The end of the most festive month of the year,the end of January.
There is no other month for Ukrainians to celebrate so long.
As you guessed, I’m in Ukraine.
I arrived at the beginning of the month to spend Christmas with my old parents. I’ve been arriving for several years for this holiday and the opportunity to be around my parents.
There is no greater good and pleasure, like being a little little girl in a middle-aged.
I would like to say a little about the country(Ukraine) itself and my impressions. Not easy for Ukraine now. Very difficult time. A lot of unemployed, a lot of poor. There is no medicine and no help for the elderly. They are restored, but very slowly. Of course, expensive food and the necessary things.
Like anyone who believes in the best, I believe that this will change.
But for the age of my parents this will not happen.
I visited the Carpathians, just like six months ago. I come to grief to enjoy all the beauty of nature and clean air. But most of all I enjoy the purity of the souls of the people living there. In the village where I lived, the doors do not close at night.
And there is no crime.
In Kiev, as in the capital, it is much more difficult to live.
Now I’m completely engrossed in work and contracts with sponsors for the development of the film.
I was lucky. I found people who believed in me and helped me. Tomorrow an important meeting will be held with people about whom the film will be about. I’m worried. I have to prove to them that my robot is necessary to them and interesting.
That I need their help and support.
The sweep and fear seize me.
It is always, before a new beginning.
Two feelings:no strength and no fear.
And then, as I’m fooling around, I accelerate and start working.
Such a mixed month full of vanity and tranquility, holidays and work, uncertainty and firmness
Incredibly productive month.
I feel that it is tender, now disobedient, now broken, then concentrated, then powerless…. It’s ok, everything will be all right! The main thing is that I love everything I do……
We in life often live, talk and think in one language, but write, respond, translate in another language. It happens with many people get into our age of globalization.
Today I will tell you about several funny cases from the world where I live……………….
Translation errors…………………………
I walked in the park with my chihuahua dog. It’s a tiny dog that has a very short hair……
We walked with my dog. My dog is on a leash. A woman with a poodle comes up and asks me – Your dog is shedding? I did not understand, I understand thought shading (multiplying, has sex with other dogs)
,,Well, there is a poodle. And I have chihuahua,,-(I thought to myself)
I answer:
-No
She ask again: -Does your dog molt? I thought:,, She insists so much…….why?Here …..in park…..where I’m walk….. she is stuck…..
I answer: -My dog has sex only with chihuahua….
She already makes her eyes surprised and runs away.
I remembered her word. I went home and looked for a word in the dictionary. For a long time I laughed, remembering the eyes of a woman killing me and pulling her poodle from me and my dog
Another story took place in the Carpathians………….
Story about a word………….KURWA…………..
This word is popular in Poland. It means swearing…..(in translation)
This word can mean ,,a prostitute,,…..(in translation)
I rested at the resort. One day two men from Poland came and asked to show where is good restaurant to eat and where is interesting places in that city.
I agreed to show them……. We walked along the road……. They were smiling me, were interested in me. They talked among themselves in Polish. I do not know Polish, except one word, well, two, maybe three.
So, they talked. Smiled, looked at me, again smiled.
Of their words, I understood only one word, and this was…..hahaha….it was …KURWA…
I brought them to the restaurant, and left.
I come to my friends and talk about the Polish men.
-They abused me. Smiled and told me the word KURWA……….
My friends told:
-So can they be with each other, can their dialect be like that?
But I insisted on my:
-I thought they offended me, like a woman …
Of course this is all jokes and comic stories……….
This winter, I travel a lot again. Winter was very serious…..very cold…..
Remains a little time, and this cold winter will pass away.
I’m already preparing …. In my soul and in my dreams I already had a snowman on the sea……hahaha ….like in picture….
New Year 2018 is approaching.
A few days left before it starts.
I am cold, I cough and can not actively spend these days.
I canceled to have parties and meetings, because I feel very bad.
I had time to work a little with computer.I have time for myself.
