Day 212.....CN Tower for some girls.

Day 212.....CN Tower for some girls.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

It was an early-ish start yesterday because the other three girls were going up the CN tower whilst Alison was at her drama. That meant that Ali didn't have to miss any more time, apart from her cousins, than she needed to. She hadn't wanted to go up the tower anyways because she has been there and done that and I have been up there very many times  so I did my usual drama-run with Ali.
I sat in the usual Tim Hortons for more than an hour before deciding that I would try to find a sunny spot, with some wind-protection, to sit and tap out my Blog. I found a bench in the sunshine which was partially protected but it was still a bit chilly from that wind.

After their jaunt up the CN Tower (which lasted under an hour but gave them some pretty cool views of the still partially frozen Lake Ontario and a look through/stand on the glass floor) the three girls headed to the Eaton centre to shop till  Ali and I went along to pick them up to head home.

They had bought some white T-shirts and their late-afternoon fun was decorating them for each other. They made a really Fab job of them and they will enjoy looking back on the memory when they wear the shirts.
Dinner was a treat from Jen and Ali and came from the chinese restuarant, round the corner. It was very yummy and it was after 8pm again before we were finished eating.
Movie choice was a Ryan Reynolds one called 'Definitely Maybe' and was an okay choice. Not one that I would watch over and over but a decent movie to watch.
And that was our final evening, this visit, with Hol' and Em'. The four girls are already planning Spring Break in Florida and I suppose there's a chance that they will all see each other again before then.
And that was Sunday.
Lxx

Day 211......Freezing and Five Guys.

Day 211......Freezing and Five Guys.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterdays temperature was way below what it's been, especially factoring in the wind-chill which was pulling it down to around -20 again. I am pretty sure that they told is Spring was around the corner but I am seriously wondering which corner?
The girls wanted to go shopping and they requested my company, which was nice. I thought that they may have wanted some young-person time without me but nope, it seems that I am okay to be out and about with.
There is a humungous store called Honest Eds which has been in the same Bathurst/Bloor location for decades and that is where we headed, to see what kind of bargains we could find.
The girls disappeared off to browse and left me looking at housewares, fabric and many other dept's that they had no interest in. I found some earplugs (handy for living in an open plan house when you want to have an early night) CD cases (for putting the meditation Cds I am making into) a diary (with time-slots for when I begin doing sessions at Janices shop) nail transfers (for my toes, when it gets warm enough to bare them) and te biggest find of all was the DVD that the library needs us to find/replace at $1.99-yippee.
We spent almost two hours in the shop and then wandered along the trendy Queen Street, nipping in and out of various stores as we went. Our end destination was Five Guys because it had been a long time since breakfast and we were very peckish.
A delicious burger and fries later (a hot dog for Jen) and we were all set to go shopping again. The girls headed for clothing and I headed to Andrews favourite book store where their books are all discounted and some are second hand but in great shape. I was having a wonderful time till I realised that I had gathered seven books-oops. I put four back and purchased the other three. One was a particular bargain at $1 and was even signed inside by its Authors. I went to sit in the food court and started reading the $1 one which is called 'Ask and it is Given' only to be told by an elderly lady, sitting opposite me that I was 'shallow' for repeatedly covering my upper lip with my hand. She has a husband at home with a scar on his lip so what was I covering mine for? My mind was boggled by this mini 'attack' but I continued to read, refusing to run off and hide and I imagined myself surrounded by a big pink bubble which emminated loving kindness to her. I was able to let her comment go fairly quickly but I didn't cover my mouth with my hand again. Why do I do that, in the first place?
The girls collected me and the old lady was still there, head in her hands. I asked that the angels make her feel less burdened-poor soul.
What made her think that she needed to berate me?
Anyhoo, we girls completed our outing with a visit to the grocery store and it was after 8pm when we finally got home. I began the laundry and we ran out of time for a movie. The younger three ladies headed upstairs early-ish due to an early start today.
For what-I will tell you tomorrow.
Much love,
 Lxxx 

Day 210.........a trip to the hairdressers.

Day 210.........a trip to the hairdressers.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday morning saw me head across town to get my roots done. I am having highlights done on Tuesday because Mathura needs a model for her exam and so I thought I should get the little grey growth covered up first otherwise I would ruin the highlights in a couple of weeks.
As always, Methura was lovely and attentive and she did her usual hand and shoulder massages on me. We discussed my sore thumb and she was talikng about how the kidneys are associated with the area that is painful. Mmm? Perhaps I may need to drink more water and cut out my wine for a few weeks to see if it will help my thumb joint. Worth a shot, right? I am trying to remember whether my thumb was better during the 'dry' years. I know that the pain comes and goes for long periods but have not considered that the good times may coincide with my 'dry' times. Isn't life interesting.
After the hairdressers, I went to meet the girls at the Eaton Centre which was only a ten minute walk away. I stopped into the office-supply store en-route, to get some jotters and it's like a candy store in there. They have so many pens and clips and binders and paper and.........well, I guess that you can tell that I love all things stationary.
The girls and I spent a couple of hours in the mall but I nipped to the book store whilst they did the second half of the mall. My favourite section-wellbeing-is huge and I just stood in front of all the books, picking and choosing and browsing. I didn't buy anything but I did have a peek at my birth date and what it means. I was not identifying with it very much, I have to admit and it made me think that I still have a ways to go, till I am completely back to who I am actually am. Or perhaps the book is wrong-lol.
we just missed Ali, who had gone to work, when we got home and the time between then and pizza was quietly spent. The girls went for the Pizza and I chatted with Bill on FB till they got back.
Our movie was Just My Luck which starred Lindsay Lohan and Chris Pine. Nice wee funny rom com and it must have been made when Lindsay was at her prime and Chris was upcoming. Shame that Lindsay has gone so far off the rails-she is a great wee actress.
After the movie, we checked out Tom Fletchers grooms speech, which he sang, to the tunes of his hits with Mcfly. This was not as random as you may thnk because Mcfly were in the movie. If you haven't seen his wedding speech, you may want to check it out-it's great.
The girls then started to watch Youtube videos and I decided to go to bed early. I did a second Deepak meditation, before going to sleep which means that I am only 1 day behind with the challenge. It's a really good set of meditations which tie in beautifully with the other daily meditation that I do for manifestation.
If you haven't already tried meditation.......why not?
And that's my Friday, Folks.
Much Love,
Lxx

Day 209...................More rain and a day indoors for the girls.

Day 209...................More rain and a day indoors for the girls.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

I forgot to post the photos of us girls from our rainy day visit to the mall. The sad faces are because our bus was still not there. I seem to have aquired some bunny-ears, compliments of Emily Denham, Holly and I were very happy to be warm on the bus-but that was Wednesday.

