Life is good...and busy. Lxx

Oh deary me, where does the time go? A few lines to help out those of you who have 'lost my thread'. I am halfway through my 8 weeks in Edinburgh, doing a mindfulness/meditation pilot in a couple of high schools. Whilst I am mostly LOVING it, I have been putting a lot of pressure on myself to 'get-it-right' and not to 'disappoint' but have (with the help of a wee Reiki session and some bach Remedies this week) decided that I am indeed working from my heart to give these youngsters a good base of awareness-knowledge to use for life. Ah, that feels better :-)

I am really loving living with Ger and we're not getting up to too much mischief (we are too busy, tired...and old) but we do have a nightly giggle with her ipad, trying to identify photos of various things before we head to bed. Laughter is such a lovely night-time routine and I am very grateful to be spending this time with such a wonderful women and her Irish guffawing.

I have recovered (as has Sandras car) from the breakdown and subsequent lack of transport. I loved getting the train to Larbert last week despite the 5am start. I drove there yesterday and had time for coffee and meditation when I got there. I do like to be sharp, you know.

I still haven't started on the pile of stuff that lies beneath Gers beautiful home. It looks like a junk room just now but it's supposed to be so much more....without all my stuff in there. It is on my list, Bill...honest.

I have been seeing some lovely people for Reiki (for myself and for them) and also have been SO blesed to be able to help some broken hearts to heal through my Bach. I do so love what I do and am always grateful to be around when anyone is in need of emotional support...so don't be shy folks. You know I am 'safe' and a good 'greet' heals a multitude of ills.

And on that note, I am heading to Ocean Terminal to do a wee bit shopping and meet an old friend for a blether. I know not, what time I shall return and nobody cares. A definite bonus to living alone (or with a very busy friend)

Love to all and I shall try to put another line or two in here....soon.

Lxx

Not editing this so forgive mistakes.

Happy Friday Folks and Happy October-did I write anything in here this month?
Big news-our home is cleared and clean and waiting for its new owners to love it when they take the keys today. It's been a hell of a week.
I wondered if we might get a bit emotional but we were too busy to feel much of anything except tired :-)
We worked till 2.30 am on the day of departure (Tues) and it's just as well that I am going back to Edinburgh again because there is a mountain of stuff at a friends house just waiting for me to lovingly get rid of. Ger has been fantastic both with her cleaning help and her kindness in storing stuff at hers till I finish the Mindfulness pilot project in Edinburgh. My thanks go out to my wee sis, my niece and Vivien for helping me clean, to Susan for offering and to the wonderful Howies next door plus my father-in-law for their support in clearing the junk.
The Mindfulness project and the fact that I'll be in Edinburgh for 9 weeks till Christmas Eve may be news to some of you.
I had put in my proposal to be part of the project before Mountcastle sold and Bill was soooo happy to have me home for the 8 week pilot but it is now role reversal and he'll be with the kids in Toronto and I will be alone in Edinburgh. Go figure.
All for a reason, me thinks and it's a good job I believe that. I do think that I am meant to be involved in the project and that it will open more doors for my own work.
Ger has kindly given me a bed (a whole room as luckily Rosanne is travelling) and I am very grateful for her generous heart. Sandra, Lorraine and my wee Sis have also opened up their homes for me to stay when I want to give Ger a break from me. I am so blessed to have such kindness surrounding me. We sold our car but between Ger, Sandra and my wonderful father-in-law, I will have a car pretty much any time I need one.
I plan to be busy so if anyone in the Edinburgh area would like a Reiki session or a Bach consult just let me know. I will be teaching Bach Level 1 on Wednesday evenings, so let me know if you are interested in learning and if you just happen to be thinking about learning Reiki or Mindfulness-perhaps reading this is a sign :-)
There will also be a small workshop on Nov 28th that some of you may like to add into your busy Christmas schedules. It will be a lovely day spent with other women in mindfulness. It will include meditations, music and some creativity. It will run from 10am till 4pm and cost £30. Remedies will be available (as always) to choose a mix to help you to be 'Calm for Christmas'

My contact details are a bit sketchy except via FB or my bach email. If you need me you will find me folks.
The girls more than coped without us parents and it bodes well for the scenario of buying our new home outside of Toronto and leaving Alison in the apartment till she finishes school. Wow-did I just write that?

If I can go back to the 'hell of a week' it seems like communication and time have been the two big issues. Lots of little annoying stuff coupled with bigger stuff have meant that my mindfulness and trust have been s  t  r  e  t   c   h   e   d to the limit on occasion and almost past it yesterday when we were informed that a necessary form needed to close the house sale, had still not arrived in Glasgow. YIKES. Hopefully by the time I post this, it will have arrived because otherwise I have to potentially set someone speeding to Glasgow with a second form.
If I go back to last weekend and my realisation that my prediction for having the house cleared and cleaned was a tad optimistic, that's when things began to feel pressured.
It was always going to get done but I had no clue that we'd go to the wire. Sleeping on a duvet for a couple of hours and then having to deliver yet more stuff to Gers before we flew out on Tuesday was never in my plan of action....but we did it. The airport side of things was a bit of a joke on the way back. Between the having our water that we'd bought in Edinburgh, for the long leg of the journey, taken off us in London because we had to go through a second British security point was ludicrous as we didn't go anywhere to have done anything to it. Trying to buy some more, from a machine which first of all told us exact change...after we inserted a £2 coin, took the next £1.70 we fed it, returning our £2 as 5 pences and then refused to give us the bottle of water which dropped down inside the machine made us even shorter fused about Heathrow airport and we boarded our flight with no water. Bonus was that we had a spare seat and we both managed to get some decent shut eye and I just asked for extra water on the plane.
Our car purchase has been fun and games also with some miscommunication but by the end of today, we ought to be driving our Ford Escape around. we had to swap licences to Canadian ones and for Bill and I it went smoothly although I stood in a queue outside for an hour and inside for 2 but hey ho. Jen unfortunately has only been given an intermediate licence (apparently because she's been driving for less than two years) which means that she may have to sit a test if she wants a full licence. If we had hind site or one of us had been with her to ask the questions, we may have kept her British one for another six months to get her full licence. Our 'Super' Nicole did battle with them on the phone yesterday (Bill and I were out) and she plans to take Jen up there to fight her case today-lol. Great to have such passionate allies.
My hairdo yesterday was also a miscommunication where I was booked in for a double apt which I thought was cut/colour but which turned out to be colour plus highlights which cost me double what I usually pay for a colour....groan. But my hair is lovely.....a bit long, but lovely.
What else? Oh I better stop here and post this.
Fantastic news is that the form landed on the lawyers desk at noon-yippppeeee and phew. I sent her a wholly inappropriate 'Samantha, I could Kiss you' reply but that's how I felt.
Signing off with huge hugs to all,
Lxxx

Happy Thursday one and all from beautiful hot and sunny Toronto. I wrote this next wee bit on Sunday but then didn't get around to posting it.

I am sitting in Dundas Square which is probably Torontos (very small) equivelant of Times Square. The boys have been at the ball game and the girls are shopping so I came down here after spending three hours helping JR with clearing/packing up her business/home. The smell of burgers here, is going round my heart but the Pumpkin-Spice-Latte will have to suffice till we go for (a hopefully early) dinner. My fingers are crossed for the Five Guys five minutes away because it's been a while and we do love their burgers.
It's also been a big while since I posted in here-apologies to anyone who's been checking regularly, perhaps desperately seeking some news as proof of my continued existence-tee hee.
Life is Great. Simple as that. Having Bill here makes it seem like holiday-time but I suspect that even once he moves here, it will still feel like this. It did for the seven years I lived here before despite the fact I worked full time. Strange how things works but it's true.
Bill loves our new location and we have had a few sunny walks along Lakeshore and around the surrounding streets, in search of our perfect next home. He thinks our apartment is pretty decent too so I think I deserve a pat on the back for finding such a great place. He laughs at my telling folks that I have a 'Lake-View' but secretly I'm sure he's impressed-tee hee. We discovered that the apartment block across the street has a pool. Perhaps I chose the wrong block? Nah-this is exactly where we are meant to be.
Well, the gang will be here imminently so I will close till later. If I knew how, I could post this-mmmmm?

