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!