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It is a bit parky outside today to say the least.  There was a fluttering of snow last night; the car windscreen wipers had collected a little drift when I went out this morning with my laptop to try to connect.  It is a clear sunny day, which is why it is so cold, and why I can get connected today.  (I used my brain this time and wrote this entry in Word inside the cosy cottage first, and then went outside to post it!)

We have had a lovely time so far with my mum and dad, although our time together is drawing to a close.  They leave on Thursday, so we have only a couple of days left.  The first few days were difficult, I imagine, for them, as they had to pick me up off the floor, emotionally.  My first months in Canada have been difficult for me, the main reason for this being the separation from Jason.  It was a conscientious decision; however, I think I can safely say that for all involved, it has been a more difficult and challenging time than we expected.  This episode in our adventure is almost over though.  Jason will be here in less than two weeks.

Seeing my parents here also triggered a wave of homesickness that was unprecedented.  I don’t believe I have reached the bottom of the trough when it comes to the intensity of this sickness, which is quite frightening.  When these attacks happen, I know I have to endure them, as I know that each one takes me a little closer to being cured.  I understand that in time, I will have more good days than bad ones, and that the attacks will become more spaced out.  For now, however, the tears are always ready to spill over.  I don’t even bother putting on any make-up.  I look so terrible most of the time anyway that adding any make-up would make me look part of the Adams Family!  My poor skin is not reacting well to the different atmosphere – it is very dry in the houses as they are heated or cooled with forced air.  And the climate is not damp like England, which is nice in one way, but my skin doesn’t like it.  My mum brought me two pots of Aqueous cream which I literally slap onto my face 4 or 5 times a day, and watch it disappear like water into cracked parched ground.

So what have we done this past two weeks since my mum and dad arrived?  We have been to all the meetings at the Kingdom Hall, which has been really nice.  Last Friday we invited quite a few from the congregation over for a Cream Tea.  It was late afternoon, and we just did some ‘posh’ sandwiches and scones with jam and cream and tea and coffee.  It went down very well – everyone was saying they had never been invited for a Tea Party before, and lovely it was!  (Two weeks in my ‘own’ place and I’m inviting crowds of people over – old habits die hard.)  There were lots of kids there, let me see if I can count them….about 12 so I took them all outside on the front lawn and we did silly races.  Actually the grown-ups had more fun – cartwheeling and piggy-backing all over the place.  I really laughed.  It was really good of my mum and dad to have everyone over –it went really well and I think they were pleased to see us all having fun.

A few days we have just stayed local and taken walks from the cottage, to the park, and to the town Niagara on the Lake.  My dad didn’t see why it was such a special place, as it looks like any other town to him.  But for here, it is pretty, and very old (some buildings have been here since 1875!)  I like the town; it reminds me a bit of England.

We have been out too – we went to Niagara Falls one day last week.   We had great fun that day.  We went right up to the top of the Skylon Tower for the views (see photos) then descended right down into the basement where there was an arcade.  The kids had a few games there, then we walked into the town, to a section called Clifton Hill, which is just like Blackpool, but tackier!  We got the kids something to eat, and then we walked back to the car along the front.  It was dark by then, and the falls were illuminated.  It was difficult to take photos of course, but I got a couple – you can see them at the end.

We took the kids swimming another day, first time since we got here.  They absolutely LOVE the water.  This trip got me motivated to get swimming trips organised, for the kids and for me.  I love swimming myself, and it is better really than running as it is kinder on the body.  There is a public pool here, but it is only open to the public at very limited times, and it is a bit scummy really, doesn’t seem to be well maintained.  I assume this is because most of the population are either members of the YMCA who have a beautiful facility in town (but which, sadly, is not accessible to our family) or a gym.  We will probably join the local gym, which is fine, and they have a pool.  Anyway, we had loads of fun that afternoon, and Johnnie managed not to throw up in the pool (a fairly common occurrence as he swallows about one gallon of pool water per minute.)  In lieu of that disaster, George decided to fill his swim nappy, which as we discovered, are not actually designed to contain human waste.  Fortunately he was standing on the side of the pool at the time, so they didn’t have to clear the pool.  I noticed much later though, that the area was still cordoned off…..  Ah kids, never a dull moment!

On Sunday just gone we were all invited to lunch at John and Diane’s at Butler.  It was actually not lunch, but a sumptuous feast, and we had a lovely afternoon.  Me and mum and dad took the kids and Piper down to the lake for a walk.  It was FREEZING cold down there, there was an icy wind that anaesthetised our ears and made our eyes stream.  Johnnie decided it was a perfect day for a paddle, and before we knew it he was knee deep in the lake.  The only thing that will stop him from plunging into that lake is when it freezes over!  When we got back and his Grandpa saw, he just slowly shook his head and said with a baffled kind of pride “That boy, he just loves the water.”

So apart from a few excursions, we have just been spending time with the kids and looking after them.  Mum and Dad have helped me so much this trip, I can’t even begin to describe it, and also I feel sure that when I look back I will realise this even more.  I am so confused about so many things that it is difficult for me to gauge how I am doing, and where I am emotionally.  Right now, I only know that it has been wonderful to be with them, just being completely relaxed and completely myself.  As I said earlier, this probably hasn’t been that easy for them, but I know they came over to see the kids and to help me.  And this has certainly happened.  George has had a blissful time with them, in fact all the kids have, it’s just that George always had a special thing for his granddad, and that has been re-kindled this trip for sure.  Johnnie has been on the receiving end of some behavioural re-adjustment courtesy of my dad!  And Nanny has started to teach the girls how to knit.    They have been playing games, reading books, watching movies, eating popcorn, chasing rhinoceros through the jungle and playing Trash Trucks…..  I must put on record, although if you know my dad at all I’m sure this will come as no surprise to you…that he is the best person I know for playing with little kids.  He really is amazing.  He gets down on the floor and lets them climb on his back and takes them on adventures through the jungle…. he plays dominoes and cards and schools for hours on end with them…..he reads book and book to them. .. he teaches Rosie 16 different ways to do multiplication…..  Mum and I have caught him nodding off a few times whilst sitting at the table, but really, this is quite understandable!  We left him to it…the poor chap needs a few extra winks……

 

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