Odd

Isn't it strange, I was thinking to myself how little I have done and how I don't have anything to report as life is really revolving round the hospital and home and then I relised that it isn't strictly true. Mum is holding her own and being very well cared for in Tallaght. jacq and I are aware that nurses make the worst relatives to deal with but the staff have been very kind. She seems to be making steady progress but thoughts of her coming home are a while off yet. We hope and pray that she will see enough progress to make the transition home when the time comes.

I went to see then new Batman movie on Friday night. While I had mixed feelings about the movie - the acting standard of some of the major actors was pretty crap, including Michale Caine, Maggie Gyllenhal and the guy that played Harvey - it was worth sitting through for the sheer stand out quality of Heath Ledgers performance. I was determined not to be influenced by the fact that he had died but the way he played the joker was truly worthy of an Oscar. I had admired his skill in Brokeback Mountain but this really upped the ante. Wow. Such a shame a talented guy was consumed by his own darkness. RIP

The other thing I did this week was attend a criminal court to support someone called to give a character witness. I was struck by the similarities between court and church. Both assume a basic knowledge of the language involved, both have special clothing worn, both have justice at their focus. It was a fascinating opportunity to be a fly on the wall in the workings of the law.

With a bit of luck this week I will read some worthy books, get the parcel of peanut butter chips I posted myself from Canada (note to those in college with me: don't mock it, you will be eating the cookies I make, you know you will!!!!!),try to start my finess regieme, and startr the long awaited house clearance in preparation for next year. That should be enough to keep me out of trouble .........briefly. I have included another photo of Canada- not because I am there still but because I haven't found many people to bore with them yet. These lupins grow wild on the side of the road - everywhere. They are beautiful.

Friday's Problem

Well as if all that is going on here is not bad enough, I have a further problem. There I was sitting on the couch, it being a Friday night and all that, working through a few magazines I had to catch up on and then it happened.........I miss Canada - already!!!!!! It is the fault of the Canadian Living magazine I brought home. I was looking at the recipes and generally mooching through the magazine when I realised that I was already planning my next trip and I don't even know when I will have time off to go again. I love Ireland and really don't want to live anywhere else but Canada is a truly lovely country and looking through the photos I took make me realise how much I like it. The lack of traffic, the people, the healthy living! I know that it is a pretty inhospitable place in the Winter and I have only seen it during the Summer, but that's ok, I can go back in the Summer - rent a big campervan and take to the highway.

Muriel, if you are reading this in St John, you shouldn't have been so nice, you only encouraged me! Jonathan wants to come back too. I think Canada is in real trouble now. Greg, my placement Rector has suggested a parish swap for the Summer some time in the future, I would love to - though I need my own parish first.

Mum was a bit brighter today and the consultant in pleased with her progress. She is on bedrest and having a blood transfusion today and that should help perk her up a bit more. In the meantime, please pray for Mary and her family. Dave, one of my dearest friends - a lovlier person it would be hard to meet - will lose his Mum over the next week or so. Pray for peace for Mary and her family. Thank you

Tallaght Hospital

Despite the decision not to be in Tallaght Hospital this Summer it seems that fate had different plans. Since I have come home I have been in the hospital every day. the maon advantage of this is that I know my way without thinking and there are lots of people to say hello to. My day begins with a cup of coffee with my friend mags and then up to Mum til lunchtime. Things are stable at the moment and we will just have to wait and see what happens. In terms of the treatment Mum has received, it has been first rate despite our concerns about bed availability etc. The doctors and nurses couldn't be more kind and Mum is Mum, gentle, patient and unbelievably accepting of the latest thing that has been thrown at her.

At least at home the washing has beeen caught up on and though the house needs a good clean, Jess, Jonathan and I made it safely home from our various travels.

