Sabbatical Blog

Chinese Lantern Festival

2007-08-12T08:17:00.000-04:00

Just like the Rocky Mountains, photos don't do the Chinese Lantern Festival justice. The word lantern doesn't cut it either. Think larger than life, colourful and highly detailed figures, animals, boats, temples and other structures made of silk stretched over wire frames and illuminated from within. Add performances, music, food, crafts and it truly is a wonderful experience, well worth the $25 admission charge. Included in the price are two Cinesphere films on China - we were so enthralled with the lanterns we'll have to go back and see the films next time!

"The 2007 Rogers Chinese Lantern Festival will see a significant increase in lanterns with more than 40 massive, all new, illuminated, intricately designed scenes, depicting Chinese landmarks and mythology. This year the majority of the lantern sets will focus on three important dynasties in Chinese history; the Qin Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty."

The festival runs 7-11 daily until Labour Day and then on Saturdays and Sundays until October 7. Go here for more information.

Blue Jays at Rogers Centre

2007-08-12T08:10:00.000-04:00

The last time I went to a Blue Jays game the venue was called the SkyDome and Joe Carter, Devon White and Roberto Alomar were on the team. On August 5th we watched the Jays beat the Texas Rangers four to one at the Rogers Centr. It was hubby's first baseball game and other than the searing sun, he enjoyed the "cultural experience". Thanks Barb & Iggy.

Road trip to North Carolina

2007-07-24T07:59:00.000-04:00

Follow our smart car odyssey on my smart car blog at:
http://smartcar.blogspot.com

Saranac Lake & Lake Placid

2007-06-09T09:03:00.000-04:00

Breakfast at the Village Diner - $15 including tip - where all the locals are curious about the smart car.
Drove to Saranac Lake where I bought a fleece hoody as the weather was a chilly 9 C. We checked out the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, which unfortunately only runs on weekends at this time of year. Quick tour of Lake Placid, which seems to have been invaded by aging bikers, and stop for a lunch of homemade soup and sandwiches at Saranac Sourdough.
To Karen & Pete's house, just outside of Lake Placid village and a delicious salmon supper. Slept in a comfy cabin with a wood fire in the stove and an incinerator toilet.
Next morning we take a tour of John Brown's farm and grave in North Elba where our guide was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about her subject. Antislavery activist, and some would say martyr, John Brown was born at Torrington, Conn., on May 4, 1800. " He said later that he had realized the sin of slavery, "the sum of all villainies," at 12, and that seeing an African American boy mistreated had "led him to declare, or swear: eternal war with slavery." He also developed a great interest in military history, especially in the guerrilla warfare of the Napoleonic Wars and in the Haitian slave rebellion. According to family testimony, he finally concluded that slavery could be destroyed only by atonement in blood, deciding in 1839 that the South, "Africa itself," should be invaded and the slaves freed at gunpoint. If he actually made such a plan, he kept it to himself for another decade, meanwhile trying and failing at a number of business ventures, always in debt. He moved his family 10 times until in 1849 he settled on a farm at North Elba, N.Y., that was part of a project financed by philanthropist Gerrit Smith for the training of free African Americans."
In the evening we drive to Bluseed Studios in Saranac Lake for a concert by banjo veteran Danny Barnes and singer/songwriter Kris Delmhorst. The gig is a sell out - they turn about a dozen people away. The packed house is a very appreciative audience.
We stay overnight in a spacious townhouse at Lake Placid Club Lodges.

Potsdam, New York

2007-06-05T21:30:00.000-04:00

Left home 8 o'clock this morning and stopped at Joyceville, ON for some 83.9 cent a litre diesel. Pouring rain for much of the journey. No problem at Ogdensburg border crossing but the town was not what you'd call "inviting" so we pressed on to Potsdam.
'Ogdensburg, city (1990 pop. 13,521), St. Lawrence co., N N.Y., on the St. Lawrence River at the mouth of the Oswegatchie, in a resort area, opposite Prescott, Ont. (with which it is connected by an international bridge); settled by French missionaries and trappers 1749, inc. as a city 1868. A variety of light industrial products are made there; two state prisons are important to the local economy. In the city is a museum with works of Frederic Remington, who lived in Ogdensburg." Source=answers.com
We check into the Clarkson Inn and have a siesta before heading out for dinner at Sergi's Italian Restaurant on Market Street where the service is sketchy. We order an ensalata caprese but the waitress says, "The owner is out and we can't find the cheese."

Toronto Islands

2007-05-27T08:46:00.000-04:00

Thursday 24 May, 2007
The adventurers returned to Toronto Wednesday night and had coffee at Starbucks, downstairs in our condo building, before returning the rental car.
The McBeans head downtown and take the ferry to the Toronto Islands: "The area of the islands is about 230 hectares. The largest, outermost island, commonly called Centre Island, is crescent-shaped and forms the shoreline of both the Eastern and Western Channels. Algonquin and Olympic are two of the other major islands. What is commonly called Ward's Island is actually the eastern end of Centre Island. In the 1930s, the western end was supplemented by landfill so that the island airport could be created. Landfill was also used to create the former amusement park operated by the Toronto Ferry Company." Source: Wikipedia

McBean & Maloney Road Trip

2007-05-27T08:28:00.000-04:00

On their road trip to Algonquin park, hubby and the McBeans stopped at Bracebridge and Gravenhurst on the way to Huntsville where they stayed Monday & Tuesday nights.

To Barrie for a Maloney reunion on Wednesday, May 23. Bernie's uncle and aunt immigrated from Ireland to Barrie, Ontario in 1930. Some of their nine children (or their widows) still live in the area. The youngest of this branch of Maloneys was at one time a household name in Toronto. Dan Maloney first played with and later coached the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team.

Bear Watching

2007-05-23T09:03:00.000-04:00

Photo by Bernie McBean.

I'd heard of bird-watching and whale-watching but wasn't sure what to think when Bernie said she wanted to go bear-watching. When my sister-in-law was here from the UK she saw seven moose one day in Algonquin Provincial Park so hubby figured that was a good place for the McBeans to see some Canadian wildlife.

"Algonquin was established in 1893, not to stop logging but to establish a wildlife sanctuary, and by excluding agriculture, to protect the headwaters of the five major rivers which flow from the Park. Soon it was "discovered", at first by adventurous fishermen, then by Tom Thomson and The Group of Seven [Canadian Artists], and a host of other visitors who came by train and stayed at one of Algonquin's several hotels."

Got this text message from them yesterday: No bears, 6 moose, deer, lots of mozzies & old rail track now dining in Hville [Huntsville].

Sunnyside Cafe

2007-05-22T19:14:00.000-04:00

Monday 21 May, 2006

Hubby & the McBeans where packed up and on the road north to Huntsville by 10:30 this morning. They are booked into the Comfort Inn there for two nights and will return on Wednesday after meeting up with the Clan Maloney in Barrie, Ontario on Wednesday.

Sunday 20 May, 2006

Our guests spent a leisurely morning before setting of on a walk through High Park to Sunnyside Cafe. "The name "Sunnyside" had been used to denote a beach and its surrounding area for 70-plus years before the amusement park opened. The name may have been coined by George Howard, a prominent citizen whom in 1848 had built a home overlooking the shore on the sunny side of a hill. The other possibility is that subsequent owner George Cheney, named it after American author Washington Irving's home in Tarrytown, New York." Read more about the pavilion's history here.

I had been at Sunnyside very early Saturday morning with the camera club from my church (Keele Street Christian Church) and took the photos seen here.

The FA Cup & Hughs Room

2007-05-21T09:08:00.000-04:00

Saturday 19 May, 2007

While here in Toronto, Andy McBean has got hooked on watching the National Hockey League playoffs. Andy & Bernie went to their "local", Mackenzies Bar & Grill 1982 Bloor Street location, to watch the FA Cup (Chelsea beat Manchester United). I think Andy found it dull compared to the hockey he's been watching!

In the evening we go to Hugh's Room , a supper and concert venue, for the Third Annual John Prine Shrine where nine musicians play tribute to the acclaimed singer/songwriter. Highlights included the guitar picking of Wendell Ferguson and fiddle playing of Sahra Featherstone.

Toronto Harbour Cruise

2007-05-19T13:33:00.000-04:00

You always learn new things about your city when visitors come and do the tourist sites. The McBeans went on a Mariposa Cruises tour of the Toronto Harbour aboard the Oriole: A Great Lakes Steamship replica, all 76 feet have been decorated with the perfect blend of varnished woods, wrought iron, polished brass and plush upholstery. The comfortable dining space is warmly lit by traditional brass coach lamps and features large picture windows and an oak stool bar.
The tour guide pointed out the Amsterdam Bridge: The steel structure is a cable footbridge that crosses over the Simcoe Street Slip. The Amsterdam Bridge commemorates the twinning of the two cities. Similarly, a bridge that crosses the Amstel river in Amsterdam was renamed Toronto Bridge. They also learned about the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, rumoured to be haunted.
Earlier in the day, they visited the docklands and the Distillery District stopping at Balzac for coffee.

Fort York and Harbourfront

2007-05-17T22:05:00.000-04:00

Thursday 17 May, 2007
To Fort York where the costumed staff are putting visiting school kids through military drills. In 1793, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe authorized a garrison on the present site of Fort York, just west of the mouth of Garrison Creek on the north eastern shore of Lake Ontario. Simcoe recognized Toronto was an ideal site for settlement and defence because of its natural harbour and relative distance from the United States. Fort York guards the western (at the time of construction, the only) entrance to Toronto harbour. Simcoe had decided to make Toronto (at that time called York) the capital of Upper Canada, and the government, the first parliament buildings and the town were established one and a half miles east of the fort (near the foot of the present Parliament Street).
The McBeans travel eastward to Harbourfront where they have lunch and do some souvenir shopping.
Wednesday 16 May, 2007
A cool, rainy day and an unofficial day of rest for the McBeans. It's hard to keep up the pace while on holiday and a day to regroup is often just what you need.

Blue Mountain and Creemore

2007-05-17T21:46:00.000-04:00

Tuesday 14 May, 2007
Driving the rented Toyota Yaris back to Toronto from Collingwood, hubby & the McBeans stop to enjoy the view from Blue Mountain. They take a detour and go for lunch at Creemore which is tucked away in the valley of the Mad River, surrounded by what everyone calls the Purple Hills. " Artists have been coming here for years to set up their studios and paint the beautiful scenery. The commercial centre in the village has been doing good business for over 100 years...it started with lumber, then shipping hogs to Toronto. Now it's the brewery and a bunch of stores to shop and places to eat run by friendly folks eager to chat and provide some old-fashioned personal service."

From Goderich to Collingwood

2007-05-17T16:39:00.000-04:00

Monday 14 May, 2007
In Goderich, hubby and the McBeans visited the Huron County Museum. (The Huron County Museum is located in the original old Central School, erected in 1856. The original Museum collection was brought together by Mr. Joseph Herbert Neill (1884-1969) as a result of a lifetime of collecting. In 1948, he sold all of his 4,000 objects to the County of Huron for an average price of one dollar per object and with two conditions. First, that the County establish a public museum and second, that he be made the Curator for as long as he wished to hold the position.)

They stayed overnight at the Beild House Country Inn & Spa in Collingwood: This grand turn-of-the-century home was built for Dr. Joseph Arthur who named it Beild House (a Scottish word for shelter). Each of the guest rooms features its own unique decor, a gentle blending of antique furnishings with modern amenities.

Kitchener and Goderich

2007-05-17T16:19:00.000-04:00

Sunday 13 May 2007
To Kitchener on Mother's Day to stay with my Mom for a few days. (A city of southern Ontario, Canada, west-southwest of Toronto. Settled by Mennonites (1806) and by Germans who named it Berlin in 1825, it was renamed in honor of Lord Kitchener in 1916. Population: 210,000.) Hubby and McBeans came in for tea before heading northwest to Goderich on Lake Huron where they stayed at the Bedford Hotel. (Goderich's downtown has a unique octagonal traffic circle known as 'The Square'. The county courthouse stands in the middle of The Square. Sifto Canada, Inc operates a salt mine underneath Goderich's harbour. The mine extends 5 kilometers under Lake Huron, and is the largest salt mine in the world.)

Credit Valley Explorer Train

2007-05-16T20:25:00.000-04:00

Saturday 12 May, 2007
We arrive at the station in Orangeville in time for some photos before the 11 o'clock excursion train departure. " Tours travel along a route that was completed in 1879, known as the Credit Valley Railway. The rail line travels from Orangeville south through the Hills of Headwaters region, through the Caledon Hills and the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, then through the Peel Plains region to Brampton and on to Streetsville in Mississauga. Passenger tours travel as far south as Snelgrove in north Brampton. Our busy freight service connects Orangeville and Brampton with the Canadian Pacific Railway main line in Streetsville."
On our way home we stop at the Canadian Tire Store parking lot for the first Street Classics Cruise of the season. The warm sunny weather has brought the classic cars and their fans out in droves.