And so it is now Thursday and we are still having sunshine and we are still walking the area. We have been to see a couple of homes and have another couple to see, There is no rush, unless we find the perfect place because we have a years lease on the apartment.

Alison has settled into school and work and she is (quite rightly) feeling a bit tired and a bit fed up that she's the only one doing 'anything' All of this will need to change though because mouths will need to be fed so we can't stay in total holiday mode for good. Unless, of course, we move to the 'boonies' and buy a log cabin and grow our own food. Not too far removed from my ideal life folks.

Andrew continues to work with downtown Adidas and play rugby for Toronto Scottish. They missed winning the league, narrowly due to losing the game that Bill and I went to see last Saturday. We rented a car to get up there (it's in the middle of nowhere with no transit) and as we parked the car, the heavens emptied tons of rain and we decided to repark the car, facing the pitch and stayed inside it for most of the game. Occassionally we ventured out but the rain would increase again and back into the Ford Escape we went. A lovely car by the way and it would seem that Bills brother Ali has just bought a new one-well jel.

Jen is quietly going about life at the mo' but she is helping out our 'Super' with a wee bit childcare for her 9 year old son. She's taken him to choir and Kumon today and she thinks he's very cute so it will be good for both of them I think. I will help out a wee bit too as Nicole has a lot of juggling to do and the building keeps her way too busy. I'm booked to do the piano-lesson-run, next week and I am looking forward to getting to know Jack.

Baseball is huge just now as the Blue Jays (only Canadian team) are almost certain to make the play-offs this year. If they win the World Series, it'll be the first time since 1993. They won in 1992 as well and Bill and I took Andrew to a couple of the games, as a tiny baby, before we headed home to Edinburgh to live. The stadium is full, for the games and it feels like we've been transported back 23 years when we are standing in that atmosphere.

Bill has tickets for post-season games-they will be like gold-dust for anyone who didn't think ahead the way that he did. He buys a flexpack of tickets which gives him second dibs (behind season-pass holders) on tickets and so we were able to get some.

Yippeeeee.

Okay, I better posst this or it won't get done. Nearly dinner-time.

Much love to all,
Lx


 

3 Girls and 3 Suitcases.......soon to be 3 Girls and 3 Suitcases and Bill :-)

Especially For Chrissie :-)

3 Girls and 3 Suitcases.......soon to be 3 Girls and 3 Suitcases and Bill :-)

Need I say more? Cat is instantly out of the bag-no point beating around the preverbial bush when I have kept you all waiting for news.
Our house in Edinburgh is SOLD and Bill will be living with us from late October-yippeeee.
Whilst we are really looking forward to him joining us (and also having a wee vacation with us from next Wednesday) we know that it will significantly change the dynamics around here-yikes.
Us girls have kind of gotten into a girlie routine and having Mr Denham join us will be an adjustment of some proportion. The Beech remedy will likely be put to good use for us all to be tolerant and understanding of each other as we settle into our new home together. That's the great thing, a new home is just being formed and it's not like we are in the same place as we 'bonded' last year. Each new home brings new adventures to enjoy (or not so much) and I am sooooo looking forward to seeing what this coming year will bring into our lives.
Boxes and cases are all unpacked...for now and we are very lucky to have found such a beautiful, spacious, bright, airy and beautiful apartment which has a lake-view (all be it from between the two apartment blocks across the road and through the current leaves on a big tree in our grounds) This mornings meditation brought to my attention the fact that when I ask for Peace in the Heavens, I can see the sky. When I ask for peace in the Oceans, I can see the Lake and when I ask for Peace in the Earth, I can see the grass. How wonderful to feel and see those connections.
Oops, my spiritual side is obviously suffering from lack of expression-oops again.
So, I will keep this short and sweet and hope to add to it soon, with pictures of the new place. I am helping a friend pack up boxes and get her home/shop ready for a moving sale this weekend. I seem to be in 'moving-mode' for now as I plab to help our 'Super'', who is indeed super, with moving into new apt in building and I will be nipping home to help Bill with final clearance of stuff in 322. If any of you know of anything in my hoose that you'd like to have-make Mr D an offer-tee hee. We will be transporting a chunk of it here but he's already started selling off electricals and beds.
Anyhoo, I am expected elsewhere imminently.
Much Love to all, as ever.
Lxxxxx
Photo is of my Lake-view. The wee hangers are being used to put a daily word or two out to the world. Todays word reads 'Smile' x

3 Girls and 3 Suitcases-Day 3 (yesterday)

3 Girls and 3 Suitcases-Day 3 (yesterday)

I was too tired to write a blog last night. It would appear that getting up at 5.15 means that you need to go to bed around 10pm. Who Knew?
There's a Tim Hortons about 5 minutes walk from the hotel (the girls are off there as I type, to buy breakfast) and it's open 24hrs. Not that I have needed it in the middle of the night but it is good when you wake up early. It's a teeny, tiny wee one but you should see the drive through queue at 7am-wow. Continuous.
My jalepeno bagel has been giving me a little heartburn so I am switching to an everything one this morning. I love jalepeno cheetos but they now seem to have that same little burning in the middle of my chest, when I eat them. Oh dear, never mind. I will just have to find something as tasty but less spicy.
Alison was home early yesterday morning and the girls had a quiet day. They did go for a dip in the wee swimming pool but didn't stay away long.
I headed into town in the early afternoon to view a couple of properties to rent and they were both really nice.
The first one was right next to the subway which was brilliant and the area is a busy nice one just a couple of stops east of where we were before. The building inside was a bit old and not too well kept but the unit was lovely. all new stuff and just decorated.
Then I went to see the second one which had the wow factor when I walked in. Bigger (but no brighter than the first one which was very bright) and beautiful. Again, all new but it had an extra toilet/sink and it had a bigger kitchen plus a wee nuke which will have a function.
The building was in better shape but the location was a bit isolated from shopping and had some older not so nice buildings around. The inside of the building was better though and the building-manager was lovely. She and I gabbed and gabbed and gabbed some more and she is now hoping that she can use her influence to get me into the apartment despite my lack of 'credentials' for renting. Having Veras reference and my bank statements will hopefully be enough but who knew being jobless would be a problem-lol. Even self-employed is-which is what I now am because I plan to be working pretty soon. I need to pop in to see Janice and see what we can organise for me working in her store but also I want to begin making contacts with people who may be interested in me teaching workshops and courses in their spaces.
I didn't get back up here till 7ish. Stopped in at JRs (just up the road from 2nd apartment) but she wasn't home so I popped into the no frills across from her and picked up some laasagne and fettucine to microwave for dinner. By the time we ate, it was very well enjoyed. We even managed to watch an episode of Charmed before deciding we were all very tired and we snuggled up very early.
The A/C in the hotel room goes on and off to maintain set temp which is a bit of a pain. We find ourselves waking up too hot just before the A/C kicks in again to cool it down and then you are pulling the covers over when it cools down. Tonight is the last night so is it worth adjusting it? My laptop is plugged in beside it (still no wifi) and I have been using a shawl to keep my legs from freezing-lol.
Whilst I am very grateful for the room here in the hotel, I will be feeding back about the non-closing shower door, the non-working fan and the slightly musty smell that greets you as you enter the room, which I must have missed when we first arrived otherwise I would have asked for another one. The girls have taught me a new phrase called 'nose blind' which describes the fact your nose gets used to a smell and can't smell it any more because the only time I smell the must is when I come back from being out.
On a plus note, I am very grateful for the extremely yummy cookies that appear in reception late afternoong smile emoticon I do love hotel-living. We haven't had the room cleaned/beds made since we arrived so we are very good guests smile emoticon
Okay-off to do a wee laundry.
Much love to all,
Lxxx

