Lindy's Canadian Odyssey

Oh Canada!

2010-03-02T15:20:00.000-08:00

This blog is going to be entirely Canadian... and probably about time too given this is supposed to be a Canadian Odyssey!

A few friends have been asking what it was like to be here during the Winter Olympics. I wasn't in Vancouver so haven't experienced the buzz that I know Sydney people experienced in 2000... but it has been fun here too. I was all red and white maple leaf Canadian for two weeks or so....

In a recent survey most Canadians said that they didn't mind how many medals Canada won in the Winter Olympics as long as Canada won the men's hockey gold. It was as though the entire country held it's breath during that final match against the USA. If you don't know what happened it was absolutely spell binding as US equalled the Canadian score 24 seconds before the end of the game. In extra time, when Canada's golden boy Crosby scored, everyone spontaneously sang the national anthem.... and I'd heard it enough times by then to join in! (Told you I was Canadian for two weeks) Didn't ever think you would hear me raving about sport did you!!!?

That night Luke and I went into the city for the festivities... Some photos from that night above and below and yes that's Luke and I with a flag we borrowed in the title of this month's blog. It was good to see how the celebrations crossed all religious and cultural backgrounds. I suppose Hockey is a religion of its own!

So since then?? The big news is that last week Peter legally separated from the business partnership that set up Ici (THE restaurant!). It has been quite sad in many ways and taken a lot for me to come to terms with. The dream, including our own apartment, is not to be. The story, to explain it, is long and complicated but probably occurred because of the year long delay in opening which caused all sorts of financial and other pressures on the partners. Fortunately, they are all still friends, and Peter works with them on various projects... but not from now on as a partner in the business. Ici may open before I leave and if so it will be a bitter sweet experience for both of us.

We are choosing to look on the bright side and see what opportunities might now open up for us... for me certainly in Australia. Hopefully for Peter too (in Australia) but that's not a decision you can make for anyone else and I will actually believe it when I see it!

It has been sad, but just in case anyone is in danger of feeling sorry for me, I'm planning my trip home via Europe (as my around the world ticket lands in Madrid and London) and Singapore. I'm very excited to be seeing most of my family there, especially as four nieces and my brother currently live in UK, Germany, France and Poland, and many of my sisters (sadly not sister Heather) will also be in Italy at that time. I am delighted that I'll be able to spend a few days in Paris for my birthday with Ulrike, Eva and Jun... anyone else in Paris on 18 May most welcome!

But life here goes on of course. Here I am (below) drying the dogs after Peter has washed them in the laundry tub.

We've had some beautiful weather (18 degrees maximum) and yes that is warm for me now, despite what my friend Caron said on the phone, that I shame my Queensland background by suggesting 18 degrees Celsius is warm!

I'm still exercising regularly, helping Peter out from time to time, and completing the course in mindfulness meditation, which has been full on in terms of the time it takes each day. The photo group got together last weekend for a great afternoon of portrait shooting.... eating and drinking. I will really miss this great bunch of new friends.

But days in Canada are now limited and I have to say, unfortunately, I've seen very little of this vast north land. Maybe there'll be time for a trip to Quebec City and Ottawa before I leave. So far the Spring is bringing the buds on trees and the snow drops have flowered in the front garden. Some of the birds that migrated for the Winter have returned and seemed to be very happy to be here going by their lusty bird songs... caught a picture (can you just see it?) of this bright red Cardinal bird singing his/her lungs out a couple of weeks ago.

Always lots more to say... it is lovely having Luke here. He returns to Singapore on 8 April and there'll be tears to mop up after that I am sure. He is an absolutely delightful human being and lots of fun now he's worked out the pleasure he can have teasing me at every opportunity.

Post script: Spring has deserted us! Tomorrow top temperature is expected to be 1 degree Celsius with a low of minus 10! Maybe, just maybe, I'll get more snow before the Winter is finally gone... and I'll get to make that snowman after all!

love and hugs 'til next time

Lindy

Nice to Ice

2010-02-15T16:34:00.001-08:00

Well just when you thought I was languishing in freezing temperatures I flew off to Mexico for a week on the invitation of Liz, who had points on her time share to use up quickly... so of course I felt obliged to help out!!! Sadly Peter couldn't join us as he (and about 25 helpers) had 1600 people to feed for five meals in a row plus morning and afternoon teas! Poor man, he and JP worked 40 hours straight without a break while we sunned and surfed at Baja California Mexico. Not fair I know.

Anyway, here is a photo of the marina at Cabo San Lucas, right on the southern tip of the Baja where we stayed in a resort populated by Americans and Canadians (Yanks and Snap Frozen Yanks I've been told). The resort photo of one of three pools as the sun set...

I've never done the resort thing before... and for a relaxing holiday it probably can't be beaten, especially at a place by the Pacific ocean, with Mexicans and whales for company. We did a couple of boat trips, one at sunset and one to see the hapless whales (who are chased by quite a few boats if they as much as raise their backs to get some air) and these were definitely the highlights. One trip included a viewing spot seen below which caught the mood for Liz and I... flowering desert meets the sea.

... and a shot of the humpback whales which it is hard to dismiss in terms of emotional impact despite my guilt. I did seem to notice that if the boats came to see them the whales were unlikely to come to the surface a second time... guess they are used to running the tourist gauntlet.

All the boats travel around the tip of the Baja peninsular past this natural arch (El Arco) that earns more than it's share of tourist dollars for the communities that live nearby... and it is spectacular. (Sisters: note I'm wearing my Christmas scarf thanks to you!)

We also took a bus trip further north to Todos Santos which hosted a cultural fair though was mainly a shopping spot. Sadly for the local shop keepers, not a good season still as the financial troubles in the US have badly impacted on their sales. I did help out though buying a pair of beautiful silver earrings... kind of me I know.

On the return bus trip we were treated to two strange things... first a movie that was so gruesomely violent I had to cover my face and ears not to see or hear it and then a search by police of all the travelling males' identity cards. I read in the paper in Canada a few days later that two major drug dealers were apprehended not far from there a couple of days later. Mostly I was unaware of crime and the locals were quick to tell us that this part of Mexico is the safest... but no doubt it was not far away.

This the quaint thatched (in and out) restaurant where we had lunch that day.

And true to form, cacti everywhere!

Finally, in another nearby town, Cabo San Jose, I caught the gorgeous colours of this restaurant at night... we didn't eat there but bought yummy tamales from a street vendor while we looked at the beautiful restaurant!

But by day El Arco was the place to be ...

Was a bit nervous coming back to Canada (another fingers crossed entry) but again it seems I was easily admitted for another tourist visa. One of the cab drivers in Mexico said it was like going from Nice to Ice for us heading back to Canada and so I had a title for my blog. Just a few houses down from here the locals fill a dip in the park with hose water until it is solid enough to skate and play hockey... so this is definitely ICE!

Now that I'm back in the ice it is cold but quite beautiful when it snows as it did most of today. I really find I have the right clothes and boots and so can go out without worry.

Peter's son, Luke, is home for a few weeks from Singapore so it is fun to have him around. The dogs love the extra company too. Here a walk with Peter and Luke in the neighbourhood earlier this week.

On the weekend my photography group is going out on a 'shoot' again so hopefully I can have some good images of the winter beauty for the next blog.

Other than that I'm keeping fit with gym, yoga and Pilates and yesterday started a Mindfulness Meditation course that I hope might help with the chronic pain I'm still suffering after the last operation nearly a year ago. It really is great to have time for all these things.

One last post on the restaurant which is still NOT open and the apartment above which is also NOT ready! The final two licenses are not through Council. They required architectural drawings of some things that had to be improved as the builder had not done them to standard originally.... as we now discover! Council has to sign off on those changes and then they have to be completed. The dragging out is testing the partners' relationships and also their wallets. Some catering still coming in and a private dinner here and there. It does mean I get to see a lot more of Peter right now but he's not a happy man as you can imagine. Fingers crossed something good will come of it before I leave to head back to Australia!!

love to all

Lindy

We had a week at Baja California... the long peninsular below Tijuana on the west coast of Mexico. Our resort was literally on the southern tip facing the Pacific Ocean. Humpback whales come by in the Winter months to wallow in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez so we had a box seat watching them swim by every day. Unfortunately for them the water spouts necessary for their breathing alert tourist boats to their whereabouts and there's no time before a dozen or so boats come nearby. I did think though that the whales stayed down under once that happened but not sure if I imagined it.

