The best part of leaving is coming home.

Back in Grimsby to start my second year at Tollbar.  I've just had the most enjoyable time back in Waterloo the past 5 weeks.  I was busy everyday with family and friends.  I visited the beach three times, stayed at Marj and Rob's for a weekend, went to Wonderland and cleaned my house.  The latter is not exactly on the top of my list for enjoyment but that's what being home involves.

First a bath for Harlow

 Then it was of to the splash park.

Harlow thinks she is a lap dog.

She has certainly changed in a year.  I think it's because of her adult teeth.

It looks worse that it really was.  What would you do if mud was coming your way?

Hit her with a wet noodle!

Mom finally got me to accept her invitation to Karoke.  I just enjoyed watching her, she was in her element.

Made some crafts.  The safety precautions/instructions seemed over the top but made for a funny picture.

This Hybiscus flower was the size of a dinner plate.

Ruthe and I did some "Mennonite Hunting" just like a tourist but better.  I was trying to get a photo for an upcoming competition with the camera club.

An Ontario rural setting.

We also went to Stratford Ontario to see William.

Then we went to Canada's Wonderland.  We discovered Lexi's wild side.  She wanted nothing to do with Kid Zone.  In fact we could not get her off some of the wilder rides.  After 12 hrs of fun she asked "why do we have to go home".  Answer - "because we are tired".

Amy joined us, she is part of our extended family.

What a holiday.  I am truly blessed with wonderful friends and family.  I've realized that being away for a year or two is not hard at all.  I am having a great time so far.  But, leaving again was so terribly hard. I love you all thanks for encouraging me in this journey, next stop……..ROME!

Close to Home

I am home in Waterloo and enjoying my time with my family and friends.  I found myself retracing my dad's service in the RAF.  I found his photo albums and could not believe how close he was to where I am living in Grimsby, England.  He was stationed in Binbrook, just southwest of my school near Waltham.

The Lancaster over Cleethorpes.

Nemo!

What a great day with a great lady.  Today Amy (friend from work) and I went to Hull.  She is heading home to the lake district this week for the last time and before she leaves she wanted to visit the aquarium.  What a gift I have found in her friendship, too bad for me that she found a job closer to her family(in Lancaster).
Only two teaching days left.  This year has gone much faster than I anticipated and a great deal faster than my professors let on.  They prepared us to not have a social life in the first year but thanks to a great department I seldom felt unprepared or stressed.  Perhaps the most difficult part has been missing my family but only 5 more days and I will be home.  Maureen sent me a card a few weeks ago and I think it sums up this year perfectly.  "If your ship hasn't come in - swim out to it."  Being a single parent for 15 yrs has not been easy and my goal of being a teacher had been put on hold for too long.  I really have been blessed this last year with understanding family and friends who supported me in this journey.  I hope they can last another year or two because I love this place and more so, I love my job.

A beautiful glass sculpture of sea anennomies, sea annnennannenommies, you know.....

Made in Canada Eh!

These guys were my favourite to watch.  Just as we ended our visit with them, they began to swim and play or possible fight, we were not sure.  They are so agile and fast.

Where's Nemo?

A kaleidoscope of Moon Jelly fish.

A tunnel under the aquarium.

Amy always wanted one of these.  They are only about a half inch and she had one give her a high five.

The Humber bridge, coming back.

My favourite shot of the day, I love the colours in the background.

Give me a fork

I've had such a great weekend.  I went to a wings and wheels show on Saturday with Graham and I was bored out of my mind with the poor display of wings and wheels.  If I'd had a fork I may have poked my eyes out.  Oh.... and I saw "Thunder Flies".  Sounds like an exciting Aerobatic flying group doesn't it?  Nope these are tiny little flies which swarm in and seemingly are attracted to white.  I know this because I was wearing white.  I was brushing them off for most of our time there.  Yet, I still enjoyed the day as a whole.  Afterwards we went to a seaside town called Skegness.  It's about one and a half hours south of Grimsby.  It was such a gorgeous day and we just walked around and soaked in the atmosphere.  It is a bit like Niagara Falls without the falls of course but with a beach.  Then I came home and spent the evening with Amy.  We baked cupcakes (5 Dozen) and brownies for a party of a co-worker(Laura).  Her daughter turned 3 today and we had such an enjoyable day out in the sun.  I have not done a lot of people photography since being here so I brought my camera and took many pics which I can't show you (other peoples children and all that).  They will be great memories for her when she grows up.

Riley

A kit car/ Alpha Romeo

Triumph Stag

A bit older than the one mom and dad had and then passed on the Steve and I.

I love that all these beaches offer donkey rides.

The Pier in Skegness

Seaside at Skegness

Most towns seem to have a beautiful clock tower, this is Skegness's.

A Selfie with Graham.

Homebound in just 12 days.