Shopping Day

2007-05-16T20:09:00.000-04:00

Friday May 11th 2007

Went on a shopping spree with the McBeans. First stop Weston Bakery Outlet where the bargain of the day was six baguettes for $1 CAD = 45 p GBP. Next to Dimpflmeier's Bakery outlet where we have 4 cups of coffee and 4 pastries (pictured here) that cost $7.45 CAD = £ 3.42 GBP.

On to Sherway Gardens, a large suburban shopping mall, where we shop for shoes, jeans, luggage, picture frames and more. Then we drop in to Payless Shoes and Mark's Work Wearhouse across the street before our final stop at the grocery store, Sobeys.

Niagara

2007-05-11T07:22:00.000-04:00

After picking up a rental car, we drive to Niagara Falls stopping for coffee at Tim Horton's in Grimsby on the way. Niagara falls has three sections: American Falls — At about 170 ft/52 m high, these falls are located between Prospect Point and Luna Island. Bridal Veil Falls — Located between Luna Island and Goat Island, this is the smallest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. Horseshoe Falls — Otherwise known as the Canadian Falls, these falls are about 170 ft/52 m high and the crest line is an estimated 2200 ft/675 m wide. The depth of the river at the base of the falls — 184 ft/56 m — is actually higher than the falls itself.
The adventurous McBeans opt for a "Journey Behind the Falls" tour and are not disappointed. Next to the Niagara Gorge where the brave Bernie rides the Whirlpool Aero Car. "The Spanish Aero Car was designed to travel 1,770 feet (539m) across the Whirlpool from Canadian terminus at Colt's Point (where the ticket office is located and where passengers embark) to Canadian terminal at Thompson Point, at a height of 250 feet (76 meters) above the surface of the turbulent waters. The Aero Car has a capacity of 40 persons.
The Olde Angel Inn at Niagara-on-the-lake is always a great place to stop for a beverage when taking visitors to see the falls. It's the closest thing to a British pub in our part of the world.
We get to the Welland Canal just in time to see a huge laker passing through Lock 3. "Welland Ship Canal, 27.6 mi (44.4 km) long, SE Ont., Canada, connecting Lake Ontario with Lake Erie and bypassing Niagara Falls. Built between 1914 and 1932 by Canada to replace a canal opened in 1829, it can accommodate (minimum depth 27 ft/8 m) the largest lake ships. Its eight locks overcome a 326-ft (99-m) difference in level between the lakes. The Lake Ontario entrance is near Port Dalhousie; the Lake Erie entrance is at Port Colborne. It is part of the St. Lawrence Seaway system."
Dinner at O Sushi Place, 2330 Lakeshore Rd W, Oakville, where the food and service are excellent. The host gives Andy a sake tutorial and sample of "beginner's sake".
We stop for a photo op at Bazar McBean Chartered Accounts before heading home.

Downtown Toronto with the McBeans

2007-05-09T17:59:00.000-04:00

Downtown by subway train then streetcar. We walk up Yonge Street and drop in to Sam the Record Man's: "Sam the Record Man is a Canadian record store chain.
The chain was first launched in 1936 by Sam Sniderman, as a record department in his family's existing radio store in Toronto. In 1961, the store moved out to its own location on Yonge Street, and its location at 347 Yonge Street has become a Toronto landmark. The four story record store located to the site in 1961 and added two spinning record neon signs. The record store also obtained the building at 349 Yonge Street in 1985, formerly Steele's Tavern. " Source: answers.com
Next Bernie and I tackle the CN Tower while to boys opt for a tour of Steamwhistle Brewery nearby."Defining the Toronto skyline, the CN Tower is Canada's most recognizable and celebrated icon. At a height of 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 inches), it is Canada’s National Tower, the World's Tallest Building, an important telecommunications hub, and the centre of tourism in Toronto. Each year, approximately 2 million people visit the CN Tower to take in the breath-taking view and enjoy all the attractions it has to offer.The CN Tower was built in 1976 by Canadian National (CN) who wanted to demonstrate the strength of Canadian industry by building a tower taller than any other in the world."

Bird watching with the McBeans

2007-05-09T17:50:00.000-04:00

Breakfast at the Grenadier Cafe in High Park then a walk south to Lake Ontario and west to Humber Bay Park. Birdwatching highlights are a pair of Northern Orioles (right) and a Tree Swallow (left) that seems to be posing for the camera. We also see: Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards, Common Golden Eyes, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gulls, Common Terns, Rock Doves, Mourning Doves, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Barn Swallows, American Robins, European Starlings, various types of Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and Cormorants.

We take the street car to the Butler's Pantry on Roncesvalles for lunch with an international flare: Moroccan Vegetable Tajine, Kosharee, Jambalaya, and Norwegian Smoked Salmon on a bagel.

The McBeans visit

2007-05-08T07:10:00.000-04:00

Andy & Bernie arrived at J C Munro Airport in Hamilton yesterday at 4:30. They flew on Globespan from London Stansted and were unaware that it was necessary to pre-book in flight meals.
After a brief scuffle at customs over the importation of jars of Marmite, they were wisked to our condo by Chaplin Clive in his Jeep Cherokee.
They seem to be adjusting well to the time change and don't seem at all jetlagged. We had a quiet dinner at home and hubby took them on a mini pub crawl of Bloor West Village.

From the Disciples to the Christian Choir

2007-05-05T22:15:00.000-04:00

This afternoon we drop by Cloverdale Mall's 50th Anniversary celebration where the joint is jumping as radio station 1050 Chum, (which celebrates its 50th later this month), broadcasts live. Robbie Lane and the Disciples get the crowd dancing to covers of classic 50s and 60s songs like Bony Maroney and Shout! Originally an open air mall, Cloverdale was the first shopping centre in Etobicoke. It was enclosed in 1970s in response to the opening of Sherway Gardens, a larger mall to the south in 1971.In the evening, Keele Street Christian Church hosts the Great Lakes Christian College Choir. Made up of high school student, this well disciplined a cappella group sings in a range of styles from the Baroque to spirituals to modern praise music under the direction of Rick McBay. The vocal harmonies are amazing and they do an awesome job of "Days of Elijah" and "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross".

Mad Violet

2007-04-22T14:45:00.000-04:00

To Hugh's Room for dinner and concert featuring Toronto-based songwriting duo Madviolet , Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac, who have just returned from their third tour of Australia where they have been promoting their latest album Caravan.

"The relaxed, organic feel of Caravan points Madviolet in a fresh direction as a recording act, one that taps deeps into their musical roots and channels the energy of their live shows. “I think we’ve got a lot closer to the essence of Madviolet – nobody’s going to mistake us for another acoustic chick duo,” says Lisa with a laugh. Adds Brenley: “We’re developing our sound. We’re building audiences in different countries on different continents. We’re excited to see where things go next.” (view source)

I love their vocal harmonies and am amazed at how they both confidently change instruments (guitars, violin, banjo) for different numbers during the set.

Amazing Grace

2007-04-22T14:23:00.000-04:00

Keele Street Christian Church's bible study group met at the movie theatre for a screening of Amazing Grace which tells the story of MP William Wilberforce and his campaign to abolish the British Empire's slave trade.
I am currently reading: Bury the Chains by Adam Hochschild and couldn't help comparing the film's account to historical record.
I particularly enjoyed Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (pictured here).
Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour is impressive in his screen debut as Olaudah Equiano: "A central figure in the abolitionist movement in Great Britain, Olaudah Equiano (c.1745–1797) wrote an eyewitness account of his life as a slave and of his work in the anti-slavery movement: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa the African. Though born in what is now Nigeria, Equiano was kidnapped and sold into slavery in childhood and taken as a slave to the New World. As a slave to a captain in the Royal Navy, and later to a Quaker merchant, he eventually earned the price of his own freedom by careful trading and saving. " N'Dour also collaborated on the film's soundtrack.

Elora

2007-04-21T11:53:00.000-04:00

To Elora where we view the famed gorge and take a walking tour of the town. By the river we discover derelict indusrial buildings and enjoy taking photos and conjecturing as to the history of the area.

We have lunch at the Desert Rose Cafe a funky vegetarian restaurant at 130 Metcalfe Street. I opt for a soup and half sandwich combo. Yummy cream of asparagus is the soup of the day and I order it with a tofu spread sandwich: "A delicious mixture of organic tofu, finely chopped celery, carrots, parsely, and a hint of garlic. It tastes like egg salad!"

Shakespeare in Canada

2007-04-20T20:02:00.000-04:00

To the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre to view the Shakespeare - Made In Canada exhibit where the star attraction is the Sanders portrait purported to be the only one painted of the bard in his lifetime. It certainly is an enigmatic piece. Is it actually a portrait of William Shakespeare? The jury's still out on that one.
We tour the The Donald Forster Sculpture Park and enjoy taking photos of the diverse works. My favourites are two of Evan Penny's Pieces: Mask, 1989 bronze (pictured left) and Monad, 1989-1990 ciment fondu, steel (pictured right).
In the evening I go to my daughter's Tuesday worship group hosted by guitarist Isaac. I was not sure what to expect but felt welcomed and strangely at home sitting on a cushion on the floor with over twenty twenty-something-year-olds singing traditional hymns and modern worship songs by candle light. In a high-tech twist, words and guitar chords are displayed on laptops throughout the room which are linked by a wireless network so that they can be operated by the song leader.

Guelph via VIA

2007-04-17T10:55:00.000-04:00

I take the subway to Union Station and line up to buy a one-way ticket to Guelph, a stop on the Toronto-Sarnia line. There are six employees behind three wickets but only one person is serving folk in the increasingly long queue. I'm wondering if I should have stuck with Greyhound, my usual mode of travel.

With my $24.38 ticket in hand, I go in search of coffee. We board promptly at 10:40 and depart on schedule at 10:55.

I've never been on this particular line and struggle at times to pin point where exactly in the city we are until I catch sight of a familiar bridge or other landmark.

It goes without saying that you've got more "personal space" on a VIA car than the on the "hound". You also get views of city and landscapes you don't get blatting along the 401. One can even purchase drinks and snacks on board, although when a fellow passenger pays $1.75 for a bottle of water, I'm glad I bought my coffee at Union Station.

After a brief stop at Brampton, we arrive at Guelph Station 7 minutes ahead of schedule.

I walk across the street from the station to meet my daughter at the Cornerstone Cafe. I'm sipping a ginormous cup of green tea when she arrives. We both opt for their signature vegan Cornerstone Club sandwich which I , once again, vow to replicate at home. Although the food is great the service could best be described as quirky. Read reviews here.

Rocky Horror Show at CanStage

2007-04-05T07:39:00.000-04:00

To the Bluma Appel Theatre for the final show in our CanStage subscription. This stage adaptation of cult film, Rocky Horror Picture Show, stars Adam Brazier in the role of extraterrestrial transvestite Dr. Frank N. Furter.

Film screenings are notorious for their raucous level of audience participation. Some aspects of this (shout-outs, doing the time warp in the aisles, putting a newspaper over your head during the thunderstorm scene) are encouraged by CanStage, while others such as throwing confetti are not. (See full instructions here.)

We renewed our subscriptions for next season and luckily met up with Etobicoke School of the Arts alumnus David Lopez who occasionally steals the spotlight as a Phantom (He is also an understudy Frank-n-Furter and Riff-Raff ). I ask him to autograph my program. His stellar performance in last year's production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ garnered him a a Dora Award nomination for Best Actor.

H-K-A Tour:More Australian Inscrutable Signs

2007-04-04T18:19:00.000-04:00

H-K-A Tour: Australian Inscrutable Signs

2007-04-04T18:14:00.000-04:00

In white spraypaint: "McDonald's Drive Through"

H-K-A Tour: New Zealand Inscrutable Signs

2007-04-03T13:51:00.000-04:00

H-K-A Tour: Hong Kong Inscrutable Signs

2007-04-02T08:45:00.000-04:00

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour:Hong Kong Summary - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

2007-03-31T18:41:00.000-04:00

Hong Kong Summary: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (in no particular order)

Good
- Stanley Market
- Hong Kong Maritime Museum
- cheap taxi & ferry fares
- trams
- Shek O Headland
- Yung Shue Wan
- Hong Kong Museum of History
- restaurant meals
- no vehicles on Lamma Island

Bad
- gridlock; crowded sidewalks
- aggressive salesmen on Nathan Road

Ugly
- poor air quality due to smog & humidity
- no view from the peak (see above)

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 42 Central, Hong Kong

2007-03-31T17:58:00.000-04:00

Taxi to Hong Kong Station to check in luggage & get boarding cards for flight home. We take the ferry to Kowloon and walk to the Hong Kong Museum of History where school groups of various ages are arriving for their tours. We luck out as admission to the "Story of Hong Kong" exhibit is free today.

