Oslo Airport Reykjavik and then Gardermoen Airport both sport hardwood floors. Almost felt embarrassed when I asked for little footsies during the customs control check. It was only as I was putting myself together again that I realized how spotless the area appeared to be. The toilet paper is less bleached, the toilet seat less bulky, the stalls less spacious and the counter tops around the sink less existent. The layout of furniture, stores and cafes is more streamlined ... Scandinavian ... and pleasing to the eye. Found the magazine Marie Claire Ides immediately in the Reykjavik Airport bookshop. Have not found it at chapters for a donkey's age. So far the Norwegian news has had a story about lobster fishing, lamb butchering, chocolate making in a mountainous village by the sea, learning to dancethe tangoand ... read more

The Fall Fair at Anderson Farm was a great success. Because of amalgamation, (thank you Mr. Harris) this heritage site is now under the auspices of the Greater City of Sudbury ... as are all the other small museums in this northern area. Anderson Farm lies in the small town of Lively. This town used to belong to INCO ... it was a mining town and all the residents paid $30 mas o menos a month rent and worked for the nickel company. When the company was selling off the old houses some tenants did not have the $30,000, mas o menus, to buy their abode. A few years ago INCO was sold to VALE from Brazil .... the workers have been on strike for three months and widows bonuses are threatened. The Fall Fair was ... read more

If the plants would grow as quickly as the weeds every known garden prize would be mine! The year away on the overlanding trip did not do favours for my flower and vegetable gardens. Having the overgrown veggie plot rotar-tilled was a VERY BAD idea. Each cut piece of weed root grew and grew and grew ... am now in Mickey Mouse mode as he was when he donned the wizards hat and split the broom in an effort to stop the flood! Not much grew last year and only a handful of beans and a few tomatoes and cukes were produced. The plan this year has included hand spading, manure, and regular weeding. Each overturned spade of earth yeilds one fifth roots, three fifths humus and one fifth clay if I drive down the spade ... read more

From around the world people come to admire the splendour of the red, orange and gold trees as they blaze thru October. The leaves no sooner turn a brilliant colour before they drift to the ground creating a magical carpet only the silks of India could duplicate. Living in the forest, I pass this splendour each time I drive out from my house to the local highway. The road leads left, off Blueberry Hill, bringing me past flaming Sumach, orange-red Sugar Maple and gold-disced Poplar. The whole of the Greater City of Sudbury is under the effect of this annual autumnal paintbrush. The stark white skins of the Birch gain vivid contrast against the burgundy undergrowth of the laurentian rock scape. Living amongst the drama does not lessen the effect of the grandeur. Every tree quivers ... read more

I am in an Ibis Hotel ... basic and clean ... not as fancy as an Ibis in Europe. The only draw back about this hotel is that it is some distance from the centre. I thought of taking the bus. By watching the roads and the bus service I came to a very quick solution that I would be much less frustrated by simply taking a cab. On the morning of my only full day in Manaus it finally stopped pouring rain after mid-day. I took a taxi to Teatro Amazonas. It was definitely worth the six day trip up the Amazon. In total since Rio with two flights and six days on the river (minus 6hrs), I have travelled 8566kms to get here. When the Opera House was originally built it stood in ... read more