Update

Hello all,
The blog semed to end abruptly and the reason for that was that we got flights home a day ahead of schedule as Mum was no better and I couldn't feel happy being away any longer. Anyway home we came to be met by traffic standstill on the M50 due to a coach fire. There was no diversion in place so having been without sleep at that stage for over 24 hours, Jacq who kindly came to collect us, headed towards town and I eventually got out of her car onto the luas because traffic in town was at a standstill, and arrived in Tallaght hosp 4 hours after landing in Dublin! have I missed the traffic????? Mum is currently holding her own and life is on hold while we wait to see how her treatment goes. So if I am not on line or in touch I am sure you will understand. I would be glad to get the odd text though, just to say Hi. Thanks.

Heatwave

I don't know if the news of the heatwave has gone beyond Canada but the temperature to day was above 32 c and according to the news it would have felt more like 40 with the high humidity. not the day tp walk around the Giles Villeneuve grand prix Circuit in the heat of the midday sun. Well a fan's gotta do what a fan's gotta do! We then vvisited the biosphere for the ecology exhibition and the Museum Stewart where we heard some bagpipes - can't get away from them. Have only just cooled down and no sunburn, thank goodness.

Syncronised Swimming

So Jonathan and I set out today to the Olympic Stadium built when Montreal hosted the 1976 games. It was suitably impressive and in the pool area we got to see some of the Canadian team training for Beijing later this Summer. I can tell you that none of the dive team seem to be afraid of the highest board, and the syncronised swimmers were able to point theire toes with straight legs out of the water, again, and again, and again and again......

Off then to the cleverly reused cycling track to see the animals of the rainforest and St Lawerence basin and the arctic. I know, and not one of them on a bike. We also travelled on the cablecar to the top of the tower to look around the city. It was very hot today too - 32 C, which is a lot more than they have had at home.

We headed off to the cinema this evening to see Wanted with James Mc Evoy and Angelina Jolie (though Jonathan would have put the stars in a different order I'm sure). Excellent movie, if a little blood thirsty. Jonathan tells me that though a 13 rating here it is a 16 rating at home. I can see why!

While we are over here looking at penguins and city panorama, I am conscious that my Mum has just been admitted to hospital in Tallaght. Canada is a little further away than I would like. Home overnight on Thursday via Heathrow. I look forward to being back in Ireland despite the excitement of travel. Jess arrived home safely, and then she's off again at the weekend to Oxegen. Maybe next week we will all meet up!

The Jazz Mass and A Montreal Delicacy

Such a treat, I realised yesterday that the British Grand Prix could be viewed on the TV in the hotel and I set my alarm for 7 a.m and enjoyed the success of Hamilton and the McLaren team. Such a start to the day! I headed out to the local Anglican church which happened to be Christ Chruch Cathedral. It was a Jazz Eucharist to tie in with the Jazz Festival on this weekend round the corner from us. The service was pretty straight forward but in addition to the usual stand up-sit down conventions, we had to respond to the gestures and sit down and stop singing halfway through the hymns to allow for improvisations. and then stand up to sing the last verse when the music stopped wandering around aimlessly - you can tell I am a jazz fan. Thus, All Things Bright and Beautiful, Amazing Grace and What a Friend we have in Jesus had a jazz makeover, I think that it worked up to a point but was unsure about the round of applause started by a member of the congregation before the final blessing.

We set off later than usual to follow a walk suggested by a guide book. There was very little to see really other than 2 homeless guys with their shopping trollies hurtling through the street of a quiet hippy suburb, thier worldly possessions pulled by a team of dogs. The dogs then proceeded to fight so we left rather quickly.

For dinner this evening a taste of Montreal - vegetarians look away now- a smoked meat platter for me. The guide book said it was the thing to eat and let me tell you it come sexactly as that - a large plate of warm brisket beef smoked but not roasted etc. Only for the glare of our elderly waitress, I think I would have eaten none but didn't manage very much. As Jonathan, wise beyond his years, pointed out - "Mum these local dishes are always bad news". How right you are son!