3 Girls and 3 Suitcases-Day 2

3 Girls and 3 Suitcases-Day 2

The biggest giggle I had today was when I realised that I had marched into the mens washroom and that my wonderment at the design of the stalls/handbasin format was just a lack of knowledge that that's how it always is. Flippin' heck, a quick about turn and I spent oodles of time in the ladies to give the guy, who may have seen me in the mirror in my state of realisation that there was a man in there, get far away.
What else? We headed down into town late morning to put a case and couple of rucksacks into storage so that there's less to move down when we leave here. There is a wee house not far from the storage unit that we went to see for renting but it is a tad lacking in storage and space. It could do at a push for a short time but not sure that our stuff would all fit in and we don't have an awful lot. Location, location is good but I will hold off for now. There are a few possible alternatives which may be better options. I guess I was hoping for a first time success but no point in taking somewhere that isn't quite right unless in a fortnight I am still homeless.
After the house-viewing we headed downtown and spent some time in the Eaton centre but we are all a bit wabbit and not really interested in shopping. the brightest part of the afternoon was a wee surprise visit with Andrew, after he finished work. Jen had set it up.
Alison met u with her friend at 6, to go see One Direction and she's staying over at Jessicas tonight. Hopefully she will find her way back to us because she was brought home last night by car. I just about managed to keep my eyes open till she walked in but was snoring pretty soon after.
Jen and I did a tiny bit of shopping, to bring back here and we ate dinner late. A combination of last nights left-over pasta and fresh (microwavable) pasta=very tasty indeed. It is very handy to have a fridge and a microwave in your room but I would have liked a bog standard coffee maker better than this 'poddy' thing. Oh well, coffee tastes good though.
Breakfast is not included with our room so we went to the Tim Hortons that we had spied from the shuttle bus which is a five minute walk away. Toasted bagel and cream cheese? Don't mind if I do and I will likely repeat the procedure again tomorrow morning.
And with that thought, Jen has just curled up for the night and I think it's my turn to do the same.
Much Love to all.
Lxxx

3 Girls and 3 Suitcases this time.

3 Girls and 3 Suitcases-Day 1

Well, here we are again, in an airport hotel in Toronto, looking for a new home for this coming school year. i am calling the blog 3 Girls and 3 Suitcases because we brought one case less this time and I could have spat bullets when my case was a kilo and a half lighter than allowed. Think of those extra few wee books I could have packed.
The girls made up for the lack of weight and were both over by 3 or 4 kilos. The girl was lovely and just waved them through though.
I was a bit sad to find that my new painting (of thistles which was purchased in the Tide in Porty last week) was not simply allowed to be carried on board as I had hoped after talking with the artist. Oh well, it went back home with Bill who says that he's going to sell it on Porty people and that the girls are not to tell me, if they see it on there. I think he was kidding.
Having just spent 7 weeks in Edinburgh, you'd think that I would have managed to do more than a little bit of clutter clearing but alas no. I did get stuck into some paperwork yesterday which kept me from doing my actual packing until after midnight. We were so behind schedule that it was nearly midnight before we even booked this hotel. What's that Bach Flower remedy for not learning?
I did manage to crawl into bed for 2 whole hours and it was remeniscent of my short Monday morning sleeps after a weekends nightshifts. I was saved from the pilates class of those days but may have actually felt better doing some exercise than sitting on a plane.
The flight went effortlessly and we were here before I knew it. I had a lovely young lady sitting beside me and she got off the plane with a wee bit of Bach in her brain-lol. She has my card so she may or may not get in touch but I would love her to. Alison and I had a fair bit of nap-time but Jen didn't sleep at all. I rented an ipad for her and she watched and enjoyed a couple of movies during the flight. The bonus was that the air stewardess waved the rental-yahoo.
No missing luggage this time but it did take a very long time to arrive but we were in no rush because hotel chek in was 3pm. Andrew came out to the airport to meet us after sleeping-in and waking around the same time as we landed. Us girls sat watching the reunited peple in the international arrivals lounge which was lovely.
I have already begun my search for out new home and am going to see a wee place tomorrow. It may be too small but it is a good location for Alis work and still not too bad a commute for school. I will let you know how it pans out. I have emailed several others but no replies ..yet.
Ali is out with friends for dinner and has her instructions on how to get back here via the airport. Andrew has just set off for home and my beautiful middle child has just fallen asleep.
The baseball is on and the air conditioner is blasting cool air at me. I may have to turn it down which is soooo different from Edinburgh, right?
My ears are a bit crossed but I must stay awake in case Ali needs me. Hopefully she'll be home soon and even better would be if she got a lift home from the dad who picked her up at 6.20.
My phone is unavailable till Sept 1st so there may be few photos for the next couple of weeks.
Need to cease writing now because I keep shutting my eyes. It's 2.14 Scottish time and so I'm not surprised I am slumping.
Apologies for lack of excitement-brain is as good as asleep.
Much love to all,
Lxxxxx

Day 291-298...Andrew is now Twenty Three and let the packing begin.

Day 291-298....Andrew is now Twenty Three and let the packing begin.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Seeing as how Alison hasn’t slept on her bedframe for weeks I decided that we might as well take it apart so that it’s one less thing to deal with later. And so Jen and I dismantled it quickly and effortlessly this morning. We also took apart Ali’s bedside table and I packed up our one and only bookcase.

I know it may seem a bit early but I feel that it really doesn’t matter if we live in bare bones and boxes for a wee whiley because that’s better than trying to rush everything on moving-day.

I have that box-van booked but Vera had suggested getting a quote from the guy who moved her daughter into her apartment recently. So I enquired but he seemed to think that it would take four hours and that would be his minimum charge. Me, I think it’ll take half that and so I’m sticking with the self-drive version for now. I was getting myself into a wee paddy about driving said box-van because it’s years since I’ve driven over here and I have never driven a box-van before.

But, having had a discussion (that’s mildly putting it) with my dearest other half, about the power of positive thinking, I realised that I wasn’t walking my own talk by fearing for what my moving day would bring with me driving. I am going to have the perfect, effortless moving-day ever-right?

Andrew came over with lots of large boxes, yesterday and so I have reformed a couple and think that we will not need to worry about fitting everything in them. Janice has also given me some, so with them added to the ones I kept from things we bought, we will be hunky dory.

My boy turned 23 years old this past Thursday and I am so proud of the great guy that faces me when I open my door to him. He came over for lunch and we went for a wee post-lunch walk before skyping with Bill. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon spending it with three of your four favourite people.

It’s been incredibly humid and we have had more rain than I remember Toronto getting when I lived here before. It’s a bit like Florida rain in that sometimes it pours for a short time and then goes off but on other days, it’s rained the whole day…and night.

At least it still feels warm whilst you are getting wet. I collected Ali’ one day from work because she had gone with just a t-shirt on but the brolly simply kept our heads dry and the rest of us was soaked by the time we giggled our way home. At least I tried.

I went for a walk with JR on Sunday and I am sad to report that it looks like her place has sold (unlike Mountcastle) and so I will not be its next owner. I was happy for her but a tad disappointed for me but I must be meant for something even better suited to me.

Alison was at a sleepover last night and they had a pool> you can guess what she’d now like our new home to have. We did actually see one for sale a few weeks back which we could afford so who knows-she may get her wish.

Positive thoughts towards Mountcastle selling to a lovely family would be greatly appreciated.

Ross was in fine fettle yesterday and we spent some more time in his little garden. He was settled and happy with his time there, which is great to see and this past week-no falls to report or at least none that have left any visible bruising. I am hoping to see Mary again before I head home but she’s a busy lady.

I took the girls for lunch yesterday to a little Italian place on the corner which has lovely food. I have been with Mary and Ross a couple of times but the girls hadn’t eaten there. It was a surprise treat for Ali’ who sat her final exam yesterday morning. She has been keen to try the place all year so I felt she deserved a wee reward for doing so well at school. The food was yummy but I needed to go for a nap when we got home because pasta at lunch just robs me of energy. (Any excuse for a nap)

My diary is filling up with clients and coffee/chats and if anyone is reading this who wants to get together or an appointment for Reiki-GET YER SKATES ON because my spaces are diminishing-lol.