This blog is for Thursday except the photos) and it was a quiet day with the girls all having a long-lie, except Ali' who had school and an English exam. She did have a half day  after the exam though so the four girls made a music video together. It looked like they had great fun and they chose a song which was pleasant enough to listen to over and over again, for which I was very grateful. I am not sure whether they will let me post said video on FB but I will if I am given permission-I am looking forward to seeing it once Jen has spliced it all together. She's kind of clever with that stuff.
I contented myself catching up on emails and other bits and bobs for the afternoon so there's not too much to report to you.
Alison went round to the library to see if she could get a large charge removed from Jens card for the supposed missing dvd, which they know that they returned. Emily went with her and Jen Holly and I nipped to the Wine, fruit and drug stores, respectively.
Meeting back at the house, Alison had come home with the box for the missing movie. The library maintain that the movie was not in the box when it was returned. Questioning whether the girls had checked that it was in the box, Jen informed us that we didn't even watch the dvd because we had found the movie was on Netflix. Aha-so, the chances are that the dvd was missing when we checked it out from the library and, as the box was never opened, we didn't know that fact. I think that I may have to go round aand plead the case or perhaps I will just purchase a second hand one from Amazon and give that back to them, to wipe out the debt and ensure they have a copy of the movie. The library is a great service here.
Last nights viewing was 'She's All That'-a cute and funny romcom that is one of my favourites 'cause I love Freddie Printz Jnr and the fact that Buffy makes a cameo.
My bedtime has been later than usual and so I am struggling a wee bit with tiredness as I am still getting up at 6.45. I will perhaps have some early nights next week-but I suppose it is only sleep after all.
My dreams were a very mixed bag last night. There was a non-scary (although I don't know how because it was very graphic) Zombie dream and there was one of my running around the streets naked ones. I have the latter, in various forms, quite regularly.......any ideas what it means....anyone?
And with that lovely vision in your minds, I will say ta ta for now :-)
Much Love,
Lxx

Day 208............Two hours and twenty minutes to get to the Mall

Day 208............Two hours and twenty minutes to get to the Mall

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.


Another busy day yesterday which began with a lovely visit from baby Noah and his daddy Jason. Jason and my nieces are second cousins and it was nice for the girls to meet his son and get some nice cuddles. Unfortunately, Noah had given Marie a sleepless night so she stayed at home for a nap but perhaps we will manage to sneak in a visit with her before Monday. The way the time is marching in, it may not happen though.
After Jason left, the girls and I (except Ali, who was at school) set off for Andrews second place of employment which is the Vans store in a huge mall North of Toronto. Google map told me it would take approx 1.5 hours and we were prepared for that. It was rainy but was supposed to be mild so we didn't put on loads of layers because we shouldn't have spent much time outdoors.
Unfortunately, when I was writing down directions, I missed I sidenote that said that the bus 165 which we were to take, had a D on the end of it, And so I led the girls onto the second bus of the journey, a 165. After it turned off the road I was expecting it to stay on till our stop, I went and asked the driver if we were on the right bus and got a definite NOPE. We should have been on the bus that had come right behind hers and, despite the fact she cut short her break to screech us along the road to try to catch the correct bus, we missed it and had to wait for thirty five minutes for the next one. The kind bus driver of the next bus that came along told us to hop on and she would take us to the next stop which had a shelter-nice lady.
The girls, especially wee Em, were frozen by the time we eventually got to the mall after having to wait on what should have been our third but was actually our fourth bus, for twenty minutes.
The mall was nice and warm but it had been a long 2 hours and twenty minutes to get there.
Food first, to get warmed up and then some shopping, including that visit to see Andrew and get the girls some Vans. I was going to buy Holly a pair for her birthday but Andrew very generously bought his cousins a pair each. Now I will have to think of another birthday present but her birthday isn't till the end of May.
We headed home on an express bus that took us to the subway station rather than standing sround waiting for bus connections. That bus only runs during peak times (which is why we didn't take it on the way there) and is slightly longer than the three buses but it was so mucch better to be warm and cosy all the way home.
Getting home, just in front of Alison, I began preparing dinner of baked potatoes. My microwave is very slow and the potatoes were very large and so it was almost seven before we ate but it was worth the wait.....I think.

During dinner, I discovered that the bundle of stuff on the bottom of the stairs was actually the mail and not stuff from Alisons schoolback as I had presumed. I was absolutely chuffed to find a goodie parcel from my friend Louise, which I ripped open in happy anticipation. The packet of Mars bars was intantly shared (kind, I am) and the girls woolfed them down. I love everything that was in the parcel-see photo. Her daughter Niamh made me a beautiful bracelet.
There was lots of relaxing after dinner before we finally settled to watch our movie-Maid in Manhatten. Poor wee Em had a sore tummy and went to bed before it was done. Jen had had a similar stomach at the mall so I am not sure what that was all about. Perhaps it was to do with them both having cold feet whilst waiting for the bus? Who knows but they are both fine today.
And that is a wrap for ednesday.
Much Love,
Lxx

Day 207...........Cinderella on $5 Tuesday

Day 207...........Cinderella on $5 Tuesday

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Tuesday morning found me round the corner, with Janice, doing a little bit or clearing and organising the basement of her shop. For those of you who dip in and out, I am hoping to be running some meditation and Bach classes round there and also see Bach and Reiki clients. The poster is up but I have yet to set a date for intro Bach talk although it will be fter Easter.
Janice was very grateful for the help-she is a bit snowed under with both the shop and trying to get her house ready to go on the market next week.
'Have Courage and Be Kind' were the words that Cinderellas mother gave to her, before she died, in our afternoon visit to the Rainbow movie theatre and those words really resonated with me.
I loved the movie-what girl doesn't love a good Cinderella story?

We almost missed the start of the movie due to the subway being closed off and us having to jump on shuttle buses. Despite the TTC's above average organisation, it was still a bit of a mess, trying to get to where we wanted to be because of the busy traffic.
We missed the wee extra Frozen short movie but we will hopefully catch that at another time. $5 each is a pretty decent price, don't you think.

When we got out of the movies, we nipped into a nearby Second Cup for Hot chocolates and my Hazelnut Latte before beginning a freezing but lovely wander down to and along the Harbourfront. I was amazed to see that Lake Ontario was still pretty frozen and the girls tok lots of photos both of the lake and of the CN Tower, once we made our way up there. We checked out the opening times of the CN and think we may go back to see the sunset fom it one evening. With the cost being $34, we may go up and have dinner in the restuarant instead of going to the observation deck. It revolves 360 degrees so that you see all of the city and even though the food is hugely expensive, taking off the cost of just going up the tower, it wouldn't be too bad.
We shall see.
At least it would be warm and cosy.
I decided to take the girls on a streetcar which took us to the subway station and then we headed home.

I jumped on the bus, in the station and went down to No Frills, whilst the girls went home to make dinner. I had planned to walk home but, when I found a Student ticket on the ground, outside Alisons school, I took it as a sign to jump on the approaching bus. Of course, I couldn't use the ticket but it meant that the bus cost me only 80 cents. I was glad to be on the bus because the bags were heavy (bought too much) and my fingers were a wee bit chilly.
We had a lovely dinner of chinese chicken balls and rice and then watched a very funny movie called Austinland. My girls and I have seen it but Holly and Em hadn't and we all really enjoyed it. Lots of giggles.
And that was Tuesday Folks.
Much Love,
Lxx

Day 206....surprise visitors

Day 206....surprise visitors

3 Girls and 4 suitcases.

Yesterday saw me going up to see Ross a bit later than previous weeks because the last couple of weeks I have arrived when he's been in the shower and had to wait a few minutes till he was able to open the door.
He was totally ready when I arrived this morning and knew that I was late-interesting.
We had a nice couple of hours together and then I headed out to the airport to meet my two nieces who were flying in from Vancouver. They weren't landing till 3.15 but I love airports so am quite happy wandering around/sitting in them. I don't find the time dragging at all and I did a couple of emails and watched the world go by during my couple of hours wait. Holly and Emilys birthdays are either side of Alisons and the four girls get on great together. Jen and Ali did not know that their cousins were visiting and it was huge surprises all round. I had sent them both a text saying that I was  going to stay up with Ross for the afternoon because he was having a bad day. I laughed at Alisons reply of 'IS DAD HERE AGAIN?' because I knew that she was kidding but also that she'll never ever believe me again, after this latest lie.
Jen was jumped on by both of her cousins at once, when we got back home and Ali got the biggest fright of her life when she opened the coat cupboard, after work, to find Emily in there. She had no idea that Holly was also hiding and went downstairs to show Em her room only to have Holly jump out on her when she was down there.

