I spent 2 summer months in
eastern PEI with Veronica’s family. It had been just over 5 months since I last saw them. We had many beaches to walk and swim and Lighthouses to view. It was lovely to share.
There were yoga classes Veronica led that we all attended. We stayed on the University campus one night and had a fun swim in the pool with slides and diving boards. Av and Char are good swimmers.
Some days we arranged to leave me the truck so the kiddies and I could play in town and have ice cream and swim in the Northumberland Strait. We go to Shining Waters Amusement park for the day.
A trip to Off the Wallz is a fun day with dinner after. And Toby's Farm Fun near home. Great days!
Got to do lots of riding on the mostly smooth back roads. There are no large animals on the island and traffic is light. So on one side road the Yamaha made it to
171 kph and it was so smooth and still had lots more rpm to go. It was exhilarating to say the least.
The bike is now registered in PEI and has brand new Michelin tires that Nick should get good use out of. Avander gives me one of his motorbikes to take with me.
September 1st the family took me to my Halifax transit point in Charlottetown. I had to say goodbye and fly to
London’s Gatwick airport.
Then take many trains (not intentionally) to get to Steph and Allan’s house in the south east borough of Lewisham. There were many people in the tube to assist me with directions and carrying a suitcase up stairs. Finally arrived to embrace Steph who was wearing little Lincoln. We last saw each other in January.
London's weather was quite nice for the entire month of September. I take baby Link for morning walks in the park.
There is shared homemade dinner most nights.
Steph books us tickets to
Stockholm, Sweden for 4 days. My niece, Gillian, and her little guy pick us up and we see her lovely country home where there are twin 2 month old babies.
Somehow this couple is managing all this but we help out a little during the day and have a nice B&B nearby for sleeping. Gil and her husband make us great dinners and dessert ! The final night we stayed in Stockholm proper. It is a very clean city designed with pedestrians in mind.
There is a palace right near the water and we find a restaurant with Swedish meatballs on the menu.
There are many pedestrian-only streets with lots of shops and restaurants.
We take a bus back to the airport and are London bound on a completely full aircraft.
Steph is back to work after maternity leave. I sometimes pick up Link in his pram from the childminders.
I am minding a friend of Steph’s 7 month old for about 12 hours a week which provides British pounds in my pocket. Steph and I visit a few pubs where children and babies are welcome. But we leave our baby at home with Al. I got a boat tour of the Thames river which stopped near the Parliament and New Scotland Yard. The tour started in Greenwich and I managed a bus to get there. I visited a castle right in the city which we can walk to - Eltham Palace - where Henry 8 grew up.
Another castle in the country - Hever is a train ride away and then a walk through grassy fields. This is where Anne Boleyn grew up. I left with my head attached.
On a train to Canary Wharf I visit the Docklands Museum. Oh the money men made in the Slave trade. Then get lost and turn around to find the train station.
Next move ( based on the book
Exit Stage Left which my good friend Sandra gave me) is perhaps Slovenia or maybe Tangier, Morocco. First I will get the train to Northern France (Calais - more history) thru the Channel Tunnel just because I can.
This past January 1 when my wonderful friend, Venessa, and I did the Polar plunge we agreed to do it every year. Who knew what was ahead ? I am totally in a new and fascinating world. One where Canada is not in my peripheral. But I really miss my family and friends and will make plans to see them again. Here on this Continent or in Canada.
