Two Days in TO

Tuesday morning we struggled out of bed, tired and with backs aching from the "incompatible" bed. To make it worse, we were to be sight seeing around Toronto City with a friend, and it was raining. Toronto is referred to in short as TO. (Toronto Ontario?)
We walked a few hundred meters to catch a bus to Dufferin Subway Station. We changed trains at "St. George" for Union Station downtown. Boarding the bus, it is a flat $2.75 single fare and you ask for a Transfer. That means you can use the same ticket to change trains, buses or trams to go where ever you intend to go within the Metro system. You must do a similar thing for the return journey.
When we arrived at Union Station we were right on time for our 10 am meeting time with Karen. Megan met Karen on her very first flight to Australia and they have been good friends ever since.
We made good use of the underground shopping area to be able to get a few blocks closer to our first destination without suffering the weather. I couldn't believe that we were walking block after block in the rain just to visit a "wool" shop that Megan wanted to see for her knitting supplies.



Here I can be seen pointing out the top of the CN Tower visible above the local skyline.







We had a nice lunch in a Pub and continued on our way. I was able to take a few photos but the rain made some impossible.

Visiting the St. Lawrence Markets was very interesting. 11 years ago, Karen had taken us to the Kensington Markets. There is no way I'd part with $25 to go up the CN Tower like I did back then. It was raining and visibility would have been low. Anyway, I remember the last visit like it was yesterday!
Toronto does have some very attractive "heritage buildings" that will stand for eons I'd imagine. I didn't get to photograph any except for the old Telegraph building that although is dwarfed by larger modern structures, remains a focal point to the visitor on Front Street.


We found ourselves getting closer to Union Station again, and when Karen suggested other places we could visit, I had to say, I'd had enough. We were tired and wet and the hustle and bustle of the city just drains my enthusiasm. I'd be more happy seeing the city between 5 and 9am on a Sunday morning I think.

Karen & Megan inside the Eaton Centre

Getting back to the apartment was a very small mercy.
That night, we got a better sleep than the night before. Only because we were able to have the windows closed.
The weather was brighter the next morning and Megan suggested returning to the city. I could feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck at the suggestion. We decided to visit Yorkdale Mall and have a look at the Apple Computer store there. It is a pretty big mall but it seemed to be over populated with women's fashion stores! The Store Directory Board confirmed just that.
From there we went to visit Megan's aunt Shirley and uncle Ken at their new Condominium in Toronto. It was fantastic to see them again. We had seen them twice in Australia and they had visited our farm at Crookwell.
It is a new complex and very plush in its appointments as you might notice from the photo of Megan sitting in the lobby. They have always lived in this area and the move was only a block or so away from there old home and its where they both grew up as well.
After a beautiful dinner, a couple of drinks and an exchange of updating conversations we made our way back to Meaford. Our trip to Toronto was reduced to two days and nights and we were so pleased to be back to a comfy bed and we slept like babes.

Accepting the Good with the Sad

click to enlarge

The hardest part about moving to Canada was to determine the future of our close companions, Nova and Max. Megan wanted them to come to Canada with us. So that was the plan for quite a while. They both had "shots" for Rabies etc. Max desexed and Microchipped. They would both have needed re vaccinating in August '09. Transporting to Canada was as expensive as for my own travel. A pretty expensive exercise but cost was never a real barrier. It wasn't until I sat down and worked out the logistics involved that I realised it just wouldn't be practical or fair to Nova.

Since Megan moved, the financial crisis hit the world and that has until now at least, put a "stopper" on Farm Sales. So my stay in Australia has been extended. Megan was anxious for me to come and visit, and now here I am. BUT the price of that was not the airfare, but sacrificing the remainder of Nova's life. It was both my opinion and that of the experts that Nova would not be able to adjust to life without me and would fret herself to death. On Friday 3rd April, I took her to the Vet in Crookwell, and it was so quick and peaceful that she was gone before I could even say good-bye. She was such a perceptive and intelligent dog that I had to maintain a 'normal' routine and attitude so that she wouldn't suspect what was happening. She "trusted" me right until the very last moment, and that makes me both sad and relieved.

Meanwhile, Max is temporarily at John Davies Motors Mon-Fri and John takes him home and to his farm for the weekend. Trevor Keyser will be permanently back at his farm at Lost River a couple of weeks after my return. His farm backs onto the back-side of our farm. He will be Max's new master. It will be interesting to see how it will work out with him being so close by his 'old' home. i.e. will he be constantly trying to come back. I "stirred" Megan by saying to her that I'd just beat the crap out of him a few times until he doesn't want to come back.

Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do and it ain't always easy or pleasant.

http://www.anelvisfan2001.com/OldShep.mp3

Max (9 yr Brown Kelpie) Nova (11 yr White & Black Cattle X kelpie??)

Introduction

The purpose of this Blog is keep our friends and relatives informed as to the progress and transition on moving from Crookwell to Canada. I say Canada so it is generally easier for the Aussie readers initially and we haven't decided exactly where we will settle yet. All I can say is that we are intending to settle somewhere along the southern shore of Georgian Bay in Ontario. Narrowing that down to somewhere between Meaford and Wasaga Beach.
Megan is currently living in Meaford but working in Collingwood, some 30 km away. Megan feels there are more opportunities for us closer to Collingwood. (She isn't keen on Wasaga Beach because of the Bikini girls in summer! - Spoil Sport she is)

So why are we moving to Canada? All I need to say is that it is a Maternal thingy. All you females will understand. Especially if you have kids, be they adult or not, and grandkids. The way airfares have increased since we've been married, it was becoming less affordable to visit them. Even so, they grow up and change way too quickly for mere visits.

Megan is an Aussie citizen and very proud of it and will be until the day she dies. Of course I'll become a Canuck when the time comes (if they'll accept me!)

To be together is the most important thing for both of us, but to have kids and grandkids in Canada is so overpowering. I'm looking forward to this exciting adventure and chapter in my life.