I very much hoped that at the end of December I will be accepted for a solo exhibition in Etobicoke Art Gallery.
But the jury did not approve me, they just sent me a letter saying that the works are great and I stayed with them.
I stay with you, my friends, how much will I have enough.
I submitted to the contest in the newspaper, where my works were published last year.
So I was also sent a beautiful letter that I’m good, but took another.
I do not suffer from this.
But my strength and desire from this conceal.
I’m looking for other ways and exits.
After all, you can not wait and suffer all your life.
But where is the incentive for creativity?
Because of illness, because of dryness in the throat and a strong cough at night, I stopped drawing now. I think they will return to creativity after illness and a trip to Ukraine.
So what do I want to do next year?
Of course, I’m looking for acquaintances and help in making the film by my script.
This is the reason for my trip to Kiev.
The film is planned to be shot in Kiev.
There is a production for work, but its funds are not enough and we are looking for co-production for the organization of the film.
A movie about bikers and funny.
My dream is to show it to the audience.
Believe me, for many reasons-it’s difficult for me to do this.
Of course, I will be glad to get acquainted and support.
What I want to do next year- is to finish two more scenarios.
Both scenarios about life are 4 serial melodramas.
The first script about women, I’m finishing the second series.
The second scenario is very dear to me, about the real events in the life of my friend and ready only in the synopsis.
To him I’ll get later.
What else would I want?
I lack management of my works and advertising in the field of art. So next year I will more agree to exhibitions and events, where I can show my art work. And I will devote more time to advertising and disseminating information about me. Who interested in new names, who want unusual exhibits-contact me,please.
My exhibition will not be just an exhibition, I want to join together my work with the performances of artists and beautifully decorations. It’s like a mini show where all kinds of art are connected. Not only in the opening day.A during the whole week of the exhibition. As a mini festival(this is my dream and this is answer why I cancel many time offers from the organizers)
Please do not be offended and do not think that I’m arrogant.
I just do not see myself in ordinary exhibitions.
Me there or not enough or do not look like me.
But I really want to show myself and my world, if make an exhibition.
So I applied to win individual exhibitions.
I want the next year to be as saturated as this one and even more……………………. I wish health to all my loved ones…………………….. I wish success to all my colleagues…………………………………. I wish you love, my dear readers.Without it my life is empty…………………………….. I wish you happiness……………………………………. Let your plans and ideas come true, let dreams come true…………………..
I remember a year ago one reader wrote to me: ,,You write well, but not enough. Please write more…,,
I then wrote a few lines. The publication of these few lines in English cost me a lot of sweat and a few hours. I sweated over each line and got confused in every word. Today I am writing, remembering that time, smiling, thank you to my reader, who helped me and instructed me then and stimulated me.
Merry Christmas my readers! I wish you a miracle, harmony and happiness!
I did not see such a real Christmas for a long time. Maybe when I was little girl as small as my granddaughter.
During two days of snowing the street is closed.
When the first cyclone was on,I clear my car from snow. For the second cyclone, my granddaughter and I simply closed in the house and both of us had a real evening of a fairy tale.
My white car merged with snow and it was just a big ball of snow. Outside home is incredibly beautiful and incredibly cold at the same time.
So we sat down together in the house, lit the lights on the tree and read fairy tales, stories in Russian and English.
We are discovered together for ourselves a real holiday of such a beautiful evening. It’s a very warm feeling when near you there is an energetic twinkle that all the time ,,wants,,. Wants to read, wants to eat, wants to play, wants to stop me.
I am very happy to see this little bundle of happiness that grows in front of the eyes and is open to the her world.
I am pleased to observe this.
I see myself, when I’m little, sitting at my grandmother on knees and reading books.
I do not remember myself like that, but parents was told that I was very stubborn, hard and demanding.
I just smile, how wonderful it is, to grow like this.