Also, keep spreading the word re the Mindfulness workshop on Aug 15^th and the Bach Level 1 courses. Spaces for both still available but if it’s like last year, the workshop will book up in the last few weeks. But, it will be lovely so come along and bring a friend.

Right-think I will go back to my boxes. I thought I’d share pic’s of our back garden. Yes, I know that the grass needs cut…again.

Much love till next week,

Lxxx

Days 283-290...San Andreas and Thunderstorms.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases


Days 283-290...San Andreas and Thunderstorms.

Happy Tuesday Folks and it's a hot and humid one but devoid of much sunshine. We did get a glimmer of the big yellow orb, early evening but for the most part of today, it was wet and grey. We seem to be having an unusual number of thunderstorms and I was wakened regularly last night by the loud thunder-claps which were accompanied by lightening flashes and torrential rain. The girls and I were all woken with one particularly loud 'BANG' at 3am.
There was chaos this morning during ninety minutes of rush hour (that's a contadictory sentence) when the subway closed due to the back up system not kicking in when the communication system went down. Poor people were emptied from trains and stations but no buses were put on so I imagine that folk either began walking, jumped in a taxi or had to stand about in the rain.
I sent my thoughts to the poor staff who would be on their way to hospitlal shifts to relieve the night staff who would have had to stay on longer. Oh dear.
I guess that the TTC will need to have a back up plan for their back up system.
Just realised that I started to write this yesterday and that the weather report above was actually yesterdays-tee hee. Not that most of you would have been any the wiser but the girls may have picked me up on it.
I was up seeing Ross yesterday morning and he was thankfully mobilising much easier than last week despite the addition of a new cut on his knee which he showed me. I had to get the nurse to dress it and joked yet again with him about how he seems to wait till one hurt heals to get a new one. I am sure that I will see a big difference in him when I return in August.  I will make the most of the couple of Mondays that I have left with him, before I fly home. I went with Mary, to take him to get his eyes examined, last Thursday. Mary was quite sad because he had fallen at some point overnight and bashed his face again. It was a bit of a mess but was much healed yesterday. She does worry about his mobility and how long it will be before he'll need more help. It was lovely to chat with her on the way home, after dropping him off at Humber Heights. Strangely bizarre to think that I have known her for thirty years come August.
Before the rain came, the weather was beautiful. Jen and I have been walking for at least an hour most days and it makes me smile, to see all the trees and flowers looking so lovely and lush. Cutting the grass is a pain but it is good exercise. I sweat buckets and I mean drip, drip, dripping. What a wonderful vision to give you all. I look even better when I rub my dirty hands over my face to wipe the sweat-tee hee. Our garden looks really nice with it's colourful bushes. I have been a wee bit wary about pulling weeds because some of them look awfy like plants.
We went to see the San Andrea movie on Saturday, after Ali got her hair cut at the Aveda school. Her hair is lovely although she wished it wasn't so short. It hadn't been cut in months and the girl had to chop off a couple of inches to even it up. I am so glad that I found the school. It has saved us a small fortune (me especially) Tomorrow I am getting an all over darker colour done and then next week I will get full head of highlights done...all for nothing. Mathura needs a model and yours truly is happy to oblige. I did hesitate slightly when she sent a text last night asking about a full colour because I really like my blonde. After she added the full highlights offer, I thought 'why not' I was booked to get my roots done in a couple of weeks anyhow so this way they'll not need done...till I am in Edinburgh.
Mathura lives in Brampton, which is pretty far out and she struggles with getting folk to model for her. She is as happy to have found me as I am to have found her. Unfortunately, she's not cutting hair till Nov so I am having someone new cut my hair before I fly home. Mmm?
The photo was taken in the wee park across the street from the Aveda school where there are always loads of wee birds and squirrels to watch...and feed.
Back to the movie...It was FAB. I do love me a disaster movie and I do LOVE the ROCK. We had huge bags of yummy popcorn to munch through (A large comes with a free refill which they give you at the same time as you buy) and we were all on the edge of our seat with the action. I won't give any spoilers here but if you like fairly predictable action movies, this will not disappoint.
On Sunday,I went for a walk with JR and was almost late back to chum Ali to drama.
JR had baked very delicious rhubarb/cinnamon muffins and we had coffee and muffins at hers, after the walk. She had potential buyers for the property going to put in an offer yesterday and I haven't been brave enough to text her to see if it all worked out. Whilst I would be so happy for her, I would be sad for me because I still haven't given up hope that we may buy her place once Bill sees it.
After drama, we went shopping and the girlies both got a wee top or two each. Hunger had gotten the better of us by 3.30 and so we went for a wee Five Guys early dinner. Nobody ate anything else till after 8pm. VERY filling little cheesburgers and hotdogs they are.
What else?
We haven't seen Andrew for a couple of weeks but we will see him this coming Thursday for his 23rd birthday lunch. His best pal Fraser arrives today and so I asked if he'd like to bring him along. The reply was that he would and perhap his other three friends too? He is yet to confirm numbers but there may be many young adult mouths to feed.
He's got rugby training in the evening so it won't be an all day feast though.
He's hopefuly bringing me some Adidas large boxes to begin my packing for our move.
No destination yet except the storage locker.
Mountcastle is still for sale...very interesting because we thought that it would sell quickly.
My diary is filling up with various coffee dates and Reiki sessions. I will definitely be running full steam ahead but looking forward to it. Bill has suggested that I email my appontments to myself in case I forget my diary. What a clever man he is.
Okay-think that'l do.
Have a wonderful week, Folks,
Much Love,
Lxx

Days 275-282………boy, can it rain here.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases

Days 275-282………boy, can it rain here.

This past weekend saw the temperature in the house plummet from 80 to 60 degrees and it was a bit of a shock to the system. I believe that Edinburgh was suffering also and continues to feel like Autumn. After three days of cool, when we again snuggled under blankets, the sun is out again and whilst it is only 17 degrees outside, it feels and smells beautiful

Isn’t it great the way that the rain clears the air and your nostrils. We had pretty much constant rain, in varying degrees, for thirty six hours and sometimes it was almost monsoon-like. I do love hearing it when it’s like that but it’s not so great having to run down from Shoppers Drug Mart in it.

Alison had friends round on Saturday afternoon, to work on some school stuff and so Jen and I decided to go to Ikea. We walked a couple of subway stops (25 minutes ish) and got slightly damp in the process of going for the Ikea shuttle bus. We chickened out of the walk home from the shuttle bus due to the increasing frequency and intensity of the rain. By the time we got to Royal York station, the rain was bouncing off the ground and we had no coats. Mmm? We made a dash to the Shoppers, on the corner and stayed inside for a wee while but the rain looked like it was well and truly on for a while so we made our dash. Well, Jen made a dash-I decided to just get wetter.

Brr, on needing to change into dry clothes but a big plate of cheesy pasta soon warmed us up. Alisons two friends joined us…strange to have guests.

Not a thing did we buy at Ikea. How could we have done that…twice? We didn’t buy anything when we met Marie there a couple of weeks ago.

Alison has had lots of schoolwork to complete as her term comes to a close this Friday. Amazing that she has been at ESA for a full grade. Only two to go. She is a bit sad to be missing S6 in Scotland but she will hopefully enjoy the whole ‘Graduation’ thing here after Grade 12 is done.

We still haven’t found a house for after the summer-I can’t believe that it’s June already and I will be out of here in four weeks. EEK.

Mountcastle is not sold-yet. Fingers and toes are crossed that a nice couple who have enrolled their teens at PHS will sell their house in Glasgow soon and buy ours J

My writing is showing itself in little articles but nothing huge has spilled out recently. I am running out of time to have it completed by the summer but if it’s not ready, it’s not ready.

