Home again and collect the Animal Family

I was on the Gautrain by 8:30 and on my way back to the airport. My flight to Durban was at 10:00. Once again I booked a window seat and spent the entire 50 minutes watching the earth go by below. I was met at the airport by a friend who took me to work where I'd left my car for easy access.

Later in the afternoon I went to Ally's Cattery to collect the kittens and Old Aunty Cat who I noticed when I got her home was hobbling around again, her back legs hurting from the arthritis she has. I made her as comfortable as possible and constructed some makeshift steps inside and outside her room window so she could get in and out, as she likes to go out on her own.

Dylan and Nikita's Wedding

A340 reflected in the airport window

Balalaika Hotel

The plane landed in Johannes-burg on time at about 07:40. I was going to stay overnight in Johannesburg  as I was going to attend my god son's wedding later that afternoon. My plan of action was to take the Gautrain to Sandton station then a shuttle to the Balalaika Hotel where the reception was being held and where I was booked in for the night.

I had been stressing about a wedding gift because I hadn't been able to purchase something from the online gift registry while I was in Canada because of payment issue, but with Glynis's help I'd bought some nice table clothes and place mats with a Canadian Autumn theme just before I left. I'd brought some wedding wrapping paper and wrapped it in my room before departing for the church service at around midday.

The service was light-hearted and short and soon we were all back at the hotel where a candy store theme had been set up on the veranda. What worried me was there were small children running around, and with all that sugar heaven knows what they'd be like by the time the actual reception started later.

I managed to stay awake for supper, but slipped out and off to bed soon after the main course. I was exhausted and had an early start the following morning to get back to Durban.

The Journey Home : MUC - JNB

ZS-SNC at the departure gate in Munich

A friend of mine has a brother who flies for SAA and he tried to book on the same flights as I was on between Joburg and Munich. Unfortunately he wasn't able to get them, but he did find out that one of the pilots on the same flight as me I'd met through my friend at the Margate airshow some years ago. We mounted a video camera in his Extra to record this aerobatic display from inside the plane. My friend arranged that I could meet him and have a quick tour of the flight deck before we took off.

The Journey Home : YYZ - MUC

I always dislike the last few days on any holiday knowing the inevitable hour will arrive when you have to leave for home. However, with each visit to Canada, my departure is becoming less painful and this time in particular, as I will be returning to my two kittens rescued from work and old Aunty Cat who have all been staying at Ally's Cattery while I was away.

New Blue Spruce and Tannie Duifie

Glynis wanted to block off a view of the neighbour's tennis court fence from their deck out at the back of their house, so we went  in search of a suitable tree to plant there. We ended up getting 2 Blue Spruce trees to accompany the existing spruce in the corner.

Place mouse pointer over image above

(VIDEO) Lunchtime walk into Stratford

We arose late this Sunday morning then walked down to the Avon River in town. We timed it well (unintentionally) to hear the day's edition of Barge Music on the lake right next to the "Patio" restaurant.
While eating we were discussing a gift for someone and I suggested a
4 panel type photograph of a Stratford scene and each panel taken in a different season. We walked to a bridge over the Avon to take a picture. (below left)

The Stratford Court House and bridge

Barge Music and "Patio"

The challenge now is to return to that same spot and take 3 more photos in Fall, Winter and Spring.
Sheila told us that the stone bridge in the photo on the left is the last remaining stone arched bridge in North America which still carries traffic.

We returned home along the edge of the lake, then turned up towards town again and past some of Stratford's old homes before heading back down to the lake again past the Festival Theatre complex, home of Stratford's Summer Theatre Season.

Art in the Park

 more Art in the Park

Some of Stratford's original homes...

...some turned into offices

Ultralight Pilot's Association of Canada Convention

Last weekend when I went for a half hour flight in the Airborne trike in Elora I found out that the Ultralight Pilot's Association of Canada (UPAC) 

was holding its annual convention on a private strip on a farm outside a town called Plattsville in Ontario, about 35 minutes drive east of Stratford, so I dragged the family out there this morning to check it out...