Andrew didn't get to be surprised but he enjoyed seeing the reaction of his sisters. I had to tell him because he wasn't planning his next visit till Thursday and is working for the next ten days. He just visited yesterday and I had no real bait for him to visit again yesterday.
After dinner Ali and Jen spent the evening trying to edit a video to music. It is of Ali's classmates and is for school and their cousins were very tolerant of the same song being played over and over again. Me? Not so much. Not a song that I even like to begin with so I went down to fold laundry and then did a meditation. I wasn't away long enough though and had to sit with it playing over and over and over.....you get the message. I almost headed to bed at 9.10 because of it but then decided that would be rude. It would be less of an issue if the lighting in here was better. Reading a book is a bit of a chore because of the dimness despite my eyes being much improved. If our next home has similar lighting, I shall be buying me a lamp.
The girls all bunked in the same room. They took the Mattress off my bed and put it on Jens floor and I went down to the basement to sleep. Jen slept least well with the others seeming to do okay.
It's lovely to have my nieces here to spend some time with us-they're great kids.
Lxx.

Day 205......where's the rugby?

Day 205......where's the rugby?

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

I love a Sunday. I think that it and Monday are my two favourite days at the moment. I love the time I spend with Alison on our travels across the city and back, for her drama, I love the sitting around in tim hortons, usually chatting with Bill and writing my blog. I love the shopping trips with the girls in the afternoons-including the grocery shop and I love that Andrew often joins us for dinner.
Last night, he was due over, with Liam and Jess, to watch Saturdays rugby. I had managed to avoid seeing the score so was looking forward to the game, only to discover that it was nowhere to be found on the planner. Now I have no clue whether I set it to tape or not but I could have sworn that I did. Andrew had sent a text asking me to tape the Spanish football game that was on and double checking that I had done so correctly was when I discovered that there was no rugby. The kids decided to come over anyway and it was a football, rather than a rugby game that was enjoyed. The commentator was a Geordie and hilarious with it. His turns of phrase included 'Like a fish up a tree' (hopeless) Slalom through the gate (good dribbling with ball) and 'a totally different kettle of sharks' (big difference) and we had a great laugh with many others. He was so animated and excited and got hoarser as the second half neared it's close.
The Mac cheese and Lasagne went down well-only a teensy bit of the mac leftover.
They headed home early as Jess had been on a nightshift and was falling asleep. Andrew is returning to watch the rugby on Thursday, when it is repeated.
I didn't go to see any Open houses. A quick visit to the Grocery store after Alisons drama and then dinner prep kept me busy.
The girls and I watched some Charmed and Greys and I remembered, when it was time for bed, that I hadn't done my doodle or posted ny blog.
Managed to squeeze them in before the day was over and without seeing any rugby score. Perhaps I will still be oblivious to the score when Thursday arrives?
And that was my Sunday, Folks.
Oh, these are my new Tulips which I treated myself to and I gave a wee bunch to Jess to take home with her. Poor wee soul was tired.
Much love,
Lxx 

Day 204.....Browsing for new homes.

Day 204.....Browsing for new homes.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday saw me going into radio silence early and it continues until I have watched the rugby with Andrew, Liam and Jess at dinner-time today.
It is likely that they will all know the score but hopefully nobody will slip up and reveal the result before the 80 minutes are up.
There has been a big drop in the temperature again, this morning. Sundays seem to be the coldest day of each week-quite strange and even stranger there was snow on the ground when I woke up.
I am Back to tim hortons this morning after Alisons week off Drama last Sunday but I may go for a wander although I only have one jacket on to protect me from the icy wind. Very sunny and a cloudless blue sky make sunglasses mandatory but gloves and a scarf would have been clever additions.
Back to yesterday and I didn't get an awful lot done because I sat, looking at property for sale, on the laptop. It was in my mind to go to some Open houses this weekend but I think that I will just wait till next weekend now that the kids are coming round for dinner and I need to grocery shop after this. By the time I realised the time, yesterday, it was too late to go see any and it would be nip 'n' tuck to fit it in this afternoon. It is probably a wee bit soon to buy but good to get an idea of what one gets for ones money.
I am hoping to find a perfect home within a half hour walk from Alisons school and which has a rentable basement apartment. Not too much to ask the Universe for. I would love to make the basement a holiday let and make it a lovely space or people to use for wonderful vacations. After all the places we have rented, I think I have a good idea of what folk want/need.
Exciting to think about all the possibilities.
Alison was out for dinner with friends last night and so Jen and I were on our own again. We are racing through the Greys Anatomy series' on Netflix. I am thinking that I may stop the cable because there is so much on Netflix and I am never really getting a chance to watch any of the shows I tape from tv because the girls don't watch them. I will just catch them when they are older and on Netflix.
I am debating on whether to give up my wine. The choice is between being a few pounds lighter for my summer gear or enjoying a couple of glasses several times a week. Mmm? I will let you know-the Jury is still out on it but at least Jen and I have begun walking again. Ali will start to walk to and from school again soon, which will be good for her too.
She will have to give up her job for the summer but they are saying that she'll get it back when school restarts. So that's great.
And that's a wrap.
Hopefully not too many errores as I am not rereading this as it is now 11.21 and I forgot to post it earlier-oops. Will just squeeze it into today.
Much love,
Lxx

Day 203.........made a poster to say that I am 'Open for Business'

Day 203.........made a poster to say that I am 'Open for Business'

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday was a very exciting little day because I found myself round the corner, with Janice (who owns the health shop which sells Bach) plotting and planning my return to healing.
She has a basement which has a couple of small rooms, perfect for treatment rooms and I am going back round on Tuesday to help her plan what she's going to do with all the other floorspace.
I love helping other people get sorted and it will be to our mutual benefit for me to see clients around there.
She is also a Reiki practitioner but doesn't use it so perhaps having me around, she will rediscover how great it is and begin to give treatments herself.
We share a lot of the same world views and we had a lot of fun, talkng about the possibilities for our futures both together and apart. She had me talking to one of her customers about Bach and it reminded me just how much I love to talk Bach.
It feels like the hibernation is almost at an end, now and it occurs to me that the Universe knows what it is doing, if we just trust and folow the signs.
My 203 days of looking after myself and being available for the kids have not been a waste of time. On the contrary, it has made me more certain of who I am and what I want from life.
Peace and happiness with myself and my family.without compromising who I truly am just to fit into the ideals of others.......and boy, does that take a bit of work. Work which I was unlikely to do if I had been in Edinburgh with it's many distractions.
Yay for the Universe.
After being with Janice, I felt energised and Jen and I went for a walk around the area before heading to pick up our Pizza for dinner.
We had decided that we would watch High School Musical (fond memories) and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie really did have some hidden messages that I can use during future teaching. Some of the song-lyrics fit perfectly into what I want people to be able to do and that is to be able to be who they truly are. I must watch movies two and three again.
Goran and Vera came around to fix the kitchen faucet-successfully. They are such a nice couple. Hopefully the wet cupboard, under the sink, will now be dry.
I had planned an early night but didn't get there till nearly 11.30 due to Greys being too inviting. Lol. Another series done and dusted. All good research-honest.
And that was Friday folks. Alison completed a full week of full-time work and did better than survive it.
Much Love to all,
Lxx