My Angel cards keep telling me to be patient and not to worry and so I am trying. My sleep is still bonkers at times and the circles under my eyes are not my most attractive feature but the suntan helps. I think that I am doing a lot of ‘processing’ overnight and the lack of quality-sleep will hopefully transfer into wise words for the book.

Jen and I both woke up with stiff necks on the right side, yesterday-how very bizarre. They are both a bit better today but our planned visit to Canadas Wonderland today was postponed.

Instead, I had a lovely coffee and chat with Janice.

Closing up now because I forgot to finish this and Tuesday is just about done.

Tiredness has crept up on me and Bed is calling my name (don’t tell Bill)

Much love to all for the coming week,

Lxxx

Day 267-274....A visit to Canadas Wonderland.

Day 267-274....A visit to Canadas Wonderland.


Happy Tuesday from a hot and humid Toronto. Currently 26 and feeling like 31 degrees and it's supposed to reach 29 which will feel like 34-yikes. It's a tad sticky.
I came home from having more free highlights at noon (it's great to have a hairdresser who keeps needing a model-it's saved me a small fortune this year) and I attempted to go lie outside to read some of my book but I didn't even make it down onto the blanket before I knew it was too hot and came back inside. My sunbathing usually takes place in the mid-am and I think it may have to take place in the early morning if the heat increases any more...or maybe I am baked enough.
Up until today, the weather has been pretty lovely and not too hot. Upstairs has been a bit warm overnight but we haven't put the A/C on yet. If it gets to a point where nobody can sleep (and by that, I mean me) I will give in and reduce the temp from it's current 79 in here.
We get quite a good through-breeze upstairs, between the 2 beds and the bath, so we may just manage to make it to the end of June without having to close all the windows. It's lovely to have the fresh air except through my bedroom window which continues to plague me with yellow pollen.
Right, that's the weather-report dealt with and now onto the weeks review of anything else worth telling you.
The big thing we did was to get ourselves season passes for Canadas Wonderland which, as it sounds, is the big Toronto theme-park. It's not Disney but it is a great park.

I felt like I had teleported back thirty years, whilst I was riding the bus out there because I felt no different on Saturday to how I felt on that bus-ride when I first lived in Toronto in 1985.
The rides have been updated but the old rattly roller-coaster is still there. We didn't make it onto that one due to us calling it a day at 5pm.
The Season pass is well-worth it because it is paid for after just two visits. I anticipate many more than two visits as there is a water park included so it will be a great place to go hang out on hot weekends or when we get back from Edinburgh, in August. The card also gives discounts on various things including 15% off food. Alison was brave enough to snap a photo from very high chair- swings.
We missed the bus we were aiming for due to subway maintenance and each time it happens, I promise myself that I will check the TTC website before travelling...then I forget.
When the subway is down, they are pretty organised with shuttle buses but the buses take longer due to traffic and stop-lights. Thus resulting in us being on the 10am bus rather than the 9.30 one to Wonderland.
Fun was had unttil my neck felt a bit whiplashed after one of the roller coasters stopped very suddently. Alison got a bit of a bash, from another ride and so we felt it better to quit whilst we were ahead. She was also a tad tired from being out at a party till 1am-the joys of being Miss Social. Her bash and my whiplash settled quickly though-phew.
I could tell you at this point about the many minutes Alison and I spent in the Wine store on Thursday evening, debating what she was going to take with her to her party to drink but I will just have it noted that I am the coolest mum in her group, for buying her alcohol.
Not a claim that I would EVER have thought I would hear myself make (or see myself write down) but she is nearing seventeen and I felt that it was better that we chose and chatted about options rather than have her friends sneak stuff that she would try. She's a sensible cookie and I ought to have known that she would choose the coolest looking bottle that we saw. A bottle of 'Skinny Cosmo' which I had no clue on how it would taste. Apparently it tasted good but true to her word, she brought home a third of the bottle, making the other two thirds last the whole night.
Alcohol seems to be such a tricky subject, sometimes and so I am trying to be open to the fact that she is going to consume it and to educate her on its pitfalls the best I can so that she can be as responsible as possible. Something I wish that someone had done for me. I have to add that her friends are a year younger than her so it makes my 'coolest' hat not quite so cool.
Meanwhile, back to Canadas Wonderland briefly and The Water Park opens this weekend so it may be another trip out there...or not.
Sunday saw Alli and I affected by the TTC again as we waited a half hour for a streetcar to begin our journey home from drama. We gave up waiting and jumped on one going in the opposite direction where the driver told us there had been delays due to a parade. No sooner had we jumped on that one when our usual one appeared from the other direction-groan. One great thing about Toronto Transit is that you can go loads of different ways to get to the same destination. Going home the way we did wasn't much longer but the half hour wait before we got started meant it was after 3.30pm when we got home VERY hungry.
Devouring a quick and small lunch, Jen and I ran out the door to do the grocery shop because Andrew was coming for dinner. I usually feed him cheesy pasta but Jen and I had already eaten it three days last week (something to do with the fact that I didn't do a grocery shop the weekend before) and so I bought some chicken. The boy was a tad disappointed but cheered up when I produced a wee container of leftover cheesy pasta for his appetizer.
He looks fit, tanned and healthy and it was lovely to see him, as always. His rugby was a comfortable win, this week but he had to come off due to some plonker standing on his head-ouch was to be heard when Jen tried to feel the bumps-tee hee.
Some of you may have seen the 'For-Sale' sign in Mountcastles front garden?
We have had seven lots of folk to see it already and a couple of notes of interest so keep those fingers crossed folks. It was great to skype with Bill to hear 'all about it'. I almost stayed on skype to spy and listen to what was going on-tee hee. That may have scared off the potential buyers.
No joy on the finding-a-home front but it will all be fine. I booked the moving-truck so that's done. I may have said that in last weeks blog' cause I think it was the beginnng of last week when I booked it. The girls and I continue to plod around, looking at places from the outside and imagining what we will buy. I keep telling them to imagine all the attributes they'd like and I do the same. It's wonderful to dream up our next perfect home.
Well, I think that's that, for this week.
I didn't walk this Sunday with JR but plan to this coming Sunday.
Ross and I did some gardening yesterday, which made him feel happy and made his wee front garden look loved.
I started a 9 day meditation challenge which is wonderful. Day five today. Wrote a blog on the Bach website as part of it and the exercises that go alongside are thought-provoking. I continue to meditate at least once a day  and still find it best to get it done before the day gets going. I usually find myself also doing little bits of mindfulness and breathing throughout the day. The practice just keeps going...and going.
I have started to pull together the programmes for all my summer-teaching and I have so much I want to put into the 'Authentic Living' workshop that I will have to just give myself choices of this-or-that at times and see which way the ladies attending want it to go. Exciting.
Have a great week everyone and remember to be kind to yourself and each other.
Much Love,
Lxx

Day 259-266...Where has this year gone?

Day 259-266...Where has this year gone?

Happy Tuesday Folks. Well, I'm actually writing this on Monday, whilst I am remembering but it's still Happy Tuesday for anyone who's reading it on the day it's posted.
Wow-that rant lasted a couple of lines-good start.
Our weather is hot, damn hot and I am not complaining. I may be complaining soon, once the humidity climbs but for now, I will enjoy being reasonably comfortable in my shorts and vest.
Our trees are all pretty much full but I have this nasty maple tree outside my window which is giving my allergies a run for their money (or should I say 'my nose' ? ) The yellow pollen is so thick that I could see it when I swept my bedroom floor yesterday. It's coating the doorhandles also but I have perhaps already complained about this as it's been a problem for a couple of weeks now. Hopefully it will settle soon. I stopped stealing Alisons anti-hystamines because I was feeling very sluggish in the mornings and it was nothing to do with wine. They are non-drowsy but I just felt like I wanted to push the snooze button...and kept pushing it, so I have stopped them and will just sneeze and itch till it passes.
I have taken a picture of the girls legs to post. They look like they cannot possibly be from the same family. My leg-colour is somewhere between the two of theirs. Jen's actually look like she's just had a really great fake-bake.

