I love warming the water of the Northumberland Strait in Atlantic Canada!
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, “the Northumberland Strait is a tidal water body between Prince Edward Island and the coast of eastern New Brunswick and northern Nova Scotia” (https://tinyurl.com/39nftsps).
Compared to the more impressive tides of the nearby Bay of Fundy [12.192 to 15.24 meter (40-50 feet) range], the tides on Northumberland Strait are in the 2.4384 to 4.572 meter (8-15 feet) range (https://tinyurl.com/ynwuxf73).
However, even if these tides are not as high, they go VERY far. This results in a highly warm water, due to the many daily sun hours warming the exposed Atlantic ocean sand (https://tinyurl.com/ynwuxf73). At low tide, one can either walk or bike on the bottom of the ocean. At high tide, one can swim in the warm water. Regardless of the tides, it is highly rewarding to take the time to appreciate this beauty—one moment at a time.
If you are interested, below you can find two pictures, taken by Bambi a few hours apart, of the same spot on the Northumberland Strait from the side of the Amherst Short in Nova Scotia. Is there anything more majestic and magical than Canada’s nature?
Amherst Shore, Nova Scotia. A picture taken by Bambi on July 11. 2026.
Amherst Shore, Nova Scotia. A picture taken by Bambi on July 11. 2026.
Yesterday, Lebanon and Israel concluded another round of talks in Rome, agreeing on the implementation steps for “two pilot zones” in the occupied South Lebanon. There could be a virtual follow-up to those US-brokered talks on Friday (https://tinyurl.com/yc3kdbfj).
Do you happen to have an opinion about these talks, dear readers? And what do you think about their potential success, especially when the Hezbollah keeps stating that it “will not hand over the weapons” (https://tinyurl.com/ys22xmez)?
She does not know about you, but Bambi is convinced of the following: to solve problems, especially complex ones, it is necessary to keep the communication channels open. This solution-oriented approach applies to personal, professional, public, and even to war-related contexts.
For her, just having Lebanon and Israel coming together to listen to each other and to talk is a little miracle in itself. Even if the framework agreement between these two neighbouring countries is not perfect in all its clauses, the will to communicate seems to still be there. More significantly, there is a joint will to experiment to try to solve matters.
It takes much courage to talk to your “enemies” or “occupiers”; surely more than talking to your spouse or friends. It also takes courage to want to trust another neighbouring country, which is still far from being sovereign in its political decisions or on the ground.
To move forward, it is wiser to build bridges of communication than to dig destructive tunnels. We saw where decades of violence have led us. So for the sake of the innocent people in Lebanon and for those on the other side of the border, good luck to the Lebanese-Israeli talks. All the best also to the cause of peace in the longer term, despite the unnecessary collective grief and the significant challenges, both locally and regionally.
Thirty 33 years ago, French singer Leo Ferré left our world. May his memory be eternal.
One of Mr. Ferré’s most beautiful songs, “Avec le temps” [With Time], is inspired by a breakup. There is an English translation of its lyrics online (https://tinyurl.com/ydj59fn5).
Of note, “Avec le temps” was translated into several languages, namely English, Arabic, and Hebrew. Many great singers performed Ferré’s famous song with much talent. Which performance do you prefer, starting with the original (subtitled in English) shared below?
Mr. Trump said today: “Talks with Iran to continue, but ceasefire is over” (https://tinyurl.com/92cdzv97). The US President’s comment is making Bambi think of romantic couples who officially break up, but keep seeing each other.
Almost at the same time, Mr. Naim Qassem, current head of the Hezbollah, said: “there is no solution other than an Israeli withdrawal in return for the Lebanese Army’s deployment south of the Litani” . Of note, he had several months before the last round of war, and decades earlier, to allow this army to operate in Southern Lebanon. He contradicted himself further by adding: “We won’t be dragged into strife, but we will not allow anyone to insult us” (https://tinyurl.com/mrx2a2r6).
