Month: December 2021

Who is Mr. Nicolas Farah? And why is Bambi congratulating him?

Well, she learned from l’Orient Le Jour that, at 87 years old, he is the oldest paragliding amateur of his country (https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1284247/a-87-ans-il-devient-lamateur-de-parapente-le-plus-age-du-liban.html)!

First of all, bravo to this man for having survived the crazy crises of his country up to age 87! All this while enjoying life and his passion of paragliding with his son! What a beautiful activity for a father and son 🙂 (OK if we are not too afraid of height!):

It seems that Mr. Nicolas Farah is dreaming big: He would like to enter his country, Lebanon, into the Guinness World Records with his passion!

As readers of this post, Bambi hopes you will enjoy the beautiful Bay of Jounieh from the sky. This place is quite charming. As she is not on Facebook (or Meta rather), she could not find the video mentioned in the article above. So, if you happen to have access to it an can kindly share the video, Bambi will happily add it to her post. If not, no worries at all. At least, she was able to find a video of paragliding the Bay of Jounieh (and we can always imagine the fun of the Farahs, dad and son). Mind you, one of Bambi’s aunts lives nearby. Plus, Bambi even recognized a fish restaurant where her parents used to take her sometimes during her past visits. She hopes this delicious place is still hanging on in the financial crisis. All the best to it and to all the businesses of Lebanon!

Bravo again Mr. Nicolas Farrah for enjoying life. Please keep flying like a bird!

Well, talking about birds, and to conclude this post on a musical note, here is a song from Bambi to you, Mr. Farah :). It is the famous Vola Palombella interpreted by Ms. Nadina Zarif in both Italian and Arabic. Ms. Zarif was a child during the Lebanese civil war. She began singing this song at a very young age. She made many of her fellow kids, including Bambi, dream of the freedom of flying like a dove (or a Palombella) whether for real or in the imagination!

From Naharnet, other Lebanese and international media, Bambi learned that Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator of the surrealistic Beirut port explosion, of August 4, 2020, will resume work at his office after a whole month of suspension (https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/286262-bitar-resumes-work-at-his-office-after-monthlong-suspension)!

As per Naharnet, “several officials have refused to be questioned amid calls by some groups, including Hizbullah, to have the judge removed, accusing him of bias”.

Hezbollah and two allied groups have insisted to have Judge Bitar replaced (just like his predecessor, Judge Fadi Sawan).

The Lebanese government that is supposed to urgently reform to save the country from its descent to hell has not met since October 12, 2021. Can you imagine?

As a reminder, at least 216 people lost their lives in the port blast, including at least three children. Over 6000+ people were injured (many kids and adults lost their eyes. Some people are still undergoing surgeries… Maya, Bambi remains in full solidarity and sends you her fond regards!). Over 300,000 (some say up to 400,000) remain homeless. At least half of the capital was destroyed (hospitals, schools, businesses, places of worship, private homes, etc.). It is only yesterday that Bambi ‘s parents made a large progress in some of their main repairs (thanks again Beit El Baraka!).

As per Naharnet, so many questions remain unanswered: Who ordered the shipment of ammonium nitrate? Why did the authorities ignore repeated warnings of danger?

To the above, Bambi will add: Why didn’t the UN provide satellite images to Lebanon? Why didn’t many countries collaborate? And finally, once again, why isn’t the Hezbollah blaming Israel, as usual? Bambi still finds the latter very odd, especially in light of all the intense and repeated political interference in the legal system concerning this case (as a reminder, three judges resigned to denounce this circus).

To conclude this post, Bambi has nominated Judge Tarek Bitar for a Nobel Peace Prize on this blog in an older post. Today, if she may, she would like to simply tell him: Thank you for standing up for Beirut… and here is a song for you (and your family). It is called Hero and it is interpreted by the very talented Ms. Mariah Carey. May God protect you from the “mafia” ruling your country…

Well described and explained… as usual, bravo Ms. Palki Sharma Upadhyay for Gravitas, WION!