On Sunday, I walked again with JR who owns the wee apt and store that I am interested in buying. That's three weeks in a row that we have walked at 8am and then had a lovely cuppa. The chat is great and I am always fascinated by all the different stuff that she has done. From Baking to pottery to jewellery-making to painting to interior design to working in prisons to working for health service. This woman has followed her intuition from day 1. A great inspisation for going after your dreams.
I pop in to see Janice, (Health shop around the corner), once a week-ish and we met for a coffee-catch-up this past Wednesday. Lovely visit. It is good to share spiritual chat with folk.
The other person I met up with this week was Marie. Little Noahs mom looked great and we had a great visit in Ikea with Jen and Noah. He is quite the little man now and keeps her busy. Her great news was that already he's sleeping through the night. I say 'already' because none of my three slept through the night before they were at least a year old. It was really difficult to believe that it was the first time I had seen Marie this year. Where have the months gone. It would appear that the less I do, the less I do.
This has been a long weekend and the city emptied as people headed to cottage country for the first weekend of using their cottages. And when I say cottages, they can range from a  caravan-type, like the one Janice has, to multi-million islands which are owned by the rich. When I was Mary's nanny I spent two summers on such an island which is still owned by her ex husband. Treasure Island (as it is called) was fantastic and I'm sure has just got more fantastic with the years.
Maybe some day we will have a wee family cottage where we will disappear to every summer weekend?
I better get that book written and published.
The girls continue on their wee fitnes regime and what was nine minutes and had them puggled is now four times that and they are still able to chat at the end of it. Fantastic. I am walking most days and doing a wee bit of toning. The good news is that my summer clothes still fit. Perhaps I can make them be loose by July 1st?
I have cut back on my wine-intake a bit (calories) but not given up completely. I bought a box and had a couple too many last week, which made me not have any since. Great progress in my mental attitude to wine these days and I am well-chuffed about it. I think that finally, the moderation and knowing that I am at choice, is working-yahoo and woohoo.
I was out for lunch today with Mary and Ross-yum, yum. The Golf club is wonderful and I will have to try to get Bill or Andrew to join (once we have all that money) so that I can go sit outside and watch the golfers. Ross is frail but he does truly enjoy being out and about. He had a fall when I was with him this morning and it allowed me to see how difficult it can be for him to get himself back up. Luckily he continues to heal quickly from any cuts and bruises that he gives himself and he forgets that he has fallen so is not scared of doing so again. Lots of elderly folk would be terrified after the amount of falls that he has had.
What else?
We met Andrew for dinner yesterday. He was working all weekend so we went across town to shop and then met him on his break. No rugby this past weekend due to holiday weekend so he was puting in extra hours (no doubt covering for all the young folk who's parents have cottages and who wanted to visit them)
The girls both bought some nice clothes and Jen bought me a lovely peach vest in the sales. I must tell her that I love things more often-tee hee.
We still are homeless for when we come back mid August but I am not worried. We will find the perfect place and at least we now know the area. There's a 2 bed across from Alisons school which is for rent just now. It would be perfect short term but I am not holding my breath that it will still be available next month. But...who knows.
Maybe we will be back into that wonderful airport hotel for a couple of weeks-lol.
Alison had a sleepover-she's in with a really nice group of girls (at least I think they are. I haven't met most of them-giggle) They seem to have lots of fun together and she has her first house-party this weekend which she is really looking forward to. Next weekend she's got a 'pool-party'
She only has three more weeks of school before her exams-where has the year gone? She only has exams in Math and Science to sit and they only count for 30% of her grade. She should pass both courses comfortably but they are her worst two subjects so she's a wee bit worried. The other subjects gather marks from tests done throughout the school year-a great idea and have culminating projects instead of exams. At least I think I've got my info correct.
Well, I think that's that. Our house in Mountcastle may or may not have a For Sale sign outside the front door, as you read this. Bill has organised the sale and I don't suppose that it will take long for the sign to read SOLD.
On that note, I will say ta ta for now...till next week.
Oh, and there are still spaces in both Bach Courses and on the 'Living Authentically' workshop although they are filling up :-)
Much Love to all, Lxxx

Day 244-258...or thereabouts.......Hot and Humid.

Day 244-258...or thereabouts.......Hot and Humid.


Hey Folks, I do wonder if I am supposed to stop writing this because I completely forgot to do it last week. BUT, I did have a couple of you who touched base wIth me to check I was okay and so I will keep going for now. Perhaps I will have to go back to writing a few lines daily, to keep my memory in check?
So, the last two weeks have seen me make friends with the lady who is selling the apartment/store that I have had my eye on. She is wonderful, full of enthusiasm for pretty much anything and shares a lot of the same beliefs as I do. I wish that I could say that I was buying her place but that has yet to be decided. I took the girls to see it and they were unimpressed by both the area North of it and the property itself. I think they just want a house, not a store-front, for their new home. They are sad enough to be selling their childhood home and I think they may prefer not to have me work from home like in Edinburgh. But, I am not despondent and know that if it's meant for me, I shall have it.
If Bill could see it, it would be easier.
If nothing else comes of it, I have made a friend and have also introduced her to my friend Krys who is now going to drive her around Hamilton, to let her see areas where she may buy. I know they'll become friends as they are both very artsy.
Vera and Goran are definitely moving in here and so I better get a moving-van ordered :-) hopefully I will have somewhere organised for us to go straight into when we get back in August or we will be 'hotelling' it again.
I haven't really gone out of my way to see other properties because I am thinking that perhaps Bill needs to be here to co-decide. It's a big commitment that he trusts me with so we shall see.
Wow with the UK Election whch I sat up and watched till all the Scottish seats were in. David Cameron may still be Prime Minister but I am thinking that he may soon be wishing that he is not.
Our weather is hot and humid but we are having lots of thunderstorms which is making my grass grow annoyingly fast. And how do dandelions keep appearing after I think I got them all? I just pulled hundreds more this morning before posting this. Perhaps a condo may not be such a bad idea after all-tee hee. I am not grumbling about the humidity.....yet.
As the weeks till we are in Edinburgh decrease in number, I find myself trying to be motivated to get all my summer-teaching organised. The weekend Bach Level 1 will now take place at Abbemount so that there is wheelchair access. This will allow for a few more students to join us so, if you know anyone who'd like to have a lovely Bach weekend, please let me know. Also, there are still spaces for the workshop on Aug 15th at Gillis. It will be a day for thinking about how you can be your Authentic self and will include lots of different Mindful tools that you can use, including mindfulness meditation of course.
Okay-sales pitch over.
It looks like it's going to pour again here-ah well, it's only rain.
The girls are both doing grand. Alison keeps herself busy and is out and about with friends regularly. Jen is going to be a very brown berry from lying out on the deck. Andrew thought she had fake tan when he saw her yesterday after not seeing her for three weeks. He was looking all fit and tanned from his rugby and tennis playing and was in good form. He got drenched on the way home due to the thunderstorms but at least it was warm.
Canadas Wonderland is now open and the girls are keen to go. We will likely get season passes due to the fact that two single visits cost more. They have some great rollercoasters and there is also a water park so I think the girls may spend a few Saturdays out there and lots of time when they get back from Scotland. Will I do rollercoasters? Oooh I think I might :-)
The thing with doing a weekly blog is that I can't remember the stuff I was going to tell you.

One thing tho' was that I was not very mindful this past Mothers Day Sunday. I had gone down to walk with JR (not Ewing but the lady who owns the shop) it's the second Sunday that I have headed out at 7.20 to walk down to meet her to then go for a 5km walk. The area south of her place is beautiful and she's only 5 mins from the Lake which is beautiful. Anyhoo, I came home just as the girls were heading out and I thought that they may come back with a wee latte for me but no. And No Happy Mothers Day greetings either. So, I was a wee bit in my head about why they couldn't at least wish me a Happy Mothers Day. Jen was going with us to Drama and they went out the door first and were in front of me all the way to the subway. Giggling together on the platform, I asked them if I was the object of the giggling and they said yes. Turns out that they had bought me two planters for either side of the front door and I had walked right past them. They had planned to shout 'Surprise and Happy mothers Day' when I noticed them. OOPS. The planters are beautiful and I love them.
In my defense, I am always stuffing my keys into my handbag as I go down the front steps-honest.