CHILE!!!

2010-01-29T07:48:00.000-08:00

I got to have my first experience of Chile thanks to my sister, Heather, who has been in love with Chile since she visited South America thirty years ago. I travelled with Heather (on her sixth visit) Jack (on his third) but not David who couldn't be with them this time.

Here is a photo of Heather and Jack in the shop that has opened in the small home they lived in for a year four years ago. They have many friends there and speak pretty good Spanish now. I was impressed!

There's too many photos I want to show you so I have posted some on flickr for you to browse if you're interested. I wasn't game to take my good camera in case of loss or theft (for those who know my camera history!).

Valparaiso, where we spent most time, is probably one of the most photographable (a word?) cities on earth so it was tantalising not to be able to try to capture more... it was actually declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 largely because of the beauty of its unique architecture... here a couple of evening view of the houses on one of the Cerros (which one Heather?).

One of the striking things about the architecture is the whimsy ... and care for detail. Outside our window on Calle Templeton was a modest building but the chimney had these faces cut into the metal. This seemed typical of the many arty fun things you see here including some of the murals below... my sister Heather likes to imagine the reaction in Australia if some of these murals were painted on our suburban houses...

There are hundreds and hundreds more but you'll have to go there yourselves to marvel at them. This is really my most difficult blog because I can't really start to do justice to the experience of Chile... of course I just have to express my view of it so for those who know it so much better I apologise. Just one shot of the colourful houses of Valpo, as it is called.

Before I go on I have to say that the inside of the houses are just as colourful or more! See the living room of Denise' hostel and the hallway upstairs!

Of course a constant theme here is the sea. Here the lovely fishing village of Corral, near Valdivia.

This one Qintay near Valparaiso where gruesome whaling took place for many decades... they stopped in 1967 which I thought was impressive, Japan!

Standing by the sea is one thing, getting in another! The water is extremely cold. Jack caught the look on my face the moment I dared to put my feet into the waves, here below.

We ate plenty of seafood, this meal a classic cooked by one of our hosts and good friend Denise. Plenty of shellfish as part of the cuisine, along with avocado and the best strawberries and raspberries I've ever tasted. Took lots of photos of a fish market by the sea in Valparaiso for Peter and not surprisingly they were the first ones he wanted to see on my return to Canada.

Famous poet Pablo Neruda, had three houses in and around Valparaiso and they are huge toursit attractions. What a unique life loving human being he seemed to be. This home in Isla Negra sits by crashing waves, Neruda's boat sitting near the house where he'd take friends for an evening drink apparently as he was too scared (and perhaps too smart) to take it into the sea!

Now as I said I haven't done Chile justice. Here just one shot of a beautiful lake near Valdivia at Choshuenko. And one, just one of a majestic (what else would they be?) snow covered volcano. And yes I did go to a winery and so much more!!!

And now I have to finish because I've run out of time. Today in Toronto it is minus 9 degrees. I am all rugged up and really enjoying the experience, surprisingly, maybe because it is sunny.

There's lots more going on with the restaurant but nothing finalised yet so I'm hoping 2010 actually starts for us soon and there'll be some news for you.

love to you all until next time

Lindy

Christmas Post

2009-12-23T18:57:00.001-08:00

Had to start with this photo op with a Mounty Bear at CN Tower... sister Heather and nephew Jack welcome to Canada!

Been here nearly six months but this fortnight I really went to Canada.... skiing (and falling!), snow shoeing in two feet of powdery white snow... eating pancakes and maple taffee and experiencing cold cold days! I realise I must be acclimatising when I look at minus 5 degrees and think that's not too bad! Funny part is that is the maximum for the day not the minimum!!!! If you dress right it seems not to be bearable and Canadians know how to do it... even if we all look a bit odd most days. Loved this scene in the birch trees with the sun coming through and this frozen apple in a tree in Blue Mountain where we skied.

The warm part has been having Heather and Jack so we have been trying to squeeze in two weeks of Canadian experiences. Skiing was definitely the highlight and we were very lucky to get heavy snow and then two days of clear sunny skies though on the last day it got icy and we had a couple more falls on our bottoms which are still pretty sore. Have to get better before I learn to ice skate ... that time I'm wearing a bit fluffy pillow on my behind!

Some snow scenes from our cross country skiing trip... luckily Jack fitted into Luke (Peter's son's) clothes and boots which saved a lot of money for only a couple of weeks outfitting. Jack took to the skiing very naturally and didn't seem to suffer from the falls the way Hed and I have with out older bones...

Beautiful black horses at Blue Mountain...

Jack eating Maple Taffee... they roll out maple syrup on snow and then roll it up on a stick... see the ubiquitous Starbucks sign behind!

My Mongolian Man in his beaver hat!

The really comfortable chalets we stayed in...

Liz and I (luckily Liz knows what she's doing and was a very patient and kind teacher)

Heather and Liz getting ready for a day... always takes so long to get ready with so many clothes and gloves and pieces to remember but it is worth it when you get there...

Finally we are back in Toronto for a week.... visiting other Canadian icons such as the CN Tower (was the tallest structure in the world until recently) where Jack and I walked on the glass floor and Hed squibbed!

Well that's about it... except taking a chance to wish you all a Happy Christmas.... in Australia, Japan, USA, Germany, England, France or wherever!!!

Much love til next year

Lindy

Two weeks before Christmas 2009

2009-12-10T14:10:00.001-08:00

This will be a brief blog as I'm running out of time!! How can that be when you don't work? I don't know but there it is....

It is snowing and very cold and I have seen flurries and light fluffy snow, crunchy snow, slippery icey paths and even snow coming down almost horizontally this afternoon. I have my snow boots, Dubarrys of Ireland, that have Gortex inside to breathe and yet remain 100% waterproof ... or so they say!

I am wearing Peter's Blundstones now because they are good on slippery ice. I see Australian Uggs everywhere, very popular. Ugg Australia must be making huge profit from sales in US and Canada at least... and while we tend to wear them around the house, they are worn here everywhere as a fashion item. Curious that Australia produces good shoes for the freezing temperatures of Canada in Winter!!! It is about the only Australian product I see here regularly.

Here a couple of photos of the snow in the street we're living in...

Our photo group has been meeting every week, Saturday morning. Last week was at an historic food market here, St Laurence. Here's a photo of a local busker at the markets, some of the produce and then one of some of our group. This week we are meeting in a tropical conservatory... you have to be creative in this weather to get nature and still be able to use your fingers!

Finally, some photos of bringing home the Christmas tree. Haven't decorated it yet. That'll be tomorrow night.

Heather and Jack arrive in two days... it'll be snowing for sure. On Monday we head off skiing so there'll be lots to get ready.

Will get one in just before Christmas.... until then hope you're all not too busy ... I know what it is normally like in the preparation time.

Hugs and love

Lindy

Week Whatever.... lost count!

2009-11-30T13:04:00.000-08:00

Hi there, what a difference two weeks makes!!! Here above a photo I took at the beginning of the fortnight, here a photo of trees in High Park, Toronto, where my photography class and I did a shoot on Saturday morning.

Below a few images from the day in High Park including some of the wildlife...

Squirrels are everywhere, both grey and black, but usually they skitter too fast for me to catch a photograph. This one walked right up to me. Very very cute.

But for really new experience, bringing in the Christmas theme, here was my first view of a real reindeer. Unfortunately it was at a shopping centre but still there it was ready to be hitched up to Santa's sleigh!

Tonight we are going out to get our Christmas tree. This exciting as we prepare for my first white Christmas. It hasn't snowed yet in Toronto. I think this is a record for late snow since around 1949. Once it snows I might wish it away but right now I can't wait. Some whacky christmas decorations in a department store here...

So while on a shopping centre theme they have something in the USA and Canada called Costco. Don't think we have this chain? Everything is wholesale on pallets and you have to be a member to shop there. Peter goes regularly to buy things for the restaurant but it is always full of families shopping for everything you can imagine ever got sold in a shop... and always in large quantities. It is everything we imagine of the excess of North America, but fascinating all the same.

I was amazed to find this digital baby grand piano in a box. Probably not the best brand around but still... whoever bought a grand piano in a box!!! Not so secrety I fantasize about it!

