COLD DARK ROOM

[Kristoff]

In absence of @Tidgy’s Dad, I wanted to share with you all some pictures of... my fossil hunting in Canada! Adam, I was thinking of you a lot on this trip! (It was also part of my geocaching hobby; challenges like this are called EarthCaches.)


Canadian Museum of History is probably one of the most visited museums in Canada, featuring a huge hall with totem poles, a detailed story of the First Nations and European settlement, and a giant wing for kids (always a perk!). What is also extremely interesting is that the building itself was constructed from the so-called Tyndall Stone, a type of limestone full of trace and body fossils. So, it’s history in and out!

450 million years ago (in what geologists call the Ordovician Period), what is now southern Manitoba was at the bottom of a shallow tropical sea. Abundant marine organisms lived in this tropical sea, mostly on or near the seabed. When these organisms died, they became incorporated into the mud, and the calcium carbonate in their skeletons provided lime that contributed to the transformation of the mud into limestone.
Here are some of the examples we saw:

 

[Kristoff]

The same type of limestone is used across Canada for public buildings, train stations, even private residences. How cool is that? I had to find and measure six particular fossils, but we spent a lot more time looking at as many of them as we could.

Ottawa River has many interesting specimens too, visible mostly in summer, when the water levels are lower. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to go to the particular location though.
There was more Tyndall Stone in Montreal:

...as well as a fossil garden near a small museum at McGill University:

...featuring one pseudofossil and one giant ammonite from Portland, England from late Jurassic(I believe @Moozillion wears one of these around her neck, only much smaller [emoji23]):

 

[CarolM]

Thank you, dear! The thing is, the situation in Turkey is getting less stable by the day, and even though I loved my (very isolated) life there, my kid would be starting school this August/September, and we didn’t see her future in that environment. Becoming an immigrant as you’re nearing 40 isn’t fun, but we’re doing it for her.

No, I can imagine it wouldn't be. And why else do we do the things that we do. It generally is for the betterment of our children. That is what good parents do, look out for thier childrens futures.

 

[CarolM]

The same type of limestone is used across Canada for public buildings, train stations, even private residences. How cool is that? I had to find and measure six particular fossils, but we spent a lot more time looking at as many of them as we could.
View attachment 245996
Ottawa River has many interesting specimens too, visible mostly in summer, when the water levels are lower. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to go to the particular location though.
There was more Tyndall Stone in Montreal:
View attachment 245997
...as well as a fossil garden near a small museum at McGill University:
View attachment 245998
...featuring one pseudofossil and one giant ammonite from Portland, England from late Jurassic(I believe @Moozillion wears one of these around her neck, only much smaller [emoji23]):
View attachment 245999

Wow, That was very interesting and quite cool. Some very good hard facts given by you Lena. Well done. I would never have remembered all of it, to write down much later and share.

 

[Kristoff]

Wow, That was very interesting and quite cool. Some very good hard facts given by you Lena. Well done. I would never have remembered all of it, to write down much later and share.

Usually someone has already written it somewhere. I just have fantastic Googling skills. But I wanted to share with my roommates what I found interesting during this trip.

 

[JoesMum]

In absence of @Tidgy’s Dad, I wanted to share with you all some pictures of... my fossil hunting in Canada! Adam, I was thinking of you a lot on this trip! (It was also part of my geocaching hobby; challenges like this are called EarthCaches.)
View attachment 245988
View attachment 245989
Canadian Museum of History is probably one of the most visited museums in Canada, featuring a huge hall with totem poles, a detailed story of the First Nations and European settlement, and a giant wing for kids (always a perk!). What is also extremely interesting is that the building itself was constructed from the so-called Tyndall Stone, a type of limestone full of trace and body fossils. So, it’s history in and out!
View attachment 245990
450 million years ago (in what geologists call the Ordovician Period), what is now southern Manitoba was at the bottom of a shallow tropical sea. Abundant marine organisms lived in this tropical sea, mostly on or near the seabed. When these organisms died, they became incorporated into the mud, and the calcium carbonate in their skeletons provided lime that contributed to the transformation of the mud into limestone.
Here are some of the examples we saw:
View attachment 245991
View attachment 245992
View attachment 245993
View attachment 245994
View attachment 245995

Wow! They're great. I have seen fossils in limestone used for building before, but not as big as those!

 

[JoesMum]

Good morning early birds!

Mild calamity with our hotel room yesterday evening when we realised the shower head was snapped off. The reception staff were great and came straight up with a key to another room... the Suite! We have a very posh room with a separate sitting room... and free mini bar! You really can't complain about the way they handled it.