Well, I have nothing else that's sitting in the forefront of my mind to tell you. To be honest, my brain is a bit fuzzy due either to my hayfever or the anti-hystamines I am taking for the hayfever. I haven't been this bad in years but we have a tree outside that's been dropping very visible pollen and I think it's the culprit. Very interestingly, Alisons hayfever isn't nearly as bad as usual. We must react to different pollens. Hopefully it will pass soon because I never press the snooze button on my alarm and I have done so for two mornings in a row. That better stop. I was enjoying getting up at 6am and having my meditation done before waking Alison. Ah well. It is what it is.....until it isn't.
Much love to all,
Lxxxx

Days 237-243....from hail and snow to 19 degrees.

Happy Tuesday folks.

It's beautiful here in sunny Toronto today but we did have some colder weather last week with both hail and snow on Wednesday. The overnight temps were below zero again but the good news is that there are only 'plus' numbers forecast from here on in.
I love the Spring here. The temperature, although only in mid- teens, feels like a Scottish summers day. The breeze can be strong, pulling the temp down a bit but if you are shaded from it. It's fab.
We will all be little brown berries by the time we arrive in Edinburgh.
I shall have to watch my hair as it is getting blonder by the day-eek.
Alison go a bit of sunburn on her back-ouch. Only a little bit of peeling-thank goodness.
My problem with a weekly blog is that I can't remember half the stuff that's happened-lol.
On Wednesday evening, I went to see a property which was a combined apartment and store. It was fab although the apartment would take adjusting to because we are used to so much space. But the property as a whole has huge potential for using some of the downstairs space as living space or rentable space and there is space for me doing teaching, meditation classes and my therapies:-)
I took Andrew along to see it again, last night and he liked it too. The lady selling is lovely and she has given me loads of advice already about things you need to be aware of in buying a business or property in general. She has run the place as a picture framing business but also makes/sells jewellery and other gift pieces. she is giving Andrew a good deal on framing the print we gave him at Christmas and we were glad of her advice on needing to put a special film between the glass and the print so that they don't stick together. I didn't know there was such a thing and have had many a photo stick to the glass.
Perhaps by next weeks Blog, I will be able to tell you that we are going to buy the place?
On Thursday vera came for coffee and chat and measuring of spaces. She and Goran still are undecided about moving in here but they have now sold their home so will need to decide soon.
On Friday, Jen got her haircut and it is still looking fab. She will have to wash it today but it's looking healthy and much happier. Oh. This reminds me that I need to get Alison an appointment. Whilst Jen was having her hair done, I sat on a park bench watching squirrels and bird enjoying themselves. Did you know that squirrels build nests in trees? I sat and watched one running up and down, chewing off branches and adding them to the pile already forming a nest. Who knew?
When Jen was finished, we headed along to the Eaton centre because she wanted to get some sports pants, which she did find, in Gap. She may take them back tho' because she has now found another cheaper pair
We met Andrew, whilst he had his break from work and the we headed home. Jen went an extra stop on the subway, to order the pizza and I nipped home to collect the bags and to drop off the two foldable chairs we had bought for less than $10 each, for the garden. 60% off-nae bad and as we don't have garden furniture to bring from Edinburgh, they will be well used.
I hurried along to the pizza shop and arrived just before the pizza was ready-perfect.
On Saturday, Jen and I went to a big 'flea market' (so called because of tiny prices, me thinks and not because everything contains fleas) and we got some great stuff for the sum total of $20. A couple of the items would have cost that each so the fact that I got 15 items was fab. All little stuff except for a Xmas tree stand which I couldn't resist for a dollar. We'll need one for this Christmas unless Bill fancies the Pizza boxes variety that we had this past one.
I got two Angels. Jen found them. One is Willow tree and the other has only one wing so I felt I needed to give her a home.
Christmas tree lights, books, a basket, small ikea drawers and a tiny USB xmas tree were my other bargains and I was dead chuffed with them, as we walked home in the sunshine. There was tons of clothes and masses of women trying them on but Jen and I weren't really in the mood for being squished and so we took our trinkets and left.
On Sunday, we all went across town for Alisons drama class. Jen and I were disappointed by the cool temperature but went for a wee wander after Bill went off to work (I chat with him in Tim Hortons for a half hour or so)
We were stopped by two young guys who asked if they could take our pictures and ask some questions, for an article for Toronto Life magazine. It was about the impact of the Pan Am games on residents, this summer. Jen didn't want her pic' taken but I smiled and thought 'cheese'
Alison wants new runners. In fact, she just wants runners-she doesn't have a pair so we went to Adidas to see what size she is. She didn't really fancy any of the shoes but at least we now know her size. Andrew is going to a sale next weekend so he may be able to pick up some very discounted ones for her.
I dropped the girls off at the Dufferin Mall and went North in the bus, to look at a furnished apt that may suit us, if we don't buy and don't stay here. Really great space and lovely couple but the lease would be 4-6 months and it may be just a tad long. Other downside is that it'd be a 40 min's commute for Ali and it would be furnished with not a lot of space for ours so we would need to put stuff into storage. I told them I'd get back to them this week once I had talked with Bill. Andrew came for dinner and we had what is likely the canadian version of a mince round. I liked it, as did Andrew. Ali was okay with it and Jen said Nah-no thanks. Oh well. It was less than half of it's usual price so it was not wasted. That reminds me that Jen's piece is still in the fridge. Mmm leftovers for me tonight?
And then we were back to Monday and I was up at Ross'. He had a sizeable skin flap slice on the back of his hand. He had put a large plaster on it but it was soaking through so we went to see the nurse and she dressed it. I think that I could have done a better job myself but they needed to see it.
My walk home only took an hour and eight min's because I didn't take any detours this week
Seeing Andrew again last night made it three times in the same week-yahoo. We do like to see him. He's off to Montreal to play rugby this weekend so it'll likely be a couple of weeks before we next see him.
And that's our week folks.
Other things of interest may be that Ali got 22.5 out of 25 for her 2 min' Stand-Up routine-she must take after her dad
I ordered some pens and blank cards to make some Angel Doodle greeting cards
Jen and Alisons fitness routine is now up to three times/night and they are doing great
I am still eating Jalapeno Cheetos and drinking wine....maybe next week?
And that's all folks.
Have a great week,
Much Love,
Lxxx

oh and the garden is beginning to show some colour. X

Days 229-236....Happy Birthday to me.

Days 229-236....Happy Birthday to me.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases. Happy Tuesday Folks.

This past week was filled with lots of love and laughter and of course, my 53rd birthday. They all went hand in hand.
The day before my birthday, I headed out to Hamilton to visit with my friend Krys. From my door to being picked up by her at the Burlington Go station was just over an hour. I do love travelling and so it never feels like a chore to get there and I stay for a few hours to make the commute worthwhile.

