Sweet May hath come to love us, Flowers, trees, their blossoms don; And through the blue heavens above us The very clouds move on.
Heinrich Heine
This past week I took the VIA train from Montreal to Toronto for four days to visit with Richard, while Marie and Emma headed out on the 417 by truck to Casselman to see Christina and Patrick. We both needed a much earned break and a chance to charge our batteries after a long winter. Early Spring sucked as well but it has suddenly turned into summer here with glorious sunny, warm and dry days. We left from Montreal after staying a few days with Phil, Fernanda and Amy before heading west. Amy is saying a few words now, notably
dog whenever she sees Emma and, of course, Papa and Mama. We also had a chance to go over to Nun's Island to see Lara, Jesse and Joshua who are staying at Jesse's Dad's condo - they are in India - overlooking the river and the city. Joshua is cute as a button and we both wish we could see more of him. Good news though as we found out when we returned from Ontario - Lara and Jesse finally sold their duplex ! They were both unbelievably happy, as we were, and they can now get on with their lives.
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| view of Montreal from Jesse's condo |
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| Marie and Joshua - what a happy little guy! |
It has been a few years since I have been in Toronto and the Big Smoke was just as nuts as ever. Georgetown was the absolute opposite - a small town with not much happening. Little Jack, Jenny's son, who willingly gave up his bed for me while I was visiting had changed a lot since I had last seen him, from a toddler to a smart little boy who was always with his little game computer. Jamie is due this coming month for the third time and definitively seems to enjoy the role of motherhood. Rose dropped over for a BBQ one afternoon and is as jolly as ever - she and Richard seem to be made for each other! Richard and I drove out to Acton one day to see Hayley and although she is still struggling to get her life in order she is still the little Haley I always will remember and love and I can only wish and hope for the best for her. Marie also had a good time with Christina and the kids and had the opportunity to have Emma meet Bella for the first time.
Georgetown, Ontario
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| Jack, playing Mario |
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| Rich and Zeus |
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| What a beauty - and he knows it! |
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| Hayley |
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Hayley's latest tattoo...ahh that's so nice!
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| Jamie and Matty |
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| 'little' Richie |
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| Shawn...nice buzz cut! |
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Rich and Rose
Casselman, Ontario |
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| Isabelle doing homework |
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| Isabelle and Bella |
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| Christina's workout |
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| Isabelle and Sarah |
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| Christina and the girls |
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| Emma and Bella |
I had a bit of a scare when I first got into Toronto and while looking for the Georgetown train connection I came across numerous cameramen, reporters and RCMP hurrying hither and yon. I received a call from Richard just about then to see if I had arrived safely and he asked me if I had heard the news of the suspected bomb on the train from Montreal to Toronto. Naturally I did the oh no not here in Canada now routine and immediately thought of last week's bombing at the Boston Marathon, but early news reports were innaccurate and the public was never in any danger, the intended target to be the Amtrak from Niagara into New York. It seems some of those radical Muslims, who I always suspected were using Canada as their refuge, were finally showing their slimy faces. Hopefully this will be a wake up call to all Canadians.. I made it back to Montreal in one piece - Marie met me at the station and we were soon on the Metro heading for Phil's place and a good nights rest before heading back to the house and another few weeks of hard work. Next stop, Florida, for two weeks in the middle of the month! I will be posting a few pictures this week of what we have been doing around the house since we came back from Ontario. May has come in and it continues to be a unseasonably warm but thankfully we can start doing stuff outdoors again! gws
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| What a cutie! |
