Blogs from Dunnville, Ontario, Canada, North America

Feeling much anxiety as we get closer to our departure from Toronto Pearson International Airport. So much to prepare at home and work. The thought of sitting in a quaint little cafe sipping on a German beer is keeping me focused. :) This will be my first trip away from North America and for Emily as well. We hope to gain some insight into old Europe especially Germany where my mother's grandfather was born and immigrated to Ontario Canada in the mid 1800's. I want Emily to enjoy the culinary side of it as she graduates from George Brown College in Toronto. We have the pleasure and comfort of travelling with Sue Secord and her mother Eva who spends 5 weeks in Germany annually and speaks fluent German. She's already warned me that the coffee is ... read more

I now have unreputable proof...dryers do eat socks. The other night or early morning for those that know me well, I thought I needed to wash my new socks. They were in a bag with 10 pair so that makes 20 socks, doesn't it? Well, when I brought the socks up to pack, there were only 17!! Where did the other 3 go?? I didn't even go and look again because I always believed the dryer ate socks, now I know for sure. And why did I count?? When you are one of 11 people, all the clean socks had to be in pairs. So one of the tasks on the family to-do list, besides picking them up, washing them in a wringer washer, drying them on the clothes line, was to make sure the socks ... read more

It has been a crazy few weeks! Three weeks ago (three weeks already?) I signed off the Destiny and flew to Toronto. Riding in the cab on the way to my friend's apartment, I honestly cried. I couldn't believe that I was home, the contract was over . . . and when I did believe it, I just felt relief. Work on the ship had come to an end, but I was actually returning to Canada to immediately start work! I had two days in Toronto to get myself organized and get a bit of quick visiting in with some friends. It was lovely to see people. Going around Toronto felt strange. I actually at times felt like a foreigner in my own city! Even though I'd been home at Christmas, I hadn't spent any time ... read more

It has been a hectic couple months since leaving the Liberty. I left yearning to just relax and enjoy being home. It's been good, but it certainly hasn't been restful. Only a few days after getting back to Canada, I took off again, though I at least stayed within the borders. I was back on a bus, tour guiding. I spent one week in Quebec City, then another in Ottawa. Those tours seem so long ago now. It was hectic, it was tiring, but I loved it. I love being up at the front of the bus, leading the pack through the city streets, gathering them around me to tell stories. One day, while in Quebec City, I'd just finished leading the group in a re-enactment of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. A student ... read more

It's about 5 hours until we'll start heading to the airport. I am a giant bundle of nerves. I feel completely wired, like I did the one time I drank coffee :) I feel really anxious about the first few days that lie ahead. I expect them to be long, tiring, overwhelming and overstimulating. Already I'm just looking forward to a few days from now, when I'm unpacked, settled and mostly understand what's going on. I just want to enjoy my job and explore the ports already! People keep asking me if I'm excited. I am. I think that's a bit of a given. But I don't think I'll be able to completely embrace that excitement until the unknown elements are taken care of, until I'm passed this nervous stage. *deep breath* Okay. So that's it. ... read more