"Occupying an area of 7,000 m2, The Hong Kong Story comprises 8 galleries located on two floors. Through the display of over 4,000 exhibits with the use of 750 graphic panels, a number of dioramas and multi-media programmes, and enhanced with special audio-visual and lighting effects, The Hong Kong Story outlines the natural environment, folk culture and historical development of Hong Kong vividly."

It is definitely a world-class museum and my only regret is that we were not able to visit earlier in the tour.

In the snack bar we enjoy a delicious, reasonably priced lunch of angel-hair noodles topped with a creamy sauce and three types of mushrooms.

We take the train from Kowloon Station to the airport and have a fairly comfortable flight home, stopping at Anchorage for refuelling.

Chaplin Clive kindly is waiting at Pearson Airport to pick us up and has thoughtfully brought a few provisions to welcome us back home.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 40 Lamma Island, Hong Kong

2007-03-31T17:44:00.000-04:00

Enjoyed a leisurely coffee and croissant while watching the early morning commuters hustle to catch the ferry to Central. I was fascinated by the variety of small crabs scuttling and battling each other on the beach.

Pleasantly, there are no cars on Lamma Island, only small open-cabbed trucks referred to as "village vehicles".

"Yung Shue Wan (Banyan Bay) is the most populated area on Lamma Island. Several decades ago, it was the center of the plastics industry. The factories have now been replaced by seafood restaurants, pubs, grocery stores and shops which sell oriental and Indian-style handicrafts, environmentally friendly products, clothing, homewear and art. The area has become popular among young people and expatriates owing to the low rent and peaceful setting." Source: www.answers.com

Chow Yun-Fat, a well-known actor [who portrays Captain Sao Feng in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"], grew up on the island in the village of Tung O in Yung Shue Wan. His family still operates a seafood/pigeon restaurant called "Shau Kee" in the main village. I took a photo of his plaque on the "Avenue of the Stars" in Kowloon earlier in our trip.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 39 Lamma Island, Hong Kong

2007-03-27T00:13:00.000-04:00

Breakfast at McDonald's before meeting brother-in-law Julian at the terminal ferry. Took the bus to Stanley where we visited the Hong Kong Maritime Museum.

I do some souvenir shopping in Stanley Market then we take a taxi to Shek O. After lunch, deep-fried bean curd, cashews & vegetables, I walk along the scenic headland.

"Stanley is a town and a tourist attraction in Hong Kong, China. It is a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It is east of Repulse Bay and west of Shek O, adjacent to Chung Hom Kok. Administratively, it is part of the Southern District.
The proper Chek Chue refers to the village town but Stanley generally refers to all the surrounding areas of the peninsula after the beginning of British rule and native Cantonese name Chek Chue became synonym to Stanley." Source: www.answers.com

Bus, MTR (subway train) and ferry to Yung Shue Wan on Lamma Island where check in at the

Waterfront bar & restaurant, where we are staying for two nights, before having dinner there.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 38 Central, Hong Kong

2007-03-27T00:07:00.000-04:00

Returned campervan to Wicked depot in Cairns, then taxi to airport and long wait before check in for flight to Hong Kong. Service during six and a half hour flight was so-so.

Airport train from Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island into Central on Hong Kong Island. Taxi to Central Park Hotel where we stayed on the twenty-first floor overlooking the city.

Aussie Vocabulary

2007-03-23T20:54:00.000-04:00

1. rort (verb) : to cheat or defraud
2. bench (noun): a countertop as in a kitchen
3. manchester (noun): all encompassing name for linen e g: towels, sheets
4. flat white (noun): espresso coffee with hot milk
5. gone troppo (adjective): dropped out of the rat race and/or acting strangely in the tropics
6. how're you going?: most common Aussie greeting (you rarely hear G'day)
7. no worries: multi-purpose expression, often means "you're welcome"
8. thongs (noun): flip-flops not g-strings
9. singlet (noun): camisole or tanktop
10. fine (adjective): clear as in weather
11. servo (noun): service/gas station
12. bushranger (noun): outlaw or highwayman
13. ocker (noun): unsophisticated person (equivalent to red-neck)
14. no dramas: expression meaning "not a problem"

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Australia Summary - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

2007-03-23T20:45:00.000-04:00

Australia Summary: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (in no particular order)

Good
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Puffing Billy Steam Railway
- trams in Melbourne
- meeting family members in Hervey Bay
- Tropical crops - sugarcane, coffee, mangoes, bananas etc
- Wallabies at Charters Towers
- Brisbane Botanical Gardens
- Feeding the possums
- Birdworld in Kuranda
- Dinner at Sinan's Cafe Melbourne
- Flying Foxes
- Cane trains
- Campsites particularly: Lakes at Townsville & Kuranda Rainforest Accommodation
- Great Ocean Road & the 12 apostles
- Utes and Old Holden cars
- The Outback
- Cafe East in Brisbane
- Coffee & Banana bread with Frank and Blossom

Bad
- Kuranda railway not operating due to mud/rock slide
- Restauranteurs who try to rip off tourists in Sydney
- Lack of filter/drip coffee
- Government sponsored tourist attractions
- Train/bus combo ticket that didn't take us where we wanted to go

Ugly
- Graffiti & tagging epidemic in Melbourne. In contrast, Sydney has waged war on spray painters.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 37 Cairns, Queensland, Au

2007-03-23T20:39:00.000-04:00

Short drive north to see neighbouring town of Mossman then south to Cairns.
Visited library for internet and had lunch in cafe nearby. Checked into campground that was by far the busiest we've encountered on tour. Many European, Canadian and American twenty-something year olds.
Pizza dinner at Bel Paese in town and then to IGA for a few provisions. Getting ready to hand in Wicked campervan and fly to Hong Kong tomorrow.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 36 Port Douglas, Queensland, Au

2007-03-22T22:30:00.000-04:00

Up early and out to breakfast at the Cafe Kuranda - locally grown tropical fruitsalad with yogurt and muesli (granola).
To Birdworld - a place I was reticent to leave."In the heart of Kuranda, 30 minutes from Cairns, Birdworld Kuranda is one of the largest free-flight aviaries in Australia. More than 500 birds from around the globe fly freely amongst the rainforest trees above. Amongst the flutter of wings and the birdsong is 56 different species of native Australian birds living in the safe enclosure, including brightly coloured parrots, playful lorikeets and the large elusive cassowary."
For $2AU I purchased a small package of foods (sunflower seeds, almonds & peanuts all in the shell, dried corn on the cob, celery and an arrowroot biscuit) to feed the birds. It was amazing to have parrots eating out of your had. The real highlight was seeing and feeding the cassawories. An Indian ring-necked parrot alit on my shoulder so that it could better choose a morsel of food from what I was offering. It was an experience I'll never forget.
Drove north on the Captain Cook Highway to Port Douglas where we stopped for lunch at Java Blue Cafe. Booked into a self-catering cabin at Pandanus Caravan Park for a quiet night.
"Any of several species of ratite (family Casuariidae) of the Australo-Papuan region. Related to the emu, it has been known to kill humans with slashing blows of its feet, which have long, daggerlike claws on the innermost toe. It has a featherless blue head protected by a bony crest and has a black body (immature birds are brownish). It moves rapidly along narrow tracks in the bush. Cassowaries eat fruit and small animals. The largest species is the common, or southern, cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), which stands almost 5 ft (1.5 m) tall." Source: www.answers.com

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 35 Kuranda, Queensland, Au

2007-03-22T22:14:00.000-04:00

Scenic drive through Millaa Milaa ( the town that went troppo) and onto the waterfall circuit which takes in the Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Elingaa falls. We spot many interesting bird species including lapwings, brush turkeys and laughing kookaburras as well as morpho and other butterflies.
Tasty lunch of curried pumpkin soup with cheese & shallot panini at the Malanda Dairy Centre where the service and food are excellent.
Met Jeanine again for tea before heading north through coffee plantation country to Kuranda where we camp at the Rainforest Accomodation Park.
"Malanda is a small town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is Located 85 km from Cairns and 732 m above-sea level. Malanda was first developed in the 1880s when the discovery of tin at Herberton saw a steady stream of miners moving over the mountains from the coast. It is the administrative centre for Eacham Shire Council." Source: www.answers.com

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 34 Malanda, Queensland, Au

2007-03-20T22:37:00.000-04:00

To the Malanda Falls Visitors Centre where the volunteers couldn't have been more helpful or friendlier. Watched a dvd about Australian Birds and learned a lot from the Centre's displays.

Malanda is on: "The Atherton Tablelands/Cairns Highlands is a blend of the best attractions of the wet tropics and the dry outback charm; a combination of nature and lifestyle at its finest. Among the World Heritage listed rainforests, national parks, mountains, rivers, lakes and waterfalls are some of Australia's richest agricultural lands, cattle country and charming small townships.
Biologists have described the spectacular rainforests of the Wet Tropics as the "greatest celebration of life on earth". The farm and grazing lands are "the food bowl" of far North Queensland - yielding a constant supply of fruit, vegetables and grains to local and export markets."

It is said that the Atherton Table Lands are the only place on earth where tea, coffee, milk and sugar are all produced.

Had lunch at the historic Malanda Hotel and decided to stay at the Motel there. The Malanda Hotel, built in 1911 claims to be the largest wooden structure in the Southern Hemisphere with its grand ballroom and staircase.

Met another Willmett genealogy collaborator, Jeanine, for tea and great conversation .

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 33 Atherton, Queensland, Au

2007-03-19T22:26:00.000-04:00

After an excellent scrambled egg breakfast at a gas station restaurant, we hit the highway for Atherton.

Stopped at Ravenshoe and chatted with Grahame West at the Ravenshoe Railway where they are busily preparing for the launch of their tourist season at Easter time. "In 1990, a group of steam railway enthusiasts formed RailCo to begin operating a 1925 D17 Ipswich-made Tank Engine they’d restored on the 100 year old Ravenshoe to Tumoulin line." It was named “Capella” after the town near Brisbane where it had stood idle for 25 years. Capella’s carriages, mostly made from cedar, are from the 1930’s “Sunshine Express” which ran on the main line from Brisbane to Cairns."

Booked into the Hinterland Motel in Atherton, which is under new management. The service was wonderful and the rooms have been updated with new tvs etc. Drove down to Platypus Park to view local wild life. There were many ducks, turtles and yes a platypus or two in the pond.

Picked up a pizz and some cold drinks and chilled in our motel room watching hit Aussie gameshow "The Rich List"on tv.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 32 Georgetown, Queensland, Au

2007-03-18T20:22:00.000-04:00

I count the road trains that we encounter on the highway from Charters Towers to Georgetown ( 22). From Wikipedia: "A road train consists of a relatively conventional prime mover, but instead of pulling a single semi-trailer the road train pulls more than one of them.
Australia has the largest and heaviest road-legal vehicles in the world, with some configurations topping out at close to 200 metric tons. The majority though are between 80 and 120 tonnes. Two-trailer road trains, or "doubles" are allowed in all Australian states except Victoria and Tasmania, and into two capital cities - Adelaide in South Australia, and Perth in Western Australia. Three trailer road trains (triples) operate in western New South Wales, western Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with the last three states also allowing AB-Quads (3.5 trailers). Darwin, NT, is the only capital city in the world that will allow triples and quads to within 1km of the CBD."

We encounter groups of emu, a dingo picking up carrion from the road, and a "free underbody wash"at Mt. Surprise that is designed to prevent the spread of weed seeds.

Camping at Goldfield's Caravan Park is quiet and it lives up to its billing of "abundant bird life".

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 31 Charters Towers, Queensland, Au

2007-03-18T20:10:00.000-04:00

Not given any choice, we go to McDonald's for breakfast and are pleasantly surprised. For about $10 AU we get breakfast for two, free coffee refills and free Saturday papers to read.
We visit the Museum of Tropical Queensland which features the story of the Pandora: The British Admiralty sent HMS Pandora in pursuit of the Bounty and her mutinous crew. On her return voyage, having captured 14 of the mutineers in Tahiti, the Pandora struck the Great Barrier Reef . Although the crew tried desperately to save the ship, she sank in the early hours of 29th August 1791.""
In Charters Towers we meet the friendliest and most helpful couple at the tourist info place. We opt for a cabin at the Mexican Tourist Village. We head up to the scenic lookout on Charters Towers Hill at sunset and are not disappointed. Countless rock wallabies pop in and out and seem undisturbed by human visitors.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 30 Townsville, Queensland, Au

2007-03-18T19:52:00.000-04:00

Townsville lives up to its reputation as being hot and humid as we go walkabout to find both Willmett Street and the Willmett's Building (more about the Willmett family printing business here ) that carry the name of hubby's relatives. Visited the beautifully tropical ANZAC Gardens and Belgian Gardens Cemetery on family history trail.