Now before I finish the highlight of the fortnight was meeting my namesake Lindy Drew from Arizona. I found Lindy online and emailed her when I arrived in Canada. She is a professional photographer and has done interesting volunteer work in Chile. Lindy (the other one!) came up to Detroit for Thanksgiving holiday so drove across the border to meet up with me last week. Her family suggested I might be trying identity theft. As if....

We had such a fun day together with so much to talk about, so much in common. Maybe there's something in numerology after all. Here the two of us at the Inaugural Meeting of the International Lindy Drew Club.

Finally, we are not to be in our own place for Christmas sadly. Here the reason why... this below is the kitchen of the apartment above the restaurant! I can hear the builders doing something up there right now as I type but.... it is not to be in time for my sister Heather and nephew Jack to arrive in two weeks.

Anyway, nothing much more from me this fortnight. It has been a settling in time... and preparing for the cold. Still haven't bought my snow boots but that must happen this week. Then I think I'll be set.

Thinking of all in Australia as it gets hot and humid.

One more blog to Christmas!

Love

Lindy

WEEKS EIGHTEEN AND NINETEEN

2009-11-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

Before I continue here some obligatory photos of Niagara Falls ... which must be one of the most spectacular views you can have from a hotel room. Peter drove down from Toronto to meet us and it was a very happy reunion, if a bit cold!

Lainey and I returned from NYC on the Maple Leaf train via Niagara Falls. Train travel in the US, in my experience, is great and not much used by Americans who prefer to drive or fly. Prices compared to the UK are unbelievably cheap.... a nine hour journey in a really spacious seat for $US55 (about 33 pounds stirling). We crosssed the border without mishap with our 6 suitcases... or was it 8? (smallish ones!) and too many cameras, bags and poster tubes to remain sane while getting off the train! As usual though my guardian angel appeared and we had all the help we needed... might have been Lainey's guardian angel of course... I didn't check!

The day we returned to Toronto Ici was having it's thank our key supporters party so I played photographer (badly I might say... realise how hard it is to capture the feeling of an event) and Lainey played hostess with great enthusiasm. Joanne, below, JP's girlfriend, pours champagne with the most beautiful smile.

Laine spent the last few days before returning to Sydney in a historic hotel in Toronto, the Windsor Arms. Peter had worked there as a chef about 12 years ago where he had first met and developed a partnership with JP Challet, his current business partner. Laine was impressed by the previous guest list that included Liz Taylor... ....and we had a fun high tea one afternoon.

I ran Laine around town buying every warm jacket going... it was cold and wet and I was starting to panic. Thanks Lainey for putting up with me on this! Here is part of my current coat and jacket portfolio...!! Now of course it is warm again so they sit in wait for the days ahead when I'm sure they'll prove their value.

Before he gets too busy, Peter and I have had some fun going out to dinner, dancing and yesterday took the freshly washed dogs to a beach (of a sort!) on the lake. I have booked into my next photography course with still so much to learn. I've also been reading again... and just read Acts of Love by a friend, Susan Pearce, from many years ago recently reconnected on facebook. Impressive first novel.

Still awaiting the apartment above the restaurant and fingers crossed now that it'll be available in time for my sister Heather and her son Jack to arrive on 12 December. Can't wait to nest again!

Finally, here I am helping bag all the leaves before the snow comes... something we don't have to do in Brisbane! It was fun.

Love to you all

Lindy

Weeks Sixteen and Seventeen or NYC!

2009-10-29T02:46:00.000-07:00

STOP PRESS! ICI Restaurant finally has been granted a liquor license... we got the email yesterday to confirm. The hearing findings make interesting reading for those of us who lived through it all. It took many months to finalise so now the restaurant will be open in a month or so once some final changes and finishing touches are made. Life is going to change!

I wrote up my blog yesterday but afterwards visited Chelsea Markets. Every business here seems to think that no one will enter unless they have grotesque Halloween trickery in their windows. These photos from the markets, cleverly developed from an old biscuit factory recently. Some of the Halloween stuff too gross... but the man taking off his head and these amazing carved pumkins are fun.

Michael Jackson gets a go on this one... not bad I thought!

How do you write a blog about two weeks in New York City... if you've been here you know all the sights... if you haven't you probably know them too as they are all so famous. Of course there is plenty to capture in images that is quirky and interesting but that takes luck and time... and certainly you don't have much time here because there is just soooo much to do, see, experience and savour. No wonder so many people have written songs about this place! I've just been woken in the early hours by a man singing New York New York very loudly down the street below... a happy tourist I guess.

This picture of me is actually as we were going into Madison Square Gardens to hear/see Leonard Cohen, but it pretty much sums up my feeling at being here... it needs no explanation!

So while I mention that memorable, wonderful evening of poetry and song by the Canadian master, here's a photo stolen from the screen during the performance. Madison Square Garden, by the way, is pretty much like any older stadium, though imbued with lots of feeling because of its history and reputation. It bills itself as the 'world's most famous arena' and I guess that's true.

Of course, people are the most important part of any journey to me, so here is a photo of Peter's brother, David, who lives here and has gone way out of his way to look after us with suggestions, concerts (David's a musician) and places to eat. The first day he took us to lunch in Harlem. It was a Sunday, small place called Mobays filled with hatted clientele who'd clearly just been to a church nearby. After lunch we were treated to some cool music from the woman pictured below. Music definitely the dominant theme of our time here.

It was cold when we arrived so the warm orange interiors shown in these pictures were really welcoming. While we were in Harlem we also went to the Studio Harlem Museum which gave us some interesting perspectives on art and craft that has been collected here over decades that otherwise might not have been because black artists were not accorded due status or rights to exhibit. I was interested to see a black cameo brooch for the first time.

Bettina, an ex colleague from LGAQ (another New York lover) is also here with her daughter Lucy. Bettina makes a pilgrimage to NYC every second year or so, this time for four weeks. Great to have a friend here and someone who knows her nyc stuff! Bettina and I in East Village cafe.

And while we're on people, here's the memorial to John Lennon in Strawberry Fields, Central Park. Yoko managed to get this part of the park dedicated to John against the initial intentions, apparently, of the then city leaders. Interestingly, on the other side of the park is Jackie Onassis Reservoir, a large body of water. You feel the influence of these strong women here, as well as John of course! Plenty of people still making money out of his music and his image...

So while on Central Park (I think my brother's favourite place in the world, that right Rick?) I can understand why you would think that. Great big beautiful lungs in the heart of the city to remind people what is important in the nicest possible way!! How could you not love Central Park???

Here a few images from some fun times we've had here. Most memorable was a picnic with David that will be remembered as a sliding picnic. David brought plastic for us to sit on and we chose a spot with a beautiful outlook... but on a slope! Spent the whole time trying to stay with the picnic!!! Then we went rowing and laughing on one of the lakes ... a perfect warm sunny afternoon, the trees changing colour, turtles sunning themselves, ducks getting about their business.

Here you can see I was having a hard time! David rowing at this point.

Some more images of the beautiful park on my flickr upload here... but here's a couple to tempt you!

The other thing in Central Park is music and entertainment... some of it really good. These rappers always get a good crowd of tourists, even when they're not so good!

Another absolute highlight of our fortnight was going to a Barge Music Concert... as it says, on a barge. It is on the East River at Brooklyn, not for from where the bridge connects. David told us about this one and it really was exquisitely beautiful music from Copeland, Beethoven and Dvorjak played by piano, violin and 'cello. Venue is much nicer than it sounds too, though I did have a bit of sea sickness there for a while!

Afterwards we walked the famous Brooklyn Bridge, something Laine had dreamed of for many years. It didn't disappoint... we chose a spectacular sunset evening after a quick but fruitful visit to the Brookly Flea Market. Here some views. From the bridge you can see the Statue of Liberty but she is a tiny speck if you look hard. You don't have to look hard to see how much fun Laine was having.

After the bridge we ate in China Town and had dessert in Little Italy. You can move so quickly from one district and flavour to another here... and enjoy what each has to offer. So while on stunning views... you can't go past at least one picture of the Statue of Liberty when doing a blog on NYC.... we had a cold but interesting day visiting her. No time to go to Ellis Island this time which I loved last time... it gives you such a sense of the impact of immigration to the US and it's importance in many families and communities.

I had not known, or had forgotten, that the Stature of Liberty would not have been structurally possible if not for the engineering brilliance of Monsieur Eiffel... so there's a kind of Eiffel Tower structure inside her holding her up. In the 1980s they had to take out all 17000 of the original rods inside (three or four at a time) to replace them with stainless steal as the originals were corroding!!! You can go into the crown now but only 250 people a day are allowed. You have to book months ahead in case anyone is wanting to do it!

