as many of you are aware, my big trip over the last two months has been a trip back to the big smoke!! (and interestingly, toronto lived up to its reputation as it was pretty hot and smoggy for most of my trip!!)
i was only back for slightly over two weeks which really isn't enough time to properly visit under normal circumstances however i was also tasked with the job of giving away all of my worldly possessions as well!! it was an emotional visit with everything i'd accumulated my lifetime, being piled into dad and gail's garage so that i could sort through what should be kept, given away and to whom, and what i could take back or convince people to store on my behalf.... for anyone considering moving country, i strongly recommend you consider both the financial cost and the emotional effort in ridding yourself of all of your worldly possessions as they simply cannot all be taken with you... that said, i think a regular clean is good for the heath and keeps life uncluttered ;-)
other than getting rid of my stuff, i had a lovely time visiting with friends and family!! some highlights include a bbq at the pool at dad's with snow king crab legs on the bbq (thanks for going that extra mile to collect them anthony), aussie vintage wine with jocelyn; a lovely weekend in the muskokas which afforded me a chance to catch up with some girlfriends, practice my french and gorge on yummy food; an opportunity to see a great friend's new baby (and her and her hubby, of course ;-) to name just a few!! obviously there were many memorable lunches, dinners and drinks with friends and family!! the trip back was long and uneventful!! i don't know how people flew without movies previously as that's how i pass the time!!
since i've been back, i've been crazy busy catching up with friends and hibernating a bit in my cosy studio apt.... oddly, it missed me immensely ;-) i've been out to a photo exhibit, a wine tasting or two, a delicious degustation menu with 8 courses with my dinner club (the hungry muffins), a couple of birthdays and some a salsa lesson to name a few highlights!!
now that i'm back and settled (and the boss is also back from holidays), we'll have to sit down and finalise my application for permanent residency and get it submitted, as i wouldn't want to regret having given away all of my earthly possession!! i'll keep you posted on how that's progressing!!
hugs, kisses and thanks for the visits!!
sarah
p.s. for anyone interested, i've got my first real cold since i landed in australia!! i do hate being sick!! ah well, spring is right around the corner and it's been raining so much that they're lifting the water restrictions slightly!!