After a tasty lunch at Bistro One, we pop into the Townsville Maritime Museum to meet John Weir - a relative and expert on the Willmetts of Townsville. We visit the West End Cemtery and book into the Lakes Holiday Park which has ensuite toilet & shower.

We enjoy a lovely dinner with John & Nell at the West End Hotel.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 29 Townsville, Queensland, Au

2007-03-16T19:49:00.000-04:00

Gruelling 732 km drive from Rockhampton to Townsville in the humid heat of tropical Queensland. Fascinating to see fields of sugarcane and banana, pineapple & mango planations en route.
Enjoyed listening to Capricornia Radio 837 AM including an interview with Ken Lee, who with father Bing Lee established a chain of electronics stores in Sydney.
Watched a very informative film about local sugar production at the Historical Museum of Proserpine. Proserpine: Proserpine is a town situated on the Bruce Highway in the state of Queensland, Australia. The town's economy revolves mostly around sugar and tourism. Proserpine is the administrative centre of the Whitsunday Shire Council local government area that also incorporates the Whitsunday Islands and Airlie Beach.
Early settlers established the town in the 1880s and named it after the ancient Greek goddess Persephone (Latin: Proserpina). Source: wikipedia
Photographed the Big Mango at Bowen.
Camped at Magnetic Island Holiday Village in Townsville.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 28 Rockhampton, Queensland, Au

2007-03-16T19:37:00.000-04:00

Awoke to the sound of sulphur-crested cockatoos chatting in the garden. The variety of interesting birds here is staggering. To hubby's cousin Kathy's for coffee and cheesecake after breakfast at Jenny's. (Amazing how we have 3 sets of relatives in this small community in Australia.)
Visited the public library where Brett A. Jones has mounted an interesting art exhibition. See his website http://www.seaofpain.com/ for more. We have lunch at a cafe on the beach and stop to take photos of a stand of trees covered with flying foxes.
We head north and stay at Rocky Gardens Motor Inn at Rockhampton where the food is surprisingly very good in the Ferns Restaurant.

Rockhampton, Queensland: "Rockhampton was founded in 1855, soon after the pioneering Archer Brothers settled at Gracemere, 6.5 kms to the west. It was named by Queensland's first Land Commissioner, Mr W. Wiseman, who was inspired by the rocks in the river.A mini gold rush at Canoona - 48kms to the north - accelerated the establishment of the city. Gold discoveries at nearby Bouldercombe, Mount Wheeler and Mount Morgan ensured continued economic growth of the region. Grazing, mining, farming and meat processing quickly developed as the primary industries of the resource-rich area, and Rockhampton thrived as the service centre.'

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 27 Hervey Bay, Queensland, Au

2007-03-16T19:23:00.000-04:00

When we picked up our Wicked Camper, there was a film crew doing a piece for TV. Hubby gave them an interview, I tried to stay out of the way.
Was fun and interesting to meet my distant relative Alan & his wife at McCafe (a division of McDonalds) for coffee in Hervey Bay (approx 320km north of Brisbane).
Next to the lovely hilltop home of Tom & Jenny, distant relatives and genealogy collaborators of hubby's. It was wonderful to meet them and we greatly appreciated their hospitality.

Hervey Bay, Queensland: Hervey Bay is a rapidly growing resort city in south eastern Queensland, Australia. The 'Bay' benefits from a fantastic sub-tropical climate with no real extremes (average 30 degrees in Summer and 23 degrees in Winter) and has been voted in the top three of 'best climates' in the World. Subsequently this has certainly added to the growth appeal of the city. City population is approximately 52,000 (2006 estimates), with the city covering an area of 2,356 square kilometres, under the administrative control of the Hervey Bay City Council.
The bay was originally named "Hervey's Bay" by Captain Cook (in the Admiralty copy of his journal) when he passed there on 21 May 1770, after naval officer The Hon. Augustus Hervey. Source: answers.com

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 26 Brisbane, Queensland, Au

2007-03-13T18:36:00.000-04:00

Flew on Virgin Blue to Brisbane - one and a half hours. Unseasonably hot at 34C. Enjoyed walk through Brisbane Botanical Gardens where we found some very interesting birds. Watched a large, colourful lizard and a possum diving in the garbage can to find an apple to feast on.

Dinner al fresco at Cafe East, Queen Street Mall including a fabulous lemon meringue dessert.

Brisbane: City (pop., 2004 est.: urban agglom. 1,774,890), southeastern Queensland, Australia. Lying on the northern bank of the Brisbane River above its mouth at Moreton Bay, the site was first explored by the English in 1823. It was founded as a penal colony in 1824 and was declared a town in 1834 when it was named in honour of Sir Thomas Brisbane, former governor of New South Wales. Made the capital of Queensland in 1859, it was joined with South Brisbane in the 1920s to form Greater Brisbane. The city, connected by bridges and ferries, is Australia's third largest; it is the hub of rail lines and highways and a busy port. It is the site of the Queensland Cultural Centre and a university. Source: www.answers.com

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 25 Sydney, New South Wales, Au

2007-03-13T17:48:00.000-04:00

Day trip out to the Great Zigzag Railway: built between 1866 and 1869, and acclaimed a major engineering feat of its time. It was constructed to enable produce to be taken to Sydney from the prosperous farming areas beyond the Blue Mountains and to develop the coal and iron ore deposits found in the Lithgow Valley.
The prodigious feat of bringing the railway from the top of the mountains to the valley below was accomplished by John Whitton, Chief Engineer of the NSW Government Railways. At the time The Great Zig Zag was regarded as one of the engineering wonders of the Victorian age.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 24 Sydney, New South Wales, Au

2007-03-10T07:07:00.000-05:00

To the Museum of Sydney for an excellent exhibit about the building, inpact and influence of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. "Bridging Sydney brings together dramatic photographs and paintings with rare and previously unseen alternative bridge and tunnel proposals, plans and sketches in a celebration of the city’s much-loved icon."

Next to the Australian National Maritime Museum where admission to the galleries is free. Interesting exhibit about clipper ships - Greyhounds of the Sea: "During the 1840s and 1850s American shipbuilders developed a new breed of sailing ships that won the admiration and envy of the world. Hundreds of Yankee clippers, long and lean, with a beautiful shape, and acres of canvas sails roamed the globe carrying passengers and freight. Clipper Ships - greyhounds of the sea brings to life, though ship models, paintings and recreated accommodations the experiences of passengers and crew of these great ships ."

Met Deb Smith in the notorious King's Cross area for coffee, dessert and great conversation. I was not impressed at being charged $7 AU for a bottle of still water when I had asked for tap water - that tourist thing again?

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 23 Sydney, New South Wales, Au

2007-03-10T06:52:00.000-05:00

Bus downtown to marvel at the Sydney Harbour Bridge which celebrates its 75th anniversary this month. From Wikipedia: The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the main crossing of Sydney Harbour carrying vehicular, rail, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic water vista of the bridge together with the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia. The bridge is colloquially referred to as the Coathanger because of its arch-based design, although this usage is less prevalent than it once was. The bridge was the city's tallest structure until 1967. According to Guinness World Records, it is the widest long-span bridge in the world and is the largest steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 metres above the harbour.

Next to the equally impressive Sydney Opera House, a short walk away.

The Sydney Opera house:
- Was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon
- Was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973
- First performance : The Australian Opera's production of War and Peace by Prokofiev
- Cost $AU 102,000,000 to build
- Conducts 3000 events each year
- Includes 1000 rooms
- Has 2194 pre-cast concrete sections as its roof

Excellent pizza at Zia Pina at the Rocks. Strangely they tried to over-charge us by $8 and when they'd put that right to give us $5 less change than we were due. We wondered if tourists were viewed as easy targets or if they were honest mistakes.

Next to Wharf 7 - The Maritime Heritage Centre Library were hubby does some research.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 22 Sydney, New South Wales, Au

2007-03-08T17:01:00.000-05:00

Taxi to Melbourne airport and one hour flight Sydney, Au via Virgin Blue.
Train and trek on foot to the Best Western Hotel Unilodge Sydney. Unbeknownst to us, it is a university student residence. On the one hand, it has great internet access and the room is kitted out with fridge, microwave, dishes etc. On the other it's designed with open courtyards so that the voices of partying 20 year olds echoes through the building - unitl 11 pm when the security guards come around. Groups of young men drinking bottles of beer in the elevators did not give me a sense of safety and security. The joys of travelling!
Walked to the nearest monorail stop: "The Monorail is one of only a few elevated transport systems in the world that operates through the heart of a major city. Opened in July 1988 as a Bicentennial gift to Sydney, it is now one of the most popular ways of getting about, moving over 4 million passengers per year.
The Monorail also delivers hundreds of Sydney’s commuters daily from Pyrmont and Ultimo to the centre of the City."
Enjoyed the ride to Darling Harbour, pictured here. Walked along the waterfront then hopped back on the monorail to Chinatown then walked back to hotel from there.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 21 Melbourne, Victoria, Au

2007-03-07T22:22:00.000-05:00

To Belgrave for a half-day trip on the Puffing Billy steam train: "The railway was originally one of four experimental narrow gauge lines of the Victorian Railways opened around the beginning of the 20th century. It runs through the southern foothills of the Dandenong Ranges to Gembrook. Being close to the city of Melbourne and with a post-preservation history spanning over 50 years, the line is one of the best known preserved railways in the world, and attracts tourists from all over Australia and overseas". Source: www.answers.com . We bring a picnic lunch and enjoy watching the birds, including a very friendly pukeko at Lakeside. A flock of gallahs have a loud conversation in a nearby tree. All in all - a grand day out.
After a quick freshen up we're off to John & De's for a lovely dinner. De explains that dozens of flying foxes swoop over their house daily at dusk to gorge on Moreton Bay Figs in a nearby park. As we leave to go back to our hotel, De gives us a very ripe pear to feed the possums in the same park. I was thrilled to see the large fruit bats in the trees and to feed the possums by hand.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 20 Melbourne, Victoria, Au

2007-03-07T22:04:00.000-05:00

Met De Ayers at the Paragon for breakfast - fruitsalad, yogurt and muesli for me, hubby had the biggest cooked breakfast in captivity.
Took the tram downtown and walked through the Treasury and Fitzroy Gardens. Used a 10% off coupon on admission to Captain Cook's Cottage. "Cooks' Cottage is the only 18th Century building in Melbourne. It was originally built in 1755 in Yorkshire, England, but was later purchased and transported to Australia in 1933. Often referred to as Captain Cook’s Cottage, it was actually built and owned by his parents, James and Grace.
This two-storey cottage built from sandstone and brick was entirely reconstructed in Melbourne and has been carefully preserved ever since. The kitchen reveals an old ingle fireplace and dining table with plates and cutlery while a wooden staircase leads to the main bedroom."
There is some controversy around whether or not Capain Cook ever lived in this house.
Rode the free City Circle Tram. Met Joanne Anderson (sub-editor for The Age) for lunch at Egusto in Southgate and learned a lot about the city and what's going on in Australia from her.
Next to the notorious Old Melbourne Gaol: "Melbourne Gaol is Victoria's oldest surviving penal establishment. It currently exhibits 19th century gaol life, including the death masks and memorabilia of some of Melbourne's most notorious criminals, including the death mask of Ned Kelly. A skull said to be Ned Kelly's was also on display for many years. Thieves stole the skull in 1978. It has never been recovered. Whether the skull actually was Kelly's in the first place is also in question." Source: Wikipedia

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 19 Melbourne,Victoria, Au

2007-03-05T18:13:00.000-05:00

With the help of friendly Aussies, figured out how to use the extensive tram system and found our way to the very impressive Southern Cross Railway Station. Took Vlink train to Geelong ( pronounced jil-long) and were met by Col Hibberd, aka the Colonel.

