Another UK trip! Hurray! Can I leave tomorrow? ;-P
Saturday 31 December 2011
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all who may be reading this. I've enjoyed blogging for you thoughout this year and hope to have some new adventures to share as we say goodbye to the old and usher in the new. I carry my "kids" forward with me in my heart, and hope for good things ahead.
Another UK trip! Hurray! Can I leave tomorrow? ;-P
Another UK trip! Hurray! Can I leave tomorrow? ;-P
Saturday 24 December 2011
This huge Coca-Cola fan wishes you all a Merry Christmas!
I hope Santa is good to you all. I'd like to take the time to say thanks for reading my blog. It's been fun sharing my experiences with you. From the mundane to the surreal (UK anyone?) I've had a blast!
Here's hoping the New Year has some noteworthy surprises in store. If not, I'll just bore you with my everyday life!
Best Wishes,
Cindy
Thursday 22 December 2011
A pic-less couple of weeks...
Sorry I haven't shared more pics of Mom's beautifully decorated place or the not-so-pretty handmade chocolates we ended up butchering, but Mom and I are pretty much sharing a camera these days seeing as a) I live alone and have nothing worthy of picture-taking at the moment and b) Mom transferred all of her current pics to an external hard drive and ever since, she has been unable to send the images from camera to computer. (Likely a simple fix, but until someone has a good look at it/tells her how to fix it, we shall remain pictureless.) I'm a visual person so this bums me out, but I promise to "catch you up" once the issue is resolved. Let's just say our chocolates looked NOTHING like this...
There's talk of trying again but let's face facts, I'm no chocolatier.
There's talk of trying again but let's face facts, I'm no chocolatier.
Friday 16 December 2011
How to lose your mother in a parking garage.
Yup. I lost Mom for 2 hour tonight.
We went to a concert (totally crummy, old man choir, NOT fun!) She drops me off at home at 10:30pm and proceeds to go missing until 12:40am. I called family, woke them up, got myself into a total panick (and in the process realized that I have no idea what her license plate number is) ALMOST called the cops (the only reason I even hesitated was because between her place and mine there are three cities and I had no idea which police station to call.) Turns out, she was in her underground trying to get one of her candy machines to work (side business) She was taking it apart, adjusting it, filling it with candy, ect...Completely losing track of the time while I was frantically calling her home number and her cell in rapid succession. If I wasn't so relieved to hear her voice when she finally called, I would have hurt her myself!
She had her cell off thanks to the earlier concert and didn't make her way upstairs until well after my tenth message.
And how scary is this line?
Her sister:
"I don't know what to tell you, I'll call you tomorrow about it if I have time." No kidding. Santa needs to bring me some new relatives!
Already took down the plate number, tomorrow I'm buying her a cowbell so I don't lose track of her!
We went to a concert (totally crummy, old man choir, NOT fun!) She drops me off at home at 10:30pm and proceeds to go missing until 12:40am. I called family, woke them up, got myself into a total panick (and in the process realized that I have no idea what her license plate number is) ALMOST called the cops (the only reason I even hesitated was because between her place and mine there are three cities and I had no idea which police station to call.) Turns out, she was in her underground trying to get one of her candy machines to work (side business) She was taking it apart, adjusting it, filling it with candy, ect...Completely losing track of the time while I was frantically calling her home number and her cell in rapid succession. If I wasn't so relieved to hear her voice when she finally called, I would have hurt her myself!
She had her cell off thanks to the earlier concert and didn't make her way upstairs until well after my tenth message.
And how scary is this line?
Her sister:
"I don't know what to tell you, I'll call you tomorrow about it if I have time." No kidding. Santa needs to bring me some new relatives!
Already took down the plate number, tomorrow I'm buying her a cowbell so I don't lose track of her!
Sunday 11 December 2011
A nice dinner, a Christmasy Tree and a stolen purse...
Yeah, the title says it all. Home tomorrow morning--with details. In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful tree, I did until it all started to fall apart!
This isn't my pic because of course, we forgot the camera, we should have turned around at that point!
So, finally the promised update. It's been a few days because I've felt pretty beat after spending Thursday-Monday at Mom's. Her couch is so ridiculously uncomfortable that it seems to take forever for me to feel rested once I get home.
Anyway, we hit Yorkdale Mall on Friday (Mall close to Toronto) Busy, but not crazy. Very cool Santa setup. St. Nick looked pretty happy in his plush chair and surrounding decor and no kids were screaming so that's always a good sign. Pretty decorations within the mall itself but we were surprised that there were no carols playing overhead. Last year when we went to this particular mall, the stars overhead were actually flashing in time with the music. It was one of the reasdons that we wanted to go back.
Reason number two for our return was thanks to a $100 gift certificate for dinner at a swanky restaurant. Mom and I always think that $100 is WAY too much for two people, but we've learned pretty quickly how to enjoy all of it. :-) Frpm salads to soups to scrumptious entrees, it's safe to say we made good use of our funds.
An aged steak for me (honey garlic no less) and fish for Mom (yuck!) but she enjoyed it so it was all good. We had yummy food, good service and a staff that was more than happy to accept our radio gift certificate. (Not the case last week when we got into an argument with the manager at a crummy roadhouse.)
After dinner after making our way out to the car we decided to hit the distillery district of Toronto. Neither Mom or I had ever been, and they had a Christmas market in full-swing. We figured that we wouldn't have a lot of time given that it was already getting late, but we wanted to check it out while we were so close. That was probably our first mistake. We knew they likely closed up shop (even outdoor shops) by 9pm and it was already after seven when we left the mall.
We got a little turned around, finally stopping for directions and getting back on track. By the time we parked in front of the distillery area, it was already after 8 and getting cold...
Mom rushed to get me into the wheelchair and in our haste she didn't lock the door and somebody got in and stole her purse. Normally, we would have taken it, but we figured we would have a quick look around before closing time and I had money so she didn't need it. Unfortunately, it also had my rent cheques in it for the year as she was going to mail them for me. Enter a huge hassle with my bank (which has resulted in me deciding to leave next year when the cheques I've paid for are done) but that's another matter...
Anyway, it was a crisp, winter night at the distillery but so pretty with the big tree shimmering in the centre of the action. If you look closely, you can make out a mini ferris wheel in the back too. They had live music in some areas, piped in in others. With people gathered outside around fire pits having specialty drinks. One place even had a fire pit at each table with plush cushions to sit on.
There were artisan booths full of jewellry, ciders, handmade chocolates, cheeses ect...We even caught a glimpse of UK cadbury chocolate which yes, is MUCH better than our version.
Here's some more pics...
Sorry they're off the net but I wanted you to get a feel for it and we didn't have the camera given the short amount of time we had.
Here's a link for a slide show from last year...such a neat place. That's what i love about Toronto. So much diversity and culture. There's always something to see or do and you never have to do the same thing twice! (Unless you want to)
Enjoy the show!
http://torontochristmasmarket.com/photos/T
This isn't my pic because of course, we forgot the camera, we should have turned around at that point!
So, finally the promised update. It's been a few days because I've felt pretty beat after spending Thursday-Monday at Mom's. Her couch is so ridiculously uncomfortable that it seems to take forever for me to feel rested once I get home.
Anyway, we hit Yorkdale Mall on Friday (Mall close to Toronto) Busy, but not crazy. Very cool Santa setup. St. Nick looked pretty happy in his plush chair and surrounding decor and no kids were screaming so that's always a good sign. Pretty decorations within the mall itself but we were surprised that there were no carols playing overhead. Last year when we went to this particular mall, the stars overhead were actually flashing in time with the music. It was one of the reasdons that we wanted to go back.
Reason number two for our return was thanks to a $100 gift certificate for dinner at a swanky restaurant. Mom and I always think that $100 is WAY too much for two people, but we've learned pretty quickly how to enjoy all of it. :-) Frpm salads to soups to scrumptious entrees, it's safe to say we made good use of our funds.
An aged steak for me (honey garlic no less) and fish for Mom (yuck!) but she enjoyed it so it was all good. We had yummy food, good service and a staff that was more than happy to accept our radio gift certificate. (Not the case last week when we got into an argument with the manager at a crummy roadhouse.)
After dinner after making our way out to the car we decided to hit the distillery district of Toronto. Neither Mom or I had ever been, and they had a Christmas market in full-swing. We figured that we wouldn't have a lot of time given that it was already getting late, but we wanted to check it out while we were so close. That was probably our first mistake. We knew they likely closed up shop (even outdoor shops) by 9pm and it was already after seven when we left the mall.
We got a little turned around, finally stopping for directions and getting back on track. By the time we parked in front of the distillery area, it was already after 8 and getting cold...
Mom rushed to get me into the wheelchair and in our haste she didn't lock the door and somebody got in and stole her purse. Normally, we would have taken it, but we figured we would have a quick look around before closing time and I had money so she didn't need it. Unfortunately, it also had my rent cheques in it for the year as she was going to mail them for me. Enter a huge hassle with my bank (which has resulted in me deciding to leave next year when the cheques I've paid for are done) but that's another matter...
Anyway, it was a crisp, winter night at the distillery but so pretty with the big tree shimmering in the centre of the action. If you look closely, you can make out a mini ferris wheel in the back too. They had live music in some areas, piped in in others. With people gathered outside around fire pits having specialty drinks. One place even had a fire pit at each table with plush cushions to sit on.
There were artisan booths full of jewellry, ciders, handmade chocolates, cheeses ect...We even caught a glimpse of UK cadbury chocolate which yes, is MUCH better than our version.
Here's some more pics...
Sorry they're off the net but I wanted you to get a feel for it and we didn't have the camera given the short amount of time we had.
Here's a link for a slide show from last year...such a neat place. That's what i love about Toronto. So much diversity and culture. There's always something to see or do and you never have to do the same thing twice! (Unless you want to)
Enjoy the show!
http://torontochristmasmarket.com/photos/T
Tuesday 6 December 2011
The little (Canadian) Drummer Boy
Let's give it up for this 16 year old Canadian drummer boy. All the
rage on youtube right now. Here's a little blurb on him written by the
CBC here (Canadian Broadcast Corporation)
Many of his YouTube fans are praising the young drummer boy for encouraging a little Canadian pride with his stunning cinematography.
P.S. And you all thought I had no Christmas spirit! How about that snow? Yeah, glad I don't live there but hey, it LOOKS pretty!
rage on youtube right now. Here's a little blurb on him written by the
CBC here (Canadian Broadcast Corporation)
Using familiar streets and locales — and plenty of snow — a Winnipeg teenager created an homage to his city in a music video that's taking YouTube by [winter] storm.