The von Trapps

Following the success of our expedition yesterday in achieving the impossible and actually getting out of Hangar 16, we decided to up the ante today. Following a trip to the Mc Cord Museum of Canadian history and a look at some amazing Inuit art we set off up a mountain. incidentally Inuit means "people/ human beings" and it has replaced the title eskimo which meant "raw meat eaters". The art was fabulous and the museum was different enough to make it worth the effort.

We set off to nip up to the top of Mont Royal for the amazing view. The guide book said that about half way up the hill we would spot 200 steps that would half the time it would take to go to the top. So we set off up the steps.........I can hear the von Trap family singing............oh no that's just the sound of my wheezing as Jonathan went up the steps like a mountain goat! The first thing I saw when we got to the top was an ambulance - I'm not joking! There must be a real need for it at the top in the heat if it is stationed there. The view from the top was truly amazing and when my colour had returned to normal and I stopped "glowing" from the beads of sweat, it really was quite pleasant.

We meandered back to the hotel to rest and did a little bit of shopping on the way. A quiet evening and a movie on the TV and then to bed. The British Grand Prix is on the telly here at 7.30 a.m so I will set the alarm for that. Go Mc Laren!

Jonathan's Blog

I am getting Jonathan to dictate this as he has been quiet up to this point and I feel its about time he did a bit of work! So here you go:
Hello everyone,
First full day in Montreal. Breakfast at the hotel was plain and simple- not my style. My wardrobe is full of American Eagle clothes.
Churches, churches, churches, my mother isn't trying very hard to hide her obsession with church. We went to Notre Dame Cathedral and discovered that such a hard core church - Roman Catholic- was designed by an Irish Protestant. It was such a sight that I wanted to go back and see the church while it was having a light show, because between the complete unsubtlety and it would give teenagers heart attacks rather than elderly gents because the inside was sharp in contrast to a moose's antlers. Another attraction that we visited was The Labryinth where the staff were very eager to help - wink wink nudge nudge. After an hour in there I could hear my Mother's grinding teeth behind me, half an hour later when Mum asked to get out through clenched teeth, help came...... and brought us about 20 feet in the right direction, and said carry on. After about 20 more minutes of trekking around the plactic wasteland we eventually reached the exit where we saw 10 portraits and weren't allowed to leave until we had solved the problem of the maze. By this point Mum was looking for a bottle of Southern Comfort for some comfort. After I had eventually worked out who committed the crime, my prize was a piece of elastic that said well done. Mum was rocking in the corner looking to leave. We escaped. Jonathan

Back to me again -
After a lovely simple and fat free breakfast at the hotel we kitted Jonathan out for school. then off to see the lovely St Patricks Basilica which I thought was overboard until I saw the Basilica Notre Dame! Wow, if ever there was a need for sunglasses......... You should see it, it is WAY over the top! We headed off to a brief exhibition of the history of Montreal and then to the park for a picnic - whether we picked up the ants there or later we will never know.
Then as Jonathan mentioned we headed off to Hanger 16 for an afternoon of fun wandering round a warehouse of plastic sheeting of different colours to try to find our way through a maze that seemed to have been set up by a group of sadistic toddlers. The staff were unhelpful when asked for the way out- we were adults therefore we had to work it out for ourselves!!!!! Much grinding and gnashing of teeth. Oh what a kerfuffle and joy abounded when we finally saw daylight again......and we paid for the privilege?!

The desire to live having been sucked out of me, we headed back to the hotel to lie down and then went out for a nice Italian meal and a glass of red to get over the trauma. Goodness, tomorrow is another day.

I am having problems with my email so if you are looking for me, best to log a comment to this or send a message via facebook. Thanks. X

Montreal

What a send off we had today- I think that they were afraid that we wouldn't go! Al and his wife collected us and brought us out to brunch where we were joined by Muriel and Joanne. After a trucker size breakfast it was off to the airport. They very kindly stayed to wave us onto the plane as the departure was at risk of being fogbound. It was quite emotional to say goodbye as we were truly blessed and cared for by the people on the placement.