So we have a relaxing start to the day and the ceremony starts at 2pm

 

[JoesMum]

View from our room

 

[Kristoff]

Given the ongoing heatwave, our landlord decided to install air conditioning in the building — an unheard of luxury in Denmark, because it is 99% of the time unnecessary.

 

[JoesMum]

Given the ongoing heatwave, our landlord decided to install air conditioning in the building — an unheard of luxury in Denmark, because it is 99% of the time unnecessary.

Few UK homes have air conditioning either. Good insulation and closed curtains are all people manage with usually. It is a big expense to do an apartment block. I hope he doesn't raise the rent too much to cover the cost

 

[Kristoff]

Few UK homes have air conditioning either. Good insulation and closed curtains are all people manage with usually. It is a big expense to do an apartment block. I hope he doesn't raise the rent too much to cover the cost

It wouldn’t affect us as our contract was for two years. Interestingly in Denmark most rental contracts are that way; then you usually have to find a new place. Because of this, and because rents are high and deposits are exorbitant, most people own their houses/apartments. The market discourages rental in favor of ownership.

 

[JoesMum]

It wouldn’t affect us as our contract was for two years. Interestingly in Denmark most rental contracts are that way; then you usually have to find a new place. Because of this, and because rents are high and deposits are exorbitant, most people own their houses/apartments. The market discourages rental in favor of ownership.

People own rather than rent here too. Unfortunately the price of properties has soared so high now that buying is becoming an impossibility for many and the rental market is taking advantage by pushing up rents as demand increases. The UK is becoming an expense place to live.

 

[CarolM]

Usually someone has already written it somewhere. I just have fantastic Googling skills. But I wanted to share with my roommates what I found interesting during this trip.

Thank you.

 

[CarolM]

Good morning early birds!

Mild calamity with our hotel room yesterday evening when we realised the shower head was snapped off. The reception staff were great and came straight up with a key to another room... the Suite! We have a very posh room with a separate sitting room... and free mini bar! You really can't complain about the way they handled it.

So we have a relaxing start to the day and the ceremony starts at 2pm

What an awesome way to celebrate ...... in style.

 

[Kristoff]

While I’m still waiting for the team to finish installing the AC, let me share some more postcards with you.
Here’s an interesting monument in Ottawa to aboriginal war veterans and those who have fallen:

Next, some examples from a MosaiCulture installation across the bridge from Ottawa, in Gatineau, Quebec:




(The creation myth and the World Turtle)
Mother Earth:



All these are made of steel structures covered by moss and bedding plants. As such, they need to be watered regularly.
Now, back across the bridge, a view of Parliament Hill:

And one of the area’s celebrated animals — drumroll — Blanding’s turtle (alas, not in person):

It’s a medium-sized freshwater turtle native to southern Ontario and western Quebec.

Unfortunately, they’re endangered.
Finally, another famous animal, fortunately not in person:

 

[CarolM]

Given the ongoing heatwave, our landlord decided to install air conditioning in the building — an unheard of luxury in Denmark, because it is 99% of the time unnecessary.

Wow, How nice is that. Enjoy it.

 

[CarolM]

It wouldn’t affect us as our contract was for two years. Interestingly in Denmark most rental contracts are that way; then you usually have to find a new place. Because of this, and because rents are high and deposits are exorbitant, most people own their houses/apartments. The market discourages rental in favor of ownership.

 

[CarolM]

People own rather than rent here too. Unfortunately the price of properties has soared so high now that buying is becoming an impossibility for many and the rental market is taking advantage by pushing up rents as demand increases. The UK is becoming an expense place to live.

 

[Kristoff]

Wow, How nice is that. Enjoy it.

Looks like I’ll be chilling for the rest of the day, waiting for them to finish the installation!

 

[JoesMum]

While I’m still waiting for the team to finish installing the AC, let me share some more postcards with you.
Here’s an interesting monument in Ottawa to aboriginal war veterans and those who have fallen:
View attachment 246002
Next, some examples from a MosaiCulture installation across the bridge from Ottawa, in Gatineau, Quebec:
View attachment 246003
View attachment 246004
View attachment 246005
View attachment 246006
(The creation myth and the World Turtle)
Mother Earth:
View attachment 246007
View attachment 246008
View attachment 246009
All these are made of steel structures covered by moss and bedding plants. As such, they need to be watered regularly.
Now, back across the bridge, a view of Parliament Hill:
View attachment 246010
And one of the area’s celebrated animals — drumroll — Blanding’s turtle (alas, not in person):
View attachment 246011
It’s a medium-sized freshwater turtle native to southern Ontario and western Quebec.
View attachment 246012
Unfortunately, they’re endangered.
Finally, another famous animal, fortunately not in person:
View attachment 246013

Now on my bucket list! I want to go there!