Sixteen-year-old Sean Quigley, a grade-11 student at Winnipeg's Oak
Park High School, produced, directed and edited the video of his going-viral rock-heavy rendition
of "Little Drummer Boy." Quigley arranged, composed, recorded, mixed
and mastered the song, in addition to playing all the instruments on
the track.
Park High School, produced, directed and edited the video of his going-viral rock-heavy rendition
of "Little Drummer Boy." Quigley arranged, composed, recorded, mixed
and mastered the song, in addition to playing all the instruments on
the track.
"My dad was a drummer, so he got me into that early," Quigley told the Winnipeg Sun, adding that he began learning to play at age of 4.
"Then I just sort of expanded my music in general, learning
different instruments. A lot was self-taught. There were a few formal
lessons, as well."
different instruments. A lot was self-taught. There were a few formal
lessons, as well."
"Drummer Boy speaks to me so much," he told CBC News.
"The whole song is a story. It's about this boy who gets word of Jesus
being born and he goes to see him and he doesn't have anything to give
him; he's like 'I don't have money, I don't have gifts to give you. But
I can play my drum and that's more than enough.'"
"The whole song is a story. It's about this boy who gets word of Jesus
being born and he goes to see him and he doesn't have anything to give
him; he's like 'I don't have money, I don't have gifts to give you. But
I can play my drum and that's more than enough.'"
Many of his YouTube fans are praising the young drummer boy for encouraging a little Canadian pride with his stunning cinematography.
P.S. And you all thought I had no Christmas spirit! How about that snow? Yeah, glad I don't live there but hey, it LOOKS pretty!
Monday 5 December 2011
When is extreme couponing just too extreme?
I've watched the "Extreme Couponing" series on TLC from the get-go and I must admit, at first glance I was impressed. As a self-proclaimed radio prize junkie, I can appreciate the value of free or at the very least, low-cost. But how far is too far when it comes to coupons? Do you have a right to monopolize a cashier for three hours, or keep others waiting in line behind you? I ask because on the season finale of the show, one savy couponer kept the store open for an extra two hours PAST CLOSING TIME in the name of saving money and the worst part is, I never once heard a thank-you come out of her mouth. Now, maybe she said it off-camera, I'm not naive enough to believe that nothing on the show finds it's way to the cutting room floor, but it would have been nice if they at least TRIED to showcase this woman expressing some genuine gratitude. Instead, when they finally closed the circus down and asked her to finish up and leave the store we heard. "I'm really disappointed that I didn't get to finish my shopping." Seriously. She planned on purchasing over $4000 in products (at a fraction of the cost) and "only ended up" with $1300. This after spending the entire day at the store. She crashed the register (thanks to so many coupons) and they had to split things up and re-do a bunch of the transactions in smaller groups in order to ensure that the computer didn't run out of "line-space." (the computer can only accept so many coupons in one transaction before it will just freeze up.)
Staff spent HOURS re-configuring the transaction so that she could pay them pennies on the dollar. Pretty darn nice if you ask me. My guess is, none of those people ever want to see her pulling into their parking lot again.
This kind of couponing would never happen in Canada. We just can't/don't do it. Minimum wage in Canada varies, but I can tell you that in Ontario it's $10.25 per hour. So, if a cashier is part-time they will make at least that much and the majority of the full-time workers are unionized so will make more.We do have store cards that will offer discounts once you build up certain point levels but the stores will NEVER double your coupons. Not only do most coupons clearly say ONE per customer, no cashier that I know will ever do separate transactions to help you save.
I order a few coupons from a couple of sites online, but nothing worth talking about. I may be able to save $5 on a $100 order but that's the extent of any "deals." I love that some stores in the U.S. are now offering the opportunity to download savings DIRECTLY on to your store cards, saving the time/hassle of paper.
So, for all you bargain hunters out there, enjoy your discounts; and when that cashier offers to scan all of those tiny pieces of paper, give her a smile and say thank you, I'm sure it would be appreciated.
Staff spent HOURS re-configuring the transaction so that she could pay them pennies on the dollar. Pretty darn nice if you ask me. My guess is, none of those people ever want to see her pulling into their parking lot again.
This kind of couponing would never happen in Canada. We just can't/don't do it. Minimum wage in Canada varies, but I can tell you that in Ontario it's $10.25 per hour. So, if a cashier is part-time they will make at least that much and the majority of the full-time workers are unionized so will make more.We do have store cards that will offer discounts once you build up certain point levels but the stores will NEVER double your coupons. Not only do most coupons clearly say ONE per customer, no cashier that I know will ever do separate transactions to help you save.
I order a few coupons from a couple of sites online, but nothing worth talking about. I may be able to save $5 on a $100 order but that's the extent of any "deals." I love that some stores in the U.S. are now offering the opportunity to download savings DIRECTLY on to your store cards, saving the time/hassle of paper.
So, for all you bargain hunters out there, enjoy your discounts; and when that cashier offers to scan all of those tiny pieces of paper, give her a smile and say thank you, I'm sure it would be appreciated.
Friday 2 December 2011
I call this the lazy house because well, it is.
I sent this picture off to some friends a few minutes ago, but just had to share. This is my kind of Christmas decorating! LOL. I found it on the Ellen site as she was looking for some Christmas time-saving shortcuts and yes, this really IS somebody's house. Genius I say, pure genius and well, very Cindy-like in the approach. Totally my style--he can decorate at my place any time!!
I think they made the naughty list...
I think they made the naughty list...
Tuesday 29 November 2011
A strange prize even for me...
A couple of weeks ago, I put in an online entry for a "meat" prize pack. It was through one of the local radio stations, and I remember commenting to Mom that it was a bit out there, even for the two of us. (I secretly wanted the Christmas concert tickets they were also offering (a boys choir) so I filled out an entry form for both) Anyway, I got a call on Friday afternoon that I had won a "meat prize pack." One hundred and eighty dollars worth of packaged meat. Hmmm. Okay. Mom will likely take most of it, since she's a bigger meat eater than I am, but I truly was left asking myself "What promotion department would go out there looking for a sweet meat deal?" LOL. Sometimes, the radio is just plain weird. :-) I also remember thinking "watch me win this thing." Ahhh...the power of the mind!
Sunday 27 November 2011
Too highbrow for me...
I recently entered a CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) writing contest. The call for entries entitled "Winter Tales" was for an essay that detailed a "true to life" winter experience that was no more than 500 words.This was the first time I had entered anything associated with the CBC because frankly, in years past I've always viewed them as "out of my league." They give out awards to well known Canadian authors like Margaret Atwood or Margaret Laurence (Stone Angel anyone?)
They've since posted a bunch of entries from this contest (mine isn't among them) and I can see that I was right. So, NOT MY STYLE. It reminds me a little of Top Chef. I LOVE watching the competitors run around like crazy people trying to get everything cooked to perfection under the wire and I'm not above learning about a new ingredient/new dish, but it doesn't mean I'll ever eat it myself. (Does anybody really think cow tongue makes a good dinner?) That's how I felt while skimming through a lot of the entries for this writing contest. Everything just felt so contrived/worked over and forced. I found the descriptions to be completely over the top and nothing really "hit" me on any level. It was all entirely forgetable for me.
I'm a straight shooter, what you see is what you get and it was clear that my style had little place in the competition so I'm really glad I hadn't already spent the grand prize of $1000 because well, let me just say it right here, so NOT going to happen! LOL.
Big thanks to the CBC for letting me enter for free and helping me see that the $25 fee for the next short story contest is better off in my wallet.
Here's my essay for those of you who might be interested and just to clarify, no I'm not a "hockey mom." Poetic License rocks!
Hockey Mom
Winter has always been my nemesis. Swirling gusts of frosty wind, icy fingers, clawing at the back of my exposed neck. The fur-lined hood I try so valiantly to keep snug against the sides of my face sliding back and down at the first opportunity.
Traitor.
The sneakers on my feet are no better. I can feel them giving away under the demands of the slippery surface. The boots at the bottom of my closet are sharing a laugh. “Can you believe she left without us this morning?”
Sadly, they’re right.
My shoelaces are untied and soaked, dangling precariously, two limp, wet noodles, threatening to trip me at anytime. I jam my hands into the two side pockets because, of course, I forgot my gloves. They are sitting on my kitchen table, right next to the forgotten house keys. It’s that kind of day.
I board the bus, only to be met with streaks of messy, gray slush on the rubber of the narrow aisle. Not a seat to be had. I grab for the loop over my head, praying that it’s enough to keep me upright. I don’t think the man on the seat behind me would appreciate someone falling onto his lap. I squeeze the loop harder, determined to push the tumbling image from my mind.
I make it to stop in one piece. I send up silent thanks to whoever might be listening and make my way to the already opening door of the bus. For a split second I am grateful to be away from the crush of bodies, until I see what’s directly in front of me. As I walk down the two steps in my still undone runners, I find myself face to face with a huge snow bank. The plow beat us here so I am forced to walk down the side of the road until I finally spot a small opening and make my way up to the cleared sidewalk. At least I avoided the public humiliation of trying to climb a six foot mountain in my already battered shoes.
The sidewalk is my friend until I walk about thirty feet, only to discover a serious coat of black ice. I needn’t have worried about falling into the arms of a stranger; instead, I am content to fall on a hard slab of concrete. I hear the crack of my wrist before I feel the throbbing ache. I stand up quickly, not wanting to draw attention to myself. Even in pain, I felt the hot rush of embarrassment stain my cheeks.
I can see the arena from where I stand. I’m not going to let him down. It’s my son’s first hockey game. He had been ecstatic when he made the team, the look on his face when he slipped that jersey over his head for the first time, was pure unadulterated joy. Cradling my arm, I rush forward, determination in every step. My son is waiting.
Here's the link to some that have been posted. It looks like they are from authors who have previously won contests with the CBC so they aren't technically "entries" for consideration, but you can feel the tone/direction for each piece and I clearly didn't go anywhere near the right vicinity. I'll be over in the kiddie section where I might stand a chance next year...:-)
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/fea
They've since posted a bunch of entries from this contest (mine isn't among them) and I can see that I was right. So, NOT MY STYLE. It reminds me a little of Top Chef. I LOVE watching the competitors run around like crazy people trying to get everything cooked to perfection under the wire and I'm not above learning about a new ingredient/new dish, but it doesn't mean I'll ever eat it myself. (Does anybody really think cow tongue makes a good dinner?) That's how I felt while skimming through a lot of the entries for this writing contest. Everything just felt so contrived/worked over and forced. I found the descriptions to be completely over the top and nothing really "hit" me on any level. It was all entirely forgetable for me.