Day 202.....sunbathing

 Day 202.....sunbathing

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday morning was so bright and sunny that I thought I would take my coffee out into the garden and look for buds on the trees. I didn't find any but I did enjoy the stroll and sunshine so much that I decided to take a chair outside and read a book.
Bearing in mind that, when I got out of bed, it was -7 and feeling like -13, you may think me bonkers to be sitting out in sub-zero temps. But on our little sheltered deck, it almost felt like a July Edinburgh day. Admittedly, when the wind picked up occasionally it was a bit goosebumpish but otherwise it was nice and I even stripped down to a couple of vests and capri joggers. Fresh air nd sunshine-yippee. I even have a wee tan-line, now.
My head has been swirling with ideas lately and I wanted to have some time off from them and so I put myself on White Chestnut for the day, with good effect. I may repeat the process today to see if some answers don't appear from the silence.
Jen joined me outside for a wee while but the wind had picked up a bit more by then and so she didn't stay out too long. She and I went out to see a house that is a bit closer to Alisons school and we liked the neighbourhood although Jen didn't like the outside of the house. I will give them a call today to see whether I can go see the inside.
Along the street from it was a Second-cup-yippeeee. Further up that street was a Tim Hortons and down the street was a No Frills. What more can a girl ask for? Actually, we also found a self-storage place which will be perfect for the summer and that had just been part of a converstion I'd had with Bill yesterday.
All in all a great (almost two hour) walk. We managed to find the house that I couldn't find before but we didn't like it's location so we've scored that one off our list.
Whilst I am finding the prospect of buying a new home quite exciting, the girls are not. I can understand their love for our home in Mountcastle because I also love it. Moving forward won't mean that we lose what we had in our home there, though. You bring the home with you and just change the house that you put it in. Difficult to understand when it means leaving the first home that you really remember, I suppose.
Alison was straight out after her dinner, to another friends for school film-work and was lucky when one friend offered to pick her up at the station. They also brought her home again which meant she had time to relax in front of an episode of Charmed, before heading to bed.
If we buy a house, we will also be buying a car-good news for Alison.
Jen and I snuggled (yes the blankets are still being used although I have nudged down the thermometer a couple of degrees) and watched a cute and funny rom com called 'When in Rome'
My plan to watch less tv here just never happened, did it?
My tulips are into Day 9 and are looking as lovely as ever. Good buy, Jen.

That's a wrap for Thursday.

Lxx

Day 201...........Teaching Bach is Fab

Day 201...........Teaching Bach is Fab

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday morning found me twaching Bach via skype and having a lovely old time to myself. I do still go off on a tangent, when I teach but I o so love where it leads me. I am often as surprised as the person on the other side of the computer, when the words come out. Jackie is very understanding of my way of teaching-thanks Jackie.
I managed to do both my meditation sessions again and feel like it is going to jump start something, in these 21 days. I am excited and curious to find out exactly what-are you?
The sun was shining again but the wind still has its bite. jen and I did a wee wander along to the bank and it was amazing, the difference in temperature depending on whether you were shaded from the wind or not.
My poor hubbie hurt his back and I wished that I could have been there to try to make him feel better but at least with my Reiki, I never feel helpless-even at this distance.
Alison is having a busy week both socially and with work. I am hoping that the Bach Remdy Olive (for tiredness) will keep her from getting exhausted and ill. The social stuff in the evening is actually stuff for school but she is having to travel to friends houses to go it all, after work.
Jen and I watched a movie which was a bit bleak. Very interesting but bleak with no happy ending. I don't think it made it to Hollywood despite starring Ewans Bremner and McGreggor.
Short and sweet today folks.
Much Love,
Lxxx

Day 200........Stood-up but not really.

Day 200........Stood-up but not really.


3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday morning found me looking forward to spending some time with Janice, the owner of the shop aound the corner which sells the Angel books and Bach.
I hadn't seen her in ages-not since our last coffee weeks ago-and I had lots of ideas to run past her about renting a shop, running some workshops.....
The Second-Cup is a lovely coffee-chain and I have discovered that they do the best Hazelnut Latte that I have ever tasted. Imagine my delight when Janice suggested that we meet there-yippee. Even better that it was a Tuesday-meet because they do a medium Latte for more than a dollar less on a Tuesday. Seeing as how it was my treat this time, I felt doubly happy when I handed over the cash for the two drinks.
Like magic, the girl who was sitting on one of the four comfy window-seats got up to leave, just as I was handed my drinks and so I plonked myself down on her vacated seat which faced the window. I knew that it might be a bit risky, buying the drinks before Janice got there, in case she was late but I hadn't thought about her not getting there at all.
Sitting, watching the world go by, I realised that by 9.30, she wasn't coming but I sat for another half hour, enjoying the music and looking out of the window. Periodically I tuned into the conversation of the two middle-aged men who had asked if they could use two of the other seats, to which I had of course smiled 'Sure'
They chatted about the low mortgage rate of 2% for next five years and my interest was peaked. They also talked about the economics of having your store-front on the North (sunny) side of the street because footfall was greater. Very interesting. The store that I'd like to rent is indeed on the sunny side of the street and would be the kind of store that they were complaining about not having in the area. Mmm?
The Universe works in mysterious ways.....or not really?
After I left Second-Cup, (with Janices Latte in hand) I decided to pop into the bank where I told them I'd like to speak to someone about mortgages. They said that the mortgage-advisor would be in touch. I won't hold my breath. I then went for another wander around some different streets from yesterday, hoping that I'd see the place which will be my new home after the summer.
Nothing for sale but lots of lovely homes. It was freezing because the wind was icy and there were flurries floating around but I persisted in my wandering for a half hour before giving in to my cold hands and my need to pee.
Openning my laptop, I found an email from Janice saying 'Did you forget?' Turns out she was sitting with two lattes in Sturbucks, whilst I was in Second-Cup. Oh dear, she got mixed up so we must not have been meant to blether yesterday.
The afternoon was spent doing the final, final adjustments to Jen's Synopsis (isn't it amazing how much you can keep changing) and we are all set to go-yippee. Send positive thoughts, everyone.
I managed to do my two mediations, yesterday. One in the morning and Deepak in the evening. I even managed to catch up on my inspirational daily readings which I hadn;t done for three days-oops. I don't even have the 'too busy' excuse and still do wonder where my time goes.
Day two of Alisons work-week went well and she does so love those tiny humans that she sees daily.

There's not much snow left and poor Olaf is just a wee pile of white with a scarf and some gloves.
That was Tuesday, Folks.
Much Love,
Lxx

Day 199............A big long walk home.