Best wishes to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)!

Of note, the UAE also introduced a large legal reform… Perhaps this would be the topic of another post?

To conclude this post on a musical note, well… here is “travailler c’est trop dure” [it means: Working is hard!] by the most talented Mr. Zachary Richard!!

Some of those with names related to Saint-Nicholas sadly left us too soon. Others are older. Yet others are younger… or yet to be born!

Some of you reading this post may identify with the theme of the day. Whomever you are, Bambi wishes you a Happy Name day :)! THANK you for existing in her life or for simply being alive (in your own lives :))!

When Bambi was a child, she was much inspired by Saint-Nicolas. Every Christmas season following a car explosion or a round of shelling, you could find her in the streets of her Beirut neighbourhood as a Santa Claus (Papa/”Baba” Noël :)) with a little bell and a bag of candies for the kids. Well, her little problem was that she was also a kid like them, but for a few hours, she allowed herself to behave like this kind old man! It was so rewarding and funny too since some family friends still tease her by calling her sometimes Petit papa Noël :)). Bambi adores receiving gifts in life. Yet, she is convinced that part of happiness in life is to offer gifts. Another part of life pleasure is to share those gifts with genuine family and friends.

Happy Saint-Nicholas to all those who celebrate it :)!

Those who read this blog on a regular basis know that Bambi adores Mr. Mark Hachem’s sense of humour and talent. Well, his latest video made her laugh. Please keep up the good work, Mr. Hachem!

Why is our government now asking supermarkets to ensure physical distance OR use proof of vaccination?!

If they are afraid of the new variant of the coronavirus, why are they banning non-vaccinated people from supermarkets?

Wouldn’t this new Omicron variant be transmitted by vaccinated travellers coming to Canada rather?

Does this measure make any sense to you? If so, please write a comment to this post to help Bambi understand.

NB Government website:

https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/corporate/promo/covid-19/alert-system.html

CBC article:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-new-brunswick-winter-plan-christmas-shephard-1.6272151

If our government wants to resort to such an extreme measure, the least would be to show us the evidence of a high transmission in supermarkets or retail businesses? Where are the data, please?

And when will we finally learn to live with the risk of coronavirus and with our fears?

Sometimes Bambi lives on a different planet.

She has not watched a single movie on TV or on Netflix since the start of the pandemic. Plus, God knows how far behind she was before the coronavirus times… OK except when working, while watching a few movies, on the airplanes during her last trip overseas, just before the first lock down.

Is she more up-to-date on music then? Not really, but sometimes listening to the radio helps. Sometimes YouTube brings great artists to her attention, right in front of her eyes. Indeed, this is how Bambi discovered Mr. Mike Massy… after 10 long years!

Well, who is Mr. Mike Massy, for those of you who do not know him?

He is a 39-year-old internationally known Lebanese singer, songwriter, performer, composer, arranger, pianist, and actor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Massy). He sings in several languages. Today, Bambi had the chance to listen to an interview he gave to her preferred internet radio station. He impressed her with his eloquence in Arabic (and mastery of other languages), wisdom, modesty, professionalism, and inspiring attitude.

This being said, Bambi would like to share a few of Mr. Massy’s songs (he has so many!). She would like to begin with his adaptation of an Arabic Christmas Carol that Bambi used to sing in school. Same for her sisters and all the kids growing up in war. The phrase that used to move her heart, year after year (for 17 years) is in bold/underlined below:

“On the night of Christmas … Hatred vanishes
On the night of Christmas … The earth blooms
On the night of Christmas … War stops
On the night of Christmas … Love is born

1. When we offer a glass of water to a thirsty person, we are in Christmas
When we clothe a naked person with a gown of love, we are in Christmas
When we wipe the tears from weeping eyes, we are in Christmas
When we cushion a hopeless heart with love, we are in Christmas
2. When I kiss a friend without hypocrisy, I am in Christmas
When the spirit of revenge dies in me, I am in Christmas
When hardness is gone from my heart, I am in Christmas
When my soul melts in the being of God, I am in Christmas“

The second song is also related to Christmas, but the English version of O Holy Night.

