THE WINE RESERVES ARE DRY

THE WINE RESERVES ARE DRY... 
By Bernard Bujold- 
I love sharing a glass of wine with friends. I prefer red wine, although in the summer I occasionally switch it up with a white. I was devastated when the SAQ pulled American wines from its shelves on February 4, 2025, because they were my favorites. Luckily, I had a few cases in reserve… My favorites are Coppola and Mondavi. But now my reserves are almost gone, and with the breakdown of negotiations between Mark and Donald, I’m going to run out completely… Yet Mark and Donald had promised me they’d come to an agreement! Now the two are blaming each other for the failure of the negotiations… 
I’m going to have to reach out to Giorgia Meloni and invite her to the cottage so she can bring me a case or two of her excellent LIANO Cabernet Sauvignon… 
www.lestudio1.com

ACADIAN NATIONAL DAY - 2026

ACADIAN NATIONAL DAY - 2026 -EDITION -
By Bernard Bujold - 
Happy National Day to the Acadians, of whom I am one. The history of the Acadians resembles that of the Americans! Both peoples had to face England... In both cases, England wanted to occupy the territory. The big difference is the reaction! The Americans raised an army, took up arms against British soldiers, and waged war. The Acadians, being more peaceful, did not form an army or take up arms; instead, they chose to flee or be deported. War is always tragic, but it’s less terrible than deportation. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), it is estimated that approximately 25,000 Americans died fighting on the side of the American Revolutionary forces. During the deportation of the Acadians, which began in 1755 and continued until 1763, it is estimated that 5,000 people died. These tragic deaths occurred primarily due to the catastrophic conditions of the deportation. At the time of the deportation in 1755, the Acadian population settled in Acadia (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia) was estimated to be around 15,000 people. This means that the losses from the deportation (5,000 deaths) affected nearly 33% of the entire Acadian population. The percentage of American deaths relative to the total population during the War of Independence (approximately 25,000 out of a total population of roughly 2,500,000 across the thirteen colonies) represents a military mortality rate of about 1% of the total population. In conclusion, perhaps the Acadians should have taken up arms and gone to war… 
Happy National Day to all Acadians! 
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A QUEBEC BOOK IN 2026

A QUEBEC BOOK IN 2026— 
By Bernard Bujold - Ever since my childhood in the Gaspé Peninsula, I’ve been an avid reader. 
For Quebec Book Day on August 12, 2026, I suggest a detective novel. An author I’ve known well since her very beginnings: Louise Penny, who lives in the Eastern Townships, and her latest mystery: "The Black Wolf". Louise is a shy person, and I remember her first book fair in Montreal in 2005, when her booth was completely empty. By 2026, she had become a world-renowned and respected author. Personally, I’ve read Louise’s entire Armand Gamache series—19 books in total—but I haven’t seen her in person for about ten years. I have to say that her friendship with Hillary Clinton hasn’t exactly helped our relationship, since I’m a fan of Donald Trump... 
Enjoy the read. 
https://www.renaud-bray.com/Livres_Produit.aspx?id=4471555&def=Loup+noir%28Le%29%2CPENNY%2C+LOUISE%2C9782898113451

THE PASSION OF THE DREAM

THE PASSION OF THE DREAM
By Bernard Bujold -
If there’s one phenomenon I’ve never been able to explain to myself—only observe—it’s the positive energy that another person’s presence can radiate toward me. At my advanced age, I’ve given up any romantic ambitions and enjoy my solitude, but occasionally I can’t resist the feeling of attraction toward another person—usually a woman who’s often far too young for an old man like me. Of course, I never let that attraction go beyond a fleeting thought, but the positive energy it brings always gives me a new lease on life. 
When I was younger, I would have believed in the goddess of love, but with the wisdom that comes with age, I know now that love is ultimately a fleeting feeling that’s best not to try to capture, because love is, in the end, a dream and a mirage—and that is the very beauty of love: the dream and the mirage… 
Have a great summer 2026! 
www.lestudio1.com

LIFE'S VALUES

LIFE'S VALUES… 
By Bernard Bujold - 
During a walk around the lake, I was thinking about my life’s values. In my view, three fundamental values determine who my friends are and who I want to have in my life: 
1. Loyalty; 
2. The courage to stand by one’s opinions (standing up for oneself in front of others); 
3. Mutual understanding and support for one another. 
Of course, these are my own personal guiding principles, and if there were a fourth value, it would be to live and let live—without trying to impose my ideas on others or letting myself be swayed by the ideas of others. This brings us back somewhat to the second value: standing up for oneself. 
Have a great August 2026. 
www.lestudio1.com

THE QUEBEC ELECTIONS ON OCTOBER 5, 2026

A MINORITY GOVERNMENT IN QUEBEC IN 2026 -
By Bernard Bujold - It is becoming increasingly clear that Quebec’s next government will be a minority government and that the leading political party will have to form a coalition with one of the two other parties close behind it in order to govern Quebec. If the Liberal Party comes in first, a coalition with the CAQ would be the natural choice, but we can also ​predict that if Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon comes in first, he would have to wait until a second term for his referendum initiative (in 20​30), since neither the Liberal Party nor the CAQ will ever agree to support the Parti Québécois on a referendum motion. 
Personally, I promised ​a former fellow journalist, Philippe Schnobb, that I would vote for him, but I made it clear to him that my vote was for him as an individual and not for the Parti Québécois. In fact, everyone who knows me knows that I’m a fan of Mark Carney and that I was also a big fan of Pablo Rodriguez… 
To be continued!
​VIEW POLL 
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GETTING READY FOR NEW ADVENTURES

GETTING READY FOR NEW ADVENTURES... 

GO EAST OR GO WEST?
By Bernard Bujold - 
As we begin August 2026, preparations are underway for our September 1 departure for new adventures... 

Stay tuned! 
SEE VIDEO

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J9WJYluWJG4ZCahwSXEf-KvGz40lmHVr/view?usp=sharing