We also had visited Ground Zero which is really a huge construction site still. The nearby St Paul's Chapel that was an important place that provided support and care to the many workers during the 9/11 crisis remains a poignant memorial of the people who lost their lives but also of all the workers and volunteers. We were touched by the mention that over 500 musicians donated their time to play while the hard work of patching together cuts and broken hearts was going on in the church. It seems to me to be the way a church should be.

Other than this there's been shopping, markets, delis (one rude deli man reminiscent of the Soup Nazi in Seinfelt) kept calling NIXT... we didn't realise he was talking to us... so when we realised and couldn't see him over the counter Laine moved a paper bag a little to see. The man barked, Don't touch that bag! Apart from that as I remember from last time, people have been friendly and often going out of their way to be helpful.

Lainey found some perfume, not availabe in Australia, at a lÓccitane shop here. She bought the last three bottles of their stock as it is discontinued. The girl in the shop ran half a block to give her the tester too, as they wouldn't be needing it anymore. She got a hug for her troubles!

There's also been museums, (though not as many as we thought we'd get to) to the Met or Metropolitan Museum of Art which is worth many visits, and a trip to Broadway to see Jersey Boys on Broadway. It was great to see it close to the home of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in nearby New Jersey. Here I am eating key lime pie at the Met cafeteria!!

Lainey at the Green Markets at Union Square. I had never seen brussel sprouts on their storks before (here in front of this picture)!

And another enduring symbol reaching into the clouds. I joined the women's fitness gym, Curves, before I left Toronto so that Lainey and I could use it travelling (they have 10,000 gyms around the world now apparently). So we googled curves in NYC and found it just a few blocks from our little apartment... in Times Square... in the same block as the Empire State Building. Guess we could have just run up the floors to the top for exercise!

Well on that note, because I have gone one too long, I'll stop! We leave here tomorrow, Saturday 31st October, returning to Toronto by the Maple Leaf train via Niagara Falls. Hope Canada lets me back in! Oh and we find a place to live!

Love
Lindy

WEEK FOURTEEN and WEEK FIFTEEN

2009-10-04T18:55:00.000-07:00

A bumper blog this week as I've missed last week and have to catch up. Will try not to bore you... here above a few photos of a drive we went to at Port Credit west of Toronto by Lake Ontario. I'd met Dorothy at TIFF who invited us to visit and we had a great day despite the cold grey weather.

It is so good having Lainey here as she's up for any spur of the moment suggestions. One night we went past a theatre that had a play entitled Secrets of a Black Boy... provocative title! The theatre was walking distance from our home and the play was quite an eye opener... it is part of a fairly fresh attempt on behalf of the black population of Toronto to express itself to its own community in their own voice/s. Not sure I do it justice, but it ran for over two weeks with a theatre capacity of over 400 and it was full the night we went. We didn't get all of the humour but the messages came through pretty clearly. The playwrite's sister, Trey Anthony, had written a play (which is now also a TV series) from a female perspective called Da Kink in My Hair. Check the links if you are interested.

Still no news on the Liquor License but baking and catering continue and Lainey enjoyed a couple of sessions helping out in the kitchen with Peter.

We moved out of our lovely little apartment up in the rafters last Thursday as Lainey and I are travelling in the US and Peter is looking after Oscar and Toby for a couple of weeks. I am now officially of no fixed abode!

My excuse for not doing my blog this week is a good one. Lainey and I have been to Paris, Berlin, Norway and Poland all in a week! All these places are actually places in New Hampshire, which along with Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island make up the area known as New England north of New York City. Did I miss any?

We flew to Boston, then drove (ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!) for a wonderful week of pure tourism through stunning fall folliage. We read before we left, with a cringe, that people doing this are called Leaf Peepers... but there's no pretending otherwise, that's what we were. For photos please see the photos hopefully scrolling away beside this page... if not go to this flickr page. Wouldn't have been possible without the GPS which Laine bought for Peter and I as a thanks for having her stay (yes she's very generous).

Our first morning finding fall leaves in the boot of the car...

For me highlights of travelling are mostly in meeting up with people along the way, sometimes in unexpected ways. In one of my favourite places of the trip, Shelburne Falls, in Massachusetts, we came across a bunch of kids covering their faces in mud and putting cucumber slices on their faces before lying on the pavement. I am sure I've never seen this before. Here the evidence!

It was the Columbus Day public holiday and they, part of the Amherst Christian Youth Group, were participating in Rediscover America Day, which while not sounding particularly politically correct, was obviously highly entertaining for this very likeable bunch of kids.

In Shelburne Falls we also met potters, Molly Cantor and Rachel and musician Abe Loomis, who played a five string banjo and entertained us with some of his beautiful songs. Walked out of there with a whimsical & original plate and a bluegrass CD produced locally that gave us hours of pleasure as we wound our way around New England backroads.

Gotta finish for this blog and I haven't done justice to the rest of the trip... but for the kooky side of New England thought I would show you these. Not being from the area our only real knowledge of Cape Cod is our father visiting many years ago and falling in love with the architectural styles of the houses... we could absolutely understand why he did. But we didn't know it was such an interesting place. Provincetown, or PTown, at the tip of the Cape is known for it's eccentricity and off beat personality. We had only just pulled into the car park when we met these two friendly furries. Check out furries!We also spent hours browsing in a great shop full of odd stuff including fur jackets that you pay for by the weight! Fur a theme here obviously...

Finally, finishing off in Boston we got to the the Blue Men Group that was a strange mix of art, music (drumming mostly), and crazy stunts. Had to catch the photo with the blue man to complete my kooky set of New England... so on that note... farewell!!!

Bye til next time

Love (and are you still out there!?)

Lindy

WEEK THIRTEEN

2009-10-02T20:39:00.001-07:00

Well, much has happened this week .... so let's get going!

My sister Lainey arrived on Wednesday evening. It happened to be the night (and the same time!) as we went to the hearing for Ici's application for a liquor license. In some ways this was disappointing as we couldn't go the airport to collect her and in other ways it was fortuitous as she arrived to the hearing by cab to find many of the people I had begun to get to know all at one place, including Liz and Luke.

Lainey couldn't believe how friendly people were and after getting many spontaneous hugs she decided she was going to like Canadians.

She then had a chance to hear (or endure!) most of the proceedings of the hearing which was a bit like watching a courtroom drama where you knew the stars but there was no murder involved! Quite an amazing time and we are yet to know the outcome.

The partners of the restaurant did really well, and there were a large number of people there to lend their support. It took so much work from so many to get there on a shoe string budget... but in the end it felt like a big family party. The short story is that we still don't know the outcome, but it looks promising. We hope to know by next week. Here to the left the ICI team reading one of the newspaper articles about the hearing, which has been quite fascinating to watch.

We were quite media mad for a couple of days watching newspaper, blogs and twitter which were running hot. There were radio interviews and photo shoots every other day. If they don't get their license I'm not sure what will happen! Here are some links in National Post;

Toronto Life; Globe and Mail; Toronto Star; Martini Boys. Sam James, the Barista with the new coffee shop across the street has been politically implicated and so there's a fascinating internet skirmish going on. You'll work it out from the articles.

The other big event this week for us was Luke returning to Singapore the day after the hearing. We managed to get to the airport next morning a bit bleary eyed. It was very sad for Liz in particular. Here are some photos from the airport. The first one I love as Liz has her arm wrapped around my waist. The night before, after the hearing, about ten of us went out to dinner. As we arrived... Liz, Lainey, Luke and Lindy (yes all Ls!) with Peter... Jenny commented... Peter your herd is getting bigger! Guess that is the case... but I do feel like they are my family and I'm so grateful for the way things are working out.

Lots of chances to use my camera!! Luke saying goodbye to his mum and dad.

There was lots more this week... including meeting the Premier of Ontario... because we were catering for a political fundraiser on Sunday night... but that's about it I think as I'm too tired now and we're off to the markets early tomorrow morning.

love from me and Lainey!
Lindy

WEEK Twelve!

2009-09-24T08:32:00.001-07:00

I like the idea of experiencing my first Fall... and was happy to capture this, the first flush of leaves changing colour on an old and elegant University of Toronto building. Someone told me that the peak week is likely to be the second in October... just when we are in New England Lainey!