The Go trains are double/triple decker trains and are green and white (Go Hibees) They run from Toronto Union Station and stop at lots of places to help commuters get back and forth. Sometimes there is only five minutes between stops and as I travelled I was thinking 'Perhaps we don't need to be right in Toronto' with so many places in reach of Ali's school.
We shall see.
The first thing Krys and I did, after she picked me up, was to check out loungers at both Ikea and another store which I can't remember the name of. The sun was shining last week and I thought it would be nice for the girls to have something to lie on, once the sun moves away from the deck and down the garden. Our weather has since changed and we're having lots of rain, wind and single figure temp's and so the loungers are on-hold for now.
After the quick nip around the stores we went for a beautiful walk through one of Hamiltons Botanic Gardens. We didn't go to the flowers and trees bit but instead wandered around the nature trails. Lots of squirrels and chipmunks were to be seen and we were scolded by a Canadian Goose for going to close by its nest. They don't call them Canadian Geese here-just geese.
From there, we went to find a Second Cup coffee shop to get some Hazelnut Latte. It wasn't till we got there that Krys informed me that she didn't drink coffee after noon and so I had to drink alone. I bought a couple of scones and well, to say that my suspicions about being allergic to scones was confirmed would be accurate. I took them home with me (Krys had better goodies on offer) and had one with a late dinner and I had a very uncomfortable night with my burping frown emoticon
Krys and I have been friends since I lived here in the mid-late 80s and we are very comfortable in conversation and in each others company. So much so that, when she told me that she was going to make Gnocci for our lunch, I told her I didn't like Gnocci. We feasted on leftover meatloaf sanwiches instead, whilst laughing about my gnocci dislike. It actually turns out that the recipe sounded lovely so she says that she'll make it next time but have a back up in case I say YUK.
She has a beautiful home and her next door neighbours looks even better. Perhaps we'll just buy a place beside her and drive Ali in to school.....or perhaps not.
When I got home around 8pm the girls were out shopping for my birthday presents. Jen had taken down the banner and balloons that had been up since her birthday, so that she could put them up in the morning for my birthday. It did make me smile. They had been up a couple of months smile emoticonMaybe I shall just leave them up for Andrew birthday in June.
My birthday got off to a quiet start. Jen overslept till almost noon but I had a lovely chat with several folk online, so I did not feel lonely or neglected at all. I normally meet my sister for breakfast at Lucas in Musselburgh and so I was delighted when she popped up online to say Happy Birthday. Not quite as good but good enough.
I spoke with Bill several times throughout the day and we skyped before the kids took me round the corner for a chinese meal which was yummy. I managed to have pretty much a full second meal, the next night because, when the chicken balls arrived, they were covered with swet and sour sauce. Jen does not like sweet and sour sauce and Ali wasn't keen and so we ordered another portion without the sauce. I munched my way through the saucy ones which meant that my Satay chicken came home in a doggy bag. YUM.
It was lovely to spend a few hours with the three kids, They were all very generous in their gifts and in paying for the meal. All grown up they are.Jen gave me a lovely pale grey cardigan and some beautiful pink tulips, Ali gave me a gift card for Second cup(YUM) and Andrew gave me a pair of fab Vans and spectacular Adidas runners. He also bought my a wacky Vans rucksack that I was going to buy for myself a few weeks ago.
Bill and my sis are treating me to something in the summertime but Bill did instruct Jen to take me for coffee, which she did. We went out for a walk and stopped in at one where I got my usual Hazelnut latte and the most delicious pecan square that I have EVER tasted. Probably contained a million calories but it was my birthday after all.
What else.
On Saturday, the girls and I walked around the local streets looking for Open houses and we found a couple that we went in to. They were lovely but above budget being over a million dollars but it is good to get a sense of what you get for your $ and in this area-not a lot. There was one huge house, having an Open house, that had a sign at its front door saying that ID was required for entry. Being in our trainers and walking gear, we reckoned we had to give that one a miss-lol.
Sunday saw Jen chum Ali and I across town to Ali's drama. She and I attempted to sit in my wee sunny shady spot but it was just too cold and windy despite the sunshine. After Alison was finished, we headed along to the Eaton Centre (Downtown huge mall).to do a little shopping. The girls wanted sports gear but ended up not finding any but I got myself a Fabby wee cross-body handbag. It's red and Calvin Klien and was half price. My father-in-law gave Bill money for me to buy myself something and that was it and I LOVE it. It's not often I 'fall for' a handbag but I di with this one. Maybe I will post a pic.
Andrew was at the baseball (collecting a bobblehead for his father) and so we organised to meet him at Five Guys for dinner. Yum again and great to see Andrew for the second time in a few days. Sometimes he's busy so we go two or thre weeks but that's still way better than seeing him every few months.
And so we were back around to Monday again, yesterday. I decided to walk home from Ross and took a detour, as is my want, only to find myself in an area that I haven't sussed out before. The houses in it were magnificent and secluded and well, when I am a rich, successful, published author, I may just have to go buy one.
Oh, and I got home two and a half hours after leaving Ross. Apart from a quick shop for rolls and fruit, that time was all spent walking and 'wowing'
Last night, I was very late in getting to bed. Reason? I was looking online at properties for sale and I kep telling myself 'just one more page'...........oh dear-that didn't work.
And on that note...Ta ta for now.
Wishing you all a wonderful week,
Much Love,
Lxxx

Days 221-228.......and the heating is OFF.

Days 221-228.......and the heating is OFF.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases

Happy Tuesday, Folks.
I am so glad that I remembered to write this, this first week of the Blog being officially weekly.
The biggest thing to report (because it has been a quiet week) is that the temperature is finally, consistently above Zero and my heating is now OFF. The house is maintaining above 60 during the day and I believe that it will stay at or above 65 in the next few days. I have even had my window open in my bedroom and all I can say to that is YAHOO for fresh air.
The electric shocks have stopped (we were all getting them from the dry air) and we now don't need the lights on till after 8pm. Jen opens the blinds before she heads to bed so we don't even need lights on first thing.
Is it sad that I felt this was all very exciting?
The next thing on my list is to put the clothes dryer outside in the sunshine next weekend
Simple pleasures.
What else?
On Thursday, I went out for lunch with Mary and Ross, after chumming Mary when she took Ross for a dental appt. She and I had 45 mins to chat and have coffee during his appt and all-in-all it was a lovely visit with them. I sort of repeated the exercise yesterday when I went with them to a hospital app't. Just like our hospitals at home, getting parked is a nightmare and so it made the visit easier on both of them, to have me along.
I haven't been in the Toronto Western since I sliced open my finger, just after I became Marys mothers helper. Its Atrium was astonishing with the amount of stores it had in it. HUGE.
Their appointment proved to be much longer than expected but I had my book to read so the time was not wasted.
With the nicer weather, Jen and I have been walking a bit more and we plan to step-it-up. The girls are still doing their 7 minute intense daily exercise routine and my much gentler one gets done at the same time. I put a pair of my linen trousers on yesterday and the good news is that they still fit
We didn't go to a shopping mall on the weekend and that was a little strange. The girls are planning not to buy clothes until their exercise kicks in so we may have some spending-free weeks. I am planning to restart the explorations though because we stopped it over the winter. There are still many subway stops that I haven't jumped off at.
I treated myself to a wee pot of daffodils because I was missing the ones in Mountcastles garden. They have really sprouted and look wonderful. I shall have to go find a Magnolia tree to oggle. My garden here is still brown but there is signs of life here and there. My Easter Lily continues to bloom.
I haven't begun seeing clients around the corner but I hope to be doing a little intro-talk at the end of the month. Janice is busy selling her home so I am not pressing her. It will all happen in its own sweet time.
Bill has been getting bits and pieces done at Mountcastle, in preparation of selling. It's keeping him very busy. A little part of me wonders what he's getting up to, over there but I trust him and know that he'll not toss out anything that may upset us.
I may have to do a car-boot sale when I am home-lol.
I was hoping to do a PINK night but my hubbie has informed me that it's not happening in our house. SO, any offers Ladies? I am happy to do the actual auction but not the organising or hosting. It would be a great way to have everyone together and who knows, it may still be possible for me to attend a yearly one as I hope to be home each year to do some teaching etc.
Back to Etobicoke and our upstairs bathroom lights have gone off again and Ali showered by candlelight last night. It was a lovely scented candle so it still smells great up there this morning.
My coffee maker hasn't been on since my sickness. I have been drinking instant stuff. It's not quite as much fun as coming downstairs to a ready-pot but I haven't felt much like real coffee (with the exception of Hazelnut Lattes from Second cup)
Right, I think that's it. It doesn't seem a lot or very exciting but....that's life this past week.
Love to all,
Lxxx