Amazing day's drive through Torquay, Bells Beach and along the Great Ocean Road to the 12 Apostles. Stunning scenery and interesting conversations along the way. "The Twelve Apostles are a collection of natural limestone stacks standing just off shore in the Port Campbell National Park, on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction. Originally the site was called the Sow and Piglets. The name was changed in the 1950s to the more majestic "The Twelve Apostles" to lure more visitors even though there was only nine left." Source: answers.com

Excellent dinner at Sinan's Cafe Restaurant (649 Rathdowne Street Carlton, VIC) after free use of internet at local library 2 blocks from our accomodation. We got used to paying anything from $1 - $2 NZ for 15 minutes internet use.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: New Zealand Summary - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

2007-03-05T18:07:00.000-05:00

(In no particular order)
The Good:
- Taieri Gorge Train, Dunedin
- Shopping in Alexandra
- Mt. Cook
- Pukekos
- Elliots Comfort Inn, Paraparaumu
- Ngaio Marsh House Tour
- Christchurch Tram
- Ahuriri Campground, Omarama
- Britomart, Auckland
- Southward's Auto Museum, Paraparaumu

The Bad:
- restaurant service is generally poor
- Queenstown tourist hell

The Ugly:
- $25 per person departure tax that they spring on you at airport check-in when you leave NZ
- no signs for the airport in Christchurch
- steepest street in the country at Dunedin

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 18 Christchurch, NZ

2007-03-05T03:24:00.000-05:00

To communion service at Christchurch Cathedral then a quick breakfast before hopping on the Christchurch Tramway to the Canterbury Museum. "The inner city of Christchurch is a special place with many different things to see and do for locals and visitors alike. The best way to experience the magic of the central city, is from onboard our beautifully restored trams.
The 2.5 kilometre track takes about 25-minutes to complete and allows you to take in many of the ‘must see’ attractions. These include Cathedral Square, Aquarium of Discovery, The Arts Centre, The Art Gallery, Botanical Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Punting on the Avon, New Regent Street and Cathedral Junction to name just a few."

Enjoyed a walk and cup of tea in the Botanical Gardens.

Flew from Christchurch to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and checked in to self-catering unit.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 17 Christchurch, NZ

2007-03-05T03:18:00.000-05:00

Drove campervan back to Christchurch via Little River and Lyttelton. Checked into our hotel before returning campervan.

After freshening up we set out to explore Cathedral Square and have dinner at The Holy Grail:

"Welcome to the Holy Grail Sports Bar's website. New Zealand’s biggest sports bar, the Holy Grail provides an entertainment experience second to none. Opened in 2000 in the converted art-deco Avon Picture Theatre building, the Holy Grail has proven to be a Mecca for sports fans, punters, and partygoers. The multi-level 17,000 square foot complex, all focussed on a giant 10-metre projector screen, caters for 1000 patrons throughout its four bars, award-winning restaurant, 70-seater indoor grandstand, and private function areas. "

The service was fast & friendly - so good in fact that I asked to speak to the manager to tell him how impressed we were.

Spent a fun & interesting evening with Rod White and family - a distant relative on hubby's mother's side.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 16 Akaroa, NZ

2007-03-02T15:43:00.000-05:00

Toured the Geraldine Vintage Car & Machinery museum: "The Geraldine Vintage Car & Machinery Museum has on display over 30 Vintage cars and more than 100 tractors, and a 1928 Spartan Bi-plane. Also Stationary engines, ploughs, headers, chaff cutter, balers, motor bikes, and loads of vintage farm machinery, including the oldest working tractor in New Zealand, a Saunderson & Mills. Smaller exhibits feature household items, separators, chainsaws and many more interesting and diverse equipment."

Next to Cashmere, a Christchurch suburb, where we have made arrangements to tour the home of one of my favourite mystery novel writers - Dame Ngaio Marsh. "Her home, which has been enlarged over the years, was built when Ngaio was just ten, and was designed by leading Christchurch architect Samuel Hurst Seager. Visitors to this unique property can gain an understanding of her life and work as well as a captivating insight into her private world."

On to Akaroa where we camp for the night: Set on a beautiful, sheltered harbour and overlooked by craggy volcanic hills, Akaroa is a popular resort town. In summer the temporary population can reach 7000 which places stress on the water supply which is entirely dependent upon rainfall on the hills.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 15 Geraldine, NZ

2007-03-02T15:34:00.000-05:00

Proving how green we are as rv drivers, we thought we had a water pump problem but had simply run out of water in the tank. Thanks to the friendly/helpful folk at Ahuriri Campground in Omarama, we quickly emptied the waste water & filled up with clean water - problem solved.
Stopped at Poppies in Twizel for morning coffee. Amazing scenery at Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and fabulous views of Mt. Cook.
Next to Mt Peel station and the Church of the Holy Innocents where I do some rearch in the chuch and cemetery on the Acland family. ( Mad Jack Fuller's sister Elizabeth married Sir John Palmer Acland).
Stopped at Geraldine for the night. Opted to go out for dinner when we discover, once again, that restaurant service in New Zealand is not up to the standard we are accustomed to.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 14 Omarama , NZ

2007-03-02T15:21:00.000-05:00

Parked in the centre of Alexandra, NZ to do some shopping. To the bank, post office, pharmacy and then Cobblers Cafe & Bar for coffee. Couldn't resist buying a couple of pastries to take with us for our lunch - the citrus slice & scroggin were lovely. Spotted a women's clothing store across the street and thought I'd take a look. They were advertising an "end of summer 50 - 70% off" sale. Bought two tops and a skirt for under $50 NZ (multiply by 0.83 for $CN)

Drove to historic town Clyde, which was closed, it being Wednesday. On to Cromwell where we walk through the historic downtown.

"When the Clyde Dam was completed in 1992, the valley behind it was flooded to create Lake Dunstan. As a result, the original site of Cromwell's historic business district at the junction of the Kawarau and Clutha Rivers now lies at the bottom of the lake. Before the lake was created, many of the town centre's historic buildings were painstakingly removed to higher ground by dedicated volunteers. Others that could not be moved were faithfully reconstructed. Stone-by-stone and plank-by-plank, local craftsmen made sure that Old Cromwell would live on".
Decide against going through the hyper-touristy Queenstown. Next to Arrowtown which can best be described as Niagara-on-the-lake New Zealand style.
Camped at Omarama for the night.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 13 Alexandra, NZ

2007-02-27T17:45:00.000-05:00

We head for the magnificent railway station in Dunedin, reputed to be the most photographed building in the country, for the 9:30 excursion train on the Taieri Gorge Railway.

"The Taieri Gorge Limited train is Dunedin's prestige tourist train operating from the historic Railway Station. Departing daily (except Christmas day) it takes you on a journey through the rugged and spectacular Taieri River Gorge, across wrought iron viaducts and through tunnels carved by hand more than 100 years ago. With full commentary, photographic stops, comfortable heating in winterand on board refreshments the train offers year round, all-weather entertainment."

Photos just can't do the scenery justice so we opt for buying a dvd.
Next through the village of Lawrence, where we make a quick photo op stop, to Alexandra where we camp for the night.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 12 Dunedin, NZ

2007-02-27T17:37:00.000-05:00

To Oamaru to meet New Zealand's number one church organ expert Dr. Ron Newton, who very kindly invited us back to his home for lunch. It was a pleasure to meet him, his wife and children.
In search for a campground in Dunedin, we inadvertently find the steepest street in the country and balk at driving the campervan down it. We find a camping spot in South Dunedin do some laundry, have dinner and settle in for the night.
"Oamaru is a coastal town located 116km north of Dunedin and servicing Rural North Otago in the South Island of New Zealand. The Town is famous for it's superb collection of historical Whitestone buildings, and it's rich Victorian Heritage. The central row of trees enhance fine examples of the beautiful limestone buildings along the main street. The Forrester Art Gallery, the Museum, the Opera house and the Historical Precinct, with it's fully renovated Victorian hotel, the Criterion, all contribute to this unique town's character."

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 11 Ashburton, NZ

2007-02-25T21:57:00.000-05:00

Taxi to Wellington Airport which wins for most scenic and user-friendly airport. Forty minute flight into Christchurch where we taxi to the campervan depot to pick up the vehicle that will be our home for the next week.

Grocery shopping at New World is a fun experience and we head out to Ferrymead Heritage Park. Ferrymead Heritage Park features an Edwardian Township complete with Picture Theatre, School House, Church, Bakery, Jail and Railway Station as well as a fascinating array of museum and heritage collections. There are tram rides on weekends and trains running first Sunday of month and every Sunday December to February . When operating, unlimited tram and train rides are included in the entrance price.

Camping in Ashburton is quiet but average.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 10 Wellington, NZ

2007-02-25T21:43:00.000-05:00

We have a pre-ordered breakfast delivered to our room and pick up a rental van for the day. First to Southward Car Museum: "The founders and benefactors of the trust, Sir Len Southward, KBE, OBE and Lady Vera Southward, began collecting cars In 1956 when they purchased a Model T Ford for £40. This vehicle has been given pride of place in the museum and remains in the condition in which it was originally bought."

We are amazed that this truly world class facility is not teeming with visitors. This vast collection includes many microcars including: a bond bug, goggomobil, isetta, Fiat 500 & Suzuki CV1.

After a quick lunch, we drive out to: The Wellington Tramway Museum was incorporated in 1964 as a non-profit organisation to preserve tramcars and other items of tramway interest, to establish and operate a working tramcar museum and to foster an interest in tramways generally.

Comuter train into Wellington - taxi from station to Hotel where we crash out.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 9 Paraparaumu, NZ

2007-02-25T21:37:00.000-05:00

Up early to catch comuter train into Britomart station in Auckland where we transfer onto the Overlander bound for Paraparaumu.

"The Overlander is a journey through the heart of the North Island, travelling between Auckland - New Zealand's largest city and home of the Sky Tower, to Wellington - New Zealand's arts and culture capital. Along the way you pass the Central North Island ski towns of National Park and Ohakune, popular with young and old alike. You also see fantastic views of New Zealand farmland, the volcanic plateau, Mount Ruapehu, the world famous Raurimu Spiral, and stunning river gorges - all from our panoramic windows or open air viewing decks allowing you the best possible views. All carriages feature large panoramic windows giving sweeping views of the magnificent North Island. The Observation carriage includes a mix of seating including lounge style seating. The lounge style seating is arranged at the very rear of this glass backed carriage enabling you to enjoy a totally unique Overlander experience. "

Short walk from the station to Elliot's Motorlodge where we have booked in for the night. Our suite - complete with kitchenette - is so lovely I threaten to move in. The staff went well beyond the call of duty to make our stay comfortable.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 8 Auckland, NZ

2007-02-25T21:26:00.000-05:00

To Whitcoulls Book Store for a book signing with Bill Bryson. We purchase a copy of his book "Down Under" to read while in Oz. Bryson, a consumate pro who could not have been more charming, signed the book for hubby - a graduate of Durham University of which Bryson in Chancellor.

Met Val a writer/sub-editor at the New Zealand Herald and we enjoy lunch with her at Mecca in Mission Bay. Originally from South Africa, Val shared some interesting insights into life in New Zealand.

To Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter/Underwater World :

Head for the Antarctic Encounter, where you’ll be taken back in time to the life-sized replica hut of intrepid South Pole explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Come out of the hut and into an Antarctic snowcat, where you’re transported to a magical world of snow and ice. Frolicking in the white wilderness is a colony of sub-Antarctic Penguins. From your snowcat, you’ll get a fantastic fish eye view of the birds as they swim underwater.
After your Antarctic encounter; head to the Amazon tank to view the deadly Piranha. Now step onto the moving walkway in the Underwater World, you’ll come face-to-face with a Broadnosed Sevengill Shark, proudly displaying some of the most powerful jaws on the planet.

Lovely diinner at Capri in Mission Bay with charming Willmett(e) relatives Les, Bronwyn, Mary-Anne & David.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 7 Auckland, NZ

2007-02-25T21:20:00.000-05:00

Auckland(pop., 2001: 377,382; metro. area pop.: 1,158,891), North Island, New Zealand. Located on Waitemata and Manukau harbours, it is the country's principal port and largest city. Founded in 1840 as New Zealand's capital and named for George Eden, earl of Auckland, it remained the capital until superseded by Wellington in 1865. It is a major manufacturing and shipping centre. A bridge links it with the growing northern shore suburbs and with Devonport, New Zealand's chief naval base.