The lack of knowledge forces the child to demand them. Sometimes the child asks to do something that she already knows how, but with the hands of the parent. And it’s interesting and beautiful.
We drew together, played games, prepared to eat together.
Of course, today is not 1900, but 2018 soon.
I received a number of congratulations from my friends on e-mail.
Merry Christmas for all of you!
There are several places in Toronto where I like to return.
One of them is Fort York, my center of gravity.
There are original War of 1812 buildings and 1813 battle site.Located in downtown.
Having got there once on the Open Day Toronto in May, every year I return there with pleasure.
History of Fort York starts from the moment when John Graves Simcoe ordered the construction of a garrison on the present site of Fort York in 1793.
Simcoe wanted to establish a naval base at Toronto in order to control Lake Ontario.
In his capacity as lieutenant-governor of the British province of Upper Canada, Simcoe also moved the provincial capital to Toronto from the vulnerable border town of Niagara during that tense period. Toronto was renamed ‘York,’ civilian settlement followed the government, and the settlement began to grow. During those early years, Fort York played a significant role in the economic and social development of the small backwoods community.
In 1807, Anglo-American relations began to deteriorate. In 1812, the United States declared war and invaded Canada. On 27 April 1813, the U.S. Army and Navy attacked York with 2700 men on fourteen ships and schooners, armed with eighty-five cannon. The defending force of 750 British, Canadians, Mississaugas, and Ojibways had twelve cannon.
The Americans stormed ashore west of the fort under the cover of their naval guns. The defenders put up a strong fight, but fell back to Fort York from the landing site in the face of overwhelming odds. The British commander, Major-General Sir Roger Sheaffe, then retreated eastward and blew up the fort’s gunpowder magazine (located near today’s Memorial Area). The explosion was devastating: 250 Americans fell dead or wounded from its blast, including their field commander, Brigadier-General Zebulon Pike. Total losses in the six-hour battle were 157 British and 320 Americans.
The Mississaugas and Ojibways withdrew into the forest, Sheaffe’s professional troops retreated to Kingston, and the local militia surrendered the town. The Americans occupied York for six days. They looted homes, took or destroyed supplies, and burned Government House and the Parliament Buildings (near today’s Front and Parliament streets). In 1814, the British retaliated when they captured Washington and burned the White House, Capitol, and other public buildings.
The Americans returned to a defenceless York in July 1813 to burn barracks and other buildings that they missed in April. Shortly afterwards, the British rebuilt Fort York on what is both today’s and Simcoe’s original site. In August 1814, Fort York was strong enough to repel the U.S. squadron when it again tried to enter Toronto Bay. In February 1815, word reached York that the War of 1812 had ended the previous December. It was good news: peace had returned, and the defence of Canada against American invasion had been successful.
The British continued to garrison Fort York after the war, although most soldiers moved to new barracks one kilometre west of the fort in 1841. (The officers’ barracks of that ‘New Fort’ or ‘Stanley Barracks’ survives today.) During times of peace, Fort York’s defences were allowed to deteriorate, only to be strengthened in periods of crisis, such as the Rebellion Crisis of 1837–41, or when war with the United States seemed imminent, such as in 1861–62.
In 1870, the Canadian government assumed responsibility for most of the country’s defences, including Fort York. Canadian troops maintained the harbour defences at the fort until its guns and earthworks became obsolete in the 1880s. The army, however, did not abandon the site at that time, but used it for training, barracks, offices, and storage until the 1930s. Some military activity even took place at Fort York during World War II.
Between 1932 and 1934, the City of Toronto restored Fort York to celebrate the centennial of the incorporation of the city in 1834. On Victoria Day 1934, Fort York opened as a historic site museum. Today, its defensive walls surround Canada’s largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings. Even the older part of the one reconstructed building on the site, the Blue Barracks, contains a significant amount of 1814-period material and is an interesting example of the efforts made during the Great Depression to create employment by restoring and rebuilding historic sites.
Today this place is one of the favorite places in Toronto.On annual festivals here gather from all Ontario and Canada.