Day 199............A big long walk home.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

I was a bit off my usual game yesterday with Alison being off school and starting work at 9am. I normally do at least some of my positivity-routine, before heading up to see Ross on a Monday morning but, when I left at 9.15, I had done nothing. I did do some mindfulness both in the bus heading up to Ross' and also during the 1.5 hrs of walking that I did after my visit. Not the same as meditation but a good indicator of how I am using gratitude, affirmations and mindfulness as part of everyday life.
I decided to walk home this week, whether the bus was there or not. I had had a nice time with Ross and left him sitting chatting with other residents when I headed Southwards and home.
Because Bill and I are now seriously thinking about his move across the pond, I have upped my walking to see if the Universe will show me where we are supposed to live next.
I veared off the straight-walking down Royal York Road, into some of the housing streets but ended up at a dead-end (which often happens due to all the ravines and rail tracks that run through the area) and I had to retrace my steps, which is why the walk home took such a long time.
I was however, able to score off an area, which is just too big of a detour for Alisons commute to school and so the walk was not wasted.
The afternoon flew by as Jen and I worked on the final touch-ups to her synopsis and cover letter. Today will see us hopefully giving it a golden seal of approval and her first three chapters will be sent out to Agents tomorrow. Very exciting but scary times for my beautiful Author daughter.
Alison has a message from the director of the wee movie she was in last summer, telling her that she is now on IMDB-how fab is that? My wee Actor-daughter now has a wee profile in beside all the major actors of the world. Exciting times for her also.
If I was my mum, I would be playing all of this down because I wouldn't want folk to think I was being conceited about my childrens accomplishments. But I am not my mother and if folk want to think that about me, I can honestly say that the years of work have paid off and, in similar words to those wise ones in the movie 'Gone with the Wind',  "Frankly I don't give a damn"
I love seeing my children go after their dreams and I hope that they keep dreaming as big as they can imagine because if you can imagine it, it must be possible.
My own plan for two sessions of meditation did not materialise yesterday and I actually did none for the first time in months.
I opted for a couple of tv shows and the same amount of glasses of wine and that was okay. I could have made myself go and do meditation once everything settled down for the evening but I have pretty much removed the 'shoulds' in my life (for the moment) and the thought of snuggling up with the girls appealed more than going upstairs to meditate on my own.
This time with them will not last forever and I cherish every minute of it. My 21 days with Deepak will just be a day behind schedule
Alison had a good first full-shift at work and wasn't bothered when I was late with dinner due to Jen and I losing track of the time with the whole synopsis-thing. It's amazing how time disappears when you ate totally focussed on something.
When Jen suddenly said that it was 5.50, I made the quickest dish possible, for us-good old mac 'n' cheese.
I think that I may have rambled on enough, now.
Happy St Patricks Day Folks,
Much Love,
Lxxx

Day 198........a Sunday at home.apart from a long walk to not find a house for sale.

Day 198........a Sunday at home.apart from a long walk to not find a house for sale.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday was not like a normal Sunday. Alison had no Drama, with it being March-Break and the girls decided that they didn't want to go shopping. It's the first weekend since we have been here that I haven't bought a Family Day pass for the TTC.
The girls nipped out to take some photos, up the street and then they went to the library to get a few dvds.
I decided that I would go check out a house which is for sale because it was only a guestimated ten minutes further than No Frillas and I was going for groceries anyway.
I walked, happily in the sunshine and I must say I had a spring in my step and a smile on my face as I bounced down Royal York and along the Queensway. I smiled at lots of folk and paid attention to everything around me.
I looked at all of the street signs, as I gaily walked along the Queensway but I did not read the one I wanted. I knew that it should be between the next two major intersections from Royal York because I had google mapped it but I reached the second intersection without finding that house for sale street.
Unperturbed because of the sunshine and the exercise, I turned around when I got to Kipling and headed back to Royal York and the No Frills.
I had already decided that I had done enough walking, before I bought too many groceries to carry home and so I jumped on a bus. Dinner was very late and I told the girls that it was every man for himself because I was too hungry to wait for food and grabbed some frozen pasta and veg and threw it in the microwave.
It too kthe edge off and I sat and had some of the much nicer pasta that Jen had made for herself.
Exercise does make one a tad hungry for dinner, I find.
After feeding my face, I checked google maps to find that I actually needed to go North at the first major intersection and then take the second left towards Kipling. The house and street will still be there tomorrow, I guess.
Okay, it's late here-way behind on everything because Ali didn't go out to work till nearly 9 and I was off to Ross' at 9.15. I haven;t even done one meditation today never mind the planned two.
I may go do one now......or not.
Much Love to all.
Lxxx

Day 197...........emotional angst.

Day 197...........emotional angst.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday morning got off to a bit of a wobbly start for me, when I read a private message that was sent on Facebook, which I interpreted as 'You are not important enough to post on this page'.
It was written in a friendly, 'please don't take this personally' style and it literally felt like she had stuck a knife in my gut. I'm pretty certain that she didn't mean me to feel that response and that it was due to my own insecurities but I did giggle, later in the day when (after reading it) Ali exclaimed 'What a B*tch'.
The thing is, I don't even know the person and so I can't judge whether she is or she isn't but I am pretty certain that my interpretation of the message was done in between the words and totally due to the fact that I felt betrayed.
I made up a story in my head about what was really being said.
I had openned myself up and risked sharing posts that I felt would help others, only to be advised to do so less often and only with the most valuable stuff.
If I didn't think it was ALL valuable, I wouldn't have shared it in the first place.
Groan-I feel a rant coming on which I suppose is better than the hurt tears of yesterday-lol.
Anyways, It was a great lesson, to be reminded how I can still be knocked down by the opinions of others when they don't match up to my own. On a day like yesterday, all my old programming, on how worthless and unimportant I am, came rushing back to fill my entire being and it was quite a jolt.
I share info' like this, with you, not to have you feel sorry for me or ask you to boost my self-esteem. I share it so that I can also share the fact that our emotions are our emotions and, on any given day, we react how we react. We are responsible for those reactions and I constantly work towards responding rather than reacting to what comes into my life.
Yesterday I failed and I have yet to respond to the message.I am hopeful that I can do so with acceptance and love.
There were silver-linings to the situation, though:

1. I got a text with a hug from Andrew, asking if everything was okay (after he read my status) which was followed by a very big bear hug when I saw him later in the day.
2. I wrote a full page about how I was feeling, to help me process my emotions.
I don't know where I shall put the writing but it may appear somewhere at some point.

What else?

Jen baked brownies-yum. The house was filled with a lovely aroma.
I did my usual weekend laundry and then decided to see what I could build with pizza boxes-tee hee. Alison doesn't iike the shelf unit I built in her room so it will be dismantled today. We did have a good laugh about it so my time was not wasted.
I went into radio-silence at 1pm, as did Jen, to stop us from hearing the rugby score. Poor Jen was unfortunately given the result from her Uncle Ali despite having just told her cousins that she was avoidng the score. Bummer. We had to wait till 7pm our time to watch the game.
Ah, the Scotland Game. Andrew and his Friends Liam and Jess came over to watch Scotland V England and it was a really nice evening with the young people. (They brought Pizza) It did cross my mind that it didn't seem that long ago since I was their age, watching the rugby internationals at Murrayfield. I used to love the 'after-games' as much as the games themselves.
Shame that we lost but we did better than I think most punters predicted.
The kids headed homeward at the back of ten and the girls and I watched some shows before bed.
So, apart from my shaky start to the day, Saturday was a great day Folks.
Oh, the photos are from a river we cross when we go to get our Pizza. Fascinating to see the ice breaking up.

