Happy Day After Canada Day...Linda Barnard celebrated in Iceland.

Not a lot to report and way too many emails to go through, so let's just say Happy Canada Day to all. And a Happy almost Fourth of July to our American neighbours.

I used to find Canada Day fairly quiet in terms of fireworks and such. But it seems to have become louder around my neighbourhood, so I'm wondering if more folks are celebrating Canada Day in a more vociferous fashion than we used to. Maybe it's the residue of the Winter Olympics or just the nation growing up a bit, but I do sense more patriotism this year than in season's past.

I was cutting the grass at home yesterday, my large Canadian flag fluttering in the breeze over my front walk, when a woman rode by with one of those carriages behind her bike. There was a little boy in there, perhaps three years old, and as they rode past he looked up and saw my flag and said, "Mommy, I'm a Canadian!"

"Yes, dear, you are," she said in a bright voice.

It was only a tiny incident, but I felt a bit of a chill. Just to celebrate, we had friends over and I made a chicken glaze with maple syrup in it. And we toasted birthday 143 in the backyard on a fine summer's evening, the stars settling in overhead in anticipation of 144 next year.

This is a great country.

Not all of us got to celebrate on home soil. There were big parties, as usual, in London and in Hong Kong and other spots. Not content with Trafalgar Square, Star entertainment writer Linda Barnard spent her Canada Day in Iceland, where she somehow finagled a meeting with Canada's ambassador. Click here to check out Linda's blog account of the big day.

See ya next week, bright and early. I'm spending tonight at the Hazelton Hotel for a review, so look for a brief blog mention next week and a fully story later in the Star. Also, I got an invite to the tall ships parade and fireworks show Saturday night at Harbourfront, and that oughta be REALLY cool.