I'm a straight shooter, what you see is what you get and it was clear that my style had little place in the competition so I'm really glad I hadn't already spent the grand prize of $1000 because well, let me just say it right here, so NOT going to happen! LOL.
Big thanks to the CBC for letting me enter for free and helping me see that the $25 fee for the next short story contest is better off in my wallet.
Here's my essay for those of you who might be interested and just to clarify, no I'm not a "hockey mom." Poetic License rocks!
Hockey Mom
Winter has always been my nemesis. Swirling gusts of frosty wind, icy fingers, clawing at the back of my exposed neck. The fur-lined hood I try so valiantly to keep snug against the sides of my face sliding back and down at the first opportunity.
Traitor.
The sneakers on my feet are no better. I can feel them giving away under the demands of the slippery surface. The boots at the bottom of my closet are sharing a laugh. “Can you believe she left without us this morning?”
Sadly, they’re right.
My shoelaces are untied and soaked, dangling precariously, two limp, wet noodles, threatening to trip me at anytime. I jam my hands into the two side pockets because, of course, I forgot my gloves. They are sitting on my kitchen table, right next to the forgotten house keys. It’s that kind of day.
I board the bus, only to be met with streaks of messy, gray slush on the rubber of the narrow aisle. Not a seat to be had. I grab for the loop over my head, praying that it’s enough to keep me upright. I don’t think the man on the seat behind me would appreciate someone falling onto his lap. I squeeze the loop harder, determined to push the tumbling image from my mind.
I make it to stop in one piece. I send up silent thanks to whoever might be listening and make my way to the already opening door of the bus. For a split second I am grateful to be away from the crush of bodies, until I see what’s directly in front of me. As I walk down the two steps in my still undone runners, I find myself face to face with a huge snow bank. The plow beat us here so I am forced to walk down the side of the road until I finally spot a small opening and make my way up to the cleared sidewalk. At least I avoided the public humiliation of trying to climb a six foot mountain in my already battered shoes.
The sidewalk is my friend until I walk about thirty feet, only to discover a serious coat of black ice. I needn’t have worried about falling into the arms of a stranger; instead, I am content to fall on a hard slab of concrete. I hear the crack of my wrist before I feel the throbbing ache. I stand up quickly, not wanting to draw attention to myself. Even in pain, I felt the hot rush of embarrassment stain my cheeks.
I can see the arena from where I stand. I’m not going to let him down. It’s my son’s first hockey game. He had been ecstatic when he made the team, the look on his face when he slipped that jersey over his head for the first time, was pure unadulterated joy. Cradling my arm, I rush forward, determination in every step. My son is waiting.
Here's the link to some that have been posted. It looks like they are from authors who have previously won contests with the CBC so they aren't technically "entries" for consideration, but you can feel the tone/direction for each piece and I clearly didn't go anywhere near the right vicinity. I'll be over in the kiddie section where I might stand a chance next year...:-)
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/fea
Thursday 24 November 2011
Flying the friendly skies
I never mentioned during my UK travel blog that on our way out of London, security at Gatwick airport filed a report when my wheelchair tested positive for "kit." I had no idea what that meant (I later asked and found out it was traces of an explosive.) I started to panic as I saw the pens and papers coming out complete with a round of twenty questions. Is this your chair? How long have you had it? I failed the test twice (they swab the chair with a white piece of cloth looking for anything suspicious.)
Mom had her own issues as she was carrying too many liquids in her carry-on and they were having a field day pulling everything apart. I'll admit it, I started to panic, my first thought was "Should I be calling the Canadian Embassy? I know it sounds ridiculous, but when you see something like this unfolding in front of you, your first instinct is to try and protect yourself. This is a new day where everyone is a potential suspect, no matter how benevolent they may seem. As soon as they finished with the paper work and Mom had gathered all of our bags, I made her backtrack and ask the lady what this all meant. "Don't worry about it." She said, complete with a smile.
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they were nice about it, but I am currently in the process of trying to find out what filing that report could mean for my passport and future travels. As I've already said, I'm going back to the UK in August, so clearing this matter up has taken on new importance. I came home determined to clear things up quickly, but a call to customs agents here yielded little help. Because the issue happened at Gatwick airport on the way home, officials here told me it had nothing to do with them and that if I wanted to know what had been written about the incident, I could file a request under the "Freedom of Information Act." Honestly, I had no clue where to start with any of that, so I did the next best thing. I went to the Gatwick airport site and discovered that they have a facebook page and "will do their best to answer any questions." I laughed cynically at the thought, an airport actually answering questions from someone half a world away? Yeah right.
I was astounded when I went to their page. They had actually posted pictures of the grand opening of their newly refurbished North Terminal . When we had passed through it, it was an absolute mess. Anyway, they were posting a live minute by minute account of the ribbon cutting cermony with the mayor, and John Mayer was on hand to sing at the festivities. It was so bizarre. You would never see anything like that in Toronto. Sure, you'd read about it in the papers, but you'd never get a birdseye view of it all. It reminded me of why I loved the UK so much. This is truly how they live their lives, a slower pace, a feeling of inclusion, and a quiet pride about where they live.
People had already commented on the wall, offering suggestions and talking about how great it looked. Each suggestion has been acknowledged and any that might be implemented, met with enthusiasm. "Great idea, we'll pass that on to our customer relations department for consideration!"
I bit the bullet and posted about my situation (not my first choice on a public board but the site had no relevant email addresses) and they got right back to me, saying that they will contact the necessary department and be in touch. I couldn't believe it, an actual person read/responded to my plite. There is an accountibility over there that is becoming a thing of the past here. Mom and I didn't see one messy store or hear a cross word from anyone. You get that "small town" feel even though you may not be in a small town. People stop what they're doing and listen, they take things in. It's a welcome change.
I also have to commend Gatwick for marketing themselves full throttle. Last I checked, there was an ad up for a cannon camera "that was 60 pounds less than retail" at one of the airport stores. It was so neat reading about the different stores, restaurants and internet servies in an AIRPORT. I can guarantee that Toronto's Pearson International would never market themselves like that. Waiting in line for an hour? Too bad. Bad food? Oh well.
And kudos to Gatwick for having new scanning kiosks for their UK passengers to self-scan their passports. I wish they would allow this for international passengers as well, but I can understand why they might be leary of that option. (Canada doesn't even have chipped passports yet and as it turns out, I will be one of the last to get one because my passport is due for renewal in a few months and they aren't switching to the chip until the end of the year.) On one hand I am thrilled because the chipped version of Canadian passports is going to cost $287 for a five year term. Compare that with $87 for the current passport and $135 for the chipped US version that is good for ten years instead of five. For whatever reason, Canada is forever high on the price scale of just about everything.
Anyway back to my quandary. I am waiting for the promised contact from customer service and somehow I believe they just might come through. It's nice to know that even if it's only sometimes, the customer can in fact, be right and get some decent service, even if they have to travel half way around the world to find it.
Mom had her own issues as she was carrying too many liquids in her carry-on and they were having a field day pulling everything apart. I'll admit it, I started to panic, my first thought was "Should I be calling the Canadian Embassy? I know it sounds ridiculous, but when you see something like this unfolding in front of you, your first instinct is to try and protect yourself. This is a new day where everyone is a potential suspect, no matter how benevolent they may seem. As soon as they finished with the paper work and Mom had gathered all of our bags, I made her backtrack and ask the lady what this all meant. "Don't worry about it." She said, complete with a smile.
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they were nice about it, but I am currently in the process of trying to find out what filing that report could mean for my passport and future travels. As I've already said, I'm going back to the UK in August, so clearing this matter up has taken on new importance. I came home determined to clear things up quickly, but a call to customs agents here yielded little help. Because the issue happened at Gatwick airport on the way home, officials here told me it had nothing to do with them and that if I wanted to know what had been written about the incident, I could file a request under the "Freedom of Information Act." Honestly, I had no clue where to start with any of that, so I did the next best thing. I went to the Gatwick airport site and discovered that they have a facebook page and "will do their best to answer any questions." I laughed cynically at the thought, an airport actually answering questions from someone half a world away? Yeah right.
I was astounded when I went to their page. They had actually posted pictures of the grand opening of their newly refurbished North Terminal . When we had passed through it, it was an absolute mess. Anyway, they were posting a live minute by minute account of the ribbon cutting cermony with the mayor, and John Mayer was on hand to sing at the festivities. It was so bizarre. You would never see anything like that in Toronto. Sure, you'd read about it in the papers, but you'd never get a birdseye view of it all. It reminded me of why I loved the UK so much. This is truly how they live their lives, a slower pace, a feeling of inclusion, and a quiet pride about where they live.
People had already commented on the wall, offering suggestions and talking about how great it looked. Each suggestion has been acknowledged and any that might be implemented, met with enthusiasm. "Great idea, we'll pass that on to our customer relations department for consideration!"
I bit the bullet and posted about my situation (not my first choice on a public board but the site had no relevant email addresses) and they got right back to me, saying that they will contact the necessary department and be in touch. I couldn't believe it, an actual person read/responded to my plite. There is an accountibility over there that is becoming a thing of the past here. Mom and I didn't see one messy store or hear a cross word from anyone. You get that "small town" feel even though you may not be in a small town. People stop what they're doing and listen, they take things in. It's a welcome change.
I also have to commend Gatwick for marketing themselves full throttle. Last I checked, there was an ad up for a cannon camera "that was 60 pounds less than retail" at one of the airport stores. It was so neat reading about the different stores, restaurants and internet servies in an AIRPORT. I can guarantee that Toronto's Pearson International would never market themselves like that. Waiting in line for an hour? Too bad. Bad food? Oh well.
And kudos to Gatwick for having new scanning kiosks for their UK passengers to self-scan their passports. I wish they would allow this for international passengers as well, but I can understand why they might be leary of that option. (Canada doesn't even have chipped passports yet and as it turns out, I will be one of the last to get one because my passport is due for renewal in a few months and they aren't switching to the chip until the end of the year.) On one hand I am thrilled because the chipped version of Canadian passports is going to cost $287 for a five year term. Compare that with $87 for the current passport and $135 for the chipped US version that is good for ten years instead of five. For whatever reason, Canada is forever high on the price scale of just about everything.