Happy Sunday.
Lxxx

Day 196.........we'll be moving in July.

Day 196.........we'll be moving in July.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases

I had planned to write the blog early and get it posted before my radio-silence started at 1pm but I seem to have got distracted by other things and now I shall have to either wait till late evening here or risk seeing the Scotland V England rugby score.
Mmm? We shall see.
Yesterday was another beautiful sunny day at Royal York Road and we hjave decided that we will be moving out of here in early July. Vera and Goran have been kindly flexible and are not making us stay till our lease expires in Sept. They have given us the option of buying the house and, whilst it would be fantastic, I think it's a wee bit out of our price range because we'd rather not have much of a mortgage.
Still, I haven't checked Wednesdays lottery ticket yet so who knows.
I do have a wee dream of buying this place and renting the empty double-fronted store round the corner on Bloor Street for my healing centre.
I have put it out there and we shall see.
Vera and Goran came around, yesterday to remind themselves of the space in here because moving in here and selling their present, much larger home may be on their cards.
They had planned to move in here at some point and this summer may be that point.
So, I will be finding myself a new home for after the summer. I aim to have the lease signed before coming home in July. Getting out of the lease means that we won't have to pay rent and bills all summer and also frees me up to be in Edinburgh for longer. If we decide to sell-up, that'll be great so that I can help Bill get organised.
Knowing that you are moving in a few weeks makes you think about what will need done during those weeks. Eating all the food that is in the freezer and cupboards is one thing and so, with that in mind, I had frozen pizza last night instead of my usual Pizza Pizza. Now I only have one to eat :-)
I have 2 large lasagne, 1 chicken-pot pie and a whole bunch of frozen fruit to take care of. Shouldn't struggle with that too much.
I will now stop bulk buying anything, so that I don't have to give it all to Andrew in July-not that he'd complain.
Alison had not seen the movie 'Easy A' and so we giggled through that, with our pizza, last night. I recommend it if you haven't seen it yet.
I had to nip over to the Rogers cable shop which is across the street because, when I went to set the rugby to record, they had cut it off. Bums. Standing my ground and refusing to pay for another month when I had already paid for one to cover the rugby, I left the store very proud of myself.
Yippee me.
And that was Friday folks.
Alison is now on mid-term which they call 'March-Break' (you will have heard the term in North American movies) but she will be working full-time 9-6 at her daycare job. Wee scone.
Much Love,
Lxxx

Day 195.............more sunshine and a lovely walk through the neighbourhood with Jen.

Day 195.............more sunshine and a lovely walk through the neighbourhood with Jen.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday was another day with a beautiful blue sky and melting snow. Jen and I decided to go for a bit of a jaunt around the area North of where we stay and we came across some humungous houses and also some very very beautiful ones. WOW was a word that we used a lot. It's a whole other world out there and it was so nice to 'oggle' at rich folks homes.
Some of those people need a good talking-to though because they still have Christmas baubles hanging on their trees and some of them still have their lights up and on. Oh wait, those will be the folk that have spent the winter down in Florida, so I will cut them some slack-NOT  :-)

The sunshine is nice and warm as long as you stay in it and not in the shadows. The wind is still very brisk but we survived without our coats. My fingers and face were a bit chilly at times but otherwise it was so nice to be out in the fresh air for an hour.
Our deck is almost clear of snow and, when that happens, we will sit outside and soak up the rays because it's a wee suntrap.
I won't put my winter coat away yet tho' due to the snow that they have forecast for next Friday. Ah, the joys of spring.
There's not much to report, otherwise. I have been trying to help Jen with her Synopsis and we are almost there. My writing is a bit stalled but the ideas are still flowing and I merely need to put them down on paper.
I know that this is a very little blog but I don't have much to say today. Maybe tomrrow !
Much Love,
Lxxx

Day 194..........beautiful tulips from Jen.

Day 194..........beautiful tulips from Jen.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases,

Yesterday, it really did feel like Spring had sprung and Jen came home from a 'babysitting-job'-meeting, with a bunch of tulips for me. Beautiful, both the tulips and my daughter :-)

The snow is gaining speed with its puddle-making and you need to be very observant when walking along the sidewalk because of the splashes from speedy vehicles. Alison and I just about got soaked by a passing school bus, on her way to work but luckily there was room to jump into the side. YUK. But soon it will all be gone. Jen was singing 'drip, drip, drop. little April showers' whilst watching the snow melting from our garage roof. Name the film it's from?
Andrew had a day off yesterday and we chatted a bit via text. Bill and I had just been saying that our son would be into his shorts soon, when Andrew messaged me and mentioned that he had his shorts on-lol. I think that it may have something to do with the fact that he's played rugby since he was six. He doesn't seem to feel the cold and arrived here on Sunday in a t-shirt. From great Scottish blood, me thinks and he would definitely have survived life in a kilt.
Jen had a big long walk home from her app't, in the sunshine and it took me a bit of effort to get myself out the door. My bum seems to be glued to the sofa these days.
I finally left the house to chum Ali along to work and then I went for a wee wander around the local streets (stepping in a few puddles as I went) enjoying the sunshine. The houses are so beautiful in this area and they are all different so I never get tired of looking at them. Sometimes I walk past one that I have walked past dozens of times and see something completely unnoticed before. OOPS, perhaps I am not as mindful as I would like to think.
Living in Toronto has meant more pizza than living in Edinburgh and I'm not sure why. Yes, it's cheaper to buy it as a take-away but it also tastes better, even out of the freezer/oven
We girls were craving pizza yesterday and so we raided the freezer and had a lovely pizza dinner to 'The Wedding Planner' Did you know that it was made in 2001? Ali was only two when it was made and anyone who watches Greys Anatomy will giggle at the role that 'Alex Karev' plays in the movie. He's a wee skinny Italian dude and is fab at it. Giggle Giggle.
I did stop to buy some vino at the wine store whilst on my walk and I enjoyed a couple of glasses (first since Sat' for those who are curious) after the movie.
I have never been someone to drink wine with a meal. I much prefer it all by itself but I did open some mixed nuts to have with it, after the movie.
My old boss, when I was a nanny here, owned a nut company and still does and so we picked up some Trophy nuts, so that I could remenisce. He used to bring home bagloads at Christmas-time. No wonder I was needing to go to the gym six times/week to maintain my weight-tee hee.
Okay dokay-that's a wrap for Wednesday. Tulips and sunshine.
Much Love,
Lxxx

Day 193.............losing track of the days.