I'm not so keen on Halloween and have started to see the madness that descends upon Nth America appear in shop fronts. My theory is that as it moves towards the cold dark months, Nth Americans need something crazy to distract them. Last year I was here in the lead up and was glad I left the country just before the 30th October. This year I will have to endure. Who knows, perhaps I'll find a taste for it. I like pumpkins!!

I finally got Peter to take me out dancing. We'd been to five weddings since I've been here (as caterers) where I had to watch all the guests having fun dancing! So we went to the nightclub where we first went out on that fateful night nearly 4 years ago.

Luke had brought me back a present from China, a pashmina. I hadn't worn it yet. Getting ready to go out (women you know the drill, try this outfit, then that one... they all land in a pile on the bed...until you feel comfortable and dressed to dance). Peter meanwhile had changed in a few minutes and decided to wear my pashmina. He did look cool in it which Peter seems to be able to do without any effort. (That is the definition of cool I guess!). Anyway while we're dancing a talent scout came up and insisted he would be great in advertising... Peter is not convinced. I reckon one ad might pay to have his front tooth fixed... but he would have to do it in the other order! Liz and Luke were flabagasted when they heard this. Luke: The lights must have been really low Dad!!!

I would probably buy anything Peter advertised, but then I'm definitely biased. This here is evidence of the scarf heist.

The public hearing for the restaurant is coming up on 30 September and I have been involved in the campaign which has become quite hot as the Deputy Mayor continues to insist their 24 seat bistro will be against the public interest. There has been some media coverage. I have been taking minutes of meetings, sending out emails etc. Meanwhile catering and supplying croissants and other yummy things continues. Here below Jennifer (from West End) who I met on the train to Montreal, came to visit at the restaurant and was kind enough to join into our croissant tasting... JP trying to make the best as usual.

JP and Jennifer co authored a cookbook One Pot French last year while Peter was in Australia. I've put an Australian link to it here for budding French Cooks. Here's a photos I took of the cover as well.

My closest encounter with a racoon (big fat one!) who we found sitting on our fire escape landing yesterday morning. I just caught him waddling down the stairs which is a good thing because apparently they can be aggressive.

I finally joined the gym this week!!! And now need to actually get there. Canadian Television is filled with H1N1 documentaries often talking about what has been learnt from the earlier 'flu season downunder. Nice to hear Aussi accents and to see how beautiful Australia is, when it is not covered in red dust of course. Canadians are very worried as it starts to get cooler. I think the son of our neighbours has it or a similar very bad 'flu. It has been distressing to hear him coughing away day and night for the past week. I insist on going in and out through the fire escape in case I pick up whatever he's got. No worries, Lainey... should be OK by the time you're here.

Photography 101 is nearly already finished! We had to do our first photoshoot yesterday late afternoon. We had to get images to illustrate 12 themes plus the letters of our name (sounds like 101 doesn't it!). The camera had to be on manual so no cheating and no editing afterwards... my first tentative images are on flickr here.

Finally and this is finally... some of you may remember the woman Peter and I met in San Francisco last year, Anne, who is 85, and visited Australia (on her around the world in 80 days trip!) with her boyfriend just before I left Australia. She tracked us down a few days ago by phone to invite us to Orange County to her 86th birthday. She still plays tennis! I love her spirit...

Much love and some of Anne's spirit to you!
Lindy

WEEK ELEVEN

2009-09-18T17:01:00.001-07:00

Well a milestone has passed this week. I got more emails and texts from Canada and Nth America than I got from Australia. Fun to begin to be making my own friends and aqaintances. Most notably the new friend from Chicago, Kristin, who I mentioned last week. A photo here of us having lunch on her last day in Toronto at Canoe, a restaurant up 30 or so floors, looking out across Lake Ontario. We were looked after by Joanne, the general manager of the restaurant, friend by way of Peter's partner, JP. The week before I had helped Joanne set up her first blog... so we were well looked after. Not sure how I got such a red shiney face... bring on my Photoshop classes!

A more important event though was having Peter's son Luke home to Toronto from Singapore for a couple of weeks. Luke is 23 and enjoying living in Asia... much to Liz' disappointment to have her only son living so far away. Here they are goofing off over dinner one night. (and yes we ate very strange pink Korean icecreams after dinner!)

The weekend was full with my trip to Montreal... last blog I mentioned meeting Jennifer from West End, Brisbane, on the train there. Mostly though I was spending time with long term friend Eva who lives in London now. Coincidentally Eva and I met in West End about 14 years ago! Here's a lovely photo of Eva below.

Two nights we ate dinner out... both times lighting was so low we could hardly see. The second night I ate my entire dinner by spiking my fork into the bowl and eating whatever was on it when it came out! Everything yummy, but a strange trend nonetheless. I say a trend because there is a famous restaurant in Montreal, O Noir, that is totally dark (apparently there are others in NYC, London and somewhere in Australia?) You have to be led into the dining room and feel for your knife and fork. The staff and musicians (but not the chefs!) are all visually impaired so it is great for them to get work they might not otherwise get. I had read a review of this restaurant so if you're interested to know more have a look here!

I am loving my basic course, 101 Photography. I had to submit four photos (composition rules) from what we learnt in week one and now I have another four for next Wednedsay. This week it is on using shutter speeds, aperture and ISO controls... it hasn't sunk in but hopefully will all get there by some small miracle. The photos are on my new flickr account and will be added to each week.

I nearly forgot the Toronto Film Festival! They showed 334 films from 64 countries in 10 days... I have seen six just to put it in perspective! I really enjoyed a film set and shot in Toronto Chloe (a remake of a French film, Nathalie). The Director, Atom Egoyan, was there and also the script writer and it seemed most of Toronto as they are very proud of this local talent. I also was impressed but sadly reminded of hard times in Aboriginal Australia by seeing Samson and Delilah (though it needs no intro in Australia) and amazed today to see a Mexican film about fishing, To the Sea, that enchanted me! Just two more to finish tomorrow and hopefully Peter will join me for one... Soul Kitchen from Germany.

Missing my family, many of whom are getting together this week on North Stradbroke Island. Love you all, miss you dearly. xx

WEEK TEN

2009-09-07T17:03:00.000-07:00

Late uploading my blog this week... sorry for those who plan a cuppa around reading it at a certain time each week! And not much to say... well not through photos... as I didn't seem to take many!

The usual wedding whirl occurred last weekend but this time both weddings on Saturday and Sunday were on the Toronto Islands. Like the beaches of last week, Toronto has islands too! They (see map insert) are in the lake not far from the city. They provide a perfect vantage point for the city and are idyllic playgrounds for Torontonians in the warmer weather. I spent a luxurious Sunday (while Peter worked) walking through parks, eating lunch at the famous Rectory Cafe while I finished my latest book, lying on a beach and eventually falling asleep on the grass in late afternoon sun...

Only problem... I forgot my camera... so no images. But the day before on a different island I was able to watch the sun set and then catch the city lights across the water. So there's some evidence of those happy days....

Started my Digital SLR camera course this week. Began with composition and now I can see what is wrong with all the photos I've already posted! The instructor asked if anyone thought they had the eye and I stupidly said I thought I did... and no one else did.... so they'll have fun critiquing my photos when I send them in for later classes. Duffer!

Today I am writing from Montreal! Trained here yesterday (about five and a half hours) to spend the weekend with my friend Eva. She is here from London attending the International Civil Aviation Organisation legal meeting here. Apparently there is a Montreal Convention. I am learning lots of things I hadn't considered before! We, of course, as old friends (we met at the Brisbane Migrant Resource Centre when we were both working there in about 1996) are talking madly and today going out into a sunny day to explore Montreal old town.

On the train I sat next to a young woman who looked sophisticated and very chic! I thought she must be from Montreal... the French are always so chic I thought to myself. So after a while we started talking... oh, she's Australian! Where are you from? Brisbane, she says. West End! So then I have to ask myself, who's chic!!!? We had a great time talking the rest of the way to Montreal and will hopefully catch up here.

Finally, for those who know my earlier blogs, I have made a friend!!! In the queue for the Toronto International Film Festival I met a fabulous woman and couldn't stop talking for hours! Unfortunately she lives in Chicago... and so it doesn't count for a Toronto friend I guess. Hoping to visit her there sometime as it is a short flight from here and apparently an amazing city.