Here lives the history of the city.
On the maps you can see the path of hunters, which passed through Toronto to America.
There are exhibits of weapons, household utensils, telling about the life and life of that period.
It is very interesting when the military march and demonstrate how to use weapons.
On holidays you can see dances that show different dance groups and collectives on the territory of the museum.
I love winter and the period before Christmas.This is a magical time.
This is Christmas time.
For me in general it is divided into two parts. This is the time of the Catholic Christmas on December 24 and the time of the Orthodox Christmas on January 6.
I am from selected people who prepare on holidays in advance and celebrate for a long time.
Because through time I divided the celebration into two parts.
The first part with my children and the second with my parents. I just pray that my already elderly parents live longer.
December is always a very busy month, which is connected with meetings and corporate parties.
Christmas time…….Christmas time…..
This year there are also a lot of them.
But in the midst of the bustle, it’s not hard to see how my city is getting ready for Christmas.
I will show you, my readers this time and tell about it.
I run through the streets and see these transformations.
This big old city is changing.
And I want to show these changes to you.
The city is simply transformed radically.
In the parks everything froze in natural beauty.
Storefronts are decorated.
In the squares are built Christmas markets.
This is Christmas time…….
Street bazaars call for sales and on them a lot of Christmas toys, souvenirs, hats and clothes.
The millions of colorful lights and decorative lighting are lit up.
Even gloomy banks look brighter and more festive.
The cafes dazzle with some new delicacies and scenery.
Large and elegant malls and small stores are called to pre- Christmas discounts.
Christmas time……Christmas time……
Beauty,which bewitches and ravages the eye.
Many historical places of the city are preparing in December their programs dedicated to Christmas.
It’s Allen Garden and AGO and Fort York and Nathan Square.
In the Nathan Square opened traditional skating.
Now everyone who lives in Toronto can come back after work and skate Sometimes it’s couples with children.
This is Christmas time.
The changes touched every house in the city.
Everyone is trying to prepare the facades of houses smartly for Christmas.
Ancient buildings look great and I like to photograph them.
Modern buildings shine with windows and metal finishes.
These buildings are so easily combined, as easily in this city the old and the new styles live.
Year round red double-floor bus carries tours on the Dundas Street West.
The people saying goodbye to each other, say:,, Merry Christmas!,,
Yes,it is Christmas time.
Of course this is the month of philanthropy.
Especially at such a time you feel compassion for the hungry, homeless and sick people.
When near the Allan Gardens in a small area the homeless of the whole district gathered to disassemble a huge bunch of winter clothes brought by him, I thanked the
people who helped them to exist.
A city cleared of debris and foliage, many places in the center of the city are still blocked by construction, but this is normal for a constantly renewed city.
Recently changed the flights of streetcars from wide and high to more flat, the streetcars themselves changed, which became less noisy and with low enter’s steps.
Low, specifically for people with disabilities on wheelchairs.
This year winter came slowly.
It’s seemed to come quietly every day. And now, when I’m writing this post-outside the window, it’s already snowing all over. Snowing will be all next week too. Ten days still before the Christmas.
When on the calendar December, a lot of worries and preparations for Christmas and the New Year.
I really love this time.
He gives a good mood, drifting the last year and helping to plan the coming year.
It turns out that not only me preparing for this holiday painstakingly and intensely. My city Toronto is also preparing for this holiday.
I realized this by visiting an exhibition of flowers in Allan Gardens, dedicated to Christmas.
How many flowers needs grow by this month, then to decorete everything beautifully and accurately in the collections and present them to us.
I invite you, my readers, to walk with me along the Allan Gardens instead of gossip and fantasies.
I am suspicious of mass events, but today I violated the usual rules and visited Allan Gardens on the day of his invitation to Toronto residents for an exhibition dedicated to Christmas.
I must say that the weather so far just helps to walk and enjoy nature.
