy mystery in which amateur sleuths bring their unusual talents to bear on murder most foul. They are invariably a delightful blend of eccentric characters, convoluted plots and dry British wit. If you aren’t familiar with the Thursday Murder Club series, I highly recommend you give it a try!
Recipe: Chamorro de Cerdo
Chamorro de cerdo
Pork shank is a popular Sunday meal in Mexico. It is inexpensive, easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Ingredients
1 pork shank.
¼ cup of flour
1 Tsp of chili powder
1 Tsp of butter
Four carrots
1 cup of baby potatoes
½ a white onion
½ cup of water or broth
1 tsp of salt
Ground pepper
Directions
Pre-heat your oven to 400 F.
Mix the flour and chili powder together in a plastic bag. Insert the pork shank and lightly coat the meat. (Save 1 Tsp of the remaining flour and chili powder).
Fry the shank in butter, browning on all four sides.
Cut the carrots, onion and potatoes and place in the bottom of a cast-iron pot. Pour in the water or broth.
Place the shank atop the vegetables and bake in the oven, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Cover and reduce heat to 350 F. Cook for a further two hours.
When the meat is tender, remove from the oven and separate the meat and vegetables.
Tent the shank and let rest for 10 minutes while preparing the gravy by mixing 1 Tsp of the remnant flour and chili mix with the drippings.
Serve each portion whole, or flake the meat off and serve on a platter. Enjoy!
TV Review
Lupin
Streaming on Netflix
This is a French series following the adventures of Assane Diop, the modern reincarnation of Arsene Lupin. The latter was a fictional gentleman thief popular in the early 20th century, a self-styled Robin Hood of the Paris underworld.
Diop, a master of disguise, uses his abilities and general chicanery to steal from the rich and, (ahem), keep it. In the latest series, his arch nemesis kidnaps his mother and extorts him into stealing some of the world’s most precious jewelry, including the invaluable Black Pearl.
Our anti-hero and his intrepid team pull a host of outrageous heists that bamboozle the police and infuriate the pampered owners of pricey baubles. Although the first installment of the series was delightfully entertaining, the writers and producers have taken the concept to a whole new level in this latest season. I highly recommend Lupin!