Well the sun is calling... and Eva doesn't get that much sun living in London so more next week.

love

Lindy

WEEK NINE

2009-09-03T06:31:00.001-07:00

Well another great week... how fortunate am I! But not too proud to show this photo for my food segment of the week... Ontario corn... yummo... as you can see! And I'm desperately in need of finding a hair dresser.... where are you when I need you Larissa!

Week started with another wedding to cater... this time in an art gallery (if you're curious about the dark interiors here) and as promised the chef's gear... the real chef and the fake one.

Gorgeous weather... Brisbane Winter standard... clear sunny skies... 25 degrees... low humidity... so I thought I should take advantage of it and spend a day at the beach... it is a beach on a lake but for the lack of waves it feels like the sea... and it was beautiful....

In fact they have a Balmy Beach... such a good name. It was my Dad's birthday yesterday (had he still been alive he would have been 92) and he loved the beach so I enjoyed it in his honour. When both Mum and Dad passed away our family wanted to donate a chair to the local park in Dalby where they would walk each afternoon when they were able. Dad would take his walker in later years and they would head to the next chair, take a break and then make a move to the next one. We, as a family, spent some time trying to get the wording right for a plaque to go on the chair. So I was touched and impressed by this one I sat on yesterday at Balmy Beach... hope you can read the text.

... and these the beautiful trees...

Earlier in the week I was mostly queuing... first to try to get into hear President Bill Clinton speak at the Canadian National Expo (bit like our Ekka though in August here it is warm!)... but alas tickets ran out just as I got to the front of the line. I did get to wander the exhibits and caught this flag view and the winner in the sand carving competition (left).

Next I queued to get my choice of ten movie tickets for the Toronto International Film Festival. Every year I promise I will get to the BIFF but never do.... here I have no excuse... and this time I made it and these are the films I am getting to see starting week after next:

Capitalism: A love Story
Heiran
Toad's Oil
Between Two Worlds
To the Sea
Melody for a Street Organ
Carmel
Bassidji
Baaria

My sister Heather told me there are 17 Australian films at TIFF... and I saw them there but decided to wait for those and go for ones I won't likely see from Japan, Italy, Iran, USA and elsewhere. I'll let you know what I thought if I don't get too scrambled with so many movies in so few days. It is also a big venue for the stars... George Clooney most notably probably to most of my girlfriends ... sadly for me, not Johnny Depp.... aghhh.

Finally on the restaurant.... there is a public hearing set for 30 September (the day sister Lainey arrives here) and we should know the outcome two or three weeks after that. Interesting, having been inside Local Government, watching the processes, both government and community, from the business vantage point.

In the meantime JP and Peter are providing croissants, muffins, banana bread and brownies to a new coffee shop owner a few doors down. Sam is a delightful guy who happens to be the winner of the Canadian Central Regional Barista Competition 2008! He has given me a few tips and actually has them online in short movies so for those of you who are interested click here. For milk frothing... the wonderful coffee roaster at Di Bella in Brisbane, Anne Cooper, put me onto this online video... see here. Some photos below to finish the week of Sam, Peter delivering at 7am (and yes I made it to take the photo), the decor including the interesting light shades... can you see it is a jar?

Bye for now

love

Lindy

Week Eight

2009-08-22T17:36:00.000-07:00

Toronto!!!

Hi all, just had a lovely walk last night up the street from our place and this is two of the views we saw... weather cooling a little and really pleasant.

Week Eight? Eek this means the time is going really fast and my dream days here are finite. I did find myself telling someone that I could live here.. but I've yet to survive a Winter... so I shouldn't speak too soon. I asked Peter if he could live anywhere in the world where would it be... he said "Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne" so it doesn't sound like Peter will want me to live here!

Peter is very down on his city and gets very frustrated about the way it is being run... does seem to be a lot of unending roadwork and disruption to life ... we rarely go out without having to detour to go around a road block at night because police have closed roads due to crime. If you watch CP24 which has 24 hour Toronto news, weather and traffic updates you would think the city is riddled with crime...

This got me curious so I've checked comparative crime rates between Brisbane and Toronto... can only find between Australia and Canada and they reveal usually that we're pretty close on most things... though Australia higher usually. I can't vouch for this stats website, NationMaster.com but it seems to claim it has stats on all these things... click on each to get the stats link.

Murders per capita
Robberies per capita (Australia tops this one fairly significantly)

Rapes per capita (both countries very high comparatively sadly)

Total crimes per capita (this one is just interesting because it puts NZ at number two... Australia doesn't rate but that's most likely an error of omission)
Unpaid diplomatic parking fees (just for something curious... )

Significant event this week of course the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. CNN covering it wall to wall and it is interesting to watch places in and around Boston that Lainey and I will visit in a few weeks. TV is pretty much only via cable here and we get more many many US channels. Number of possible channels would have to be in the hundreds but I still miss old Aunty ABC.

Big event for us was buying a DSLR camera (Nikon D90 Rick and anyone interested in details). I have only the most basic knowledge so far of how to make her work. Nevertheless, over the weeks you should see the quality of the images improve as I practice and start my course in September. Peter delighted in hunting down the best deal and has gotten into the excitement... here some shots of him opening the boxes, setting up the camera and reminding me of my sister Wendy when we were kids opening my presents on Christmas morning saying "Lindy wake up! Look what Santa brought you!!".

More festivals on... this one a couple of blocks east of where we are living. I went with Liz (we joke about going on dates) to the East Asia Festival, though I haven't worked out how to capture them yet... there was lots of colour here... which I seemed to miss! Liz and I having a Curry. She's a lovely woman and I really appreciate her generosity of spirit ...

Being arty with new camera... shot from outside ICI...

Public hearing for the liquor licence for Ici, the restaurant, is now likely late September. While the partners are getting frustrated... there's another wedding to cater this weekend so I'll be on the job again with my slicing peeling threading and deep frying!! I'm enjoying the days before the restaurant opens as I know it will be crazy once it does and it is nice to have Peter to myself for parts of most days. Here are the partners... JP, Jennifer and Peter... JP and Co.

Oh and finally the week wouldn't be complete without a visit to China Town. Enjoyed these images (you might have to look closely at the labels to get the humour) in our favourite shop yesterday. We did buy an old chicken and he's cooking away right now... for a long time I suspect!

Love the Half old Chicken!

Bye for now

Love

Lindy

WEEK Seven

2009-08-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I'm getting requests for updates... it is only a week but apparently because I edited last weeks it appeared that I had updated ... sorry for those who are now used to a weekly Canadian fix... hope I can keep doing interesting things for you!!!

Took this photo yesterday of the place we're living in... nice morning... so captures it really well I think. See the tiny windows up in the top floor... that's where I'm looking out of now.

I've spoken to Luke, Peter's son, who is in Asia (based in Singapore but just been travelling in Nepal and China) on the phone a couple of times and he always asks me what I do 'to fill my days'. I can't really explain it but the days seem busy.... is it doing an occasional help out at the restaurant? Is it going to walk the dogs most days? Is is getting around on public transport... don't think so as it is pretty efficient and I can link up between street car, subway and bus without long delays ... I think I have it worked out. It is sitting on the internet doing just about everything we used to do by foot, car or on the phone. It includes a list something like this...

Finding accommodation at view.ca
Booking tickets for concerts (exciting!)
Do banking in Australia
Skyping (though most of you are not awake when I want to talk!)
Checking email to hear from you
Sorting out things like car selling, insurance, managing my rental for Glenrosa Rd
Keeping up with Facebook ... read some interesting stuff on my Obama page yesterday... did you see this interesting interchange on TV outside of Nth America? I enjoyed this so much... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlZiWK2Iy8
Planning the accommodation, flights, car hire for trip to the US in October when my sister Lainey comes over (lucky us!)
Keeping up with Australian news on ABC website
Getting online advice from my barista teacher in Brisbane (thank you Anne Cooper!) and more on that next week
Looking for a digital SLR camera for my camera course that I found and booked of course online... oh and
Writing this blog!
Now this is nothing new to anyone... but despite the fact that I now don't have a job that requires me to use my computer... here I am on it nearly all day.... oh yes I need to use it to...
Find a gym before I develop into a BlogBlob!!

This is in front of Peter's house (with Liz his expartner) where the dogs live... (I get more questions about the dogs than anything in the blog of course)and it is a pretty little garden. No we don't live here! Next is a corney photo of me in my new sun frock... that I got Peter to take because of the colour in the dress and the flower match... and don't I remind me of my mother in this photo (actually wearing her pearls which probably helps that feeling).