The temperature slightly drops. It’s not sharp, as usual, but gradually, as if playing with us. Today, for example, at night there was a thick fog that enveloped all Toronto in a continuous tangle and was played this way until midday, when the sun dispersed the clouds and warmed the city.
Walking in Toronto on such days is just a pleasure.
Usually for December slush, dampness, rain or snow. But the year does not happen for a year and this winter while we are pleased with the warm weather.
Only after opening the doors of Allan Gardens, you immediately get into the embraces of greenery, flowers and plants. A huge number of different varieties of flowers and plants live in this unique garden.
We must thank the workers of this garden for their hard work.
Exhibited very interesting collections of cacti, hydrangeas,roses and various varieties of tropical plants.
Some of them are so planted that intertwine with each other and make a bright rainbow of colors.
Decorate their wooden bulls, bridges, flowerpots and garlands of Christmas lights.
The third year in a row at the Allan Gardens opening of the Christmas Flower Show.
There are free cider and cookies inside garden.
From activities there is a wagon ride around the park.
It is line with children and parents to horseback riding.
It’s not just a walk, you have to sing a Christmas song.
Of course it’s cool and cheers up.
Some people walking in the park in old clothes from Toronto Streampunk Society.
They are friendly, they smile cute, posing in front of the cameras and make good atmosphere walk in the park.
There are two places where the workshops is held.
In one you need to make a decorative toy on the tree with your name.
In the second it is necessary to cut out a toy and decorate it with ornaments.
It is popular in Toronto to conduct workshops at the events of the city.
It helps create a family atmosphere, entertains children, helps adults.
When in the middle of winter, cold and gray, you get into a tiny green, well-groomed piece of Allan Gardens, it’s like you get into a fairy tale.
Of course, this is an amazing show and I thank its organizers for this idea.
The exhibition’s location:19 Horticultural Ave.,Toronto.
Santa Clouse is came to Etobicoke.Today we are parens and kids,all residents Etobicoke greets Santa at Lake Shore Boulevard West.
At 10 a.m Santa Claus Parade start at Dwight Avenue and travelled to 36th Street.
That is 27th Annual Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade.
Parade features 15 floats and hundreds of costumed participants.It is the third largest Christmas parade in Ontario.
Since morning parents with children gathered on the street along the route of Santa.The weather was good, warm for this time of year and month.
Many people took chairs with them to sit and sitting on chairs looking at the parade and drinking hot drinks.
For us it is customary at the weekend to spend time with the whole family.I mean it’s not only parents, children, old people, but also favorite animals, dogs of all breeds and sizes.
A special event of the parades are the brass bands.
Police Orchestra of Toronto opened parade.
It is all-volunteer parade in which many of Etobicoke’s organizations are involved.
It should be noted the beautiful costumes of volunteers participating in the parade.
Both children and adults met Mickey, Santa, Warriors with delight.
Past us passed graceful grandmothers in their caps, big hares with huge carrots, penguins, pigs.
They danced ridiculously, sang, gave us gifts and sweets and congratulated,,Merry Christmas,,
How much had delight the kids ,when the car was passing by with a teapot, a hare with a clock and a red house.
In general on the street can hear children’s laughter, talking adults.
The children ran after cars and gathered themselves sweets as gifts.
All put Santa’s red caps on heads.
These are small children and elderly people.
And the elderly Santas 🙂 drove by car and played on wind instruments
Fascinated the parade pink old women. It was brilliant!Awesome,precious!!
A huge house made of cookies passed by. And the dancers marched in colorful costumes with balloons in their hands.
This parade is loved by both children and adults.
It was nice to meet at the parade and take a photo with a 65th Mayor of Toronto John Tory.
Creating this post, I decided to show my latest works.
I show a small video where I’m on the Ontario lake, on the waterfront. As you can see, we have a continuation of the autumn. Winter has not yet come.