All the above is unfolding while Israel appears to be highly engaged in Lebanon’s talks, whether in Washington or soon in Rome, yet it keeps escalating its highly aggressive war acts in Southern Lebanon.
And what about the official Lebanon? Beirut is courageously defending its talks with Israel. Yet it does not seem to be concretely acting on the ground toward the disarmament of the Hezbollah.
And what about Iran and its Arab neighbours? Some of the latter, namely Qatar and Saudi Arabia sent official delegations to the funeral of the Iranian Ayatollah-dad (even if Iran acted in the nastiest way possible toward them). Yet Iran did not hesitate to bomb them again in retaliation against the USA’s threats.
To conclude this post, what can we understand from all the contradictory behaviours, as citizens who are sick and tired of this endless violence? Although the near, and surely far, future is hard to predict, thus far it does not seem to be promising for all the innocent people across the Middle AND worldwide. Despite this, it is Bambi’s hope that the light of safety, reason, peace, prosperity, and—love—will shine at the end of this destructive tunnel of war, for all and especially for Lebanon.
Ms. Bonnie Tyler’s beautiful picture was taken from the Guardian
Bambi is sad to read about the death of Ms. Bonnie Tyler. It seems that she died in Portugal, at the age of 75, following an induced coma after an urgent intestinal surgery last May (https://tinyurl.com/mrevvef7). May her soul rest in peace.
This blog has an older post dedicated to Bambi’s sister (Roula) and brother-in-law (Gladson, known as Doudou) shared further below, in which she highlighted that Ms. Bonnie Tyler’s famous song “Total Eclipse of the Heart” was their teenage years love song.
Roula and Gladson met when they were both biking in their neighbourhood’s public garden in Beirut, Lebanon, during civil war (1975-1990). Of note, their lovely encounter occurred when Roula was 13 years old and Gladson slightly older. At the time, Bambi was just 9. Naturally and gradually, Doudou became her brother, not just brother-in-law. Ms. Tyler’s song means a lot not just to Roula/Doudou, but also to their entire family and friends, both in Lebanon and Canada where they—and us all—celebrated their union ten years later. This song is also to you Michael and Nicolas (et al.!), the product of this love.
Of course, Ms. Tyler has many other beautiful songs over her impressive musical career. To honour her today and to soothe all the grieving hearts, including Roula’s and Gladson’s, Bambi will end this quick tribute with music. May today’s “total eclipse of all the hearts” of Ms. Tyler’s family, friends, and fans worldwide pass smoothly. May the light of gratitude shine, day after day, despite the sorrow.
Thank you Ms. Bonnie Tyler for having existed in our lives. May your memory be eternal.
Montreal is charming with all its different cultural communities, including the Orthodox Jewish, vibrant corners and neighbourhoods where we hear the beautiful Yiddish language being spoken. They appear sometimes dressed in interesting—or odd—clothes. Some of them sell delicious Jewish products, including Montreal’s famous bagels.
From her fifteen years in Montreal, starting in 1990, Bambi recalls beautiful memories of those Jewish-flavoured streets where she had walked, studied, worked, and volunteered. When she was in her early twenties, she once had an enriching encounter with one of these men with whom she tried to negotiate to support her friends’ new business. She boldly entered the senior Hassidic Jewish man’s store. She could not see anyone there, but she heard him saying hello from a room a few stairs higher. She climbed those stairs and introduced herself to him. She asked him if he can help her friends who were of Arab origins like her, she must add. In exchange, she offered him her commitment to also encourage his own business herself and by telling potential clients about it. At first, the man looked surprised. After their chat, he ended up being one of the most open-minded and friendly persons she had met in Canada thus far. Perhaps the longer-term outcome of this story was that her friend’s new business did not survive. Yet, this man was filled with humanity and this is what she recalls the most.
Sadly, over the past years, this lovely spirit of Montreal is being threatened day after day. Indeed, in 2025 alone, B’nai Brith Canada has “documented 6,800 incidents of antisemitism. This is equivalent to 18.6 incidents, on average, each day” (https://tinyurl.com/mpydz4ru). This Canadian advocacy organization called its report “A National Crisis of Antisemitism”.