Out looking at cameras yesterday we went to an entire shopping centre filled with Chinese shops... it could really have been in China but an occasional Canadian maple leaf flag reminded me where we are... Peter (I told him you'll all think he's a cheapskate) found this restaurant that sold these huge mango juices... and if you spent $5 per person... a full meal for .99c!!! See photo below to prove it. Peter very generous actually but he dearly loves a bargain..

Finally the weather is still crazily hot and humid here... and last night while at a catering function for a local plant nursery's 120th anniversary (I forgot to get a photo of my chef's gear... requested by you Lainey I think!) there was an almighty storm with thunder and lightening, huge rain that filled the kitchen floor with water, water pouring down the walls and in through the ceiling and had the guests hiding inside between rain and wind gusts (interestingly though they stayed for hours to keep eating the food). We managed to shift the kitchen to a drier room. Little did we know that there were tornado like winds nearby and a young boy was killed and many many houses lost roofs etc. See: http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/684478

We are also watching the likely arrival on the East Coast of Tornado Bill. Seems like Nth Qld again...

Little did I know when I was so taken with Peter's beautiful smile the first time I saw him that I'd be dragging around the catering world pretending to know what I was doing a few years later! Anyway promise a photo next time.

Bye for now
love
Lindy

Week Six

2009-08-11T11:17:00.001-07:00

You know your life has changed when you wake up wondering what the day will hold and the man in your life says...'oh we're going to buy a pig's head'... Oh OK, should have thought of that...

So off to the Happy Meat Market... to buy one roast pig's head ... which clearly makes Peter happy if not the pig!

So what does one do with this? It is to be used, including the crispy roast skin, to stuff hand made ravioli... of course!!! But we sneak a snack before the guests would ever know...

On other matters close to my heart, last week I was wondering whether I might be able to get Leonard Cohen tickets as he's doing a second nth american tour after the success of the first world wide tour that many of you in Brisbane went to... well I just happened to have a look online the day before tickets went on sale for Madison Sq Gardens... so next morning at precisely 10am I start trying to get the tickets... it took two hours of internet and telephone calls... because of my non american credit card... but as I've posted on facebook, two tickets happily snared for 23 October. So that was a quick answer to my blog dream!

As those of you who know me from LAMP days know... I am convinced of the power of symbols... and when I saw this seagull on a pole... I had an immediate sense of recognition... now I'm over the jetlag and tiredness of leaving Australia... I feel like this bird... a little alone but in a very good and serene place to look out on the world...

Other than that I'm happily nesting in our new place. It takes 25 minutes by street car (tram) and underground and a walk to get to the restaurant. Our little two bedoom apartment is on the third floor of an old house (about 100 years or more) on a fairly busy road between China Town number Two and Greek Town... this seems to be how Toronto is organised.

There is a street car literally at the front door either going north or directly to the city. There is a hospital, aged care home and a prison on the other side of the street and a large ravine park that has... sadly ... a big freeway running through it. From the side of the road we get a good view of the city with the dominating CN Tower. This morning I spied a swimming pool and tennis courts that promise fun.

Here I am at 11pm at the restaurant writing my blog.... catering work is long and seemingly endless. I have done my bits and pieces and been paid in wine and kisses. I am not complaining!

Oh and it is hot and humid, punctuated by storms every day or two. Sound like Brisbane in summer?

Thanks for all the messages that keep popping up. I love hearing from you all.

xxx
love
Lindy

Scored!! Two tickets to hear Leonard Cohen, Madison Square Gardens, in October when my sister Lainey and I are in New York. Can't believe it really as I was so disappointed to miss him in Brisbane and to go to Madison Sq Gardens will be an experience in itself. This is one of the perks that made it easier to leave my home my family my friends my cat ...so I'm so delighted.

Back to the rain again... storms every day... you would think I was in Brisbane but at least I am in no hurry to get to or from work.... so I am just enjoying them from whatever vantage point I'm at. Currently in the restaurant. The health inspector is here ... laying down some laws... even though they aren't open.

Week Five

2009-08-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Before I start, thanks for all the comments on the scate dog walking... see the latest! And no you won't ever see me on a skateboard... scared!

Oh... and the five week city workers strike finished a few days ago. Still smelly rubbish lining streets and filling designated parks etc. Relief though as the weather heats up because...Summer is here!

THINGS ON BALCONIES - take your choice, two giant painted moose or two guys sneaking out their window to play guitar above the African shop below. Toronto can channel the spirit of California that I couldn't find in California!

THINGS GROWING IN CARS - see the number plate...

BEAUTIFUL TORONTO

Green, green greener after all the rain... and more of those beautiful streets and houses.. oh and getting around in a Hippo, tourism here on Lake Ontario... Hippo goes on the road when it needs to... and talking of carrying things... Peter always ends up carrying my bag as well as his (note the HAT!)

PETER AND LINDY on the day out... Peter getting ready for his first album cover (not really) and me standing in front of the 'in' in Dufferin subway station as I'm really a duffer most of the time!

But top news for the week was seeing Lang Lang and Herbie rip up the keyboards with an unnamed orchestra... with two massive grand pianos as their dueting playground. We were in cheapish seats but still had OK sound and views... Rhapsodie in Blue, such a fabulous Gershwin masterpiece, was the obvious highlight that was one of the most exciting things I've ever seen/heard... rest was interesting too, especially Lang Lang's incomparable delicate touch on the keys though I see the newspaper reviewer panned it.

Click here for utube version from the Brit Awards but while it is worth seeing it can't compare with being there... also if I might, the Toronto orchestra (made up for the night and not the TSO apparently) so much better than the orchestra for this recording. Am I starting to sound Canadian!!!!?? My photo below taken without flash...

Next I hear that Leonard Cohen is still intending to do some north american gigs so I'm gonna make sure I don't miss out as I did in Brisbane.

Bad news is I found a coffee better than ours yesterday at an interesting place here called the Distillery (artsy area using an old whiskey distillery). Good news is I got in touch with my barista teacher in Brisbane at Di Bella. For those who want lessons from me, and you're in Brisbane, forget the grasshopper, go to the source at Di Bella!

And finally we have a place to live for two months... still awaiting that pesky apartment above the restaurant... and yes still waiting for the liquor licence! I think this new apartment, which is in the eves really, or third floor on top of a renovated house around 100 years old is still online. If you wanna see try here!

Love til next time

Lindy

Week Four

2009-07-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

Probably Toronto's most interesting buildings... so far for me anyway! Though to be honest the really beautiful buildings here are houses and smaller university, business and religious buildings... but those next time!

1) Art Gallery of Ontario

2) Ontario College of Art & Design

3) CN Tower

Well today, it feels like summer in Toronto, finally after two solid weeks of rain, cloud and thunder storms. I feel happy to be wearing a sun dress, sandles and sunglasses... like home I guess!

This week about finding a place to live... but nothing yet has finalised... as is life no doubt we will find the right place just at the last moment. We are still both not so secretly keen on living above the restaurant but we are not in control of when the owner/builder will get it ready and then we can't be sure if we'll like it or will be able to afford it!

In the meantime... I am excited to be going to hear Lang Lang, the amazing Chinese pianist with Herbie Hancock (who needs no introduction) next Wednesday night... playing Rhapsodie in Blue by Gershwin as part of the show... I have been looking forward to hearing/seeing Lang Lang since seeing an amazing doco on him a few years ago. This a very good part of being in Toronto!

My coffee getting better as the weeks pass and still haven't had a better one in a coffee shop here.... gone are the days of me having a no caffeine diet inpsired by Golden Door Health Retreat!

Prices for food seem amazingly good to me... but guess you say, what about the exchange rate? For whatever it is now... click here. But still I've been amazed... I know I talked about this in week one but thought you might like some details...

6 ripe mangoes for $5 (not quite Bowen but flavour good)
10 Tahitian limes for $1 (yes Zannie, this is pretty good!)
1.98 lb (nearly a kilo for the young ones) lychees for $1.96
2 lb bananas for $1.30
2 large pawpaws for $5.00
2 lb red cherries for $3.00
1 shoulder pork for $2.98 (we got three meals out of that!)
2 fresh yellow fin fish for $4.98

Admittedly this is China Town and I'm with the best damn food shopper this side of Hawaii... but it is a pleasure and a saving which I am enjoying given I don't work these days. I also remind Peter that most of this excellent fruit is probably coming from poor South American farmers... he agrees... sad truth I guess they rather sell to us than not. This right?