Day 193.............losing track of the days.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

I am so very glad that Alison is at school because otherwise I would have no clue as to what day of the week it is nor what date it is. Despite this help from Ali', I still sometimes forget what day it is. I can't believe that today is Wednesday and I know that yesterday did not feel like a Tuesday.
Indeed, what does a Tuesday feel like?
Time is a very strange thing.
Yesterday morning, my landlady came round for a cuppa and a chat. We sat on opposite ends of the couch and, after a tentative start, we got on like a house on fire, discovering that we shared many views about life.
She reminded me, at times, of how I used to be scared to share my thoughts with people, in case they thought I was mad. It was a lovely time of openness and honesty as we talked about the future and how, at the moment, ours are linked through 921 Royal York Road.
She took all of our discussion away with her, to run past her hubbie and I have already passed on the information to Bill.
As it stands, we will likely move out of here at the end of June or the beginning of Sept due to the height of the rent, which Vera really can't do anything about. The area in which we are living is surrounded by names like 'The Kingsway' and 'Prince George Avenue' and the names give you an idea of what the property prices are like and how big the mortgage is on this place.
And so, there are options to consider regarding whether we move to another rental or whether Bill sells up and moves over and we buy. I am trying to trust that whatever happens is the way it's supposed to be and my intuition tells me that it'll be even better than I can imagine.
And I have a pretty decent imagination-tee hee.
After Vera left, my day felt different. Chatting with another women about our hopes dreams and fears is always inspiring for me and I ponder the reasons why I am keeping myself so isolated when I know how good I feel after an interaction like yesterday.
I think that, to know myself and what lifts me up, I am choosing to experience my life without it so that when I am exposed to it, I truly know that it is what I love.
Oops, in danger of going off on one of my soul-searching rants and so I will reel it in.
The rest of yesterday doesn't hold much news. The sun continues to shine. The temp' continues to climb.
Ali' thinks she did okay in her Math test, which is great because it sounds like her teacher needs taught as she apparently was getting answers wrong. Oh dear.
Anyhoo. Short and sweet but at least an early posting today.
Much Love,
Lxxx

Day 192......almost forgot to write this

Day 192......almost forgot to write this

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

I was not in my usual schedule this morning and so things didn't flow in the way that they usually do. It was actually a nice wee change.
Yesterday saw the thermometer get up to six degrees and even the windchill couldn;t force it below zero. Yippee.
I saw some tiny buds, up at where Ross lives and it was a really lovely feeling to know that the leaves are beginnng to wake up.
I think that Sprig is my favourite season. Perhaps it's because I was born in April.
When Ross opened the door to me, I had a bit of a shock because the right side of his face was all healing bruises and cuts and he had an angry bloodshot eye. I found out from the nurses that he had fallen in the power outages and I recalled how much fun the girls and I had found them, last week.
Once he sat down, I cupped my hands around his face and did some Reiki and got him to do some peaceful breathing. He relaxed very quickly and I was glad to be able to help him to feel calm. The phone went, after about five minutes so it wasn't a long session but it was worthwhile.
We spent pretty much all of our two hours together, talking about his career in the car business. I love to listen to his stories.
When I left him, I decided that, if the bus didn't arrive straight away, I would walk home. I got the bus.
The afternoon consisted of not a flippin lot. But it was a lovely day.
The sun shone and poor old Olaf continued to shrink and tomorrow I may have to bring in the gloves, hat and scarf that he borrowed as they will look odd lying on top of a small pile of snow.
I did pick up my knitting again for yhe first time since Bill was here. I must try to get Jens blanket finished.
I am settling into my Angel doodles, which are fun. I almost cheated and posted a birthday one that I sent yesterday but I didn't.
Small report today.
Much love,
Lxxx

Day 191........that sun is warm-yippeee.

Day 191........that sun is warm-yippeee.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

As I mentioned in yesterdays blog, it was not Mothers Day in Canada but I did have a lovely dinner and evening with my three kids. What else could a mother ask for eh?
Andrew did offer to buy me the little book that I had bought for myself on Saturday, for Mothers' Day, when I tried to get one of them to take it to give me for my birthday. I refused his kind offer and will gift it to myself next month for my birthday.
It's homework-honest Bill. Mindfulness experiences and words and exercises t help others.....and me, of course.
Andrew did come bearing a gift, even though he didn't know it was Mothers' Day. He brought me one of his hoodies that I had my eye on last year. Now I have one of his and one of his dads. Lucky me to be kept warm, any time I want, by my two most favourite men.
Andrew, Jen and I watched 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', which was totally wacky but lots of fun. It reminded me of 'Series of Unfortunate Events', especially since Jude Law did the narration for both. Poor Ali was in Math-hell with revision and didn't get to giggle along with the rest of us.
She was not feeling great this morning. I wish that she wasn't working full-time next week, for March Break, because I think she could do with a bit of a rest, to recharge.
She did text to say she was feeling better, at lunchtime-wee scone.
The sunshine yesterday meant that it was still light after 7pm. Brilliant but not so brilliant when it was pitch-dark when I got up this morning. Plus, I had forgotten to change the timer on the heating so it was cold when I got up. But I won't need it on for much longer, me thinks.
My sunglasses are being well-worn and everyone is wandering around in sunglasses and winter hats-it's totally acceptable. Gives me something to keep my hair back with.
Jen and I even walked down to No Frills yesterday afternoon, to get the groceries because it was +2. +2 needs mentioned again. Did I tell you it was +2?
Exciting stuff. Simple things.
And I will tell you todays temperature tomorrow but it is even more exciting. This is why Olaf has lost his head and there are puddles everywhere.

Much love to all, Happy Monday,
Lxxx

Day 190.........squished on a bus.

Day 190.........squished on a bus.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday was Saturday and so it was laundry day-yippee. Clean clothes and towels for the coming week. I was telling the girls how it was so strange doing one day of laundry a week rather than every day. If not twice a day, when they were young. At least, that's my recollection-I could be exaggerating in my mind. But Andrew and Bill had rugby kit three times a week and there were five sets of towels and 4 sets of sheets plus messy little people make messy clothes, so I won't be far off the mark with my guess at a daily wash.
The cleaning didn't happen though because Jen fancied a visit to the mall. I think she had a bit of Cabin-fever.
Ali was out, in the morning, helping a friend do a school photography assignment. She was photographed eating poutine-a fancy name for what is basically chips, cheese and gravy-because the project is taking photographs of people doing things that they have always wanted to try. Ali fancied poutine :-)
We all headed out to Yorkdale, after she got home, only to discover that the subway track was being replaced between St George and Lawrence West stations. That'll mean nothing to you but to us it meant a squished forty plus minutes bus ride both ways instead of simply changing trains and having a fifteen minute subway ride. We almost changes our shopping-destination but decided to go ahead. The result being that we didn't sit down to eat dinner till 7.30.
I have said this before but I really must start checking the TTC website for delays/closures before we head out on a wee jaunt.
The TTC are brilliant with their organisation though. They have squillions of back-to-back buses and people directing you to them from any area that you happen to appear from.
So, our clocks went back last night and now there is only four hours between Scotland and us. That means I will get a wee bit longer to chat with Bill on his work-nights till the end of March-yippee. It was still dark when my alarm went off so I knew that it had done it's automatic-time-change-thing. I just have the stove-clock to still change. I will be tired tonight because it was nearly midnight old time when I went to bed. I will cope.
It is NOT Mothers' Day here and I do remember that my mum got two Mothers Day cards when I lived here before. Dad only ever got onethough because Fathers Day is the same on both sides of the pond

Okay folks-I am going for a wander in the sunshine and will post this when I get home. Poor Olaf is feeling the worse for our winter sunshine but there is still loads of snow in all the places that don't get sun, like our drive.
Much love,
Lxxx

Day 189.........What was I thinking?

Day 189.........What was I thinking?