Anyway back to my quandary. I am waiting for the promised contact from customer service and somehow I believe they just might come through. It's nice to know that even if it's only sometimes, the customer can in fact, be right and get some decent service, even if they have to travel half way around the world to find it.
Sunday 20 November 2011
Summer Journey
http://www.princess.com/find/itineraryDe
Our 8 day Scotland/Ireland Cruise. Same Cruise line as last summer (boooo) Smaller ship (Yay! I think :-))
Here's the link to the small studio we are renting during or 3 day London stay, pre-cruise.
http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/102565
Looks like a cute little place, and the owner is an artist/illustrator formerly from Boston. Central to everything, and I have to say, I'm excited about the pre-olympic/opening day hype.. Yes, I'm worried about the crowds, but you only live once, and this will be my only chance to soak up the charged olympic atmosphere. I'm sure the locals will be getting out of dodge while the rest of us clamour for London 2012 paraphernalia, true to our tourist roots.
Accomodation number two:
http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/132572
This one makes me think of going off to Grandma's cottage for the summer. Of course, my grandmother never had a cottage but if she did, this would be it! I mean seriously, how cute is this place? And the name..."Primrose Cottage." so English!
Anyway, it's in a small seaside town called Deal and we are staying for five days after we get back from London. Deal is about half an hour from Dover (I think) which is the port where the cruise sails from. Though small, Deal looks like it has both charm and elegance. A Saturday market, a restaurant complete with a sliding glass roof for summer dining under the stars, and a great habour view. Though I would love to stay in London longer, I know that Mom will welcome the slower pace that this location is known for. It's also just a twenty-eight mile ferry ride across the Straight of Dover to a small French town called Calais. We'll see about visiting and we might fit Brussels in there too since it isn't far off. It all depends on the cost/ease of travel.
http://www.deal.gov.uk/Contents/Text/Ind
NavSideId=13503
http://www.calais.com/
As I said, Dover is nearby, best known for :it's white cliffs and Dover Castle. We'll see if we make it there to explore or if it will just be a means to an end as far as getting on the ship. A friend tells me the castle is worth a tour, but the rest may not be, we'll see how it goes..
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/dayso
All of this will be followed by the cruise of Scotland/Ireland. I truly am disappointed to be going on one of the Princess Cruises again, I wish I could try another, but the price is reasonable and they are one of the few with access to Scotland. There are others, but they are more expensive and frankly, I got tired of reading reviews that said "Frank and Betty just got back from their fifteenth cruise with XYZ and it was just FABULOUS and for number sixteen (in three months) they are going to Bora Bora with Feefee and Fiddo". I'll say this for Princess, their passengers aren't snobs (and the one guy who was at our dinner table, was met with eye rolls and shakes of the head. (and he was the only one that didn't notice) You know who I'm talking about. :-)
That's it for now, it's early in the planning stages yet.
Our 8 day Scotland/Ireland Cruise. Same Cruise line as last summer (boooo) Smaller ship (Yay! I think :-))
Here's the link to the small studio we are renting during or 3 day London stay, pre-cruise.
http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/102565
Looks like a cute little place, and the owner is an artist/illustrator formerly from Boston. Central to everything, and I have to say, I'm excited about the pre-olympic/opening day hype.. Yes, I'm worried about the crowds, but you only live once, and this will be my only chance to soak up the charged olympic atmosphere. I'm sure the locals will be getting out of dodge while the rest of us clamour for London 2012 paraphernalia, true to our tourist roots.
Accomodation number two:
http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/132572
This one makes me think of going off to Grandma's cottage for the summer. Of course, my grandmother never had a cottage but if she did, this would be it! I mean seriously, how cute is this place? And the name..."Primrose Cottage." so English!
Anyway, it's in a small seaside town called Deal and we are staying for five days after we get back from London. Deal is about half an hour from Dover (I think) which is the port where the cruise sails from. Though small, Deal looks like it has both charm and elegance. A Saturday market, a restaurant complete with a sliding glass roof for summer dining under the stars, and a great habour view. Though I would love to stay in London longer, I know that Mom will welcome the slower pace that this location is known for. It's also just a twenty-eight mile ferry ride across the Straight of Dover to a small French town called Calais. We'll see about visiting and we might fit Brussels in there too since it isn't far off. It all depends on the cost/ease of travel.
http://www.deal.gov.uk/Contents/Text/Ind
NavSideId=13503
http://www.calais.com/
As I said, Dover is nearby, best known for :it's white cliffs and Dover Castle. We'll see if we make it there to explore or if it will just be a means to an end as far as getting on the ship. A friend tells me the castle is worth a tour, but the rest may not be, we'll see how it goes..
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/dayso
All of this will be followed by the cruise of Scotland/Ireland. I truly am disappointed to be going on one of the Princess Cruises again, I wish I could try another, but the price is reasonable and they are one of the few with access to Scotland. There are others, but they are more expensive and frankly, I got tired of reading reviews that said "Frank and Betty just got back from their fifteenth cruise with XYZ and it was just FABULOUS and for number sixteen (in three months) they are going to Bora Bora with Feefee and Fiddo". I'll say this for Princess, their passengers aren't snobs (and the one guy who was at our dinner table, was met with eye rolls and shakes of the head. (and he was the only one that didn't notice) You know who I'm talking about. :-)
That's it for now, it's early in the planning stages yet.
Thursday 17 November 2011
Let it snow, let it snow, here we go...
First sign of snow today. I could actually smell the snow in the air as I woke up this morning, sounds kooky, but is entirely true. I was walking out to meet Mom and saw the white flakes fluttering slowly to the ground. As I stepped outside, the flakes stopped. Good choice! I still can't believe it's already the middle of November. I don't know where the time goes, it seems to slip away from me. Age? I'm not sure. I'm missing my kids in a big way lately. Mom and I are in the midst of planning our summer vacation, another big one (more on that over the weekend) that might be why I'm a little sad, realizing that once again, I'm leaving my apartment gladly because I have no reason to stay.
Saturday 12 November 2011
Illumination Frustration
So I've been at Mom's since Thursday afternoon because I was supposed to "supervise" the decorating of her indoor windows with the approach of the holiday season (Can anyone believe it's already a third of the way through November?) Anyway, so far the window is bare thanks to errands, endless cooking in the kitchen and a trip down to the underground storage locker to ***look*** for the lights, only to haul the wrong box up to reveal, wait for it...the OUTDOOR lights. That's the kind of luck we have. Poor Mom was down there pushing aside candy machines (long story) boxes, dodads, and whatsits only to pull out the wrong stuff. So, as we speak, she is outside in her stocking feet and pajamas stringing lights around her balcony railing. Did I mention that she strung them all up in a nice, even line, only to find that the plug was at the wrong end of it all? Yeah. She's just come in and asked me to make a salad for lunch, best to make myself useful in here before <I> get put on light duty!
Update: The lights are WAY too dark on this side of the railing so that they blend in with the garland..
I'm home now, and last I heard, the light fairy was adding white icicle lights to the bunch to lighten things up. Do people really find decorating fun? I stopped doing a lot of it a few years ago. Though I love the final result, I just can't be bothered with putting in the effort to get there anymore. It was different with the kitties, they truly enjoyed seeing things lit up and Kasey was a sucker for the animated figure who moved, candle in hand. She would sit in front of him (a little boy with an English cap) and watch the movement for an hour at a time. Bud was partial to the high tech glistening snowmen favoured by Mom. For a few years after Kasey's death, we spent a lot of time there together during holidays. I still miss doing little stockings for them and it was K's birthday to boot, so she always got a little extra treat in her haul. She was forever nosy, sticking her face right down into the stocking, never quite managing to get anything out herself, but hey, the effort was half the fun! Buddy expected me to pull everything out for him and he was always very discerning. What fun we had. It's not wonder it's hard for me to "see the light" and enjoy Christmas anymore :-(
Update: The lights are WAY too dark on this side of the railing so that they blend in with the garland..
I'm home now, and last I heard, the light fairy was adding white icicle lights to the bunch to lighten things up. Do people really find decorating fun? I stopped doing a lot of it a few years ago. Though I love the final result, I just can't be bothered with putting in the effort to get there anymore. It was different with the kitties, they truly enjoyed seeing things lit up and Kasey was a sucker for the animated figure who moved, candle in hand. She would sit in front of him (a little boy with an English cap) and watch the movement for an hour at a time. Bud was partial to the high tech glistening snowmen favoured by Mom. For a few years after Kasey's death, we spent a lot of time there together during holidays. I still miss doing little stockings for them and it was K's birthday to boot, so she always got a little extra treat in her haul. She was forever nosy, sticking her face right down into the stocking, never quite managing to get anything out herself, but hey, the effort was half the fun! Buddy expected me to pull everything out for him and he was always very discerning. What fun we had. It's not wonder it's hard for me to "see the light" and enjoy Christmas anymore :-(
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Radio: Sometimes it can make fools of us all...
It occurs to me that I haven't shared any good "winning" radio stories on here lately. Here's a little gem for you that happened just this morning. Now, I must first clarify that this particular radio station (am 740 in Toronto) is known as "zoomer" radio. I pulled up a definition for those of you who may not know what a "zoomer" is...
Zoomers are boomers who have acquired the ability to live a longer, healthier, adventurous life.
So, in other words, they're old people:-) I have to tell you, they are the FUNNIEST contestants on radio shows ever. They make no apologizes and just plunge right in, no matter how silly it might make them look but sometimes, it's obvious that they just DON'T THINK. I don't know if it's their age, or their nervousness about being "live" on the radio, but I seriously need to start recording this stuff and selling a blooper tape.
Take this morning for example...
I had the phone ringing but they weren't picking up. For this particular station, that means you are the "back up" contestant and you just have to wait patiently, let it ring, and hope the person in front of you gets the multiple choice question wrong so you can swoop in and take the prize. (Did I say that? I meant feel really bad for the person as they get it wrong and you thank your lucky stars that they eliminated the answer that YOU were going to blurt out if you got on ahead of them.)
Today's Category : This is your Life...
Today's Question: What well-known star walked off the set of "This is your Life" in 1993 feeling embarrassed and humiliated?
A) Carol Burnett
B) Angie Dickinson
or
C) (Often the joke answer) Lassie
So, can we guess which one the lady in front of me chose? No, really, she did, apparently, it was no "joke" to her.
I figure in her mind the exchange went something like this
(Howls mournfully)
"That is so NOT TRUE, the kid on the show had it out for me from day one, there was a reason it was called Lassie you know, I was the cutest thing going, and THIS is how they repay me?"