Arrived in Montreal and travelled to the hotel - Square Phillips - another hit for the site www.tripadvisor.com where I found the recommendation. Smack bang in the middle of the city. We are on the 10th floor so its lovely and quiet. We unpacked and headed out to investigate our surroundings. We are just off the main shopping street and they are all having sales!!!!!! Oh no, there goes the weight of the cases........ We had a great dinner - the most tender steak I have had in a long time. We will head out to start the touristy things tomorrow. A week here then home for a rest!

Abner the Dog and the Bald Eagle

This morning having mastered the art of a huge washer dryer I did a bit of washing and dried it off and then realised that in the process that the clothes must have puffed up as it came to packing the cases, it appeared that there was less room all of a sudden. I don't remember going shopping to that degree and we still have to go to Montreal! I really have done little shopping but we got Jonathan some clothes in Old Navy so his case had held my robes on the way over so space is limited. I have a ryanair mentality to packing these days. Jacq - if you are reading this, I didn't use the skirts at all! Sorry!

We were picked up by Eric at lunchtime to go to his sailboat. I confess that I was more than a little concerned and was afriad that I would disgrace myself by throwing up on my kind hosts or falling over board if the boat tilted. In the end after a tour of Erics church which reminded me of CORE in the city centre, complete with immersion tank for baptism. When Val, Erics wife came back, we headed for the boat. With huge trepidation we left the jetty in the 27 foot boat and there was a digital reading for depth. A river that is 110 feet deep in parts!

I take it all back - I spent a most pleasant afternoon on the river. The sail out to a island for an offshore mooring was gentle and fast with very little up and down going on. Abner the poodle had his own little life jacket that he wore - wait til you see the picture! While moored and having a glass of home made red wine, I suddenly spotted a large bird. A bald eagle!!!!! Wow, what a sight a bald eagle in full flight. It settled in a tree on the island and there he stayed til we left. Jonathan also had a great day and I couldn't help thinking about how much he has had a chance to experience on this trip also. Val said to him that she couldn't think of any real reason why he couldn't apply to be a counsellor in Camp Medley next year.

We are now back at Greg and Vanessa's house finishing all the packing to head off in the morning. We are to be collected by Al and I think a couple of the parishioners are hoping to join us for brunch en route to the airport. St John is far away from home, yes, but the warmth and genuine hospitality we have experienced is extraordinary and something I will hold always. We will try to blog from Montreal.

Camp Medley and Canada Day

So 2 days in one and its late already! Camp Medley turned out to be ok and there was a bit of downtime involved though a lot of small talk with the cousellors who were between 16 and 22 years of age. I don't think that they had any sort of an idea of what we were supposed to be doing there but we joined in the activities as best we could. The camp wasn't busy and they had less than 1/3 capacity so I think they were a bit bored themselves. The time passed relatively quickly and we were collected at 11 today by the lovely Tom and Muriel to celebrate Canada day with them.

We headed back to St John with a picnic on the way. The camp is a 1.5 hour drive away but the scenic route took longer. We headed into town and joined in the festivities. We got free Pepsi t shirts one courtesy of a quick moving Muriel, and went to the flea market- no fleas though. We were taken to the New Brunswick Museum and the Loyalist house, one of the oldest in town. It reminded me of the Rectory in Birr and had many of the same features.

Then back to Muriel and Toms for dinner. What a treat awaited us. Jonathan and I were given a lobster each and taken through breaking it down for eating, quite a skilled job, Jonathan enjoyed the chance to attack something with a lethal looking knife but I have told him that he will not be eating like this at home! We headed back into town but because of the fog there was no fireworks so it is now past midnight and time for bed. Sailing tomorrow and packing and then off to Montreal to rest!