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Yesterday, my good friend, the wonderful Charlene, began a 100 day doodle-fest. She draws the most wonderful wee monsters and had committed to drawing them for 100 days.
In the spirit of helping others feel all sunshiny and bright, I told her that I would join her in her 100 days of doodling.
After the fact. I am wondering what posessed me? I already do this daily blog and adding in another 'daily' may just prove to be too much pressure.
Who am I trying to kid. What else do I do in a normal day-right? But I am finding that my days disappear without my noticing it and sometimes without seeming to accomplish very much.
The other thing about this doodling is that, this morning when I was doing Day 2, I did a half dozen before I felt it was barely acceptable. Usually, when I make cards, posts etc with my wee Angels, the first drawing is the one that goes. There is no perfect and I always draw from my heart.
Today, I think that my Ego got in there first and it was really persistent. In fact, I'm not sure that my heart won out in the end. The doodle is posted on FB and the exercise convinced me of my present continuous need for the Bach remedy Agrimony because I was so pre-occupied by what people would think of my less than perfect doodle.
Yesterday didn't hold too much more. I was glad to hear that Bill and his dad had a nice dinner out, together. We all wish we could have been there too, to celebrate Grandads birthday.
Our Friday Pizza evening movie was Dirty Dancing, which Ali' hadn't seen but she had seen the stage show. Patrick didn't float her boat but she did enjoy the music.
I had Pizza out of the freezer for dinner due to the fact that I bulk-bought some of the stuff I love, weeks ago when it was half-price. Seeing that I am not a big pizza eater between Fridays, how was I going to get through it other than eating it on a Friday whilst the girls got their usual from Pizza Pizza?
Yummy, it was.
And that's a wrap for Friday folks. Or is it a pizza?
Much Love,
Lxx

Day 188..........wow-what a moon there was in the sky.

Day 188..........wow-what a moon there was in the sky.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Starting at the end of the day, Jen called downstairs that there was a magnificent moon up in the sky and Ali' and I were too snuggled up in our blankets to be bothered going up to see it. Quite rightly, Jen was a wee bit miffed at our seeming lack of interest and so I ran upstairs to see what turned out to definitely be one of the best moons that I have ever seen. It seemed to have huge beams extending from it and at one point it looked like there were several moons. WOAH.
So glad that I got out from under those blankets and I made such a din that Ali' came up to see it as well.
Note to Jen-Nag louder to get us to see cool stuff that you see.
I forgot to put in yesterdays blog that I had done some Bach teaching on Wednesday via skype. I am doing four consecutive Wednesdays, for an hour, to complete a Bach Level one that was started a very long time ago. I had to apologise for my overenthusiasm because I haven't taught for ages and I had forgotten how much I love teaching about the Bach flower remedies. I may need some Vervain before next weeks session.
Yesterday, I got confirmation of booking from the Gillis centre, for the retreat accommodation (follow-up from last years) and for the Islay Hall for August 15th which is going to be used for a Workshop full of healing, mindfulness, meditations, affirmations, gratitude, journaling, Bach and whatever else I can fit into it to help women to be their Authentic selves in the midst their role of being a mother, a daughter, or both. Boy, that was a big sentence.
'Seeing Clearly', the tentative title of my book seems to figure highly in my current consciousness and I know that it is linked to my being a mother and my being a daughter. Most of all I know that it relates to my seeing myself for who I truly am and not who I think I am supposed to be nor who I have been pretending to be.
I have had images popping into my head from the depths of my memories, from throughout my life and I think that it's a clearing process. Like some windscreen wiper is being used to clear my vision of all the obstructions that are keeping me from seeing clearly who I am and have always been.
That's a wee bit 'Deep' for in here, but c'est la vie.
On a lighter note, I had a wee huff to myself yesterday and it (again) relates to my learning about myself. Oops, here we go again.
I went through to make dinner at 6pm, to find that the dishwasher was still full from the overnight wash. I immediately went into poor-me mode, blaming Jen for not thinking to empty the dishwasher whilst all the while, I knew that if I had asked her to do it, she would have. BUT, temporarily, I railed at the injustice of having to ask. Why could she just not do it, knowing it would be helpful and that it needed done? Dishes piled on the counter and in the sink were clearly an indication of it needing done.
Reflecting back to my relationship with my own mum, I remember it being the same. It was almost a competition to see if my mum could/would ask for help. And I would feel angry at her if she couldn't ask and ended doing it all herself. Of course, then I felt guilty for not offering, when I knew it would have been kinder.
Boy, this year is such a brilliant teacher and I just need to get all these lessons into a book to help other mothers and daughters to realise that they are not alone and to hopefully help them to communicate rather than end up like my mother and I who were always on the defensive to each other and spent a great deal of time in angry silence.
A few doses of Willow had me sorted yesterday.I am lucky to have such assistance from my remedies. I have yet to apologise to Jen for my silent treatment. She reads this every day so, 'Sorry Jen-come get your hug. I love you' :-)
The good thing about a Huff though is that it really can open up time for you. I went upstairs to plan and plot whilst the girls watched a show. If I hadn't been in silent mode, I may have stayed downstairs with them and accomplished nothing.
WooHoo for the positive side of everything.
I also had an extremely early night, before 10pm but still find that my sleep is not as great as it was at home. I look forward to the heating going off and being able to have my windows wide open at night. Fresh air and moisture will be fab.
The picture is of the deceiving brightness outside in our -17 (feels like -25). Did someone seriously say that Spring was around the corner?
I still love the snow.
Much Love,
Lxxxx

Day 187............and the thermometer hit Zero.

Day 187............and the thermometer hit Zero.

3 Girls and 4 Suitcases.

Watching the tempersture sneek up to zero (where it stayed briefly) was exciting yesterday. Don't laugh, I don't get a lot of excitement these paeceful, calm days.
It felt like a familiar, cold, windy, Scottish day, on the walk back from No Frills with Jen but todays trek hasn't happened (yet) as the temp plummited overnight to feel like -26 again. Ali went to school at -17 (-24 with windchill) and I am pretty sure that she will have wished that she'd put her thermal hoodie on, by the time she got on her bus. The wind is icy and I only know that from waving goodbye at the door. Did someone say that Spring is in the air?
I have very little to report from yesterday. I have been an intermittent slob and watched far too much tv, even if the shows were great.
With my growing plans, that will need to take shape in reality, I can see that my tv hours will soon diminish in favour of prep-work for the stuff that I'm planning for the summer. I think I have already blogged about all the different things so I won't type them again. If the busyness in my head is only making me feel like I must have already filled-you in then please feel free to ask me what I'm plotting.
At least I have begun to write it all down and that, for me, is progress and an indication of me actually intending to follow-through on my plans. There are so many times that I have big ideas only to let them slide past me, without ever taking form.
If you are wondering about my eyesight....it's still a work in progress and I haven't worn my glasses in weeks.
If you're curious about my wine-consumption, it happens when it happens and it doesn't when it doesn't. I feel like we are settling into a non-relationship relationship and that has always been my goal.
Both Al' and I had early nights for our beauty sleep, so that was good. I try not to nag about bedtime because I think that it's her responsibility these days and I was proud of her for her decision to call it a night, before I did.
But, as I said, not much to report on our daily life. Maybe tomorrow, Folks.
Much Love,
Lxx