(Barks uncontrollably and starts bearing her teeth )
"I should have taken a bite out of all of you when I had the chance!"
****runs offstage before anyone can put a leash around her neck***
Cue Elton John music "The bitch is back." :-)
Yes, she really said it.
The announcers tried to cover their amusement by saying "oh that would have been very rude of her" but you know during the next commercial break they were having a field day, it was all I could do not to laugh out loud as I was giving them MY answer. (Angie Dickinson) which I figured had to be right since Carol Burnett actually has a sense of humour.
Sadly, this scenario isn't uncommon. Stay tuned. Next year I might just sell the tapes as Christmas stocking stuffers!
I found this little pic and thought it was appropriate for this morning...
or maybe she was just burning the candle at both ends...
Zoomers are boomers who have acquired the ability to live a longer, healthier, adventurous life.
So, in other words, they're old people:-) I have to tell you, they are the FUNNIEST contestants on radio shows ever. They make no apologizes and just plunge right in, no matter how silly it might make them look but sometimes, it's obvious that they just DON'T THINK. I don't know if it's their age, or their nervousness about being "live" on the radio, but I seriously need to start recording this stuff and selling a blooper tape.
Take this morning for example...
I had the phone ringing but they weren't picking up. For this particular station, that means you are the "back up" contestant and you just have to wait patiently, let it ring, and hope the person in front of you gets the multiple choice question wrong so you can swoop in and take the prize. (Did I say that? I meant feel really bad for the person as they get it wrong and you thank your lucky stars that they eliminated the answer that YOU were going to blurt out if you got on ahead of them.)
Today's Category : This is your Life...
Today's Question: What well-known star walked off the set of "This is your Life" in 1993 feeling embarrassed and humiliated?
A) Carol Burnett
B) Angie Dickinson
or
C) (Often the joke answer) Lassie
So, can we guess which one the lady in front of me chose? No, really, she did, apparently, it was no "joke" to her.
I figure in her mind the exchange went something like this
(Howls mournfully)
"That is so NOT TRUE, the kid on the show had it out for me from day one, there was a reason it was called Lassie you know, I was the cutest thing going, and THIS is how they repay me?"
(Barks uncontrollably and starts bearing her teeth )
"I should have taken a bite out of all of you when I had the chance!"
****runs offstage before anyone can put a leash around her neck***
Cue Elton John music "The bitch is back." :-)
Yes, she really said it.
The announcers tried to cover their amusement by saying "oh that would have been very rude of her" but you know during the next commercial break they were having a field day, it was all I could do not to laugh out loud as I was giving them MY answer. (Angie Dickinson) which I figured had to be right since Carol Burnett actually has a sense of humour.
Sadly, this scenario isn't uncommon. Stay tuned. Next year I might just sell the tapes as Christmas stocking stuffers!
I found this little pic and thought it was appropriate for this morning...
or maybe she was just burning the candle at both ends...
Friday 4 November 2011
CP, the T.V. , and I just found me
Cerebral Palsy is an interesting beast. I have often equated her to an untuned television set in that no matter how hard you try to get that crisp, clear picture, it just ain't gonna happen. When I was younger, I fought through the garble, hell, it was even an interesting challenge on most days. I am a firm believer in obstacles building your character and helping you stay true to who you are, what you believe in. That being said, the old girl has been well, I'll just say it, a full on bitch to me for about oh, the last five years. I've watched my mobility slide down a very slippery slope and disappear around the corner, laughing gleefully at stealing what little freedom I've actually had.
It isn't an easy thing to realize at the ripe old age of not-yet forty, you move like an eighty year old. You can forget about slipping away to be alone, chances are if you try it, you'll be slipping away and breaking a hip as you hit the sidewalk in a crumbling heap. Two weeks ago, I steadfastly refused to take the bus alone for this very reason (visions of a rehabilitation centre dancing in my head) and I will tell you, that's not like me. I can usually push the doubts aside and trudge forward. It's a tough pill to swallow when you realize that you're changing the base of who you are to make room for something that insists on creeping in and taking over in equal measure, CP and self-doubt, a deadly combination. (That sounds like a book title doesn't it?) Anyway, I didn't write all of this to indulge in a self-pity moment (though it probably sounds like it) I wrote this because I've conquered her. For the last couple of weeks, the t.v. has been plugged in and the picture is clear. I'm moving better, I'm walking better and for a little while anyway, it's the old Cindy. I've missed her.
I don't know why I'm suddenly firing on all cylinders, but I'll take it because I know this small reprieve will likely disappear just as quicky as it appeared, but yes, I'll take it, I'll grab it and run just as fast as my tuned in legs will carry me. I earned it, it's mine.
I wrote this now because I want to remember this powerful feeling, this feeling that I CAN get back what I once had, if only for a little while. And for those of you that always "have it" remember that it's a gift, not to be taken for granted, enjoy the "clear picture" because some of us are fighting our way through a lot of static just to do the simple things.
It isn't an easy thing to realize at the ripe old age of not-yet forty, you move like an eighty year old. You can forget about slipping away to be alone, chances are if you try it, you'll be slipping away and breaking a hip as you hit the sidewalk in a crumbling heap. Two weeks ago, I steadfastly refused to take the bus alone for this very reason (visions of a rehabilitation centre dancing in my head) and I will tell you, that's not like me. I can usually push the doubts aside and trudge forward. It's a tough pill to swallow when you realize that you're changing the base of who you are to make room for something that insists on creeping in and taking over in equal measure, CP and self-doubt, a deadly combination. (That sounds like a book title doesn't it?) Anyway, I didn't write all of this to indulge in a self-pity moment (though it probably sounds like it) I wrote this because I've conquered her. For the last couple of weeks, the t.v. has been plugged in and the picture is clear. I'm moving better, I'm walking better and for a little while anyway, it's the old Cindy. I've missed her.
I don't know why I'm suddenly firing on all cylinders, but I'll take it because I know this small reprieve will likely disappear just as quicky as it appeared, but yes, I'll take it, I'll grab it and run just as fast as my tuned in legs will carry me. I earned it, it's mine.
I wrote this now because I want to remember this powerful feeling, this feeling that I CAN get back what I once had, if only for a little while. And for those of you that always "have it" remember that it's a gift, not to be taken for granted, enjoy the "clear picture" because some of us are fighting our way through a lot of static just to do the simple things.
Monday 31 October 2011
Candy and suckers and chips, oh, that's not just another day??? :-)
I'm not a huge Halloween fan (although I do have fond memories of some pretty great costumes--corn husk anyone??) I think it's because I can eat candy/gum/chocolate anytime I want now so isn't it really Halloween 365 days of the year? That said, I have to laugh at my building superintendent. He's been the big cheese around here for about five years (and I use the term loosely, I have never met a more passive, pushover of a man in my entire life)
Anyway, he was REALLY into Halloween this year, buying endless bags of candy, suckers and chips. Heck, I started salivating just LOOKING at the table (okay, I ate one tiny package of fruit candy and stole a purple sucker and some chips)
Mom and I went out for coffee (where we ran into about twenty adults decked out in outfits that ranged from full on silly to just plain sexy.) Anyway, they seemed like that were having fun (and I must admit I felt a stab of jealousy at having never been to an adult costume party.)
We headed back to my apartment building, where my disappointed (and lonely, bordering on creepy) Super told us dejectedly, that he had only had about ten kids all night. He managed to lure (I mean invite:-)) a little girl in along with her dad (both dressed in chef's coats/hats) and then proceeded to ask if he could snap the little girl's picture More creepiness. LOL I don't know how long he sat there peering out into the night looking for victims (I mean kids..:-) ) But it was all just a little too sad for me. If I'm ever alone with a big bowl of candy, rest assured, I won't wait around for the neighbourhood kids to help me eat it. He should have marketed his stash to all the old people with walkers in the area, the sugar hit would have given them a nice jolt and sped them right up! (I kid, I kid, I'm totally as slow as they are!)
Happy Halloween All!
This is likely Buddy--very grumpy without his Mommy!
Anyway, he was REALLY into Halloween this year, buying endless bags of candy, suckers and chips. Heck, I started salivating just LOOKING at the table (okay, I ate one tiny package of fruit candy and stole a purple sucker and some chips)
Mom and I went out for coffee (where we ran into about twenty adults decked out in outfits that ranged from full on silly to just plain sexy.) Anyway, they seemed like that were having fun (and I must admit I felt a stab of jealousy at having never been to an adult costume party.)
We headed back to my apartment building, where my disappointed (and lonely, bordering on creepy) Super told us dejectedly, that he had only had about ten kids all night. He managed to lure (I mean invite:-)) a little girl in along with her dad (both dressed in chef's coats/hats) and then proceeded to ask if he could snap the little girl's picture More creepiness. LOL I don't know how long he sat there peering out into the night looking for victims (I mean kids..:-) ) But it was all just a little too sad for me. If I'm ever alone with a big bowl of candy, rest assured, I won't wait around for the neighbourhood kids to help me eat it. He should have marketed his stash to all the old people with walkers in the area, the sugar hit would have given them a nice jolt and sped them right up! (I kid, I kid, I'm totally as slow as they are!)
Happy Halloween All!
Friday 28 October 2011
Here we go again...
So, I had to break down and wear a winter jacket today for a drive to Toronto and I have to tell you, it sucks. I haven't missed the cold one bit, and I'm not looking forward to frigid temperatures for months on end so, shall I offer a house/apartment swap? Seriously, I know I have a couple of friends out there who are all "Rah, rah, go cold" so feel free to speak up and I'll go pack my bags.
On the bright side, I wrestled my thousand dollar cheque out of the radio station's clutches, so my travel account is looking pretty flush right now; that was, until I started looking at the price increases that seem to be plaguing the travel industry this year, yikes. I can't even believe I'm considering cruising again after I swore it off just a few months ago. This is where you see necessity win out over my bucket list vacation. Convenience and ease play a heavy hand these days, as my mobility level flounders, slipping away at an alarmingly fast clip. You all better start planning my big 4-O bash, because it might take me a while to make it there. :-)
Anyway, the hunt is on to find a little slice of the world I can conquer and say "I've been there and it was so worth it!" Be forewarned friends, Scotland still has this girl's heart, and it will take something truly special to top her. She was a bonnie lass.
