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