The third song, subtitled in English, is called “Toute à Beyrouth” in reference to the train (and/or streetcar), which used to allow people to travel from the mountains, or other regions, to Beirut for only 5 cents!

The fourth song is his Arabic adaptation of Mr. Jacques Brel’s Ne me quitte pas (sub-titled in English).

The fifth one is the famous “Qui a le droit” of Mr. Patrick Bruel. He is singing the latter with two of his colleagues, Ms. Tania Kassis and Ms. Aline Lahoud.

To conclude this post, Mr. Mike Massy’s music has many influences and he seems to not be afraid of innovation. He even played the role of Jesus in a movie and here he is singing the Tagore’s prayer (Bambi adores the latter’s wisdom). Bravo, thank you, and please keep making Lebanon proud of you, Mr. Massy!

Bambi thanks Ms. Roula Douglas [OK her dear sister :)] for re-tweeting this original tweet about “Bkasssine” in the region of “Jezzine” in Lebanon:

Bravo Bkassine (in Jezzine) and “Mabrouk” Mr. Rizk! Bambi has never visited this region, but she heard of its beauty from her relatives and friends. If you do not believe her, please take a look!

Now, that you have seen those pictures, Bambi will ask: Isn’t her birth country beautiful :)? Perhaps people there tend to forget about this beauty when struggling to survive in the current multiple crises, especially the financial/economic fiasco. Mind you, perhaps many of them cannot afford to pay (or even find!) gas to be able to visit their country? Indeed, Bambi read tonight that 6 out of 10 people are dreaming of leaving Lebanon for good, according to a survey reported in the l’Orient Le Jour (https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1283463/six-personnes-sur-dix-revent-de-quitter-definitivement-le-liban.html).

Anyhow, to conclude this post on a musical note, here is a joyful song for Bkassine (Jezzine) and all those related to it (if Bambi is not mistaken, it would be you Wassim/Coco/kids and all the extended family). This being said, the song in question is of course the famous Mabrouk (or Congrats!) song that Bambi adores because it is like an invitation to dance out of joy. It is also an opportunity for our mind to welcome all those beautiful memories, we carry in us, with our loved ones (e.g., weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, any parties, etc.). Well, Bambi will stop here. She hopes you will enjoy this post while praying that the tourism sector of Lebanon will boom again as soon as possible!

Bambi’s heart is filled with gratitude for her friend Jean. This is why this post is dedicated to her!

Indeed, while touring the kitchen for the last time before sleep, she discovered a beautiful (and delicious!) surprise on the counter. It turned out to be a chocolate-banana cake that Jean kindly deposited at their door earlier his evening! It was noticed a few minutes ago only. Thankfully, it is never too late in life… especially to eat chocolate!! So, thank you for your kindness, with much love and appreciation, from Bambi and her spouse!

Mind you, Bambi just recalled that 2-3 weeks ago you asked her about her preferred flavour among your different cakes . Of course, she must have said the chocolate one :). Of note, Banana happens to be one of her favourite fruits (if not, the favourite one?). Anyhow, your kind gesture made Bambi’s day… and trust that it will be much appreciated tomorrow at work as well :)!

Now to conclude this post on a musical note, since you are much talented in French (in addition to medicine, sciences, house renovations, baking, and… friendship), Bambi feels like offering you a French song. It is by Mr. Joe Dassin and it is about the baker’s little chocolate roll! If you wish, you can always read the English translation here: https://lyricstranslate.com/en/le-petit-pain-au-chocolat-little-chocolate-roll.html.

Bonne nuit et vive le chocolat… OK, la gentillesse aussi!