Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

SILENCE IS GOLDEN?

It seems not.  One of my dear friends called me yesterday and said that she noticed that I had not written anything lately on my personal blog.  It is so nice of her to notice that.

My excuse?  I don't really have one.  I have been busy with other things which seem to fill my days.

I have had the pleasure of meeting two delightful Chinese ladies, mother and daughter and we have spent some time together. Like me, the mother is a writer but in China of course.  I met the Mom first at the Harvest Dinner at church and invited her to go with me to Princess Point on the bus after the dinner.  She was so delighted to find one of the many beauty spots in Hamilton.  Soon after that, I met her 15 year old daughter and I suspect we all have adopted each other.  Mr. Boots (as they call my dear old cat) has many fans for his good nature, but Tina, the daughter,  is his chief one now!

I found something interesting in a comment the Mom said to me when we were at Princess Point.  She said that in China it is difficult to find blue skies.  I think I understood her (English difficulties) to mean that things are so polluted there that there must be a haze over the cities.  The Mom shares a common city with my brother and sister-in-law.  She knows the university where they teach and many familiar places there.  I really like the Chinese people (in general) having had several Chinese friends in Toronto and now my new friends.

Aside from going about my regular activities such as the ladies group at church, my ESL tutoring volunteer job, and taking part in a Newcomers to Canada Saturday afternoon programme at St. Paul's, I try to keep up with my Montreal and Toronto friends via telephone.  I have some very elderly friends (94 and  96 years old) that I call on a regular basis.  Naturally, I have friends who are my age as well there and call them as well.I have a plan that allows me free calls in Canada and the U.S.A.    I am so fortunate to have been able to keep many of my Montreal and Toronto friends.

My nose has been in a book every spare moment I can find and Central Library has been so wonderful in suggesting books that I would enjoy.

Now that the cooler weather is upon us, I am starting to cook again.  Yesterday I made a big pot of vegetables with beef in the crock pot.  It is so easy that way and one gets a bonus of lovely soup from the liquid in the dish.  Yum, yum.......

Today I may make rice pudding in the crock pot as well.  We'll see.  I may not have time as I have my student in the afternoon at the library, but there is always another day as long as one is alive.

I also plan to make carrot cake with cream cheese icing and I may invite my Chinese friends and my Egyptian friend for tea when it is done.

So many things to enjoy, not enough time.  I thought when I retired, I would have plenty of time, but it seems that the days are just flying by.

I forgot to mention that I am currently editing two books for two different people, plus of course, working on my own poetry and short stories and occasionally writing an article for the church newsletter.

My days are full but happy and fulfilled.

Thanks for dropping by and come again some time.
 




Friday, October 10, 2014

Friday afternoon spent with Mohammad

We went to the Volunteer Bureau to see what work he might find as a volunteer and then  we went along King Street East looking at all the little stores.

We stopped off for lunch at the Black Forest where German food is king! Very yummy!

We meandered along until we got to Gore Park where we sat for a while until it got too cool.

A very nice way to spend an afternoon with a friend.

Thanks for dropping by.


Something to look forward to

I lunched with three delightful and interesting ladies yesterday at the Club.  Two of the younger women I met for the first time.  I am so pleased that Linda arranged this event.  We all got along very well and had something amazing came out of this encounter.

One of the girls has Lime Disease and she wants to share her story in order to encourage others with this horrendous affliction.   Disease, when you take the word apart, "dis  ease", signifies to me that the body is not at ease whether from Cancer, Lime Disease, Arthritis or any of the numerous illnesses and afflictions that mankind is susceptible to.  I have always thought that stress and an unhappy spirit affects the human body and that a more holistic approach would be a better plan to heal people.

I remember one lady I used to know in Toronto who was bedridden for two years, unable to help herself, and going from doctor to doctor seeking help and just getting more and more meds without a satisfactory resolution to her health problem.  If I am recalling correctly as it was maybe thirty years ago by now, this lady took herself off all her meds and went another route in the non-traditional health care field and eventually returned to full health.The interesting part of it was that she then became full of energy and able to live a complete and happy life.

I digress, as usual, but the upshot of this luncheon engagement is that I will interview this young person and then assist her to get started and complete this sharing of her experiences in writing.

I shall look forward to getting to know both these young women at a deeper level and although they live in another area of town, one of the girls drives so we will be able to get together.

With the wonders of the computer age, there is always Skype to chat on, or email to send things back and forth.

That is how I was able to edit the Chinese senior students work from Markham for their book - via computer.  Also, the work of the Chinese lady in the States who hired me was done this way. We first met through Skype and then we did the work through email.  In the case of the students from the school board, I met their co-ordinator who came to see me in Hamilton.

With this computer age, it has become a very small world.  Like anything, it can be used to foster good or it can be used to do evil.

I am thankful for my computer and being able to keep in touch with friends from several countries.

Have a nice evening and thanks for dropping by.


Thursday, October 9, 2014

What a wonderful day it has turned out to be

The Thanksgiving  buffet at the Club with four friends,  then Dan and Linda  from the Club coming over and fixing the problem on the computer, and next will be my regular Martini night.

On top of it all, I just rented out my parking spot for four months minimum which is great.

I also learned from a writer friend that she is cancer free!

Can the day get any better?




Monday, October 6, 2014

Sunday's events

I was late for the service at St. John's by half an hour but at least got there in time for the sermon which I really enjoyed.  It was something I have always believed in, helping others as much as one can.

I joined Rosie at her table downstairs and then A Yi and Tina, her daughter, came and sat with us.  It was very pleasant.

Since it was Eid, I had made an arrangement for my friend Sarah to come downtown and we would do something together.  I took A Yi and Tina back to my place for lunch and then Sarah came and we went to Locke Street. Tina and Boots (Mr. Boots as the two ladies call  him) took to each other.

We took the number 7 bus to  Locke Street in Hamilton where there many interesting shops including Antique Shops which A Yi  loves.

After browsing, we went for a tea at Ceylonbush tea shop.  It is a very relaxing atmosphere there and we stayed until the next bus came to return to the down town area.  It is nice that they all got along together well and nice for them all to meet a new friend.

I felt very tired after a long day but happy that it all worked out for everybody.

Thanks for dropping by.




Sunday, October 5, 2014

Fun, food and companionship at the Down Town Mosque

I was fortunate that I received a notification of this wonderful event through Facebook.  I told my friend Sarah about it and she and I decided to go together to celebrate Eid. Our friend Zahra had not known about it although she often goes to this Masjidt.

The new location of the Mosque was a little difficult to find.  We saw a fellow on the street who looked like he might be Somali and asked him. As it happened, he was himself going to the Festival so we followed him.

We took the Number 8 York bus near my place and here is where we got a little lost.  We should have gotten off directly at York Blvd.  It is near the back door of the Farmer's Market which opens onto York.  Now that we have a better idea of where it is, it will be easier the next time.

I have to say that they had everything very well organized.  Lots of things for young children to do, kebabs for sale, hamburgers and hot dogs, cotton candy, and free sandwich bags of candies for children,

I was looking for my student but did not see her nor her children there.  Mind you, we came after 2 p.m. so they may have been there earlier. I was also looking for that lovely Egyptian lady but did not see her either.

Sarah and I had a good time and chatted with some of the other ladies.  We were frozen by the time the 5:47 bus came to go back down town.  It was well worth it though as we had an enjoyable time together and met others as well.

It took me a long time to warm up and I stayed in the rest of the evening.

Today is Eid day for Sarah so we will spend the afternoon together.

Have a great day.