Finally no trip to China Town complete without a nip into the Hong Kong Island Bakery for hot Chinese buns (yes yes my prediliction haha) which I had discovered when living in HK in 2005. Oh yummm...

Thought you... well those of you who haven't already had enough of Peter and dogs... might enjoy a small snippet from our walk this week.

Week Three

2009-07-20T10:03:00.001-07:00

Random images from the week just past...

1. Daisies in the back lane
2. Out to dinner
3. Peter and his beloved dog, Toby, acting as pillow

4. Peter and other love bird

Before I start apologies for many dog references and the usual Peter photos... I am still in their world. Not really created much of my own yet... but I will!

This week has been a week of solitude and connections! Solitude because I have realised I only have one friend in Toronto! Was chatting to a nice woman at the dog park early in the week and had to stop myself from saying.... "Will you be my friend?" This would have been said with some feeling too... but fortunately I restrained myself!

Connections because I'm getting a few things happening...

I have my mobile phone working on 1 647 9855 133 (It works for some and not others though I haven't sorted out why or why not yet... any clues?)
I have my blog as you know...and you are voting (thanks to those who are answering how I wanted you to - and Peter seems to be wearing his hat now!)

I have linked up with the only other 'Lindy Drew' on the web... she is a photographer from Pheonix Arizona and has a blog way more extensive than mine.... have a look! I hope she will be my photography mentor, though I think she's only 30 years old. We have already hatched a possible plan to meet in November... (Lindy emailed me that she was so named after her parents had cheesecake at one of Lindy's cafes in NYC... must have been good!)

And finally and most memorably, connecting with a skunk.

I had often wondered as a kid what skunks actually smelled like as they were often protrayed on north american kids cartoons etc. Well... wish I didn't know. I would describe it as something between burnt rubber, rotting vegetation and dog poo... that enough? I didn't actually connect with it, but taking dogs for walk in the dark, obviously too late for skunk avoidance, Toby came across one near the garbage and before we knew it he'd been sprayed.

We had to walk up to the 'drugstore' to buy peroxide and baking soda to mix with detergent and water to wash both dogs several times. The most amusing thing was that we didn't realise how badly we smelt... but everyone in the store was waving their hands in front of their faces and making grimaces... they were blaming two street guys unfairly and stereotypically until we realised what was going on and confessed that it was us.

Before we washed the dogs outside in the rain we had to change clothes and put on white ones in case the peroxide burnt white holes in them... and when finished washing and drying dogs had to wash all our clothes, the white clothes and the towels for drying the dogs and then the kitchen floor. We have had to throw out their collars, the mat that was outside the door, and anything disposable that they came into contact with. Since then we keep having to wash every day... shoes, door frame, cement, wooden bench outside and still the smell pervades. You can smell it through the vents into the house and through upstairs windows. Still have to wash my hair every day as it seems to find a way to seep into every fibre. Caron reckons I don't need a visa now as I've been initiated into Nth American society... would love to try that straight faced on immigration guards.

Dogs looking miserable but super clean after several washings in the middle of a rainy night!

Well this week as also been a week of Tour de France. Peter is hooked and over the weeks I have gotten into it as well. Nice to be able to wake up to watch rather than staying late at night as in Australia for any European sport. Fabulous to watch beautiful France and finally Paris today.

Just to finish up this is a flower shop near the restaurant (still no license) and Peter's house which we're staying in for two weeks while Liz is on holiday. Tomorrow we go out to view some rental properties for the next five or six months. Nothing found yet... eek!

'til next time
love

Lindy

Week Two 11 to 18 July

2009-07-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well, the second week is moving along fast... and seems it's been a week of multicultural festivals. Given the short summer here and the high level of cultures mixing in Toronto, there a couple of multicultural events each weekend, not to mention lots of arts, comedy, music ... Saturday was Salsa on St Clair (a street party within dog walking distance of Peter's house) and on Sunday I was out for a walk and unexpectedly ran into AfroFest... a HUGE number of African Canadians and a few others out enjoying music, food, stalls etc. Photos don't do either of these events justice but ... I did get parental (and child!) permssion for these gorgeous images below...

It did get me thinking about festivals and their benefits (for those of us in the multicultural sector) and how little real cultural interchange often actually happens at these events... and in fact how it can further emphasise stereotyping of cutural groups. Ghassan Hage talks about long term project based interaction... and I think he's right but be good to get the popular festivals more profoundly interactive somehow....

Enjoying the streets, houses and gardens in the city here. So different to Brisbane. Have to say it took me a few days to get my eye in but here's a few photos I took on a sunny Monday afternoon walking from the hotel to Ici restaurant.

These trees are going to be beautiful come the autumn season though one of my challenges is to work out when that is... apparently it changes depending on a range of weather variables... which doesn't make it easy to be sure my sister Lainey who is visiting especially to see the leaves (and me!) will actually see them at their best.

On my new career I have graduated at Ici to frying and washing dishes!!! And have to show off a good cup of coffee.... Wonder what next....

And finally two cuties... Oscar stealing both dog baskets (after he had snaffled a pair of my undies from my washing bag and...

why I think Peter should wear hats!

Well that is the week I think. I'm over the crosswords (I saw I put cross words last time!) and into the news. Toronto is in the midst of a long city workers strike which means that no garbage is being collected, amongst other things. While they are managing for it not to be stinky mostly.... it is still a lot of mess around. Hopefully for workers and residents... and the Council... it will be sorted soon.

Finally for those who are asking about Mr Boots... he's apparently fine in his new home in Auchenflower and is making friends with the dog Abbie but NOT with the tom cat next door.

love

Lindy

Oh, people have been asking about the city worker strike on here. Always seems to be strikes on in Canada when I'm here and they go on for weeks and weeks and really do impact on people. It seems a long time since I remember strikes of this length in Australia... Rubbish is probably the most obvious outcome and it is making the city look and smell less than fresh. The parks also are not mown so they look meadowlike and that's not such a bad thing. I think also you don't get parking fines but I'll check on that one with Peter!

Week One 3 to 10 July 09

2009-07-10T17:55:00.000-07:00

Days have been filled with getting to know Peter’s world… first, the new catering and restaurant business Peter’s co opening with French Chef, Jean Pierre (JP), and local chef Jennifer. Ici can’t be opened until they get a liquor license (mum would be happy about!) which is proving difficult with some resistance in the community.

To see the Toronto Star article go to http://www.thestar.com/living/article/659117

In the meantime there’s lots of catering jobs for JP and Co and I’ve been part of a few (cutting, chopping, pealing, wrapping of course!). Best part was for a French lingerie showand ... got to see the gorgeous models parade the latest French lingerie with over 400 other eagerlings.

It was in the Artscape Wychwood Barns (like Powerhouse in Brisbane) that has just opened in street where Peter has lived for long time. Saw the summer time glitterati of Toronto and with all the clothes I brought in my three bags I still couldn’t pull together a decent outfit because half my clothes at the hotel and half at Peter’s house… had to wear Jeans and my MBTs, Tommy!

My Barista Course has proved its use and I’m making coffees at the restaurant for anyone who’ll let me experiment on them.… Perfectly foamed milk still a challenge! Thanks Des for the wherewithall!

Toby, Peter’s dog, is an Australian Shepherd (not that we have them in Australia) who loves to play fetch with ball or stick. Oscar is a Chinese Crested Powder Puff which doesn’t give a good picture of his high energy affectionate raggle taggle self. I have a feeling I’ll be lots of doggy walking over the next weeks which at least is some exercise.

Not a night that I’ve slept past 3 or 4am… Peter, fortunately a great sleeper, isn’t disturbed while I read up about Toronto, scrutinize maps, finish novels (thanks Wendy for The Boy in Striped Pyjamas) and wait eagerly for sounds of the daily paper’s arrival outside the hotel room door... most anticipated is the cross word… still not into the Sudoku at all Lainey… and the news in that order!

End of week one? Wondering what I’m doing here in this so different world but determined to get independent enough to make it work...

Missing home, family and friends and very happy to get any news (she writes hopefully!). Very relieved to hear that Mr Boots has a new home and finally now not teary every time I think of him (thanks Caron for getting it finalized) and happy to know that LGAQ has found someone to fill my position…!

Paper has arrived so time to go!!