Walked from hotel to the New Zealand Archive, Auckland Regional Office where, with the aid of very helpful staff, hubby found a lot of new information on the family history front.
Bus downtown and lunch at Cafe Cremo - delicious ginger slice. More research at Auckland City Library before dinner and early night at hotel.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 6 Auckland, NZ

2007-02-20T20:45:00.000-05:00

Took bus to Hong Kong Airport for Cathay Pacific flight to Auckland, NZ.
The flight is full and we did not get the seats we thought we'd booked. I am not feeling well so the 10 hour journey was not a pleasant one.
Early check-in at he Mt Richmond Lodge, Best Western .
After a nap and a shower we are met by long-lost relatives Bronwyn & Nancy who take us to Purewa Cemetery for some genealogy research. We enjoy a tasty lunch in a cafe on the beach then drive up Mt Eden, one of many extinct volcanoes in the area, for a spectacular view of Auckland. Formed 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, Mount Eden (Maori name Maungwhau) is the highest volcano on the Auckland isthmus.
Back at the hotel we do some laundry, have another snooze and a bite to eat.

In the Maori language, Auckland is known as Tamaki Makau Rau, the city of 100 lovers. It earned this name because it was a place desired by all and conquered by many.
The Auckland region is an antipasto of environments laid out on a huge platter to make one amazing city, boasting three harbours, two mountain ranges, 48 volcanic cones and more than 50 islands.
Auckland's population is approximately 1.3 million, making it by far the largest city in New Zealand, with one third of the country's entire population.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 5 Mui Wo, HK

2007-02-20T20:19:00.000-05:00

Took the ferry to Central and then the Star Ferry to Kowloon. Walked along the "Avenue of Stars" - the Chinese equivalent to Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Jackie Chan and Jet Li's commemorative plaques were getting a lot of attention.
Walked back to the ferry dock's via Nathan Road where every few steps someone wants to sell you a handbag or a tailor made shirt.
Duck into the Captain's Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel- a quiet oasis - for tea.
Next to the home of racing driver Matthew Marsh , his new bride Jessie, who had very kindly invited us to dinner. It was interesting to finally meet some of Rupert's Hong Kong friends.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Day 4 Mui Wo, HK

2007-02-18T00:45:00.000-05:00

We enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel and the five minute walk to catch the 10:00 ferry to Central, Hong Kong. The 50 minute trip into Hong Kong harbour is stunning and a snip at $22.60 HK return per person (divide by 6 to get Canadian dollars).

It's hot, humid and hazy as we do some sightseeing starting with the world's longest elevator:
"The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System in Hong Kong is the world's longest covered escalator system, according to Guinness World Records. The system, consisting of covered walkways, 20 reversible one-way escalators and three travelators, has the capacity to accommodate 210,600 passengers a day, and helps residents and visitors alike to make the 800-metre journey from Central to Mid-Levels, or vice versa, on a toll-free basis. "

Next to the The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG): " It is located on the northern slope of Victoria Peak with a highest point of 100 metres and a lowest point of 62 metres above sea level. HKZBG, occupies an area of 5.6 hectares was founded in 1871 as a Botanic Garden and renamed in 1975 as Botanical and Zoological Gardens to reflect the increased commitments to zoological exhibits. Construction works of the Garden started in 1860 and the first stage was opened to the public in 1864. "

Unfortunately, the aviaries are closed to the public as they are monitoring an avian flu episode.

Quick visit to St John's Cathedral on Garden Road. It is the second oldest building in Hong Kong the first Anglican service being held on Sunday 11th March 1849.

The Honkers-Kiwi-Aussie Tour: Days 1,2 & 3 Mui Wo, HK

2007-02-18T00:35:00.000-05:00

Although stormy weather delayed our departure from Toronto on Feb 14th, our flight on Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong was a comfortable one. We landed at approx 8 am local time after crossing the international dateline. Following a tip from an Old China Hand, we took the A35 bus across Lantau Island to Mui Wo - aka Silvermine bay. It was a short, pleasant walk from the ferry terminal to the Silvermine Beach Hotel (pictured here) where we checked in.

Walked around Lantau island - through small villages including Pak Ngan Heung. I'm surprised by the rural nature of the place and the lush vegetation. We meet a water buffalo along the path and it casually climbs a flight of stairs and saunters on.

Orchid Show & The Overcoat

2007-02-11T21:12:00.000-05:00

Mom & I visited the Southern Ontario Orchid Show at Edward's Gardens at Lawrence & Leslie. We decided to get a TTC day pass which saved us $4.10 over using tokens/tickets. Coupons saved us each $2 at the show.

We where absolutely amazed at the stunning variety and the gorgeous displays of orchids. Way beyond the typical florist corsage orchids, these exquisit blossoms come in a vast range of colours, sizes and shapes. It truly was a treat for the eyes in the midst of winter.

Next to the Hot House Cafe, 35 Church St at Front St for dinner. We start with their yummy tomato basil soup and follow that with gourmet pizzettes on whole grain crusts. My CanStage member's card saves 10% off the food bill - approx $4.30.

We bundle up for the short walk to the St Lawrence Centre where we attend the "dress rehearsal" of CanStages production of The Overcoat which stars Peter Anderson. The performance went flawlessly and there were no interuptions so it seemed just like opening night except there were no printed programs available. The tickets were complimentary with CanStage subscription. It will cost $83 each for the same seats next Saturday night.

"The Overcoat seamlessly integrates physical theatre and the sweeping music of Dmitri Shostakovich to tell a richly detailed story of the transformation of a common man’s ordinary life when he acquires a beautiful new overcoat.
Inspired by the short stories of Russian author Nikolai Gogol and evoking the silent films of Chaplin, Keaton and Lang, The Overcoat lampoons affected society whilst remaining an emotionally compelling, elegiac and comedic account of the allegorical Everyman.
Set amidst the grandeur and poverty of a universal metropolis, 22 actors conjure the recognizable tale of how the need to be popular can inspire lust, envy and exquisite madness. "

Total savings with coupons and discount: $178.40

Ron Brown Speaks at the EGG

2007-02-10T07:50:00.000-05:00

To the Etobicoke Genealogy Group meeting at the Old Etobicoke City Hall. Author Ron Brown's presentation about unusual main streets in Ontario actually takes place in the old council chamber. We frequently use Brown's books about ghost railways and towns when we are day tripping in the car and they have led us to many interesting adventures.

"Ron Brown is a geographer and travel writer who has explored Ontario's many back roads and remote regions in search of the unusual. To encourage today's generation to celebrate their heritage, he has written best-selling books on ghost towns, back roads and vestiges of a vanishing railway era for over thirty years. His writing frequently appears in the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail and he is a regular guest on CBC Radio. A town planner by trade, Ron often travels as a tour guide and frequently gives presentations to groups interested in Ontario's heritage. Ron Brown is chair of The Writers' Union of Canada. He lives in Toronto with his wife and their two daughters." Source: Natural Heritage Books

I purchase a copy of his latest book - Behind Bars: Inside Ontario's Heritage Gaols which he autographs for me.

No such thing as a free lunch, but how cheap can you get one?

2007-02-10T07:44:00.000-05:00

To Guelph last week to visit my daughter who's a music student at U of G. I ask her, " where's the cheapest place on campus for lunch?" She suggests we go to the Grad Pub.
Pictured here is what we got: a veggie samosa with tamarind dip, basmati rice and vegetables with pineapple juice for her; a veggie wrap and large mug of cranberry tea for me.
Total cost? $6.88 for two lunches. This is the one to beat.

Polka Vespers

2007-01-30T11:21:00.000-05:00

Just when you think you've heard it all!

I got home from church Sunday and there was a message waiting from my friend Jessica inviting me to Polka Vespers at St Philip's Anglican Church. I thought it was too good an offer to pass up so headed back out to the subway to meet her.
My mother and step-father attended St Philip's when they lived in Toronto and I fondly remember doing a reading at their wedding there. It is a pretty little church with a lychgate in the true British Anglican style located where the end of Royal York Road meets Dixon Rd.
The Polka Vespers was presided over by The Rev. Allan Budzin and Walter Ostanek and his band who had the usually reserved Anglicans dancing in the aisles.
"Walter Ostanek is a living legend in the world of polka music. He is known to many as Canada's Polka King -- a title he has well-earned. During more than four long decades as a professional performer, he has made somewhere over 50 recordings, and earned a number of Grammy Awards and nominations. He has also been inducted into the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and the International Polka Hall of Fame, both as a Lifetime Achievement Honoree." Source: www.answers.com

Mark your calenders for:
Fado Blues Vespers - Sunday, February 25, 4:00 pm, featuring Caterina Cardeal and Mike Siracusa
Jazz Vespers - Sunday, March 18, 4:00 pm, featuring The Bob DeAngelis Trio

Vancouver - Seattle: A Tale of Two Cites

2007-01-26T10:11:00.000-05:00

Population: Vancouver= 583,267 (2005)metro area, 2,208,300 (2005)
Seattle = 563,374 (2000), metro area 3,275,847
Area: Vancouver = 44.27 mi² ; 114.67 km²
Seattle = 83.9 square mi²; 217.3 square km²

Best known tourist attraction: Vancouver = Stanley Park , Seattle = Space Needle

Great Fires: Vancouver 1886, Seattle: 1889

Historic districts: Vancouver = Gastown, Chinatown , Seattle = Pioneer Square

Public Markets: Vancouver = Granville Island, Seattle = Pike Place Market

Cool Public Transit: Vancouver = SkyTrain, Seattle = Ride Free Area, Monorail

Vancouver-Seattle Tour: Day Eight

2007-01-24T23:12:00.000-05:00

We get an early morning start as Dr. David drives us to the train station on his way to work. The 7:40 leaves Seattle for Vancouver on time and we have an excellent breakfast in the dining car. The scenery en route is quite remarkable and I take some video clips as we pass changing landscapes, marinas, towns and industrial areas. The final approach through New Westminster and its variety of spectacular bridges is quite amazing.

After checking our bags at the counter, we head out to the skytrain and take it downtown. It's STILL raining in Vancouver but it dosen't dampen our spirits as we stroll through historic Gastown. " Established the same year that Canada became a nation, Gastown grew into Canada’s third largest city and one of its most cosmopolitan. But the Gastown district today retains its historic charm, independent spirit and distinctiveness. There’s no mistaking Gastown for any other area of Vancouver, or of Canada for that matter. 1867: The south shore of Burrard Inlet was a wilderness. Its only non-native settlement was a lumber mill where the owner didn’t allow alcohol on the premises. One September day, “Gassy Jack” Deighton arrived (he received his nickname because of his penchant for spinning tall tales and talking without end). He stepped ashore with a barrel of whiskey, telling the millworkers that if they’d build him a saloon, he’d serve them drinks. The saloon was up and running within a day…just across the property line of the mill. Gastown was born." Source: http://www.gastown.org/

We continue walking east to Chinatown, the largest in Canada, where we stop for an authentic Chinese lunch on Main Street. We walk back to the Pacific Central station, through a corner of the notorious Downtown Eastside, to collect our bags and opt for a taxi to the airport. The return flight on WestJet is uneventful and arrives 15 minutes early, although the check in was a slow process. Using our headphones again saves $6. Today's savings: $6 - Total Savings:$132.29 CD

Vancouver-Seattle Tour: Day Seven

2007-01-24T22:53:00.000-05:00

After doing some window shopping in downtown Seattle, we head to Pike Place Market.

" Its nine acres and 100 years of operation encompass thousands of unique and interesting stories — stories of immigration, internment, gentrification and urban renewal — that explain why Pike Place Market is called "The Soul of Seattle."Between 1906 and 1907, the cost of onions increased tenfold. Outraged citizens, fed up with paying price-gouging middlemen too much for their produce, found a hero in Seattle City Councilman Thomas Revelle. Revelle proposed a public street market that would connect farmers directly with consumers. Customers would "Meet the Producer" directly, a philosophy that is still the foundation of all Pike Place Market businesses. On August 17, 1907, Pike Place Market was born. On that first day, a total of eight farmers brought their wagons to the corner of First Avenue and Pike Street—and were quickly overwhelmed by an estimated 10,000 eager shoppers. By 11:00 am, they were sold out. Thousands of shoppers went home empty-handed, but the chaos held promise. By the end of 1907, the first Market building opened, with every space filled." Source: Pike Place Market

We stop at the Soundview Café and I order the North African Hummus which is served with pita triangles topped with diced tomato, cuccumber and red onions. For some unknown reason, our server asks if we'd like a complementary shrimp cocktail and we don't turn it down saving $6.95. Before heading home we decide get my sister a hostess gift and visit a flower stall in the market where we haggle for a deal on fresh cut tulips for - four bunches for $20, a $4 discount. Today's savings: $10.95 US - Total Savings:$126.29 CD

Vancouver-Seattle Tour: Day Six

2007-01-22T14:45:00.000-05:00

We take the #21 Bus to Pioneer Square and do some shopping at Magic Mouse Toys, 603 1st Ave where I can't resist buying a tiny model of a BMW Isetta.
Next we buy our tickets for Bill Speidel's Underground Tour :
a leisurely, guided walking tour beneath Seattle’s sidewalks and streets. While you roam the subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle, Tour Guides regale you with humorous stories our pioneers didn’t want you to hear. It’s history with a twist! The [90 minute] tour begins with a seated introduction inside Doc Maynard’s Public House, a restored 1890s saloon. Then you walk outside through historic Pioneer Square to three different sections of Underground—about three blocks in all. Be prepared for the underground landscape to be moderately rugged: you’ll encounter six flights of stairs, uneven terrain and spotty lighting. Dress for the weather—and leave your spike heel shoes at home! The tour ends at Rogue’s Gallery, where you’ll find portraits of Seattle’s colorful characters and other displays depicting Seattle’s past.