The weather still like fall.Sometimes, a very cold wind, only one day was frost. The leaves fell from the trees.There is no snow and everything has turned gray color.Unusual that in the end of November still warm,temperature about +10 C.
Only at night, residents of Toronto include swich on the lighting of their homes. This indicates the coming last month in this year,coming Christmas.
In Toronto is very beautiful lighting’s decor during Christmas time. The residents prepare for the celebration of Christmas and spend on it time , money and imagination.
I’ll show you small video about last year decoration.
It will be soon, but now is November and we will return to talk about our Friday.Black Friday today!!
I am pleased to inform that the last exhibition where participated with my works was successful .
I will certainly inform you about future new exhibitions. I’m embarrassed that now invitations come so quickly that I’m not going to write about it while I’m going busy to. Really, I already need an assistant. In one hand, everything is very difficult to do.
After a short break, I again took up the brush and canvas.
I’ll show you the latest work.
They came out four of them.It’s ussualy with me: either all together or nothing.
This is part of the future collection “Toronto Streets”.
I wanted to reflect in the pictures against the backdrop of the Toronto CN Tower people colorfully.
So I inserted a red umbrella as a red sign. People living in this wonderful city Toronto are unusual and differ from other cities by their openness and love of life.
The city is washed by rain and fog. That’s why city so damn handsome.
I painted a rain:small, drizzling, continuous, in autumn.
Somewhere, between houses, in the rain and damp I walk too. Under a red umbrella……..
These paintings are already on sale https://www.artfinder.com/helen-polishuk#/ It’s bad that the sites do not sell new work until a month has passed. Really they will go on sale only in the end of December.
But I published them already on my owner site for sale.
If you liked these works, you can write to me (helen.polishuk@gmail.com)or immediately buy them through the PayPal from this my site
Again I’m in a hurry and I doing this post among the bustle. Very busy after arrival. Just uploaded the mails to the blog and say that with everyone I’m happy . If my blog is not protected, it does not give you a reason to throw me any rubbish.
I correctly remove the dirt and sweep the excess. But I’m sorry for your efforts. I will write more. Thank you,that help me. I hear a lot of praise and collect them in my piggy bank. :))
And when you send spam, when the bots are full …. it means you are not indifferent to me…..
………………………………………………….Continue to work………………………………………………………….
I look into my calendar like in mirror. 🙂 This month we have a performance in the theater,,ZAGRAVA,, :the premiere- sketchs(fable) and a preparation for the New Year and Christmas.
I like that this year there will be a Christmas fairy tale ,,Vertep,,original Ukranian fairy tale/story be Gogol/. I will prepare everything and fly, I will not be at the premiere.But the important fact that the fairy tale is,this is the main thing, and it’s good.
It’s great that the consist of the theater group was replenished with new actors over the summer.
This is a very good sign.
Next year our theater, “Zagrava,” will be 65 years old.
It is the oldest Ukrainian theater among the North America.
It says that the theater lives and will work.
Now I will touch on another important topic for me. I am engaged in the development and organization of the shooting of the film.Tthe film will be shot in Ukraine This is a film in my script about bikers. This is a comedy and a story about a young merry biker.
I carry out the work, and now it is necessary find co-production.
I’m currently looking for this.
I’m interested in European cinematograph.
I understand that European cinema is much more advanced and old and experienced. The difference between Europe and America is calasal.
I will try to connect them both for better effect.
Well, the last paragraph of my calendar-coming New Year!!!!
Yes, my friends, ………it will be a new year soon!!!!
Sooner or later, we will analyze what has been done. I have done a lot, so much for such a small year. 🙂 I did some art exhibitions, expanded the audience of my readers in my website.
My paintings flew to the Baltic States and England, stayed in Toronto and Ukraine and gathered in Poland.
I wrote plus one script(comedy)and on the table are two synopsis for melodramas. It’s not bad. So?my dear friends, we dress New Year’s hats, we decorate Christmas trees and houses with New Year’s decor and we will celebrate the coming of the next year. 🙂