On the bright side, I wrestled my thousand dollar cheque out of the radio station's clutches, so my travel account is looking pretty flush right now; that was, until I started looking at the price increases that seem to be plaguing the travel industry this year, yikes. I can't even believe I'm considering cruising again after I swore it off just a few months ago. This is where you see necessity win out over my bucket list vacation. Convenience and ease play a heavy hand these days, as my mobility level flounders, slipping away at an alarmingly fast clip. You all better start planning my big 4-O bash, because it might take me a while to make it there. :-)
Anyway, the hunt is on to find a little slice of the world I can conquer and say "I've been there and it was so worth it!" Be forewarned friends, Scotland still has this girl's heart, and it will take something truly special to top her. She was a bonnie lass.
Tuesday 25 October 2011
The cold vs the cold...
So Mom saw her vocal specialist and it looks like the laryngitis is just that, laryngitis. A quick scope didn't show any signs that the implant had moved, so that's a good thing. How pathetic is it that I was happy this morning when she told me that she had a sore throat? Up until that point, it didn't seem like a virus so the worry radar was ticking upward. Another co-worker also seems to have ended up with the same symptoms, again, shame on me for feeling only relief. Now, I wonder if I'll end up with it, as I'm not feeling so great myself. LOL Anyway, still not out of the woods, we'll have to see how long her voice fades in and out because it really doesn't seem to be getting better at this point.Time will tell.
So gray and yucky here lately. Leaves flying off in a big way now, it looks like we will skip a lot of the fall "colours" and find ourselves looking at bare, scraggly trees in the not so distant future. I have a friend who teaches up in Alaska. They had their first big snowfall today
Let me just say "Thanks Mother Nature for this not being here yet!"
Oh and p.s. It's okay if you want to leave my neck of the woods out of this particular weather pattern entirely...
So gray and yucky here lately. Leaves flying off in a big way now, it looks like we will skip a lot of the fall "colours" and find ourselves looking at bare, scraggly trees in the not so distant future. I have a friend who teaches up in Alaska. They had their first big snowfall today
Let me just say "Thanks Mother Nature for this not being here yet!"
Oh and p.s. It's okay if you want to leave my neck of the woods out of this particular weather pattern entirely...
Saturday 22 October 2011
Cinderella and her Sidekick...
So Mom and I hit the town last night in Toronto and got ourselves a sugar/chocolate high at a venue called the Royale Palace. Aptly named as a locale for a chocolate ball. Lots of beautiful colours/presentations all based around an ode to chocolate. It was a little like being given the "Golden Ticket" to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory with it's magical decadence and mouth-watering samples.
Believe it or not, this is us before we left, clearly our eyes are gleaming with happiness at the thought of consuming copious amounts of sugar and chocolate...and kudos to Mom for taking this with one hand, as we once again, snap our own photo, we are getting good at it!!
This was the first thing we saw when we walked in. How cool is this oufit? Let the night begin, two orange suckers please!
Sight number two. Do you see those yellow lollipops on the far left side of the screen? BEST THINGS EVER. A delicate, smooth slightly crunchy coating on the outside followed by a moist, lemony cake on the inside, yet it wasn't overpowering at all. (and this is coming from somone who isn't crazy about lemon!) Clearly this girl is saying "Here they come..."
LOL, yes, I'm already getting my lemony high here. Seriously, I should not be publishing this photo in any way, shape or form. Never let it be said that I don't report the truth. LOL
To make matters even more interesting, A newspaper photographer caught me enjoying my spoils, and asked if he could take our picture. Mom handed me another lemon pop, then told me after the picture taking that I had chocolate all over my mouth. Nich eh? Thankfully, it was some little artsy paper (who's name escapes me at the moment) so the damage is minimal. Of course, I'm posting here, so, yeah, now I have a hand in my own embarrassment but it's always better to control one's own story...
Mom starts her night with a multilayed chocolate delight...It's not even in her mouth yet and look how excited she is..lol
Hmmmmm...yuuuuummmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyy....
Yes, we MUST make sure the spoon is licked clean....It's the golden rule of chocolate consumption.
The chocolate covered apple display (granny smith apples are apparently the best apples to use with chocolate so you get that sweet/sour balance.) Yes, I'm stealing a chocolate too. It was a Peanut Butter Ball and it was MUCH BETTER than mine will ever be. (I used to make them for the Christmas holidays until one day I coated them in glue instead of wax to get that special shine--long story!:-)) Anyway, she had me beat in a big way, rich but not overpowering. Later, we saw her giving away whole apples, probably a good thing we didn't get there in time to abscond with one of those...
Do I look like the cat with the canary or what? LOL I'm pretty sure this was a dark chocolate caramel sprinked with sea-salt. When you bit into it, the liquid caramel exploded in your mouth, soooo goood....The liquid mint filling came in a close second, I think we visited that particular table about five times...
These were yummy too, first, you bit into a crunchy chocolate shell, next came the tang of a fruity filling. Clearly, fruit and chocolate is a winning combination and the rules of chocolate clearly state that if fruit is in the chocolate, the calories don't count!
And here we are, stealing...sorry, I mean showing off our gift box..LOL. Honestly, we took the box when no one was looking and started filling it up. The guy left the table and the boxes were sitting there so a few of us grabbed one, what's a few samples between friends???
The salsa band (the entertainment for the evening) was WAY too loud and this is what can happen to a crazy group of dressed up dancers with a big time sugar high. Tacky, tacky, tacky, but honestly we were too busy going from table to table to bother with most of it.
Oh, and just to let you know, I did balance out the chocolate with some coconut/chocolate infused mashed potatoes, so I did get my veggies in too! (and they weren't bad!)
Anyway, another great night out thanks to the radio and a big thanks to Mom for the shared chocolate enthusiasm, it was a fun night!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/C
Believe it or not, this is us before we left, clearly our eyes are gleaming with happiness at the thought of consuming copious amounts of sugar and chocolate...and kudos to Mom for taking this with one hand, as we once again, snap our own photo, we are getting good at it!!
This was the first thing we saw when we walked in. How cool is this oufit? Let the night begin, two orange suckers please!
Sight number two. Do you see those yellow lollipops on the far left side of the screen? BEST THINGS EVER. A delicate, smooth slightly crunchy coating on the outside followed by a moist, lemony cake on the inside, yet it wasn't overpowering at all. (and this is coming from somone who isn't crazy about lemon!) Clearly this girl is saying "Here they come..."
LOL, yes, I'm already getting my lemony high here. Seriously, I should not be publishing this photo in any way, shape or form. Never let it be said that I don't report the truth. LOL
To make matters even more interesting, A newspaper photographer caught me enjoying my spoils, and asked if he could take our picture. Mom handed me another lemon pop, then told me after the picture taking that I had chocolate all over my mouth. Nich eh? Thankfully, it was some little artsy paper (who's name escapes me at the moment) so the damage is minimal. Of course, I'm posting here, so, yeah, now I have a hand in my own embarrassment but it's always better to control one's own story...
Mom starts her night with a multilayed chocolate delight...It's not even in her mouth yet and look how excited she is..lol
Hmmmmm...yuuuuummmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyy....
Yes, we MUST make sure the spoon is licked clean....It's the golden rule of chocolate consumption.
The chocolate covered apple display (granny smith apples are apparently the best apples to use with chocolate so you get that sweet/sour balance.) Yes, I'm stealing a chocolate too. It was a Peanut Butter Ball and it was MUCH BETTER than mine will ever be. (I used to make them for the Christmas holidays until one day I coated them in glue instead of wax to get that special shine--long story!:-)) Anyway, she had me beat in a big way, rich but not overpowering. Later, we saw her giving away whole apples, probably a good thing we didn't get there in time to abscond with one of those...
Do I look like the cat with the canary or what? LOL I'm pretty sure this was a dark chocolate caramel sprinked with sea-salt. When you bit into it, the liquid caramel exploded in your mouth, soooo goood....The liquid mint filling came in a close second, I think we visited that particular table about five times...
These were yummy too, first, you bit into a crunchy chocolate shell, next came the tang of a fruity filling. Clearly, fruit and chocolate is a winning combination and the rules of chocolate clearly state that if fruit is in the chocolate, the calories don't count!
And here we are, stealing...sorry, I mean showing off our gift box..LOL. Honestly, we took the box when no one was looking and started filling it up. The guy left the table and the boxes were sitting there so a few of us grabbed one, what's a few samples between friends???
The salsa band (the entertainment for the evening) was WAY too loud and this is what can happen to a crazy group of dressed up dancers with a big time sugar high. Tacky, tacky, tacky, but honestly we were too busy going from table to table to bother with most of it.
Oh, and just to let you know, I did balance out the chocolate with some coconut/chocolate infused mashed potatoes, so I did get my veggies in too! (and they weren't bad!)
Anyway, another great night out thanks to the radio and a big thanks to Mom for the shared chocolate enthusiasm, it was a fun night!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/C
Thursday 20 October 2011
Well, here's hoping it's nothing serious...
Mom has completely lost her voice. I really hope it's just a case of a cold/sore throat, but when someone has an implant to support a paraylzed vocal cord, you worry. You worry that the device has moved around in there. (Thanks to coughing so much when she eats) You worry that this is going to be a setback in what can sometimes seem like an endless list of challenges, you just plain worry. How sad that I'm now forced to root for a start of the season virus in lieu of a much more serious issue. In the words of a great comic strip "Life's like that..."
Monday 17 October 2011
Cinderella goes to her first REAL ball...
Okay, so it's not a "real" ball, but there's going to be loads of decadent chocolate there, so who am I to complain? Mom and I got the word this morning that we won tickets to the Chocolate Ball in Toronto. It's a charity event in a fancy location and the evening is nothing but chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! So, to recap we have my favourite treat in my favourite city, what more can a girl ask for? I can't even begin to tell you how many different options we are going to have. Seriously, just looking at some of this stuff makes me gain ten pounds, but who cares?
Here's the link
http://www.thechocolateball.com/toronto/a
Hit the menu option (left hand side) and you'll see what we're up against. Elastic pants are clearly a must. Even the site warns you to pace yourself!
If my Prince Charming is at this event, I expect him to pony up with a chocolate slipper, otherwise, he's a distant second, with no hope of getting the girl.
Here's the link
http://www.thechocolateball.com/toronto/a
Hit the menu option (left hand side) and you'll see what we're up against. Elastic pants are clearly a must. Even the site warns you to pace yourself!
If my Prince Charming is at this event, I expect him to pony up with a chocolate slipper, otherwise, he's a distant second, with no hope of getting the girl.
Sunday 16 October 2011
Posting that trip all in one entry wasn't my smartest move...