From Wikipedia:
On June 6 1889, most of Seattle's central business district burned to the ground in the Great Seattle Fire. It was decided to rebuild the city one to two stories higher than the original street grade, as Pioneer Square had been built mostly on filled-in tidelands and often flooded. The new street level also assisted in ensuring that gravity-assisted flush toilets didn't back up during high tide in Elliott Bay.
Several city blocks in the downtown region were enclosed with brick and timber barricades and the pavements between were raised. This left sidewalks and some storefronts as much as 36 feet below street level.
For a time, pedestrians climbed ladders to go between street level and building entrances, but eventually the building entrances were raised, and the old sidewalks covered over, creating the area now called the Seattle Underground. Merchants carried on business in the lowest floors of buildings that survived the fire, and pedestrians continued to use the underground sidewalks lit by glass cubes (still seen on some streets) embedded in the grade level sidewalk above. In 1907 the city condemned the Underground for fear of bubonic plague, two years before the 1909 World Fair in Seattle(Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition). The basements were left to deteriorate or were used as storage. In some cases, they illegally became flophouses for the homeless, gambling halls, speakeasies, and opium dens.
Only a small part of the Seattle Underground has been restored and made safe and accessible to the general public. We save $1 on Bill Speidel's book Sons of the Profits by mentioning our tour guide's name.Today's savings: $1 US - Total Savings:$113.39 CD

Vancouver-Seattle Tour: Day Five

2007-01-21T12:50:00.000-05:00

Brunch with my sister and family at CJ's Eatery 2619 1st Avenue, Seattle. It's a relaxed and popular spot near the Space Needle where we decide to make the best of this sunny,clear day. Using a coupon, we save $1 each on admission to the Observation Deck."Located on the grounds of Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators — 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair. It is now privately owned. The Space Needle is a tower 184 m (605 feet) high and 42 m (138 feet) wide at its widest point and weighs 9,550 tons. It is built to withstand winds of up to 240 km/h (150 mph) and earthquakes up to 9.5 magnitude (which, by coincidence, was just enough to resist Seattle's later discovered Cascadia earthquake) and has 25 lightning rods on the roof to withstand lightning strikes.
The Space Needle features an observation deck at 158.4 m (520 feet)[a third the height of Toronto's CN Tower], the SkyCity restaurant at 152 m (500 feet), and a gift shop. From the top of it, one can see not only the Downtown Seattle skyline, but also the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands."Source:www.answers.com
We take the Seattle Centre Monorail to Westlake Mall and browse the shops. My son lucks out at Macy's where they have a 50% off sale on Ecko Unltd jeans, hoodies and jackets. He's going to need another piece of luggage to get his bargains home.
Getting back to West Seattle is cheap and convenient - we take the 21 Arbour Heights bus paying the off-peak fare of $1.25 each and get off at the corner of my sister's street.
Out for dinner at Cactus Aliki Beach location. "For over 15 years, Cactus has been satisfying Seattle's need for high-quality, innovative, Mexican, Southwestern, and Spanish cuisine from its home in Madison Park. And since August of 2006, residents and tourists have been enjoying the spectacular Puget Sound views from our location on Alki beach in Seattle. The Butternut Squash Enchilada - Crisp white corn tortillas layered with jack and goat cheeses, spinach, roasted butternut squash and caramelized onions. Topped with guacamole and New Mexican red chile mole - was fabulous.
Fun games of euchre round off the day. Today's savings: $2 US - Total Savings:$112.34 CD

Vancouver-Seattle Tour: Day Four

2007-01-20T13:40:00.000-05:00

We check out of the Quality Hotel and take a taxi to the Pacific Central train station as it's still raining. After checking our bags, we take a short walk to Telus Science World and buy tickets for the Omnimax Theatre where a coupon saves us a dollar each. $2 There are many school groups enjoying the hands-on exhibits. We find seats in the massive Omnimax Theatre to watch Hurricane on the Bayou - "Narrated by Meryl Streep, Hurricane on the Bayou brings into focus the startling loss of Louisiana’s wetlands both before and after Hurricane Katrina. Told through the stories of four musicians whose lives were deeply affected by the storm, Hurricane on the Bayou is both a haunting document of Katrina’s powerful effects and a compelling message of hope for rebuilding Louisiana’s coastline as its first line of defense against future storms."
Checking in for the Amtrak Cascades 517 to Seattle is like being at the airport as we go through American screening. The train is comfortable and not full and we easily find our assigned seats. We buy dinner in the dining car and watch the movie - The Guardian (starring Kevin Costner & Ashton Kutcher) using our own headsets and save $8.
We arrive in Seattle about 20 minutes late and are met by my sister Jeannie. Today's Savings: $10, Total Savings: $109.99

Vancouver - Seattle Tour: Day Three

2007-01-19T12:23:00.000-05:00

To the Vancouver Art Gallery, a short walk from the hotel, where they have a reciprocal agreement with the ROM so I just show my membership card for free admission saving $15. The first exhibit I view is simply called Paint." The exhibition’s focus is a generation of British Columbia artists who have demonstrated an energetic commitment to exploring the possibilities of paint. Selections from the permanent collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery and several regional museums contribute to an overview of the defining achievements of B.C. painters in preceding decades."
On another floor in the magnificent restored former courthouse they are installing a photo exhibit based on the life work of Fred Herzog and I get a sneak preview. "Born in Germany, Fred Herzog came to Vancouver in 1953. Since that time he has produced a substantial body of photographs, taking urban life in Vancouver second-hand shops, vacant lots, neon signage and the crowds of people who have populated the city’s streets over the past fifty years as his primary subject. Herzog has self-consciously drawn upon documentary traditions in photography, while incorporating an outsider’s idiosyncratic sensitivity to a new environment into his images." Unfortunately it officially opens on Jan 25 and I'll be back in Toronto by then.
Next to see the work of B.C. Binning, which I enjoy the most, and to view a filmed interview where he talks about the Vancouver art scene from back in the 1920s and about his work

"B.C. Binning will present approximately 50 works by Bertram Charles Binning, one of Canada's foremost artists, architectural innovators, art educators and seminal figure in the arts in British Columbia. Drawn from the Vancouver Art Gallery's collection, this exhibition presents key examples of Binning's drawings and paintings and reflects his enduring interest in architecture through the inclusion of maquettes for large mural projects Binning undertook for public buildings in the Greater Vancouver area."

We grab a McDonald's lunch near Canada Place and save $3.20 by using a coupon. To the IMAX Theatre where we watch Deep Sea 3D narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. It is visually stunning and reminds us of our visit to the Aquarium the day before. I can't help myself so I reach out to try and touch the moon jellies and other creatures as they float by. "A new and enthralling undersea experience from the makers of Into the Deep, will offer audiences astonishing up-close encounters with some of the most strange and exotic creatures on the planet, from the bizarre rainbow nudibranch to the giant Pacific octopus. " We save $2 on admission with coupons.
We take the sky train to the Pacific Central train station to buy our Amtrak tickets for Seattle tomorrow.
Back downtown we do some browsing through shopping malls and opt for a Subway dinner - of course we have coupons and save $6.29 on our meal. Today's savings $26.49. Total Savings $99.99 (I kid you not!)

Vancouver - Seattle Tour: Days One & Two

2007-01-18T11:08:00.000-05:00

Although my son and I had been planning this trip for a few months, we could scarcely believe it when the departure day arrived. I did a fair amount of research on the web and printed up some money saving coupons for attractions in both cities. Being the frugal traveller that I am, I plan to keep a running total of my discounts.
Tuesday, January 16 2007
I took the subway and airport express to Terminal 3 at Pearson and met my son there. Spending $2.10 on a subway token verses approximately $26 for a taxi saved me $24 off the bat. We met at the WestJet counter and checked in without any hassle. Our flight was delayed by a mere 10 minutes. We brought our own headsets for the in flight entertainment - a saving of $6. The discount airlines no longer provide meals during relatively short flights so we brought some snacks and enjoyed free coffee, juice and water. The time passed quickly between watching satellite TV and Jahrell giving me poker playing lessons.
Once we arrived in Vancouver, we opted to take public transit to our hotel. The airport express would have cost $13.50 each. The travel info clerk told us the bus fare would be $3.25 each and that we'd need exact change. We scrounged up $6.50 and waited for the bus. The driver said the the buss es only take coins and we were trying to pay with a five dollar bill so he said, "Just put in the change" . So we got to our hotel on $1.50 instead of $27 a savings of $25.50.
We checked in to the Quality Hotel on Howe Street and after a brief rest we went out for a walk around the neighbourhood. It reminded us of Queen Street West. We grabbed some pizza slices for dinner at Pizza Guys just down the street. Total savings : $55.50

Wednesday January 17, 2007 A quick breakfast at an A & W counter in a shopping mall food court and then to the #19 trolley bus for Stanley Park. We were amazed by how green everything was. Damage to trees done in recent storms was evident. To the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. (Alas no discount coupon for admission which was $18.50 each and well worth it) It's difficult to pick our favourite exhibits so here are a few highlights: seahorses with minuscule babies floating around the tank; life cycle of moon jelly fish tanks; sea otters, belugas and dolphins in outdoor exhibits; the arapaima - the world's largest fresh-water fish. Lunching on delicious freshly made panini, we watch the beluga whale show. I use a 10% discount coupon in the gift shop and save $0.50 on my purchase.
We take the bus to Granville Island and browse the public market & get a bite to eat. Wednesday is two-for-one day at Vancouver Theatre Sports League- "So You Think You Can Improvise" show we save $17.50 on our tickets. The six competitors were far better than we had imagined. Even the audience members who joined in were great. It made us decide to go out to comedy clubs & events more often back home. Today's savings $18.00 = Total savings $73.50.

Half Life & Thai 4 You

2007-01-14T16:44:00.000-05:00

To Canadian Stage production of John Mighton's "Half Life" which featured Corner Gas star Eric Peterson, Carolyn Hetherington and Diego Matamoros.
"In the twilight of their lives, Clara and Patrick fall in love in a seniors’ home, convinced they are rekindling an affair cut short by wartime. When they announce plans to marry, their respective children find themselves in the awkward position of determining the romantic fate of their fragile parents. Sensitively wrought by John Mighton, this affecting exploration of memory and aging earned the 2005 Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama. "
I found the dialogue natural and well written. The character of Agnes,(Barbara Gordon) was a composite of several nursing home residents I have known.
There was a plot thread, however, that did not ring true. Nursing home care-giver Tammy (Maggie Huculak) uses the confused and frail Clara's money to purchase items for the her. Twice Clara's son Donald asks for receipts as he feels there is a discrepancy between the price one would expect to pay for an item and the missing money. In each instance, Tammy cannot provide a receipt. I found it a real stretch of the imagination to believe that a nursing home resident, who no longer has power of attorney over her affairs, would have a wallet of cash sitting in a bed side table drawer. Also, it would be highly irregular for a staff member to make purchases on behalf of a resident.
After the play we went for dinner at a favourite local restaurant:
Thai 4 You, 1675 Bloor St. W. (east of Keele), (416) 533-2221
The relaxed service and authentic ambiance, which includes gorgeous tableware that I always threaten to take home, is complemented by excellent Thai food that is great value for money. There are many vegetarian choices on the extensive menu.

My Cuppa Tea

2007-01-12T22:36:00.000-05:00

To My Cuppa Tea, 661 The Queensway, Etobicoke, ON M8Y 1K8 (416) 503-0466, for a birthday treat with good friends. The most difficult thing is deciding which of the varied teas to try. I opt for the orange rooibos. The carrot & ginger soup doesn't dissapoint - great texture and not stingy on the ginger. My friends order the "High Tea for Two", a multi-tiered cake plate with dainty sandwiches and sweet treats that is so generous we end up taking some of it home.