Shockingly, but sadly not surprisingly, there has been another antisemitic attack in Outremont, Montreal in which Hassidic Jewish men “returning home from a synagogue after Shabbat services were allegedly harassed by individuals driving around the neighbourhood” (https://tinyurl.com/4x6u647z). These innocent victims were physically attacked, spat on, sprayed with an unknown substance, and with their religious fur hats stolen. Who knows, these men could be perhaps related to that older sweet man described above?
To better describe this sad story, which is being investigated by the police, Bambi will end this post by sharing a 4-minute-video prepared by Ms. Alexa Lavoie, from Rebel News. Thanks to her for covering and following it.
ENOUGH of violence on our streets. We want our peaceful Canada back. We do not want anyone to feel unsafe in our beautiful country. Today, it is those hassidic men who were physically and morally intimidated in Montreal. Tomorrow it might be other Jewish men, women, or children in another city/province. They might be observant or not. What are we going to do collectively and concretely, as a state that respects itself, to protect them… and protect each one of us, Jewish or not, after them?
Bambi is neither a politician, nor a military expert. She just knows that countries usually have a single army AND one rule of law for all their citizens. At her middle age, and before her death, her dream remains the same: seeing her birth country sovereign. This means without ANY occupation, colonization, and foreign interference of any other powerful state. Is this an impossible dream?
To highlight her birthday while celebrating her immense talent, this post shares one of her most beautiful songs. It is entitled “Mille après mille” and it is sub-titled in English.
Of note, this famous 1969 country song was composed, by Mr. Gerry Joly, originally in English, but with one verse in French. The song was born following a long drive in Elliot Lake, in Northern Ontario, during which Mr. Joly’s car had mechanical problems (https://tinyurl.com/39xkhxsc). The lyrics are about love and the meaning of life.
It is Bambi’s hope that you will enjoy this song, dear readers (if you wish to listen to it). Have a good one and, if you are hitting the road, drive safely please.
Mr. Trump said the following: “we knocked the hell out of Iran. They’re dying to settle. They want to settle so badly. We gave them a week off for a funeral because we’re nice” (https://tinyurl.com/3s2fwsz3).
Many miles away in the Middle East a mourning yet defiant Iranian crowd chanted at Mr. Ali Khamenei’ funeral “Death to America“.
All this drama took place, on the 4th of July, in Washington and in Tehran respectively.
Who shall we believe, the President of the United States or Iran’s Islamist regime?
And how is it possible to negotiate a “peace” deal with people who want your nation dead?
Mr. Trump recently said that the negotiations with Iran are going very well while the Iranian regime’s message to the world is clear and loud” “Revenge, death to America, death to Israel” (https://tinyurl.com/f3wuaxsr).
What seems to be even more contradictory, than all the above, is how a man responsible for the massive killing of his own innocent people is venerated, like a saint, by some fellow citizens of the same country… and even abroad (e.g, a Hezbollah-related Lebanese delegation). Although the Iranian regime likely wants the world to see an appearance of unity of the people, some mourners do not need to fake their grief. They are true believers.
To conclude this post, Ms. Indira Gandhi, former Indian Prime Minister, once said “You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist”. So how can you one day shake hands, after signing a so-called “peace” deal while your fist is clenched and your mouth is shouting “death to America“?
To Bambi’s relatives, friends, and readers who are celebrating the Independence Day: Happy 4th of July!
Today happens to also be the birthday of the late and great Mr. Zaki Nassif (1916-2004), described on the American University of Beirut (AUB)’s website (https://bit.ly/3fQ7ff1) as “the founder of a new Lebanese Arabic school of compositions, unique in a genre that combines words, music, orchestration and dance“. His impressive musical heritage includes 1,100 songs as well as pieces of music (https://bit.ly/3fQ7ff1). May his memory be eternal.
Long live music, the summer season, and people’s joyful celebrations everywhere, especially across the United States of America.
