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!