Creemore & Dufferin County Museum

2007-01-12T22:28:00.000-05:00

Wednesday January 9, 2007
To the village of Creemore, Ontario yesterday where the big story is the lack of snow in this outrageously mild Canadian winter.
The headline on the front page of the Creemore Echo is "NO SNOW" to the chagrin of the ski clubs, who are laying off staff in droves, and tow-truck drivers everywhere. We lunched at Affairs Cafe where they were missing the ski crowd. Upside we could park right outside at 5, Francis Street East.
The Creemore Springs brewery is across the street. Great to see a small brewery in a small town. Then to Dufferin County Museum & Archives which is a splendid four-storey modern structure right in the middle of nowhere at Airport Road and Highway 89. We were given a tour behind-the-scenes of this sumptuous museum. All the stars must have aligned when the grant application went in! We took some photos from the tower built to look like a grain silo.By R.L.T.

Girls do Boys at Hugh's Room

2007-01-06T18:46:00.000-05:00

To Hugh's Room at 2261 Dundas St. West, Toronto (416) 531-6604. This favourite venue offers top notch musical entertainment with excellent food. It's not a restuarant per se, as they are only open when there are live shows. On Friday Jan 5 we take in "Girls do Boys" presented by Michael Wrycraft. There was not a weak performance among the nine female acts who sang the numbers penned by their favourite male songwriters:

Linda McLean - Bruce Cockburn
Madviolet - Simon & Garfunkel
Ivy Mairi - Otis Redding
October Browne - Lindsay Buckingham
Rita Chiarelli- Elvis Presley (pictured here)
Andrea Koziol - Bill Withers
Oufti - Red Evans
Katherine Wheatley - Gordon Lightfoot
Soozi Schlanger - Steppenwolf

Kensington Market Festival of Lights

2006-12-22T15:01:00.000-05:00

Photo by sjgardiner
Photo by Cornelius Crab
To the 20th annual celebration in Kensington Market to mark the Winter Solstice. "The Festival of Lights was created by Ida Carnevali in 1987 when a handful of costumed troubadours with trumpets and tambourines defied the mid-winter blues; this now legendary multi-cultural celebration welcomes thousands of participants annually. "
We were amazed by the fabulous stilted dancers, massive puppets, street performances and sheer number of revellers. Marchers carrying hand made tissuepaper lanterns inspired us to pledge to participate next year. See Red Pepper Spectacle Arts for more.
We duck into the King's Cafe to warm-up, talk business and have a vegan Chinese dinner.
The "Fried Bean-Curd and Veggies" was not what we expected when it arrived - this tasty dish was comprised of strips of crisp tofu layered on seaweed and garnished with steamed bok choy. The curried vermicelli noodles were a big hit. "Lightly fried rice noodles done Singapore style with bell peppers and an assortment of vegetables in a spicy curry sauce."
192 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2L6416 591-1340

City View Alternative School's Winter Feast

2006-12-22T14:35:00.000-05:00

Carrying a vegan pasta dish, still warm from the oven, we arrive at City View Alternative School to find a team of parent volunteers busily organizing the annual Winter Feast. Every detail is well thought out and things run very smoothly. Some 280 people were expected to attend and it was "standing room only" near to showtime. A full program of entertainment from choirs singing in French and English to Break Dancing impressed the diners. Music choices ranged from Mary Poppins to Neil Young to Bach.

City View Alternative Senior School is located on the third floor of Shirley Street Public School near Dundas Street and Brock Avenue. The school has been operating for eleven years.
- The school serves over 60 grade 7 and 8 students drawn from across the city. The
majority are of English speaking backgrounds. Outreach is being done to increase the
number of students with different ethnic backgrounds.
- The school has three classrooms (one with computer lab and library), a
lunch/multipurpose room, an office/kitchen and a computer room - all on the third floor.
- The school shares the gymnasium and school yard with Shirley Street Public School
and has access to the pool, gym and ice rinks of the McCormack Centre.
- Open House for prospective Grade 7's for September 2007 is Tuesday, January 23rd,
at 7 p.m.

Evangeline Residence Christmas Party

2006-12-20T13:52:00.000-05:00

Kudos to Beth, Bev and others at Keele Street Christian Church for organizing the annual Christmas Party for the women of Evangeline Residence, many of whom attend services at our church. On Sunday we helped gift wrap the boxes of corporate and private donations of gloves, scarves, socks, shampoo, toothpaste and other items for each of the 72 residents. One church member kindly crocheted 72 pairs of slippers as she has done for several years.
We sang Christmas carols, chatted, gave out the gift bags and shared some goodies.
Looking around the room it struck me that many of the women fall into one of two categories; those new to this change in lifestyle who seemed bewildered and a little embarrassed; and those who have come to rely on the shelter system to keep them safe and off of the streets. It's difficult to imagine a sadder plight in either case.
I can't help thinking that although the Christmas gifts and socialization were warmly and gratefully received, there is more support that we can offer year round.

"The Evangeline Residence has served the women of Toronto for more than 100 years, in various locations. It can shelter as many as 77 women who are homeless for a variety of reasons. Abused women, refugees, post psychiatric patients, and mothers who need help reuniting and providing for their children come to the Evangeline Residence for help.
The Evangeline Residence ministers to the whole person – mind, body and soul in a way that affirms the value of each of the 1100 women who pass through its doors each year. They work to follow the example of Jesus who, “felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help.” Matthew 9:36, NLT" From the official website.

Fran's Famous Rice Pudding

2006-12-17T21:16:00.000-05:00

After the concert we opt for dinner at Fran's Diner - grilled veggie wrap for me. I order the world famous (to die for) rice pudding for desert and convert two friends to the cause.
"The Fran’s tradition started over 60 years ago with Fran Deck and his wife Ellen Jane. Starting with a modest ten-stool diner at St.Clair and Younge St in 1840, the couple’s vision was one of serving unique high quality food throughout the whole day to their customers.
Over the years Fran’s became a Toronto institution known across the city and surrounding areas for its unrivalled home style cooking and warm welcoming atmosphere. Offering fresh food 24 hours a day it quickly became a gathering place for people from all walks of life. "
"The most recent addition to the Fran’s family is located right in the heart of the downtown core at the corner of Shuter and Victoria St’s. This location was designed to mingle the old with the new and it is clearly apparent in the décor. We are walking distance from the Eaton Centre, Queen St shopping, steps from Massey Hall, and the Canon and Elgin Theatres. Able to accommodate parties from 1-40 people, open 24 hours a day every day of the year.
200 Victoria St. (Victoria & Shuter. At the Pantages Hotel)"

Sing-Along Messiah

2006-12-17T20:49:00.000-05:00

To Massey Hall for Tafelmusik's 20th annual Sing-Along Messiah:
"Tafelmusik is delighted once again to welcome George Frideric Handel[played by Tafelmusik Choir director Ivars Taurins] as guest director of its annual Sing-Along Messiah. Tafelmusik first asked Mr. Handel to take on this role 20 years ago, undaunted by the fact that he'd been dead some 227 years...Unlike the many crates of fine vintage claret that are a significant bargaining point in his contract, Mr. Handel has not mellowed with age, and his legendary rapier wit and fiery Saxon temper are as sharp as they were over 250 years ago. "
"The sheer joy you will feel as your voice joins a mass choir of 2,500 to sing the Hallelujah chorus may be the best Christmas gift you receive. Bring your own score, or purchase one at Massey Hall. Seating is by voice part, and non-singers[That's me!] are always welcome."
Mr. Taurins and the Tafelmusik Orchestra, Choir and soloists did not disappoint. The experience was in a word - heavenly.

The Nativity Story

2006-12-08T16:16:00.000-05:00

There were 25 of us from Keele Street Christian Church and 9 other people in the audience for a showing of The Nativity Story on Wednesday evening. Pastor Grant had posed the question, "Why would I see it?", in his sermon titled Strong & Silent:Joseph last Sunday. His answer was that because we are so familiar with the story we sometimes forget the drama of the story. He encouraged us to view the film in order to reconnect with the drama of it.
Through this film, one gets a feel for what life in Nazareth and Jerusalem would have been like at that time - the constant work needed to keep life and limb together overshadowed by fear of the Roman soldiers and King Herod's oppressive regime. I found the scenes with Mary and her Cousin Elizabeth particularly moving.
I realize it is difficult to collapse the timeline of the four gospels into a two and a half hour film, however I found the Magi storyline diverged too far from the scriptures for my taste.

Glorious!

2006-12-03T15:40:00.000-05:00

To the Bluma Appel Theatre to see CanStage's production Glorious! starring Nicola Cavendish as Florence Foster Jenkins. Cavendish wowed the audience with her portrayal of the wealthy socialite who has been characterized as the, "world's worst singer".
"From her recordings, it is apparent that Jenkins had little sense of pitch and rhythm and was barely capable of sustaining a note. Her accompanist can be heard making adjustments to compensate for her tempo variations and rhythmic mistakes. Nonetheless, she became tremendously popular in her unconventional way. Her audiences apparently loved her for the amusement she provided rather than her musical ability. Critics often described her work in a backhanded way that may have served to pique public curiosity." Source: www.answers.com
Strong performances were also given by Jonathan Monro as pianist Cosme McMoon and Dixie Seatle as faithful friend Dorothy and the comedic performance of Maria Varatisis as Maria the Mexican maid had the audience roaring with laughter.

The game's afoot Watson!

2006-12-03T15:23:00.000-05:00

My husband requested some micro-film from an Alberta library for his book research so we went to the Toronto Reference Library. While there I checked out this interesting exhibit:

A Case of Considerable Interest - An exhibition celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection of the Toronto Public Library

October 18, 2006 - January 7, 2007
TD Gallery - Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street (1 block north of Bloor)
TD Gallery Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10-8; Fri.-Sat. 10-5; Sun. 1:30-5
For further information, call 416-393-7158
Check out the fun,interactive web page which will help you learn more about the collection and this exhibit.

Bonfire Tour Days Twenty-six to Twenty-eight:Lewes, East Sussex

2006-11-16T07:27:00.000-05:00

Day Twenty-six, Sunday November 12, 2006
Only place for breakfast in Lewes early on Sunday morning is Caffe Nero where we have yogurt, croissants and coffee. To Saint John's Southover for Remembrance Day service. The names of four family members are read out in the Roll of Honour. The service and the vibrant church community do them proud.
Quick grocery shop at Tesco before picking up Julian at the Trevor Arms in Glynde before a drive to Brightling - home of Mad Jack Fuller. Take photos of the obelisk, pyramid and church. Pleased to see that they now have postcards of the church, one of which shows Fuller's pyramid tomb. Pop in to the Swan Inn at Woods Corner, Dallington for beverages.
Back in Lewes I meet my sister and family at Caffe Nero for coffee before going to their place for dinner. Photo: many birds perching on St John's basking shark weather vane.
Day Twenty-Seven, Monday November 13, 2006
Our last day in Lewes and there are many loose ends to tie up. I visit the library to use the internet, return a book and make photocopies. We drive out to Hamsey to look for Willmett's Farm and the Old Rectory which is now Hamsey Manor. On to the Bluebell Railway's Sheffield Park station where get platform tickets and have coffee. Quite a crowd is gathered there as this is the final day of the Terrier Gala - A gathering of five of these popular locomotives dating back as far as 1872.
Lunch at the Chalk Pit Inn on the Offham Road, just outside of Lewes. I am surprised to read about the Shiffner connection to the chalk pit and its tramway which idocumenteded on the pub's walls.
"During the early 1800s the owner of the chalk pit decided to build a tramway to transport the lime and chalk from the quarry down to the barges on the river Ouse, as the steep slope was dangerous and costly in both horse and carts and men. In 1809 William Jessop opened the tramway which had a large wheel at the top with a brake, the weight of full trucks of lime and chalk travelling down pulled the empty ones back up the 60% sloped track. This method of transport was used until 1870 when the pit was closed."
Source: http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/incline/off.htm
Visited my grandmother's cousin Mabel who will be 101 year young on December 15th, 2006. She is as alert and chipper as ever. I told her that her brother Fred's name was read out on the Roll of Honour at Southover Church during the Remembrance Service and she was moved to tears.
Met up with various folk at the Brewers Arms including Kim Fuller whose branch of the family has been traced back to Waldron, Sussex and may be connected to Mad Jack's tree.
Day Twenty-Seven, Monday November 13, 2006
Sorting and packing to go home before quick breakfast. I have acquired at least 25 books on various subjects from Frida Kahlo to Michael Faraday. Many thanks to our chauffeur Michel who drove us to Gatwick airport. No problems checking in and the flight is uneventful. Landing at Pearson is the usual nightmare - no we don't have a $2 coin for a luggage trolley, how many people landing there off international flights would? We opt to take a limo and are glad to be back home after a month away.