Okay, I think my Quebec trip entry is finally complete. Though it's nice to look at it all as one entry, I question my sanity in having to continuously scroll through the entry (and endless pictures) to edit and make it cohesive. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. I had a great time and truly enjoyed the city.
Mom is a good sport about putting up with me (and my crappy mobility) and we always end up duking it out and having some good laughs. How could you not laugh at the "town that time forgot" or the old man drooling over Mom while trying to take our picture before a lady friend of his could step into the frame ?
And finally, a big thanks for holding my knee during takeoff and landing because "that's what Moms do."
I hope you all enjoy the journey as much as I did.
Mom is a good sport about putting up with me (and my crappy mobility) and we always end up duking it out and having some good laughs. How could you not laugh at the "town that time forgot" or the old man drooling over Mom while trying to take our picture before a lady friend of his could step into the frame ?
And finally, a big thanks for holding my knee during takeoff and landing because "that's what Moms do."
I hope you all enjoy the journey as much as I did.
Thank You Quebec
Yes, I did do a "live" entry while I was away so some of this will be a bit of a "repeat" but I also wanted to summarize my trip in one long entry so here it goes....
First off, I have to apologize to the Quebecois for thinking that they would have an attitude about Mom and I speaking English. They were phenornenal, switching over to English as soon as they caught on to the fact that our french vocabulary included all of about ten words (and this didn't take into account Mom's habit of saying the wrong word for any given situation. :-)) Quite honestly, it's clear to me now that the four years of mandatory french I had to take in school was a complete waste of time. The conversations were much too fast, allowing me to only catch on to the occasional word/phrase. By the end of the first day, I was at my wits end trying to figure everything out. Ironically, by the end of the fourth day I began to understand how those who immerse themselves in a language learn so quickly. The simple answer is, you have no choice.
As I've already mentioned, , I struggled with the plane ride again, and the whole propeller outside my window didn't help but that said, the lounge complete with snacks/drinks pre-flight was a nice bonus because it allowed me time to just chill out and really, how nervous can you get looking at this kind of scenery as you cross over to the airport on the ferry?
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/
Once in Quebec, we got a cab driver that Mom thought couldn't speak english but I knew better. How did I know? Because as he was helping to lift me into the front deat of his van, I heard this "You're heavy." LOL Mom never heard it so she just assumed he didn't understand anything we were saying. The unwillingness to speak english worried me, this attitude was exactly what I had been expecting and I didn't want it to set the tone for the rest of the trip. I needn't have worried.
We were lucky enough to be staying at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.One of the best hotels in the area. It was high-end without being snobbish, complete with resident dog, Santol. He was too cute wondering around the front lobby looking for attention from all of the guests. We didn't have time to snap a picture of him because he kept weaving in and out of the crowd.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/HOTELPICSANDUPPERQUEBEC/
Hotel lit up against the evening sky--it felt like a beautiful spring night, couldn't have asked for anything better.
Who is this??? I have no idea! LOL
View outside of our hotel room window.
Frontenac Lobby--They were giving tours of the hotel with guides in period costumes
Just down the hill...everything was right there...
The park was bustling with activity
The majority of people in Quebec don't celebrate thanksgiving but they love Halloween, there were decorations everywhere.
This display was at the front of a church. Workmen were carefully arranging/finishing the display while letting people take pictures out front.
Of course, in the centre of everything we found a Christmas store! Loved this window and the sound of carols wafting out onto the sidewalk...
And a horse and carriage ride which started right outside our hotel doors...
Restaurant we had a really nice dinner in. Mom had a smoked meat sandwich that was a mile high and I had spagetti and meat sauce flavoured with a hint of cinnamon, all topped oddly enough, with beansprouts. I'm still trying to figure out if I liked the spice in my sauce:-)
We thought they might be closing as the place was emptying out around 10pm so we asked and he said "No, as long as people are here, we stay open." This seemed to be the prevalent policy in Quebec, no set hours, opening and closing at will, we would see it again after the train ride to Malbaie and it made for an interesting experience :-)
Yes, the train ride...not what we expected and I really think they are going to have to re-vamp it to make it work. The train tracks run through a conservation area, which is home to the highest waterfall in North America. We heard this several times on our journey, but I honestly wasn't that impressed with it. Maybe it's because I live an hour from Niagara Falls and as a whole, I find her much more impressive. Anyway, on to the train pics...
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/HOTELPICSANDUPPERQUEBEC/TRAINRIDE-The%20Train%20of%20Le%20Massif%20de%20Charlevoix/
YES, I'm STANDING! The waterfall is directly behind me, does it impress you? Ehhhhh...:-)
One of my favourite pictures of Mom, it was only the two of us at a four person table, believe me, we were a lot happier on the ride up then we were on the way back...
That's how close the tracks were to the rocks, we literally curved around the side of a mountain.
The mountain did give it all a bit of that Scotish feel....
I should probably mention that the water in Quebec is the St. Lawerence River. We asked a man on the train if they swam in it because we did see small beach areas along the river as we passed by. He looked at us like we had lost our minds. "It's dirty." he said. "They tell us not to swim in it since so much pollution comes from the Great Lakes." Well, I do in fact swim in two of the great lakes that Quebec calls "polluted." Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Sure, they pull stuff out of there once in awhile, but we Ontarians like to live dangerously!
The majority of the train riders spent four hours in the town of Malbaie, then re-boarded the train back to Quebec. I can't imagine doing this. It was a tiny little town with a casino as the big draw. The railway moguls are building a hotel for winter skiing next season, but for now, they are using this town as their "big stop" thanks to the gambling and the hotel we stayed at Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu.
The hotel was nice, but I have to admit, I felt trapped. The resort was on the water, so, without a car there was nowhere to go. Whale-watching (white belugas) was an hour away, but the bus didn't leave until the following afternoon, so we didn't get a chance to do it. Definitely next time. Anyway, think "dirty dancing," my first thought when I saw the sprawling lines of the hotel.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/HOTELPICSANDUPPERQUEBEC/TRAINRIDE-The%20Train%20of%20Le%20Massif%20de%20Charlevoix/Fairmont%20Le%20Manoir%20Richelieu/
Manning the cannons in case of attack...I HAD pics of her actually ON the cannon, but they seem to have disappeared, methinks somebody hit the <delete> button on the camera! (The pitfalls of sharing one camera!)
Enjoying the outdoor whirlpool on a beautiful night...
Not bad for taking this ourselves...
A touch of Halloween, complete with black cat...can you see him? I called him Buddy...:-(
We stuffed our faces with a cheese covered plate of nachos after this so, all in all, not a bad way to spend an evening but I can't deny that I was anxious to get back to Quebec as I wanted to explore the lower city (the part at the bottom of the funicular) So, after a hearty breakfast, (think buffet with the freshest fruit imaginable) we made our way back over to the train station. "Station" is a generous word, the whole town was like being in the twilight zone.
The travel show (how we won the trip) had tried to sell it as a "niagara on the lake" type of town, i have to tell you as someone who's been to niagara on the lake many times, NOT EVEN CLOSE. Nothing was open. We couldn't even find a can of pop to buy, Mom finally ended up running across the street to a group of kids to ask them if anything was open because we had already wandered up the street to find the "corner store" (and I use the term loosely) closed.
The guys were baffled as to why they weren't open and quickly offered a pop out of their own fridge for free. Very kind of them, but I have to tell you, the whole thing was bizarre. I just can't imagine people gambling in this place for four hours then hopping back on the train to Quebec. I always find casinos to be such sad places. People mindlessly pulling down levers as they sacrifice their change to metal machines, I just don't see the entertainment value, but maybe that's just me. Anyway, we wandered around for a bit but there truly wasn't much to see so here's a cool pic of the train pulling in to take us back to Quebec. The guy was yelling in French for Mom to get off the tracks, her answer "I wasn't even that close...." LOL
Honestly, the ride back was pretty boring. It got dark quickly and I was restless. So, some pretty sunset pics but little else, and honestly, for $250 per person, you'd think they could give a person a Coke for free or god forbid, a glass of wine with dinner. Instead, we got warm water and I got stuck dining off the kids' menu and getting a crappy piece of lasagna. Mom's fish was dry/overcooked and the food in general was underwhelming given the "fancy" menu and high price tag. No doubt they will re-vamp it in the future for broader appeal, and have the good sense to include drinks.
Okay, back to Quebec! What a great day we had! (Yes, some of the "back in Quebec" pics are shown earlier in the album. because I felt they showcased the area so well from our earlier time there. We had more time on the last day of the trip so we backtracked and took pics of stuff we missed, so it's still pics that are representitive of the area!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/HOTELPICSANDUPPERQUEBEC/TRAINRIDE-The%20Train%20of%20Le%20Massif%20de%20Charlevoix/backinquebec/
A ship docked right in front of our hotel, which made the area a lot busier...
Using the funicular to get to lower Quebec. There are stairs, but they weren't doable with the chair...
Had to enter here to get down...Again, this boardwalk was steps from our hotel, we truly were at the centre of everything
Ha Ha us in the elevator...look at all of us crammed in like sardines!
These are the stairs we could have gone down instead....Mom's good, but let's not be ridiculous.
This is what you walk right into as soon as you come out of the cable car. It was like stepping back in time to a small European city. Both of us were awestruck. I don't know what I expected, but I never would have guessed that Quebec was anything like this. We had to keep reminding ourselves that we were in fact, still in Canada.
Such pretty fall decorations--the old man that took this pic had to shoo a lady out of the pic..she was all ready to join us as our third! Too funny!
A mural on the side of one of the shops. It's clear this is a very "artistic" area. Everything was just so well decorated and beautiful.
Once we came back up from the lower half on the city, we decided to walk a couple of blocks towards the downtown. Honestly, we were half looking for a Tim Horton's and figured our chances were better where most of the people seemed to be. We didn't find Timmy's, but we did find a busy market! It had a bit of that Toronto St. Lawrence market feel. Tons of maple syrup bottles, and lots of bags of orange cranberries. I've never had them before so I sampled a few and really enjoyed them. We even found a few strawberries which are rare this late in the season.
Back on the boardwalk just outside our hotel. While we enjoyed a coffee, we watched his guy who was a pretty impressive one man band. He controlled the drum on his back with the pedal around his foot..not bad!
One last walk around the perimeter of the city. You can see the walls that sound Quebec in the background. A big thanks to the man that turned me backwards and pulled me down a very steep side street so we could get down to where the action was! It was right up there with the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, kind of steep. When we told him all the places we had been in a day, he couldn't believe it replying "someone is getting their exercise!" It wasn't me!
Thanks so much Mom for another successful trip and all you do to make it happen! I know lugging everything around is never easy, so thanks so much for thinking it's worth it. As you can see, more great pics for the travel album! And special thanks to :"The Source" for having memory cards on sale because early on in the trip, we discovered that we had the small memory card in the camera and would have been able to take all of twenty pictures!
And most importantly, thanks (merci) to Quebec for being such a warm, welcoming host. Save me a spot on that whale-watching boat and a riverside view suite at the Frontenac! :-)
First off, I have to apologize to the Quebecois for thinking that they would have an attitude about Mom and I speaking English. They were phenornenal, switching over to English as soon as they caught on to the fact that our french vocabulary included all of about ten words (and this didn't take into account Mom's habit of saying the wrong word for any given situation. :-)) Quite honestly, it's clear to me now that the four years of mandatory french I had to take in school was a complete waste of time. The conversations were much too fast, allowing me to only catch on to the occasional word/phrase. By the end of the first day, I was at my wits end trying to figure everything out. Ironically, by the end of the fourth day I began to understand how those who immerse themselves in a language learn so quickly. The simple answer is, you have no choice.
As I've already mentioned, , I struggled with the plane ride again, and the whole propeller outside my window didn't help but that said, the lounge complete with snacks/drinks pre-flight was a nice bonus because it allowed me time to just chill out and really, how nervous can you get looking at this kind of scenery as you cross over to the airport on the ferry?
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/
Once in Quebec, we got a cab driver that Mom thought couldn't speak english but I knew better. How did I know? Because as he was helping to lift me into the front deat of his van, I heard this "You're heavy." LOL Mom never heard it so she just assumed he didn't understand anything we were saying. The unwillingness to speak english worried me, this attitude was exactly what I had been expecting and I didn't want it to set the tone for the rest of the trip. I needn't have worried.
We were lucky enough to be staying at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.One of the best hotels in the area. It was high-end without being snobbish, complete with resident dog, Santol. He was too cute wondering around the front lobby looking for attention from all of the guests. We didn't have time to snap a picture of him because he kept weaving in and out of the crowd.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/HOTELPICSANDUPPERQUEBEC/
Hotel lit up against the evening sky--it felt like a beautiful spring night, couldn't have asked for anything better.
Who is this??? I have no idea! LOL
View outside of our hotel room window.Frontenac Lobby--They were giving tours of the hotel with guides in period costumesJust down the hill...everything was right there...
The park was bustling with activityThe majority of people in Quebec don't celebrate thanksgiving but they love Halloween, there were decorations everywhere.
This display was at the front of a church. Workmen were carefully arranging/finishing the display while letting people take pictures out front.
Of course, in the centre of everything we found a Christmas store! Loved this window and the sound of carols wafting out onto the sidewalk...
And a horse and carriage ride which started right outside our hotel doors...
Restaurant we had a really nice dinner in. Mom had a smoked meat sandwich that was a mile high and I had spagetti and meat sauce flavoured with a hint of cinnamon, all topped oddly enough, with beansprouts. I'm still trying to figure out if I liked the spice in my sauce:-)We thought they might be closing as the place was emptying out around 10pm so we asked and he said "No, as long as people are here, we stay open." This seemed to be the prevalent policy in Quebec, no set hours, opening and closing at will, we would see it again after the train ride to Malbaie and it made for an interesting experience :-)
Yes, the train ride...not what we expected and I really think they are going to have to re-vamp it to make it work. The train tracks run through a conservation area, which is home to the highest waterfall in North America. We heard this several times on our journey, but I honestly wasn't that impressed with it. Maybe it's because I live an hour from Niagara Falls and as a whole, I find her much more impressive. Anyway, on to the train pics...
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/HOTELPICSANDUPPERQUEBEC/TRAINRIDE-The%20Train%20of%20Le%20Massif%20de%20Charlevoix/
YES, I'm STANDING! The waterfall is directly behind me, does it impress you? Ehhhhh...:-)
One of my favourite pictures of Mom, it was only the two of us at a four person table, believe me, we were a lot happier on the ride up then we were on the way back...
That's how close the tracks were to the rocks, we literally curved around the side of a mountain.
The mountain did give it all a bit of that Scotish feel....
I should probably mention that the water in Quebec is the St. Lawerence River. We asked a man on the train if they swam in it because we did see small beach areas along the river as we passed by. He looked at us like we had lost our minds. "It's dirty." he said. "They tell us not to swim in it since so much pollution comes from the Great Lakes." Well, I do in fact swim in two of the great lakes that Quebec calls "polluted." Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Sure, they pull stuff out of there once in awhile, but we Ontarians like to live dangerously!
The majority of the train riders spent four hours in the town of Malbaie, then re-boarded the train back to Quebec. I can't imagine doing this. It was a tiny little town with a casino as the big draw. The railway moguls are building a hotel for winter skiing next season, but for now, they are using this town as their "big stop" thanks to the gambling and the hotel we stayed at Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu.
The hotel was nice, but I have to admit, I felt trapped. The resort was on the water, so, without a car there was nowhere to go. Whale-watching (white belugas) was an hour away, but the bus didn't leave until the following afternoon, so we didn't get a chance to do it. Definitely next time. Anyway, think "dirty dancing," my first thought when I saw the sprawling lines of the hotel.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/HOTELPICSANDUPPERQUEBEC/TRAINRIDE-The%20Train%20of%20Le%20Massif%20de%20Charlevoix/Fairmont%20Le%20Manoir%20Richelieu/
Manning the cannons in case of attack...I HAD pics of her actually ON the cannon, but they seem to have disappeared, methinks somebody hit the <delete> button on the camera! (The pitfalls of sharing one camera!)
Enjoying the outdoor whirlpool on a beautiful night...
Not bad for taking this ourselves...
A touch of Halloween, complete with black cat...can you see him? I called him Buddy...:-(
We stuffed our faces with a cheese covered plate of nachos after this so, all in all, not a bad way to spend an evening but I can't deny that I was anxious to get back to Quebec as I wanted to explore the lower city (the part at the bottom of the funicular) So, after a hearty breakfast, (think buffet with the freshest fruit imaginable) we made our way back over to the train station. "Station" is a generous word, the whole town was like being in the twilight zone.
The travel show (how we won the trip) had tried to sell it as a "niagara on the lake" type of town, i have to tell you as someone who's been to niagara on the lake many times, NOT EVEN CLOSE. Nothing was open. We couldn't even find a can of pop to buy, Mom finally ended up running across the street to a group of kids to ask them if anything was open because we had already wandered up the street to find the "corner store" (and I use the term loosely) closed.
The guys were baffled as to why they weren't open and quickly offered a pop out of their own fridge for free. Very kind of them, but I have to tell you, the whole thing was bizarre. I just can't imagine people gambling in this place for four hours then hopping back on the train to Quebec. I always find casinos to be such sad places. People mindlessly pulling down levers as they sacrifice their change to metal machines, I just don't see the entertainment value, but maybe that's just me. Anyway, we wandered around for a bit but there truly wasn't much to see so here's a cool pic of the train pulling in to take us back to Quebec. The guy was yelling in French for Mom to get off the tracks, her answer "I wasn't even that close...." LOL
Honestly, the ride back was pretty boring. It got dark quickly and I was restless. So, some pretty sunset pics but little else, and honestly, for $250 per person, you'd think they could give a person a Coke for free or god forbid, a glass of wine with dinner. Instead, we got warm water and I got stuck dining off the kids' menu and getting a crappy piece of lasagna. Mom's fish was dry/overcooked and the food in general was underwhelming given the "fancy" menu and high price tag. No doubt they will re-vamp it in the future for broader appeal, and have the good sense to include drinks.
Okay, back to Quebec! What a great day we had! (Yes, some of the "back in Quebec" pics are shown earlier in the album. because I felt they showcased the area so well from our earlier time there. We had more time on the last day of the trip so we backtracked and took pics of stuff we missed, so it's still pics that are representitive of the area!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v624/CindyM99/LEAVINGFORQUEBEC/HOTELPICSANDUPPERQUEBEC/TRAINRIDE-The%20Train%20of%20Le%20Massif%20de%20Charlevoix/backinquebec/
A ship docked right in front of our hotel, which made the area a lot busier...
Using the funicular to get to lower Quebec. There are stairs, but they weren't doable with the chair...
Had to enter here to get down...Again, this boardwalk was steps from our hotel, we truly were at the centre of everything
Ha Ha us in the elevator...look at all of us crammed in like sardines!
These are the stairs we could have gone down instead....Mom's good, but let's not be ridiculous.
This is what you walk right into as soon as you come out of the cable car. It was like stepping back in time to a small European city. Both of us were awestruck. I don't know what I expected, but I never would have guessed that Quebec was anything like this. We had to keep reminding ourselves that we were in fact, still in Canada.
Such pretty fall decorations--the old man that took this pic had to shoo a lady out of the pic..she was all ready to join us as our third! Too funny!
A mural on the side of one of the shops. It's clear this is a very "artistic" area. Everything was just so well decorated and beautiful.
Once we came back up from the lower half on the city, we decided to walk a couple of blocks towards the downtown. Honestly, we were half looking for a Tim Horton's and figured our chances were better where most of the people seemed to be. We didn't find Timmy's, but we did find a busy market! It had a bit of that Toronto St. Lawrence market feel. Tons of maple syrup bottles, and lots of bags of orange cranberries. I've never had them before so I sampled a few and really enjoyed them. We even found a few strawberries which are rare this late in the season.
Back on the boardwalk just outside our hotel. While we enjoyed a coffee, we watched his guy who was a pretty impressive one man band. He controlled the drum on his back with the pedal around his foot..not bad!
One last walk around the perimeter of the city. You can see the walls that sound Quebec in the background. A big thanks to the man that turned me backwards and pulled me down a very steep side street so we could get down to where the action was! It was right up there with the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, kind of steep. When we told him all the places we had been in a day, he couldn't believe it replying "someone is getting their exercise!" It wasn't me!
Thanks so much Mom for another successful trip and all you do to make it happen! I know lugging everything around is never easy, so thanks so much for thinking it's worth it. As you can see, more great pics for the travel album! And special thanks to :"The Source" for having memory cards on sale because early on in the trip, we discovered that we had the small memory card in the camera and would have been able to take all of twenty pictures!
And most importantly, thanks (merci) to Quebec for being such a warm, welcoming host. Save me a spot on that whale-watching boat and a riverside view suite at the Frontenac! :-)
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